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The recently opened Red Sea International airport (RSI) in Saudi Arabia will welcome its first international flight on April 18 from Dubai.

Budget carrier FlyDubai will commence twice-a-week operations from the UAE to the rapidly developing Red Sea destination.

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Since September 2023, when the airport first opened, flag carrier Saudia has been operating domestic routes.

With the launch of FlyDubai, there will now be eight flights per week to RSI.

Separately, the Dubai-based airline said that it would resume flights to Al Jouf airport, also from April 18.

“We are looking forward to truly opening up to the world and welcoming visitors from the UAE, wider Middle East region and beyond,” Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano said in a statement.

Aerial view of a project under the development of Red Sea Global in Saudi Arabia. (RSG)

RSI expects to serve one million guests a year at full capacity. “Our inaugural flight just six months ago was the start of our journey towards reaching that goal, and this first international flight is a further step in making Saudi Arabia one of the top tourism destinations globally,” Pagano added.

RSG is owned by the Saudi wealth fund PIF and controls the entire Red Sea and Amaala development.

Pagano had told Al Arabiya English in November 2023 that as RSG works to open the remaining 13 resorts of phase one throughout 2024 and 2025, a Dubai-bound service was expected, though he did not name the carrier at the time.

Two resorts are currently open at the giga-project destination, Six Senses Southern Dunes and St. Regis Red Sea Resort.

Three more resorts are expected to open in 2024: Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; an overwater villa experience with Shebara; and Desert Rock resort, nestled between the mountains.

The airport, which will act as the primary hub for travel to the area, is aiming to become the first carbon-neutral in the Middle East – from streamlining operations to eliminating and offsetting carbon emissions.

These include the use of local materials, incorporating 100 percent renewable energy, and minimizing light pollution.

This commitment to sustainable practices extends across the project, which is powered by five off-grid solar farms containing 760,000 panels, and one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities.

Upon full completion in 2030, the project will feature 50 resorts with 8,000 hotel rooms and over 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.

The destination also includes luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment venues, a variety of dining options, and leisure facilities.

Four Seasons resort on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Development. (Supplied)

Read more:

Charting the philosophy guiding the Red Sea development in Saudi with CEO John Pagano

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM and MDLBEAST to open mega beach club on luxury Sindalah island

Saudia signs MoU to operate flights to and from Red Sea International airport