AROYA Cruises: Saudi Arabia's First Cruise Brand Sets Sail on the Red Sea
The AROYA completed its first cruise from Jeddah in December 2024. A halal cruise with separate wellness areas and no alcohol — a first in the global cruise market.
09. April 2026
In December 2024, Saudi Arabia established its first own cruise brand with AROYA Cruises. The first ship, AROYA (a converted former Norwegian Sun from 1999), set off from Jeddah on its first regular voyage on the Red Sea.
The concept
AROYA is the only cruise brand in the world with a consistently Islamic onboard experience: no alcohol, separate wellness areas for men and women, a five-times-daily prayer programme and halal cuisine. The concept is aimed at Saudi families and at tourists from Arab countries.
The Cruise Saudi strategy
The brand is part of the Vision 2030 strategy of the Saudi Public Investment Fund — diversifying tourism beyond oil. Further ships and route expansions into the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean are planned.