A wholly-owned Saudi Arabian cruise line is to be established.
Aroya Cruises will be part of Cruise Saudi, a 100% Public Investment Fund-owned business.
Combining the words “Arabian” and “roya” – meaning vision or dream – Aroya Cruises will offer Saudi nationals, expatriates, and regional passengers the ability to explore the country from the sea.
Few details of the start-up have been disclosed, including its launch schedule and fleet plans.
Itineraries and packages are currently under development and will be announced at a commercial launch to be held in the coming months.
The brand will be managed as a separate business unit supporting the fulfilment of Cruise Saudi’s strategic goals of attracting 1.3 million cruise visitors by 2035 and providing 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
A statement said that Aroya Cruises will reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and warm hospitality.
“Aroya Cruises is committed to an exceptional passenger experience and will offer the highest standard of service, facilities and shore excursion programme culminating in a unique offering in the region,” it added.
Cruise Saudi chief executive Lars Clasen added: “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.”
The launch of Aroya Cruises will be led by Ghassan Khan, chief strategy officer at Cruise Saudi, who said: “It is a privilege to bring this cruise line to launch as a core element of Saudi’s development as an international cruising destination.”