HE Khalid Jassim Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) in his statement he stated that “Agility of response, how dynamic are we, in the tourism sector whether it is government or private sector or academic partner or how quick are we in responding is really what matters and what will make a difference. We see different countries around the world are taking different directions depending on their situations and how they prepare, each country is different. Diversification is another key factor and element in facing such challenges now talking about United Arab Emirates I think it was proven that the preparedness here was at a very high level and the government has given a lot of benefits and support to the tourism sector across the UAE at different levels. We depend 10-12 % GDP on tourism at the same time diversified as tourism sector we are able to survive. We took a lot of measures to make sure that we were able to survive during these challenging times. We need some positive measures instead of talking about challenges, they will be there all the time.” He further reiterated that infrastructure play a key role and can see the rural areas been developed especially the central region and east coast in Sharjah like Kalba and Khorfakkan. Earlier it used to take about 2 hours to drive to the destinations but now we can do so in about an hour to Khorfakkan. He further reiterated that rural areas have SMEs that will develop and this guarantees more due to the infrastructure that has played a key role.”

Rixos Hotels in the UAE is to now offer its luxurious vacation packages to Israeli travel agencies. The agreement is the first in the tourism industry that welcomes Israeli tourists to the epitome of a luxurious Turkish-inspired sanctuary in the United Arab Emirates. Israeli tourists can now enjoy the perfect ultimate friends & family getaway across the immaculate shores of Al Marjan Island (Rixos Bab Al Bahr), Saadiyat Island (Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island), the vibrant shores of JBR (Rixos Premium Dubai) and the iconic Palm Jumeirah (Rixos the Palm Dubai Hotel & Suites). Set in these unrivalled locations across the emirates, the 4 Rixos beachfront resorts are ideal havens offering multi-generational experiences to suit all tastes, boasting 4-bedroom villas with private pools, premium a la carte restaurants, and Rixy Clubs to cater to children. As pioneers of the ultimate all-inclusive packages, Rixos allows guests to enjoy a full experience without the worry of their wallet. Available at 3 out of the 4 Rixos Hotels in the UAE, the All-Inclusive concept offers tourists endless fun in dining, leisure, wellness and entertainment – the best way to indulge and create perfect memories in the UAE with family and friends. “This marks a new chapter for the UAE but also for Rixos hotels. It reflects the changing geopolitics of the region and aligns with our vision – Rixos hotels have always strived to be pioneers in their market. Rixos Hotels are looking forward to welcoming Israeli guests in our 4 beachfront resorts and to having them enjoy our hospitality and all-inclusive concept – the first of its kind in the UAE,” says Ali Ozbay, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Rixos UAE …

Oman Air will return to scheduled service on October 1 with service to 18 cities in 12 countries including 2 flights per week connecting Muscat and Dubai. All flights will depart and arrive on Sundays and Thursdays. These schedules are valid from October 1-24, 2020. Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman’s airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety and a number of other steps have been taken to ensure that the airline’s guests and crew are safe at all times. Guests who are planning to travel to Muscat should visit the Civil Aviation Authority website, paca.gov.om, to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the Sultanate.Guests travelling to Dubai or Doha should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through those nations.Guests departing from Oman should also ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com.

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is bringing back its exciting Ladies’ Nights from Wednesday September 30 until October 28, 2020. CLYMB Abu Dhabi’s Ladies’ Nights will include unmissable packages for female guests looking to enjoy the award-winning indoor skydiving and climbing experiences with complete privacy. Ladies can start with a state-of-the-art climbing package, which includes 60-minute access to CLYMB Abu Dhabi’s Bouldering, Warm-Up and Intermediate walls, at a rate of AED120. Ladies can also experience 2 flights inside the World’s Biggest Indoor Skydiving Flight Chamber for a rate of AED235. Finally, female guests can opt for a special combo package, which includes the indoor skydiving and climbing options from the first two experiences at a rate of AED315.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority announces its long-term investment strategy aimed to boost the growth and diversification of Jebel Jais – the UAE’s highest mountain. This announcement of continued investment underscores the Emirate’s resilience and recovery momentum despite the challenges imposed this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, AHIC will bring together key industry leaders and stakeholders in a new format featuring a combination of physical and virtual sessions, which will be attended by Raki Philips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said, “We are honoured to be part of this year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) and look forward to sharing Ras Al Khaimah’s experience in navigating through these times with a focus on building a stronger destination, as a result. Our road to recovery is still in its early phases, but we have already seen significant uplift in the tourism and hospitality sectors’ performance leading to Ras Al Khaimah having the strongest RevPAR performance in the GCC.” “With the introduction of our new investment strategy, we aim to allocate additional funds towards Jebel Jais, one of the Emirate’s key landmarks, to enrich visitor experiences and to accommodate the increasing demand for travel experiences set in expansive, open and natural environments” added Phillips. Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding shared, “Announcing our long-term investment strategy is yet another positive step towards a stronger comeback, and it demonstrates the Emirate’s extraordinary efforts to continue developing its offering, especially on Jebel Jais, to meet travellers’ new expectations and needs. We are also proud that despite these unprecedented circumstances, …

Conrad Hotels & Resorts Abu Dhabi will be rebranded on October 1, 2020 following the signing of a management agreement between Hilton and H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. The property will be known as Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers and be the first of Hilton’s luxury portfolio to operate in the UAE capital. Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, Hilton’s President for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, said, “Abu Dhabi is a world leading destination and remains a historic city for Hilton as a location where we began welcoming guests in the UAE almost 50 years ago. We are proud to be working with H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan to bring this iconic hotel to our portfolio and look forward to providing luxury Conrad service at Etihad Towers.” H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nayhan commented, “Etihad Towers is the embodiment of modern and sophisticated luxury and I am delighted to be partnering with Hilton to open Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. Abu Dhabi’s global reputation will be further enhanced with the presence of the luxury Conrad brand – a suitable addition to the world-class retail and dining options available at this landmark development.” Nils-Arne Schroeder, Global Head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts, said, “The debut of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers in the capital of the UAE marks a significant milestone for the brand as we grow our portfolio in iconic locations around the world to better meet the needs of discerning travellers everywhere. This hotel is perfectly placed to offer guests a truly inspired stay with personalised connections to the local cultural and artistic experiences for which Abu Dhabi is known, all anchored by Conrad’s signature intuitive …

Emirates announced it will restart services to Entebbe, Uganda (October 1) and Muscat, Oman (October 2), bringing the total number of cities served by the airline to 94. Emirates is gradually resuming operations and rebuilding its network to provide more opportunities for travel, sparing no effort to ensure the highest standards of health and safety for its customers and employees at every travel touchpoint. Emirates will operate to Entebbe with three weekly flights on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The addition of Entebbe expands Emirates’ African network to 20 destinations, enabling customers to safely and easily connect to destinations across Europe, the Far East, the Americas, the Middle East and West Asia with one convenient stop in Dubai. Emirates flight EK 729 will depart Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Entebbe at 1500hrs. The return flight, EK 730, will depart Entebbe at 1700hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2325hrs. Flights from Dubai to Muscat will operate twice a week on Sundays and Fridays. Emirates flight EK 866 will depart Dubai at 0215hrs, arriving in Muscat at 0330hrs. The return flight, EK 867, will depart Muscat at 0440hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0555hrs. Services to both cities will be operated by the Boeing 777- 300ER. Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents as well as online travel agents. Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming …

Dubai Municipality announced that the Dubai Safari Park will welcome visitors starting from October 5, 2020, with a wide range of new interactive, educational and entertainment experiences for visitors of all ages.The opening follows the completion of a comprehensive renovation and development process aimed at expanding the facilities of the Park and further enriching the visitor experience. The revamped Dubai Safari adds new value to the emirate’s offerings as a leading global tourist hub. HE Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality said, “The Dubai Safari Park contributes to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the emirate the world’s most preferred lifestyle, leisure and tourist destination. Dubai Municipality continues to introduce new initiatives to support His Highness’s objective of creating a happiness-centred model of development.” “As the momentum of recovery in the tourism market gathers pace, Dubai Safari provides an exciting attraction for both international visitors and residents. The redesigned Dubai Safari has many unique interactive programmes blended into the safari journey that provide visitors a unique and memorable experience. Not only can they see different types of animals from across the world, they can also enjoy activities, performances and shows that entertain as well as educate,” Al Hajiri said. New activities such as animal feeding, educational and awareness programmes and seasonal events have been added to enrich the visitor experience. The activities have been designed to increase visitors’ awareness and provide opportunities for interaction with animals.

Global Aerospace Summit 2020 commenced in a virtual format and will end today September 29, where industry leaders from across the globe convened online to address the aviation, aerospace, space and defence sectors biggest challenges and opportunities. Hosted by Mubadala Investment Company and EDGE, the Summit will analyse how the aerospace and aviation industries can quickly recover, where efforts must be made to support the regeneration of those sectors and what new prospects are ascending from the new reality the world is facing. Badr Al-Olama, Chairman of the Global Aerospace Summit Advisory Board, and Head of Aerospace, Mubadala commented, “The Global Aerospace Summit is a timely reminder that our sector – more than most – is part of a wider, interconnected global industry built on partnership and collaboration. By sharing ideas and experiences we can overcome the challenges to realise the tremendous opportunities ahead. Mubadala and our Aerospace companies like Strata, Sanad and Yahsat are honoured to play our part in this conversation and share our vision for a dynamic sector built on continued investments in technology, disruptive business models and people.” Khalid Al Breiki, President – Mission Support, EDGE said, “EDGE is proud to host the fifth edition of the Global Aerospace Summit. The platform will enable us to leverage and strengthen our synergies and partnerships with some of the world’s leading aerospace and aviation players, as we seek to highlight the role that advanced technology plays, and will continue to play, in revolutionising the way the sector operates.” Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said “When markets reopen, adaptability will be key and Etihad will be ready. The Global Aerospace Summit is an excellent forum …

With the reopening of the city to international tourists and the gradual return to normal life, UAE residents and visitors are once again spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying the diversity of Dubai’s offerings, whether it is high octane thrills from skydiving, zip lining to jet skiing or a range of entertainment for families at shopping malls and theme parks. While the city is ready to cater to all tastes and age groups, a growing number of holidaymakers are taking a diversion from the city buzz by heading to the desert to enjoy a variety of unique experiences. As a modern city that provides a limitless number of action-centric and family-oriented activities, a totally different package of adventures await residents and tourists in the desert. Apart from taking in breathtaking views of the desert landscapes, Dubai’s famous desert safari allows one to take part in various sports like dune bashing, quad biking, sand boarding, and more, as well as cultural and entertainment activities including the opportunity to take a camel ride or get close to falcons while enjoying authentic Emirati hospitality at a delicious barbeque dinner under the stars. Adventure-seekers are also able go on a safari in the summer, as the desert gets cooler than the city in the late afternoons and evenings, making it an exciting experience to stay up late, eat outdoors with friends and family and enjoy various activities. The growing demand for adventure travel experiences is reflected in the Annual Visitor Report 2019 published by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), which shows an increase in desert safaris among all visitor demographics, with the activity being enjoyed by 41 percent …