Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, joined hands with the Ministry of Culture to celebrate the “Year of Arabic Calligraphy” by adorning two of their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with a special livery marking the initiative.
These specially painted aircraft is registered as HZ-ARD and HZ-AR13. According to Saudia, the two aircraft have already flown to London, Madrid, Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam with many more scheduled international destinations to come.
In addition to decorating the two Boeing aircraft with Arabic calligraphy, Saudia also organized special events, prior to their departures from the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, where calligraphers wrote the names of passengers in Arabic calligraphy on boarding pass replicas. Passengers were also treated to a live performance of traditional Arabic music and were presented with the colouring booklet Mandala Arabic Letter - one of the winning initiatives of the previously held Ministry of Culture’s Arabic calligraphy competition. Both aircraft also displayed introductory videos and designs on their screens to familiarize passengers with Arabic calligraphy.
By supporting the initiative Saudia aims to introduce the local and international community to the efforts to transform the art of Arabic calligraphy, from a source of knowledge to an aesthetic icon that represents the Saudi identity.
Saudia’s participation in the Year of Arabic Calligraphy initiative is in line with the airline’s cultural and community commitments, in addition to fostering awareness and understanding of Arab culture within and outside the Kingdom. It has also partnered with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) for a $1 million marketing agreement to promote AlUla as an iconic destination for Saudi tourists. By participating in various initiatives, which also enhance its guest experience, Saudia aims to deliver on its commitment to facilitate the growth of the aviation sector and support the Kingdom’s transformation into a global hub for air transport, in accordance with the objectives of Vision 2030.
