Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air is set to launch its inaugural flight on October 26, with Britain’s Heathrow Airport as its first destination, state TV reported on Wednesday.
Riyadh Air’s CEO Tony Douglas said in a press conference that the second destination will be Dubai.
Douglas added that initial ticket sales will be for Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF) and Riyadh Air employees, and public sales will follow soon.
Saudi Arabia announced in 2023 the creation of Riyadh Air which is wholly owned by PIF, and is expected to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030.
Saudi state TV added that the company will receive Boeing 787-9 aircraft within months.
Makkah, June 18, 2026, SPA — The Holy Kaaba is rich with details, each carrying stories that span centuries. Among them is the Kaaba’s Mizab (rainwater spout on the Kaaba’s roof), a gilded feature that is not merely an architectural element but a testament to the long history of care devoted to the Kaaba. Beneath the Mizab is a small inscription that reads: “made by Ahmed Ibrahim Badr in Makkah.” Though brief, it preserves the story of the craftsman behind one of the Kaaba’s most prominent features. Ahmed Ibrahim Badr was born in Makkah in 1339 AH and grew up in an environment known for traditional craftsmanship

