flydubai has announced it is to start operations to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on November 7th 2012.

Due to the influx of visitors and a number of key infrastructure projects underway in the city, including upgrades to Tabuk Airport, international travel trade companies such as global hoteliers are travelling to the city, raising its tourism appeal.

flydubai’s chief executive, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “We are very grateful to the Saudi authorities for helping us connect Dubai to underserved destinations in the Kingdom.

“Besides its business credentials, Tabuk is also an emerging leisure hub. With more and more families preferring to travel within the region, this low-cost link provides an alternative holiday spot.”

Over the past ten years, Saudi Arabia has become the UAE’s primary commercial partner within the GCC region.

According to Federal Customs Authority of the UAE, KSA is the UAE’s top non-oil trading partner, with trade between the two nations amounting to AED2.2 billion as of February 2012.

flydubai already flies to Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Dammam, Gassim, Taif and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia.

The airline has a simple model where customers only pay for services they want to receive.

Once on board, travellers can choose from a range of optional extras including flydubai’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system with packages priced from AED 10 or select from the varied menu of refreshments and Duty Free items.