Saudi Arabia's tourism industry is poised to receive a boost with the introduction of AROYA Cruises, a new cruise line brand launched by Cruise Saudi, which is owned by the country's sovereign wealth fund.
The name AROYA is a combination of "Arabian" and "roya," meaning vision or dream, as per a report from the Saudi Press Agency.
Despite being a part of Cruise Saudi, AROYA Cruises will operate as an independent business unit.
Lars Clasen (Cruise Saudi's CEO) referred to this development as a historic milestone aligned with the ambitious strategy of creating a premium cruise ecosystem in Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030.
AROYA Cruises will function as a separate brand within the Cruise Saudi portfolio, focusing on offering experiences and services tailored to Arabian preferences.
Ghassan Khan (Cruise Saudi's chief strategy officer) will oversee AROYA's operations. He expressed excitement about launching the cruise brand and its significance in positioning Saudi Arabia as an international cruise destination.
Developing Saudi Arabia's cruising sector is crucial for achieving the objectives outlined in Vision 2030, as the country aspires to become a global tourist destination by the end of the decade.
One of Cruise Saudi's strategic goals is to reach an annual capacity of ~1.3 million cruise tourists by 2035 and generate ~50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Clasen previously highlighted the company's commitment to increasing the participation of Saudis and women in its workforce, with a Saudization rate of 71% since its launch in 2021.
Port Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's largest cargo port (and the country's main cruise port/homeport) as well as the Middle East's second-largest - after Dubai's Port Jebel Ali.