Saudia Airlines has launched a Flying Museum, a veritable museum in the sky, floating among the clouds. On November 4, passengers on a flight from Riyadh to AlUla became the first group of lucky travelers to see this wonder in the sky.
According to an Arab News report, the first museum of its kind was presented by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with Saudia. The museum displays a collection of replica artefacts unearthed by archaeologists in AlUla. If you are wondering where AlUla is, it is a historically vibrant city located in the media region of northwest Saudi Arabia. Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, is also located here. AlUla was the capital of the Lihyanites (Dedanites) in ancient times. Founded in the 6th century BC, it featured on the famous Frankincense Route which was a spice, silk and luxury goods trade network through Arabia, Egypt and India. The city with a rich cultural heritage with mud brick and stone houses falls under the governorate of Ula.
The national airline has also launched an in-flight entertainment system (IFE) chain, Discover Saudi Arabia. Passengers could watch “Architects of Ancient Arabia” on the channel, a documentary that reveals startling discoveries about how AlUla may have been a turning point in the history of human civilization. Archaeologist Dr. Rebecca Foote, Director of Archeology and Cultural Heritage Research, RCU, presented the documentary and provided more information on the museum’s collection.
According to TOI, Khaled Tash, Vice President of Corporate Communications, SAUDIA Group, said: “As the national flag bearer and Wings of Vision 2030, it is a privilege to showcase heritage sites and the hidden gems of the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has entered into various agreements to improve infrastructure and project AlUla as an archaeological destination for globetrotters. As of March 2021, Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, built in 2011 as part of the development strategy of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU), has been approved to receive international flights after its expansion, this which places this hidden Arab gem on the world map.
The airline operates 32 weekly return flights from AlUla to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, accommodating more than 4.4,000 seats, according to a statement released by Saudia.
