
Wizz Air to exit Abu Dhabi operations citing geopolitical developments
Wizz Air will focus on its core Central and Eastern European markets, as well as countries such as Austria, Italy and the UK, it said.
'Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability, and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our original ambitions,' Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi said in a statement.
'While this was a difficult decision, it is the right one given the circumstances,' he added.
Read more:
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,213
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index closed lower on Monday, falling 39.31 points, or 0.35 percent, to end the day at 11,213.59. The total trading turnover on the benchmark index reached SR4.54 billion ($1.21 billion), with 60 stocks advancing and 190 declining. The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also retreated, shedding 5.46 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 1,436.97. The Kingdom's parallel market Nomu declined by 80.73 points, or 0.29 percent, closing at 27,356.89. Of the listed stocks, 22 advanced while 56 retreated. The best-performing stock was Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund, with its share price rising by 9.91 percent to SR9.43. Other top performers included Saudi Industrial Investment Group, which saw its share price rise by 4.56 percent to SR17.42, and Al Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker Co., which saw a 4.48 percent increase to SR29.40. On the downside, Emaar The Economic City posted the steepest drop of the day, falling 4.12 percent to SR13.73. Naseej International Trading Co. fell 4.03 percent to SR102.50, and MBC Group Co. dropped 3.79 percent to SR34.02. On the announcements front, Jarir Marketing Co. reported estimated net profits of SR197.2 million for the first half of 2025, marking a 15.2 percent increase from the same period last year. In a statement on Tadawul, the company attributed the estimated increase to a 4.5 percent rise in gross profit, driven by higher sales of after-sales services along with improved profit margins and an increase in other income. Jarir's shares gained 1.27 percent, closing at SR12.79. Advanced Petrochemical Co. also announced its estimated financial results for the same period. The firm's net profits were estimated to reach SR82 million, up by 95.2 percent from the same period last year. The company said that the increase was driven by an 8 percent rise in net revenues, lower propane and purchased propylene prices. Advanced Petrochemical Co. also announced the completion of construction and successful operational launch of its Propane Dehydrogenation plant, capable of producing 843,000 tonnes of propylene annually, along with two PolyPropylene plants operated by Advanced Polyolefins Industry Co. with a combined capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year. The facilities, located in Jubail Industrial City, mark a significant milestone in the company's expansion in the petrochemical sector, according to a statement. APOC, a joint venture between Advanced Global Investment Co. and SK Gas Petrochemical Pte., will begin contributing to Advanced Petrochemical Co.'s consolidated financial results starting in the third quarter of 2025. Advanced Petrochemical shares closed 0.32 percent higher at SR31.48.


Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia tops global tourism spending growth in Q1 2025: UN report
Saudi Arabia led the world in international tourism spending growth during the first quarter of 2025 and ranked third globally in tourist arrival gains, according to the latest UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) data. The Kingdom recorded a 102 percent surge in international visitor numbers and spending compared to the same period in 2019, significantly outpacing the global average of 3 percent and the Middle East's 44 percent. For more news on Saudi Arabia, visit our dedicated page. In its latest World Tourism Barometer, the UNWTO confirmed that Saudi Arabia placed first worldwide in tourism receipts growth and third globally in international arrivals. Regionally, the Kingdom ranked second in the Middle East for visitor growth. According to the Ministry of Tourism, foreign visitor spending in Q1 2025 reached $13.2 billion (SAR 49.4 billion) – an increase of nearly 10 percent over Q1 2024. The Kingdom's travel account surplus also rose 11.7 percent year-on-year. Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed al-Khateeb welcomed the results, saying they 'support the Kingdom's efforts to boost tourism as part of its Saudi Vision 2030.' The strong performance reflects the impact of Vision 2030 and the Kingdom's ambitious giga-projects – including NEOM, AlUla, the Red Sea Project, Amaala, and Sindalah – as well as streamlined visa policies and expanded tourism infrastructure, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Religious tourism continues to play a central role, with Mecca and Madinah drawing millions of pilgrims annually. Mecca alone attracted 9.4 million visitors in 2022. Meanwhile, heritage destinations like Hegra in AlUla – known for its ancient Nabatean tombs – are expanding Saudi Arabia's appeal to leisure and cultural tourists. The 'Quality of Life' Program has also contributed to this momentum, with $9.2 billion (SAR 34.6 billion) invested since 2018 in entertainment, festivals, and infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing the visitor experience. With this upward trajectory in both receipts and arrivals, Saudi Arabia appears well on track to reach its Vision 2030 goal of 150 million annual visits and establish itself as a leading global tourism destination.

Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Four killed in small plane crash at London Southend Airport, PA reports
Four people were killed when a small plane crashed at London Southend Airport on Sunday, PA Media reported on Monday. The airport, which is located about 35 miles east of the capital and used by easyJet to fly to European holiday destinations, remains closed following the crash. Developing