By
Alex Smith |
Cruise Saudi, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is launching its own cruise line Aroya Cruises.
The name ‘Aroya’ combines the word ‘Arabian’ with ‘roya’, which means ‘vision’ or ‘dream’. The line will aim to showcase Arabian destinations to Saudi nationals, expatriates and regional guests, supporting Cruise Saudi’s goals of welcoming 1.3 million cruise visitors by 2035 and providing 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
"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,” said Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi. "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 will be led by Ghassan Khan and will be managed as a separate business unit to the rest of Cruise Saudi.
“This is an extremely exciting time,” said Khan. “It is a privilege to bring this cruise line to launch as a core element of Saudi’s development as an international cruising destination.”
Aroya is currently developing its cruise itineraries, which will be announced at its commercial launch in the coming months.