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Flydubai adds Saudi Arabia’s AlUla to its network, resumes flights to Yanbu

Dubai’s budget airline flydubai will begin to operate flights to AlUla in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first airline in the United Arab Emirates to add the destination to its network, a statement released by the airline on Friday revealed.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The airline will start operating flights to AlUla via Prince Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport (ULH) on March 2 (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) and is set to operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport (DXB).AlUla is a unique wonder of the world located in Saudi Arabia and home to the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, Hegra.“We are pleased to be able to offer passengers from the UAE and our network the opportunity to visit and explore one of the world’s most beautiful and untouched destinations,” said the airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer Hamad Obaidalla.“This route [to AlUla] will be popular for our passengers from the UAE, as well as for travelers from the GCC, Russia and Central Asia. Al Ula offers passengers great options for seeking immersive cultural and historical experiences as well as outdoor adventure activities, especially in the cooler winter season,” said flydubai’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations Sudhir Sreedharan.AlUla opened to travelers from across the world for the very first time in 2020. Visitors can now explore the historic remains and landmarks and learn more about the country’s rich cultural heritage.In AlUla, visitors will have access to a museum of preserved Nabataean tombs of Hegra, historical monuments and dwellings – both natural and man-made – and sandstone outcrops, representing around 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history, the statement read.The first international flight arrived in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla on November 18, opening a new path for travelers to visit what is being billed as the largest living museum in the world.The Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas, which took off from the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai International Airport, was welcomed by a water canon salute in the presence of representatives from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) at around 3pm local time.Resumption of flights to Yanbu Flydubai also stated that it will resume its operations to Yanbu, growing its network in Saudi Arabia to six points, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina and Dammam.Flights to Yanbu’s International airport (YNB), also known as Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport, will begin on February 24, with three weekly flights.The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, according to the statement.“We are also looking forward to the resumption of our operations to Yanbu in the [Medina] Province,” added Obaidalla.Joanne Serrieh and Marco Ferrari contributed to this reportRead more:Turkey, Armenia resume charter flights amid thawing tiesHumanitarians weigh in on challenges threatening world peace, coexistence‘Answer to problems of our time’: Experts commemorate signing of historic document
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Flydubai adds Saudi Arabia’s AlUla to its network, resumes flights to Yanbu

France to reinforce UAE defense system after Houthi attacks

France said on Friday it had agreed to participate in the reinforcement of the United Arab Emirates’ defense system, including the deployment of Rafale jets, following Iran-backed Houthi attacks.“The United Arab Emirates were victims of serious attacks on their territory in January. In order to show our solidarity with this friendly country, France has decided to provide military support, in particular to protect the airspace against any intrusion,” French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly wrote on Twitter.The French Armed Forces ministry added that operations would be conducted from the al-Dhafra air base, working in close co-ordination with the emirates, with a view to detect and intercept any drone or missile attacks.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The United Arab Emirates said late on Wednesday that it had intercepted three drones that entered its airspace over unpopulated areas earlier in the day, in the latest attack on the Gulf commercial and tourism hub in the past few weeks.Earlier this week, the US had also said it would send fighter jets to assist the UAE following missile attacks on the Gulf state launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement, including a foiled attack aimed at a base hosting US forces.Read more:US to send warship, fighter jets to UAE after Yemen attacks: StatementUS approves potential weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, JordanThe Houthis have fulfilled the prerequisites of terrorism
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: France to reinforce UAE defense system after Houthi attacks

UK/Yemen: Call on government to help British man held by Houthis for nearly five years

Cardiff man Luke Symons, 29, detained without charge in Yemen since 2017 following arrest over UK passport Arm broken during torture, with solitary confinement taking heavy toll on his health ‘It’s long overdue that the Government properly engaged with his family and exerted sustained pressure on the Houthis’ – Sacha Deshmukh Amnesty International is calling on ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UK/Yemen: Call on government to help British man held by Houthis for nearly five years