Jeddah: Saudi Cruises, a company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced the appointment of Taha Omar Nazer as acting CEO. The Board of Directors expressed its gratitude to Lars Claassen for his contributions during his tenure, which included establishing Aroya Cruises, developing cruise destinations across the Kingdom, and leading the establishment of Aman at Sea .

This appointment reflects the company's commitment to strengthening its leadership, consolidating organizational stability, and continuing to execute its strategy as it enters its next phase of growth, focused on operational excellence, profitability, and a customer-centric approach . Taha Nazer has served as Chief Financial Officer of Cruise Saudi Arabia since 2023 and brings over 19 years of experience in the oil and gas, aviation, and cruise sectors. Throughout his career, he has gained leadership expertise in strategic, financial, and governance areas, along with a proven track record of supporting organizational growth, transformation, and cost efficiencies. In his new role, Nazer will lead the company's operations across its strategic, commercial, operational, and financial domains, including further developing the cruise sector in the Kingdom, enhancing maritime destinations across its various regions, and managing the company's international projects.

Raed Abdullah Ismail, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cruise Saudi Arabia, stated: “The Board of Directors extends its thanks to Lars Claassen for his leadership and contributions to Cruise Saudi Arabia during the past period. The appointment of Taha Nazer stems from the Board’s confidence in his ability to lead the company during this stage, given his familiarity with the company’s operations, his experience in commercial, financial and governance fields, and his proven track record of achievements, which qualifies him to lead the company, ensure continuity, enhance performance and achieve long-term strategic and commercial goals.”

As Taha Omar Nazer, Acting CEO of Saudi Cruises, stated: “I am honored and proud of the Board’s confidence in entrusting me with leading Saudi Cruises at this important juncture. We will move forward to enhance our performance and accelerate the achievement of our strategic and commercial objectives, with a focus on delivering real and sustainable value. We are delighted to announce that the Aroya is en route to Jeddah, marking the return of its highly anticipated voyages this May. Starting May 14, the Aroya will embark on distinctive Red Sea cruises encompassing Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, offering an exceptional experience that combines the beauty of the destinations with the spirit of authentic Arabian hospitality. These voyages also serve as a prelude to the highly anticipated second season in the Mediterranean, which begins in June, where we will continue to expand our horizons and elevate the Aroya experience to new global standards. We also look forward to the continued progress of the Aman at Sea project, which represents our entry into the ultra-luxury cruise sector in partnership with the Aman Group. This project is a significant step for Saudi Cruises and a key addition to our long-term growth ambitions.” The ship is expected to be delivered in 2027. With Taha Nazer taking the helm, Saudi Cruises is entering a new phase focused on accelerating the growth of the cruise tourism sector in Saudi Arabia, expanding its portfolio of destinations, and achieving sustainable returns for shareholders, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

For more information about Cruise Saudi, please visit the company's official website cruisesaudi.com/ar

For media inquiries, please contact :

Ayman Mustafa, PR consultant – ayman@borderline-me.com

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