La Hotels and Resorts at a recent industry event in Riyadh, demonstrating how accessible luxury travel to the Far East and Europe is to travellers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With 140 flights a week from eight different locations within the Kingdom to the award-winning five-Star Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways offers Saudi residents a memorable travel experience through a network of more than 150 destinations around the world, where travellers can experience Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and much more. With services from eight different airports in Saudi Arabia – Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Dammam, Hofuf, Gassim, Taif, and Abha – Qatar Airways provides a vast array of options for passengers travelling across the globe, whether they want to experience luxurious First Class or well-appointed Economy. Convenient connections can be made through the airline's home hub in Doha, Hamad International Airport – a multiple award-winning destination in itself, as the only airport in the Middle East, and one of only six in the world, to receive the prestigious 5-Star Airport rating from Skytrax. Qatar Airways Country Manager KSA & Yemen, Ahmad Mir said "Our passengers have access to more than 150 destinations around the world, via one of the world's best airports and on one of the youngest fleets. The experience that we provide goes far beyond time spent on-board our luxuriously-appointed aircraft; it begins from the moment you check-in, continues in our stunning airport in Doha, and creates lasting memories that our passengers can build upon as guests of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts around the world." During the event, two lucky raffle winners received a holiday package to a destination of their choice including return flights courtesy of Qatar Airways and a stay at Shangri-La Hotel. In 2016, Qatar Airways expanded its network by adding 14 new destinations to its roster, and in 2017 the airline intends to continue this trend, with 15 new destinations set to launch throughout the year. These include Las Vegas, USA; Auckland, New Zealand; Dublin, Ireland; Canberra, Australia; Nice, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and many more – plus two new services to Yanbu and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Passengers travelling with Qatar Airways enjoy a stopover in Hamad International Airport, which was the recipient of Skytrax's Best Airport in the Middle East for the second consecutive year in 2016. Designed with comfort, convenience and choice in mind, Hamad International Airport offers passengers a vast array of shopping and relaxation options, in stunning settings that are both efficient and architecturally appealing. The impeccably appointed Al Safwa First Lounge offers passengers travelling in First Class an oasis of luxury, where every moment is perfected with meticulous attention to detail and Business Class travellers can enjoy the services in Al Mourjan Business Lounge, which promises to redefine the world standard in airport lounge experiences. For those travelling through Hamad International Airport with a minimum of five hours between flights, Qatar Airways offers a free transit visa that enables access into Doha in between flights. The transit visa should be applied for before travelling. — SG
