Riyadh, Saudi Arabia— Saudi Arabia has unveiled its own cruise-line brand called AROYA Cruises to fuel growth in its tourism sector, luring 1.3 million cruise visitors by 2035.
According to media reports, AROYA, though a part of Cruise Saudi, will run as an independent business unit. Its name was formed by combining the words Arabian and roya, meaning vision or dream.
Building the cruise tourism sector in Saudi Arabia is very crucial to achieve the goals outlined in Vision 2030, as the Kingdom eyes becoming a global tourist destination by the end of this decade.
One of Cruise Saudi’s strategic goals includes welcoming 1.3 million cruise visitors by 2035 and providing 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The CEO of Cruise Saudi Lars Clasen said: “This momentous step marks a historical milestone in Cruise Saudi’s ambitious strategy to create a premium cruise ecosystem in Saudi, in line with Vision 2030.”
“AROYA Cruises will be operating as an autonomous brand within the Cruise Saudi portfolio, aiming to provide experiences and services specifically designed to embrace Arabian preferences,” he said.
AROYA Cruises’ independent operations will be managed by Ghassan Khan, chief strategy officer, at Cruise Saudi.
“This is an extremely exciting time. It is a privilege to bring this cruise line to launch as a core element of Saudi Arabia’s development as an international cruising destination,” said Khan.
He also added that the company has managed to reach a Saudization rate of 71 percent since its launch in 2021.
“Cruise Saudi plans to create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in Saudi Arabia by 2035, benefiting the local workforce. Establishing cruising as a new pillar to Saudi’s rapidly expanding tourism industry is a significant undertaking,” said Clasen.