DOLLAR Rent a Car, a franchisee of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (DTAG), has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia in a franchise agreement with Al Wefaq Rent A Car.
The company’s office in Al Rawabi, Riyadh, will serve as the Dollar headquarters for car rental services in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Jubail.
It will be managed by Nasser AlQahtani who will act as chairman and CEO. Dollar will target corporate customers in the kingdom as well as catering to holiday makers and short-term business tourists.
“Saudi Arabia is a hub for regional and international investment at the moment,” said AlQahtani. “Tourism is increasing at a steady pace, we have an influx of business tourists with the opening of new offices for international corporations and local businesses.”
The leisure business will be driven by residents who frequently opt to rent cars for journeys to Bahrain and the UAE.
“Saudi has also been a hub for religious retreats and we are prepared to serve the tourist this Ramadan season,” added AlQahtani.
Dollar Car Rental expects a 50-50 split between leisure and business travel in the kingdom over the next few years. The World Travel and Tourism Council reports that leisure travel spending (inbound and domestic) is expected to generate 54.7 per cent of direct travel and tourism GDP in 2011 compared with 45.3 per cent for business travel spending.
“The inaugural Dollar office in Saudi Arabia is a major success for the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, as we have been eyeing penetration into the country,” said Sam Eltibi, executive director, DTAG Mena and Asia Pacific. “We leave the valuable business in the very capable hands of AlQahtani, who has been in the industry for 11 years. His enthusiasm and activeness in the kingdom’s tourism industry is a real asset to drive Dollar’s business in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.”