Dammam-based SaudiGulf Airlines aims to begin operations this year with domestic flights scheduled for September and international flights to Dubai expected to launch by year-end, said a report.

According to a report in Arab News, the carrier is preparing to receive its airline operating license on Wednesday.

The license will be granted in an official ceremony on June 22 in the presence of the Minister of Transport and the director of General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA).

The granting of the license comes after the company has completed and met all safety and flight requirements necessary to receive the AOC license as required by civil aviation regulations in the kingdom and as per the International Organization for Civil Aviation, the report said.

Owned by the Abdel Hadi Al-Qahtani & Sons group, Saudi Gulf Airlines plans to fly from Dammam to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dubai.