The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai, headed by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced updates to Dubai’s travel protocols for inbound passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India, effective from Wednesday 23 June 2021. The updates are part of the Committee’s keenness to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on COVID-19 precautionary measures put in place to safeguard everyone’s health and wellbeing. The new protocols allow travellers from South Africa, who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine to enter Dubai. Passengers must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure to Dubai; UAE nationals are exempted from this PCR test requirement. Passengers must also undergo a PCR test on arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destinations. For travelers from Nigeria, passengers must present a negative test result for a PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure; UAE citizens are exempted from this requirement. The negative PCR test certificate should carry a QR Code and the test must have been conducted by labs approved by the Nigerian Government. Passengers must also undergo a PCR test on arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destinations. With regard to travel from India, only passengers with a valid residence visa who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine, are allowed to travel to Dubai. They should also present a negative test certificate from a PCR test taken 48 hours before departure; UAE nationals are exempted from this requirement. Only QR-coded negative PCR test certificates are accepted. Furthermore, passengers from India are required …

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has confirmed the resumption of international tourism with the country opening to global travellers under existing visa regulations, including those from across the GCC, from 25 June 2021. “Opening our borders to international visitors ahead of the summer travel period is vital for the domestic tourism ecosystem and we anticipate Germany being recognised as a go to travel destination this year,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales and Marketing of the German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries. “During the past few months, we have been working closely with our travel partners across the region to ensure Germany remains top of mind once borders reopen.” To ensure tourism remains safe for all, visitors are required to register at www.einreiseanmeldung.de to gain entry, which includes uploading proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in digital or paper form (e.g. WHO vaccination booklet) with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This must also be printed and carried as proof. Vaccines approved include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. A period of at least 14 days must have elapsed since receiving the last vaccine dose. For full entry requirements, visitors are advised to refer to www.bmi.bund.de. Those travelling from countries with variant concerns are unable to transit through Germany to another European country. Travellers must check with the individual German federal state they plan to visit as all have different rules to follow prior to arrival. “Germany has a wealth of summer activities for international travellers, from spa and wellness breaks, and nature trails through forests, to city-based culinary experiences and cultural explorations across multiple regions,” Sofo added.

Emirates airline announced it will launch a four times weekly service between Florida’s second largest city, Miami, and Dubai, from 22 July, 2021, expanding its US network to 12 destinations. The new service will provide Emirates’ global travellers with another access point into Florida after Orlando (effective July), serving the Southern Florida area while offering convenient connections for travellers headed towards the Middle East, West Asia, and Indian Ocean via Dubai. With the addition of Miami, Emirates will now serve the US with over 70 weekly flights, offering over 26,000 seats across 12 gateways including Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK and Newark), Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and Orlando. A cultural mecca, famous for its proprietary take on nightlife, art, music, architecture and cuisine, the City of Miami is one of America’s most exciting destinations. As travel demand and consumer confidence continues to grow with all the multi-faceted health measures in place, the new route will cater to Emirates’ leisure and business travellers, boosting tourism and trade opportunities both inbound and outbound. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said, “Launching a non-stop service to Miami at this time signals our confidence in travel recovery as countries progress on their vaccination programmes and implement protocols for the safe resumption of flight and travel activity, particularly in the US and the UAE. It also underscores our strong commitment to the US market which Emirates now serves with over 70 weekly flights across 12 gateways. “There is a clear demand for this service from both leisure and business travellers and we anticipate that our new route will be warmly received across our …

Sojern announced an extension of their partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to drive further traveller demand into the Emirate using its Co-Op Marketing Programme. Following a successful pilot of the joint marketing programme, which has reached more than 3 million people so far, Abu Dhabi hotels have been able to increase direct bookings through a highly targeted, digital display and social media advertising campaign. The hospitality industry has been heavily impacted by the pandemic but DCT Abu Dhabi has worked closely with the UAE government to launch a series of stimulus initiatives to support the recovery of the tourism industry. “We were looking for ways to support the hospitality industry and navigate the economic challenges presented by the pandemic, and the partnership with Sojern helps us do just that, by supporting hotels in Abu Dhabi to drive direct bookings and improve room profitability,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “DCT Abu Dhabi is committed to collaborative efforts between the private and public sectors within the local tourism industry to continuously support and drive tourism growth to the capital. Our efforts are aligned with the overall strategic objectives and vision — to support the evolution of Abu Dhabi into a world-class destination, while also reinforcing the capital’s position as a forward-thinking tourism destination.” Sojern’s Co-Op Marketing Programme is designed to help Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and their partners increase the effectiveness of their marketing initiatives through collaboration, and drive revenue for the travel industry, at scale. “Hotels in Abu Dhabi were looking to improve their direct booking volumes and reduce commission from …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has renewed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification. Created by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), IOSA is an accredited international evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. The biennial audit was conducted by a specialized international team accredited by IATA that reviews the safety and quality of airline operational processes. The audit included a review of the effectiveness of SAUDIA’s documentation of its safety procedures as well as an evaluation of the operational quality requirements and their practical application on the ground. In addition, the audit team went on scheduled flights, conducted field audits on all procedures followed during the flights, and ensured the safety and quality of operational processes besides studying the detailed operations across various relevant divisions, and it included eight sectors and operational locations: safety and quality systems, flight operations, flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground operations, cargo operations, and aviation security. Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, expressed his pride at SAUDIA’s success in passing the audit with excellence as well as on the positive observations of IATA regarding the accuracy of the safety procedures and operational quality at SAUDIA. He said that safety procedures are part of SAUDIA’s daily operational processes and that this recognition is not the first and will not be the last, as the national air carrier has received numerous commendations from international air transport organizations. “SAUDIA applies and prioritizes strict internal procedures for the safety and quality of its operations. Passing the audit at this advanced level and receiving the best safety and operational quality reports have been made possible by the efforts of …

Mandarin Oriental, Doha is delighted to welcome GCC guests to the magnificent hotel in the heart of Doha, where traditional Middle Eastern charm meets Mandarin Oriental’s legendary hospitality. Located in trendy Msheireb Downtown Doha and at the heart of Barahat Msheireb, Mandarin Oriental, Doha is situated in the city’s newest and most exciting neighbourhood. The area is home to innovative dining experiences and eclectic cafés, pedestrian friendly streets, and a convenient internal tram network, all within walking distance to top landmarks such as Souq Waqif, Museum of Islamic Art, the hotel is also just a short distance to the dynamic business area of West Bay and other attractions. From its extensive list of top-class dining destinations to its unrivalled leisure and recreation facilities, the luxurious urban retreat is ready and waiting since Qatar has relaxed regulations for vaccinated travellers in the GCC who can visit quarantine free. Where Middle East tradition meets seamlessly with the unique Mandarin Oriental hospitality and style, guests can expect the inviting ambiance, exquisite décor, and bespoke service of the Mandarin Oriental reputation worldwide. Whether travelling for business or pleasure, the hotel has a plentiful array of tempting things to do. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Doha occupies 3,030 square metres and features six private treatment rooms, a couple’s suite, two VIP suites and extensive heat and water experiences which includes two indoor pools. And while indulging in cuisines from around the world at Mosaic, including Mediterranean flavours at IZU, and the flavours of China at Liang, guests can complement their culinary adventures with the hotel’s Fitness & Wellness Centre, kitted out in state-of-the-art technology and three dedicated exercise studios. Two temperature-controlled rooftop pools offer views …

Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences announced the first Hyde hotel outside of the United States, Hyde Dubai Business Bay, in close proximity to the iconic Burj Khalifa directly fronting the Business Bay canal and promenade. The project is being developed in collaboration with owner, Emerald Palace Group, who have been successfully developing and constructing residential projects in Ukraine, UAE and Russia since 1996, including the newly announced Raffles the Palm Dubai. This news comes on the heels of Accor’s latest phase of expansion and its planned joint venture with Ennismore, which will see the creation of one of the world’s largest and fastest growing lifestyle operators, set to include Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences. This will be the fifth opening under the Hyde brand. Chadi Farhat, Chief Operating Officer of sbe said, “We couldn’t be happier to be working with Emerald Palace Group on bringing the Hyde brand to Dubai Business Bay and we want to thank Dr. Nver Mkhitaryan for the support in developing the property. This opening is a testament of our continued international growth, and in particular, after the incredible success of SLS Dubai, Hyde Dubai Business Bay will continue to bring additional lifestyle experiences to one of the most vibrant destinations in the world. We will be bringing some of our most well-known concepts to the property with Katsuya, Cleo, and Hudson Tavern.” “We are delighted to partner with Accor to establish the first Hyde hotel in the U.A.E.,” said Dr. Mkhitaryan, Owner of EPG Group. “No expense is being spared in the construction and décor, and we are confident that our guests will appreciate the attention that’s been paid to every last detail. This is …

Qatar Airways welcomes Abidjan to its global network as its debut flight to the largest city in Côte d’Ivoire landed at Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport today. With three weekly flights, the service between Doha and Abidjan via Accra will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class, along with capacity of up to 15 tonnes of cargo. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, said: “Launching flights to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – our fourth new destination in Africa since the start of the pandemic, after having recently launched Abuja in Nigeria; Accra in Ghana; and Luanda in Angola is a significant step in our African growth. This is testament to our commitment to the African continent where we now operate over 100 weekly flights to 25 destinations in 18 countries via our home and hub, Hamad International Airport.” He added, “At Qatar Airways, being there for our passengers, trade partners and corporate customers has been our major focus since the start of the pandemic. We thank the government of Côte d’Ivoire for their support to launch these flights, and we look forward to working closely with our partners here to grow this route and support the recovery of tourism and trade in this region. As global travel recovers in 2021, we look forward to further expanding our network and offering more connections to and from Africa.” The launch of Abidjan also supports increased demand for trade between Côte d’Ivoire and destinations on the Qatar Airways network such as Paris, Beirut and many points in the Indian subcontinent. With up to 15 tonnes of …

Address Hotels + Resorts are set to redefine the perfect getaway with the much-anticipated opening of the new Address Beach Resort Fujairah later this year. Adding a second beachfront property in the UAE to their portfolio, Address Hotels + Resorts bring a fresh perspective to the global hospitality service sector focusing on creating an ultimate experience through exceptional hospitality service. Creating landmarks ‘Where Life Happens’, the brand offers world class designing, creating and curating memories for guests at every touchpoint and moment of their journey at any property. Designed with an ingenious sense of style and developed by Eagle Hills, Address Beach Resort Fujairah is set to become the brand’s ultimate beach getaway that offers both coastal coolness and the outdoor adventures that Fujairah is so well known for. “Address Beach Resort Fujairah will be the first hotel – as a part of the expansion plan of our luxury brand – into the beautiful East Coast of the United Arab Emirates. The beach-front property is located on the well-known coastline of Al Aqah in Fujairah and set to be the perfect city escape nestled between the sea and the mountains,” says Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group. “We like to believe that 2021 is our year as we look forward to stepping outside our home, Dubai, to newer locations such as Fujairah. This property follows a very successful launch of the first-ever beachfront property, Address Beach Resort in Dubai. We see the Fujairah property becoming a much-loved weekend retreat.” Spread over 578,000 sq feet, the resort will feature 196 guest rooms and suites,  10 privately owned villas including exclusive four-bedroom Beach and Garden Villa as well as 4 residential …

Sand Sherpa has launched a new summer adventure. Starting from June 18, the homegrown company will offer self-drive sunrise and sunset safaris in the 225-square-kilometre protected area. Presenting a new and unique way to explore the desert in the summer months – when humidity levels among the dunes are lower than that of the city – the experience allows participants to enter the private reserve in their own vehicles with the Sand Sherpa team. Aimed at those looking to connect with nature and explore Dubai’s natural wilderness, the experience begins with a briefing on reserve driving etiquette. Sand Sherpa’s expert guides will then instruct drivers over hand-held radios and enable them to safely manoeuvre their own 4X4 vehicles through the dunes, all with minimal impact on the natural environment. During the 75-minute wildlife drive, adults and children alike will learn about the desert, its history and inhabitants, while enjoying close encounters with indigenous flora and fauna. The lush vegetation in the reserve attracts birds and various desert animals, including gazelles, foxes, monitor lizards and the once-endangered Arabian oryx. Following the scenic drive, participants are ushered to the campsite, where they will be able to enjoy a birds of prey interaction. Every participant will have a turn walking with and flying a trained indigenous owl, hawk, eagle and falcon before departing from the reserve after sunset. This summer self-drive safari is offered for the first time in the region and available for general bookings on weekends. Bespoke bookings are also available for private groups during the week. Bookings are limited to up to two adults and three children per vehicle. The experience is ideal for families with children looking to explore …