Dubai’s low-cost airline flydubai has chalked up its seventh destination in Saudi Arabia with the start of its three-weekly flights to Taif in the Makkah Province.

Flydubai launched its Saudi operation in November 2010, and now serves key cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Yanbu, Gassim, Abha and Dammam in addition to Taif with a total of 55 weekly flights across the country, said a statement from the Dubai airline.

The inaugural flight, FZ875, took from Dubai Terminal 2 at 7.25pm on Wednesday and landed at Taif Regional Airport at 9.30pm (local time). On return, the flight FZ876, departed at 10.30pm and arrived in Dubai at 2.20am on Thursday morning.

The one-way fares from Dubai to Taif start at Dh570 ($155) and fares from Taif to Dubai start at Dh600.

Commenting on the launch, flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: 'The UAE has boosted its commercial links with Saudi over the past year and the Kingdom is currently the UAE’s top non-oil trading partner.'

'By covering the country’s main commercial and leisure hubs, flydubai is supporting these relationships through offering regular travel between the two nations,' he added.

He pointed out that Taif was the Kingdom’s leading summer destination. 'Every year, the Saudi government relocates to the temperate climates from the heat in Riyadh,' he noted.

'Thanks to its location less than 100km from Makkah, it offers an alternative entry point for people performing Hajj and Umra,' said Al Ghaith.

'Located on the slopes of the Sarawat mountains, Taif’s lush landscape and mountainous terrain puts it in stark contrast to the summer dryness of its neighbouring cities.'

'It is renowned across the Kingdom and GCC for its gardens, as well as its agricultural produce, especially roses and grapes,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service