Flydubai has announced the launch of flights to Hofuf, the largest city in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia.

The new twice-weekly service to Al-Ahsa Airport will commence on Feb. 6, bringing the total number of destinations served by the carrier in the Kingdom to 11.

Thanking the Saudi authorities for their cooperation and support in making the new route possible, Ghaith Al-Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said: "We appreciate the continuous support we receive from the Saudi authorities and are honored to have the opportunity to further expand our network in the Kingdom.”

“The new service will further strengthen the strong cultural and trade ties between our two nations," he added.

flydubai is the first airline to offer a direct air link between Dubai and Hofuf, opening up new opportunities for trade and tourism. This new route will allow passengers from one of the major cultural centers in the Kingdom to travel to Dubai or connect onward across the flydubai network, while giving the UAE residents the opportunity to explore a region with a rich historical and cultural tradition.

Currently flydubai offers services to Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.