Saudi Arabia Inaugurates Maiden Direct Flight from Dammam to Iraq’s Najaf

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority declared the commencement of the inaugural direct flights from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, located in the eastern region of the Kingdom, to Najaf in Iraq, operated by the national carrier Flynas.

Flynas marks the first Saudi airline to establish direct air links between the two cities, offering an average of three weekly flights, as stated by the airline’s official account on X.

In April, the Authority had unveiled plans for direct flights to Najaf, scheduled to commence in June, aligning with the Kingdom’s aviation sector strategy. The ambitious strategy aims to accommodate over 330 million passengers annually and connect to more than 250 global destinations by 2030.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of notable dignitaries, including the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Iraq’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Safia Al-Suhail, Governor of Najaf, Youssef Kannawi, along with several officials from the governorate.

Expressing optimism about the development, Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement, welcomed the initiative, highlighting it as a significant step towards fostering closer ties between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He emphasized the move as pivotal in thawing relations between the two nations.