Emirates Airline has signed an agreement with Dubai Investments Park (DIP) to acquire land for the development of a purpose-built Cabin Crew Village, representing a multi-billion-dirham investment in dedicated crew accommodation.

The landmark mixed-use residential development will be designed to house up to 12,000 Emirates cabin crew members, reinforcing the airline’s long-term commitment to employee wellbeing and operational growth.

The agreement was signed by Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Emirates’ Chief Procurement & Facilities Officer, and Khalid Bin Kalban, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Investments, in the presence of senior executives from both organisations.

Attendees included Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer; Abdulaziz Bin Yagub Al Serkal, Chief Executive Officer of Glass LLC, Dubai Investments; and Omar Al Mesmar, General Manager of Dubai Investments Park.

Construction is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2026, with the first phase of the development expected to be completed by 2029. The project will be delivered under a long-term lease framework.

The Cabin Crew Village will comprise 20 contemporary residential towers, each rising 19 storeys, offering a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The residences will be thoughtfully designed to meet the lifestyle, comfort and operational needs of Emirates’ cabin crew, creating a high-quality living environment that supports both professional and personal wellbeing.

Ali Mubarak Al Soori commented:
“Emirates’ cabin crew are fundamental to the exceptional experience we deliver to our customers worldwide. This significant investment reflects our continued focus on enhancing their quality of life through purpose-built living spaces tailored to their needs.

The Cabin Crew Village will offer a fully integrated community with convenient access to essential services, leisure facilities and shared spaces that foster connection and wellbeing. It also represents a strategic investment in Emirates’ future, supporting our growth plans and transition to Al Maktoum International Airport.”

Omar Al Mesmar, General Manager of Dubai Investments Park, said:
“Dubai Investments Park has established itself as a preferred destination for world-class developments within a fully integrated, future-ready environment. Our collaboration with Emirates highlights the confidence global organisations place in DIP’s infrastructure, regulatory framework and long-term vision.

This development will further enrich DIP’s dynamic ecosystem and contribute meaningfully to Dubai’s continued growth as a global centre for business and opportunity.”

Designed as a comprehensive lifestyle destination, the Cabin Crew Village will offer a wide array of amenities focused on health, wellbeing and community engagement. These include a central multi-purpose hub featuring retail outlets, restaurants and cafés, as well as modern fitness facilities, medical clinics, landscaped parks and open public spaces.

The master-planned community will promote an active and balanced lifestyle through walking and jogging trails, resort-style swimming pools, expansive green spaces and carefully curated communal areas. Each residential building will also be equipped with dedicated on-site facilities to ensure ease, accessibility and convenience for all residents.

Strategically located between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), the Emirates Cabin Crew Village is ideally positioned to support the airline’s future operational requirements, including its planned move to Al Maktoum International Airport, while delivering an exceptional living experience for its people.

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA