LONDON: Ahead of its fifth season, Formula E announced on Tuesday that Saudia (formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines) will be its official airline partner as per a new long-term partnership deal. Saudia is owned by the government of Saudi Arabia, the country in which the first race of the new season will be held on 15 December this year.
As a result, the agreement also includes that the airline will become the race title partner of the Ad Diriyah E-Prix too. The race will mark the first instance of Formula E entering Middle Eastern territory. “Saudia is pleased to be supporting the ABB FIA Formula E Championship for the upcoming event in Ad Diriyah – a first for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East,” Saudia’s director general, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said.
“The airline welcomes fans from around the world to come aboard with Saudia as we get set to wish the teams all the very best for the race and a new era of electric street racing, starting with the Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix.”
The announcement was made at Governorate Ad Diriyah, after Venturi Formula E driver Felipe Massa’s drive in the radical new Gen2 car through the streets of the Saudi Arabian capital.
“It’s fantastic news that Sauda is joining the ABB FIA Formula E Championship as official airline partner – ahead of the first race in Saudi Arabia and the debut of fully-electric racing in the Middle East,” Alejandro Agag, CEO and founder of Formula E said.
“The partnership continues to show the appeal of Formula E on a global scale and I’m proud to welcome SAUDIA to the Formula E family as the excitement continues to build for the opening round of season five on December 15.”
The development comes alongside Saudi Arabia’s General Sport Authority confirming that it will open up its borders by issuing visas for visitors around the world who wish to attend sports, music and other cultural events in the country for the first time in its history. According to an AFP report, the process will begin from the Formula E race.
