Saudia Airlines, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday inaugurated its new state-of-the-art City Ticketing Office in Dhaka’s Gulshan, further strengthening its longstanding presence in Bangladesh.

The new office, located on the 16th floor of Simpletree Attalika, 134 Gulshan Avenue, was inaugurated by Dr Abdullah Zafer H. Bin Abiyah, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh. He was joined by Musaed Almusaed, Assistant Vice President of International Regions at Saudia Airlines, and Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East & West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Abiyah described Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh as two “brotherly countries” with historic ties based on shared values and friendship. He expressed hope that the new facility would enhance travel convenience, provide quality services to Bangladeshi travelers—particularly Hajj and Umrah pilgrims—and deepen people-to-people connections.

Dr Nazrul Islam welcomed Saudia’s fresh investment in Bangladesh’s aviation sector, saying it would help meet growing demand for air travel while reinforcing bilateral ties.

Saudia’s Country Manager for Bangladesh, Tarik Alowaidi, said the airline has increased flight frequency between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia to meet rising passenger demand. “This new Dhaka office reflects our commitment to serving customers with greater efficiency, comfort and accessibility,” he said.

Ahmed Yusuf Walid, Saudia’s General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh, noted that the airline has become a preferred carrier for long-haul travel to Europe and North America while also offering flexible options for Umrah pilgrims through its streamlined stopover visa program.

Built to international standards, the new Gulshan office features dedicated counters for general passengers, premium cabin travelers and AlFursan frequent flyer members. It also houses a meeting space for trade partners and a training and conference room for product briefings and agent engagement.

Officials said the facility will improve accessibility, reduce waiting times and promote digitalized services to deliver faster and more accurate customer support.

Alongside the Gulshan office, Saudia will continue operating its existing City Ticketing Offices at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka and at Agrabad in Chittagong.

The opening coincided with World Tourism Day 2025, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to boost its tourism sector through the “Umrah Plus” initiative, which allows pilgrims to combine spiritual journeys with cultural and leisure experiences across the Kingdom.