Jörg Rudolph has been appointed CEO of Aroya Cruises, Saudi Arabia’s first domestic homegrown cruise line.

Rudolph was previously the Country Manager for Germany at Costa Cruises and will work alongside Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clarsen (himself the former President of AIDA Cruises) to establish Aroya as a major regional cruise brand.

He will utilise his 25 years’ experience across the cruise industry to guide Aroya Cruises during its formative years, having previously also served as Country Manager in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for Royal Caribbean International, and as Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing at AIDA Cruises.

Cruise Saudi owns Aroya Cruises and is backed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF sovereign wealth fund, but the Aroya brand will be run as an independent cruise line. 

It’s first cruise ship Manara is due for launch in 2025. The former World Dream of Dream Cruises is being refurbished in Europe to bring her in-line with Arabian hospitality standards. 

The 335 metre, 19-deck vessel will carry more than 3,364 passengers at double occupancy in 1,682 staterooms and will boast the world’s first Saudi Arabian gourmet restaurant at sea.

Cruise Saudi has also formed a joint venture with luxury hotel group Aman to launch a new boutique cruise brand called Aman at Sea, which will also cruise from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Aroya Cruises and Aman at Sea are being established as part of Cruise Saudi’s mandate to grow Saudi Arabia’s domestic cruise market, and establish the country as a major global cruise destination. 

The company has already undertaken extensive cruise infrastructure works at several Saudi Arabian ports, such as Jeddah, and has promoted the country as a global cruise destination, with MSC Cruises already homeporting annually in Jeddah.

The launch of Aroya Cruises and Aman at Sea will increase the number of Saudi Arabians taking cruise holidays annually, while also supporting the growth of the Saudi cruise tourism industry.

Cruise Saudi aims to have more than 1 million cruise tourists, both domestic and international, cruising to and from Saudi Arabia by 2030, supporting the employment of more than 50,000 Saudi nationals in the sector.