Flydubai, a Dubai-based low cost airline, has launched daily flights to the city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

Flight FZ863 landed at King Fahd International Airport after departing Dubai’s Terminal 2 this morning.

With trade between the UAE and KSA growing year-on-year, this new service is expected to encourage further collaboration whilst also, catering to the growing number of business travellers between the cities, a statement said.

“Development of the travel and tourism industry is a core focus for the Saudi government as it increases its non-oil GDP and diversifies the economy,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai CEO.

“With the launch of this route we hope to further strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two countries and open up new areas of partnership.”

Saudi Arabia was the UAE's top GCC trading partner in 2010, with UAE-Saudi Arabia trade worth Dh21.1 billion ($5.74 billion), the statement said.

Visitor numbers to Saudi Arabia are forecast to grow 6.7 per cent annually until 2015. – TradeArabia News Service