Exploring Saudi Arabia’s cruise ambitions: An interview with Mashhoor Baeshen

Saudi Arabia wants also to be associated to cruises. In its ambitions to be a leading tourism destination with 150 million domestic and international travelers by 2035, cruises will also be part of this tremendous growth.

TravelMole spoke with Mashhoor Baeshen, Executive Director of Commercial and Business Development for Cruise Saudi, the national agency aiming to develop a full-suite cruise ecosystem. With a vision of positioning Saudi as a premier global cruise destination and attract international cruise lines and their passengers to visit Saudi Arabia by sea.

It can be a surprise talking about cruises in Saudi Arabia. It’s probably the last place people might associate with cruises. How do you respond to that?

Mashhoor Baeshen – Honestly, nothing surprises me anymore. Saudi Arabia is full of unexpected experiences. So, a cruise destination? It’s just part of our evolution.

Can you give us some context? How is cruising part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy?

Mashhoor Baeshen – Saudi Arabia is diversifying its economy under Vision 2030. Tourism is a major part of that, and cruises are a key element. Cruise Saudi was established by the Public Investment Fund in 2021 to build the infrastructure needed to attract international cruise lines. We now operate four ports—Jeddah, Yanbu on the Red Sea, Dammam in the Gulf—and launched a private island in December. Our goal is to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s target of 150 million tourists by 2030.

Then you are not a cruise line operator?

Mashhoor Baeshen– Initially, our mandate was to enable cruise lines to operate in Saudi Arabia. We identified 19 key destinations and developed the ports to make them accessible. But during our research, we noticed a gap in offerings for the local and regional market. It drove us to create our own cruise brand, Aroya. It launched last December with a ship that can carry 3,600 guests, offering an authentic Arabian cruise experience.

Do you actually attract international cruise lines ?

Mashhoor Baeshen – Absolutely. We started in 2021 with MSC and Scenic. Since then, we’ve hosted 26 different ships and over 500,000 guests. Geopolitical challenges have affected some bookings, but the situation is improving. For example, Celestial will call on Saudi ports this winter. We anticipate that traffic will fully pick up by 2027–2028.

When do you think Saudi Arabia will be recognized as a mature cruise destination?

Mashhoor Baeshen – We already have the assets and ports in place. The remaining challenge is attracting cruise lines consistently, which we expect will happen in the next few years. Once that happens, Saudi Arabia will firmly establish itself on the global cruise map.

Are there other local cruise lines to come anytime soon?

Mashhoor Baeshen – Yes, Aroya is our local cruise line. In addition, we have a joint venture with Aman Cruise, which will launch an ultra-luxury product in 2027.

What about cruise terminals and infrastructure ?

Mashhoor Baeshen – Today, we use commercial ports adapted for cruise operations. In Yanbu, we have a terminal and access to the historic mud village and Medina nearby. Jeddah serves as our main home port, and we have a private island, Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya for tendered calls. In Dammam, we also launched a cruise terminal at King Abdulaziz Port for Gulf itineraries. Al-Waj port will launch soon, expanding our eastern Gulf access.

How would you convince someone unfamiliar with Saudi Arabia to visit by cruise?

Mashhoor Baeshen – Saudi Arabia offers something truly unique. Guests discover UNESCO heritage sites like Al-Balad in Jeddah, the mud villages near Yanbu, and Al-Ula in the north. We also provide access to religious and historical sites, with guided tours by Saudi nationals, ensuring an authentic experience. And our sense of hospitality- we call it Hafawa, is at the core of our tourism. Our guests consistently say that the warmth of our people is what makes the experience unforgettable. It’s part of what makes our destination different from others in the region.

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