The MoU was executed on November 10 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by H.E. Huot Hak, Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, and H.E. Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. The signing took place on the sidelines of the 26th General Assembly of the UN Tourism.

Targeting New Tourism Markets

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the agreement aims to enhance friendship and cooperation while actively creating opportunities for mutual tourism promotion. With a population exceeding 92 million, Iran represents a significant global market, ranking 17th worldwide. The MoU is crucial for diversifying Cambodia’s tourism markets, strengthening Muslim-friendly tourism initiatives, and developing new value-added and heritage tourism products to attract Iranian visitors.

Direct connectivity via Etihad Airways’ flights between Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Phnom Penh, launched in early October, is expected to greatly facilitate travel, tourism, and investment between the two countries.

Strengthening Regional Tourism

In a separate, high-level meeting on November 9, H.E. Huot Hak also met with H.E. Phyo Saw Soe, Deputy Minister of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar. Both sides agreed to strengthen and deepen tourism cooperation to boost tourist exchanges and increase international arrivals. They will achieve this through regional and sub-regional mechanisms like ASEAN, GMS, CLMV, and ACMECS. They also committed to exploring the possibility of establishing direct flights between the countries’ major cities and tourist destinations.

READ MORE: Etihad Airways Launches Historic Direct Flights to Phnom Penh’s Techo International Airport

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Prime Minister Hun Manet championed the project as a reflection of Cambodia’s strategic future. “This is a new achievement reflecting Cambodia’s long-term development vision,” Samdech Thipadei stated. “TIA will serve as a driving force to attract more tourists and investors to Cambodia. We will open our horizons even wider.”

The Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), H.E. Dr. Mao Havannall, affirmed the airport’s significance, describing it as an important bridge of solidarity and cooperation that strengthens the country’s tourism industry and overall economic growth.

The vast project, costing US$2.3 billion, was spearheaded by the Cambodia Airport Investment Corporation (CAIC), a subsidiary of OCIC. Lok Neak Oknha Pung Kheav Se, Chairman of CAIC, confirmed the total expenditure covered the construction of the main passenger terminal building (PTB), airfields, ancillary buildings, and both general aviation and VVIP terminals.

The airport is classified as a 4F-level international airport, the highest global standard, capable of accommodating the world’s largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.

TIA commenced operations on September 9, 2025, and is situated on more than 2,600 hectares approximately 20 kilometers from Phnom Penh. It is designed for massive future expansion: Phase 1 accommodates 13 million passengers, Phase 2 will handle 30 million, and Phase 3 is projected to reach 50 million annually.

Furthermore, Mr. Pung Kheav Se highlighted TIA’s immediate international credibility, noting that Etihad Airways launched direct flights on October 4, with Turkish Airlines scheduled to begin service on December 10, 2025. This expansion improves connectivity to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. He also proudly cited that Cathay Pacific chose TIA as a trusted alternative to park 13 of its aircraft during Typhoon Ragasa, demonstrating international confidence in TIA’s facilities.

Related Article: Etihad Airways Launches Historic Direct Flights to Phnom Penh’s Techo International Airport

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The arrival of the flight and its passengers was greeted by a welcoming ceremony attended by Minister of Tourism Hout Hak, along with leadership from the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and other relevant institutions, underscoring the national importance of the new route.

Etihad Airways (Cambodia) confirmed that the new, non-stop service from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Phnom Penh (KTI) is a historic connection, spanning over seven hours of flight time. The airline will operate four flights per week, significantly enhancing connectivity for business and leisure travelers and opening new opportunities across the Middle East and other regions.

The new route is expected to play a critical role in boosting Cambodia’s tourism and economic sectors by leveraging the capacity of the new Techo International Airport.

Official Flight Schedule (Four Times Weekly)

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