JEDDAH — Cruise Saudi, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), signed today an agreement with MSC Cruises to launch its Red Sea and Arabian Gulf cruises in 2021 winter season. The framework agreement was co-signed in Riyadh Wednesday by Managing Director of Cruise Saudi Fawaz Farooqi and Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises Pierfrancesco Vago to mark the beginning of this new partnership. Under the agreement, MSC Magnifica will set sail in the Red Sea from Jeddah, operating seven-day cruises from Nov. 13, 2021 to March 26, 2022. The MSC Magnifica will visit a selection of ports and destinations in the region and three Saudi ports including weekly calls to Al-Wajh Port, the gateway to Al-Ula, the UNESCO World Heritage. As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prepares to host the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 on Dec. 5 in Jeddah, passengers of MSC Magnifica will have the chance to follow this global sports event during their trip. In addition to MSC Magnifica in the Red Sea, MSC Virtuosa, as a part of its winter program in the Arabian Gulf, will make trips to Dammam Port weekly from Dec. 2, 2021, to March 24, 2021, visiting Al-Ahsa oasis, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Through this partnership, the two companies expect a total of up to 170,000 guests during this upcoming winter season. — SPA