Shaikh Ahmed Bin Saed Al Maktoum presents AHIC leadership award to Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Bin Salman

The annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) leadership award was this afternoon presented to the president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities Prince Sultan Bin Salman al-Saud by Emirates Group President Shaikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The citation delivered by CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg said that Prince Sultan had led the commission since it was founded in 2000. In this time, the Saudi Arabian tourism industry has been transformed by modern regulations, major projects and a compelling vision, Greenberg said.

Prince Sultan said that tourism now has the second highest level of Saudi-isation in the private sector. Almost 1m people were working in tourism and hotels an almost one third of these were Saudi Arabian nationals.

AHIC is being held at Madinat Jumeirah. It is organised by Bench Events and MEED.