Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has been announced as the Official Partner of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup and Presenting Partner of Race 1. This new collaboration with Abu Dhabi Turf Club marks a significant step in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global centre for sporting excellence, cultural heritage, and premium hospitality experiences.

Scheduled for Saturday, 7 February 2026, at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, the prestigious one-mile Abu Dhabi Gold Cup offers a total prize pool of USD 1 million. The race is set to draw some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds, champion jockeys, and acclaimed trainers representing leading horse-racing nations.

The event—organised by Abu Dhabi Turf Club—embodies the Club’s vision to transform the Emirate into a premier international destination for equestrian sport and innovation. It also shines a spotlight on the UAE’s proud equestrian traditions and the enduring legacy of horse racing in the region.

As part of the partnership, Etihad will play a key role in welcoming global racing fans and participants to Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the airline’s and the Club’s shared commitment to excellence and their mutual goal of showcasing the Emirate on the global stage.

His Excellency Ali Al Shaiba, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi Turf Club, and President of the Organising Committee, commented:

“We are delighted to partner with Etihad Airways as the Official Sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup and Presenting Partner of Race 1. As the national carrier of the UAE, Etihad serves as Abu Dhabi’s gateway to the world, and this collaboration strengthens the city’s global reputation in horse racing. Together, we are positioning Abu Dhabi as an international destination for top-tier sport and world-class competition.”

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, added:

“At Etihad, we’re proud to be part of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup—an event that reflects the same pursuit of quality and ambition that drives our airline. Just as we connect Abu Dhabi to the world with remarkable travel experiences, this partnership allows us to welcome the global racing community to our home city. The Gold Cup captures Abu Dhabi’s vision of hosting world-class sporting events, and we’re honoured to contribute to bringing that vision to life.”

Beyond the race itself, the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup promises a full-scale race-day experience, featuring world-class racing, luxury hospitality, fine dining, and curated entertainment. The event exemplifies Abu Dhabi Turf Club’s continued growth as a destination that merges sport, culture, and lifestyle in one premium setting.

Together, Abu Dhabi Turf Club and Etihad Airways are redefining standards of excellence in global horse racing through this strategic alliance. The Abu Dhabi Gold Cup symbolizes the Emirate’s ambition, showcasing its growing presence in the global thoroughbred arena and offering a race-day experience where heritage, sport, and innovation meet.

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