His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, today opened MRO Middle East and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) 2024. Running until 6th March, the co-located events are welcoming leaders from across the global aviation supply chain at a time where the industry is on a strong upwards trajectory, particularly in the Middle East. According to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast, the region’s commercial aircraft services market will more than double in value by 2042, growing from $12 billion to $28 billion and registering a 4.4% average annual growth, surpassing the global average growth of 3.6%. Set to contribute to this growth, the show has seen a 20% increase in footfall, and more than 240 exhibitors and 120 airlines have gathered to explore new avenues of collaboration, commercial opportunities and showcase industry-leading products and services. Key announcements and signings during the first day of MRO Middle East and AIME included Joramco announcing a new maintenance agreement with TUI, and HAECO announcing the induction of Emirates’ first Airbus A380 aircraft at its airframe facility in Xiamen, marking a new base maintenance contract between the two entities. The Go Live! Theater welcomed a host of global experts for sessions on key industry themes. The ‘Capacity Issues on the Horizon?’ panel discussed fleet expansion plans, collaboration and what MROs, OEMs and other suppliers must do to ensure they have enough bandwidth to sustain the new fleet size in the region. During the session, Justin ODonnell, Director Technical Operations at Riyadh Air, said: The transient nature of seasonal passenger traffic influences airlines to behave in ways that create a surge in MROs, especially during the winter period, …

PIF and ATP announce multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate the growth of global tennis. This new partnership focuses on enhancing global tennis and its long-term future, elevating youth and unlocking opportunities for tennis’ next generation. PIF to serve as the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings. Partnership incorporates PIF’s four sponsorship pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and ATP today unveiled a new multi-year strategic partnership, marking a significant shared commitment to enhancing global tennis for players, fans, tournament organizers and stakeholders at all levels of the sport. The major partnership will see PIF become the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings, celebrating players’ journeys and progress across the season and championing excellence as the Year-End No. 1, presented by PIF, is crowned at the Nitto ATP Finals which will take place in Turin, Italy until 2025. PIF will partner with ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing and the Nitto ATP Finals, in addition to the Next Gen ATP Finals, hosted in Jeddah until 2027. Following the launch of ATP’s Baseline program earlier this year, PIF has further committed to develop and unlock new opportunities for young players and player pathway initiatives, providing a significant boost to the game’s next generation of stars. The ATP partnership forms part of PIF’s broader sponsorship platform, investing in people, projects and partnerships with an emphasis on the brand’s four pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. Together, PIF and ATP will also collaborate to elevate the long-term future of tennis. PIF will actively contribute to ATP’s OneVision Strategic Plan which focuses on driving unity, enhancing fan experiences and leveraging scalable growth opportunities across the …

SAUDIA announced its participation in the third edition of the world-renowned technical conference “LEAP”, taking place from March 4th to 7th, 2024, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center. At this prestigious event, SAUDIA will unveil its latest digital initiatives, marking a new era in service excellence driven by cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and integrated connectivity solutions tailored to enhance the travel experience for all guests. Preparations have been finalized to welcome visitors at SAUDIA stand No. A02, offering an interactive experience where attendees can explore a range of digital projects aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Key highlights include the debut of “Travel Companion”, an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to streamline booking processes, flight planning, and destination exploration, revolutionizing the travel experience. SAUDIA takes pride in being the first airline in the MENA region to pioneer this technology, offering attendees an exclusive opportunity to experience its beta version firsthand. Additionally, SAUDIA will showcase “GovClick”, an e-wallet service facilitating seamless government ticket issuance and after-sales services through a unified digital platform, with plans to expand to benefit corporations and individuals as well. The revamped digital experience of the “AlFursan” loyalty program underscores SAUDIA’s commitment to simplifying procedures, allowing guests to effortlessly manage rewards, track mileage activity, and upgrade membership levels with a single click. Moreover, SAUDIA will present its “Guest Care”, delivering swift and efficient solutions tailored to diverse operational scenarios, ensuring guests are promptly updated on flight details and disruptions. Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Digital Transformation at SAUDIA Group, emphasized the significance of SAUDIA’s participation in this international conference, held in the Kingdom, a hub for leading events across various sectors. She highlighted the pivotal …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority will once again showcase its many offerings at  Messe Berlin from 5 -7 March 2024 to display their latest products and services to various markets across the globe on one platform over 3 full days of business interactions. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, shared “At this year’s ITB Berlin we are proud to showcase Sharjah as a comprehensive 360-degree destination for travellers from every corner of the globe, offering a truly experiential mix of cultural, adventure, natural, and seasonal experiences for all ages. In line with UAE’s Green Agenda 2030, our continued commitment to sustainability has propelled Sharjah’s status as an example of success in the tourism industry. As a regional leader in ecotourism, Sharjah’s success serves as a prime example of our dedication to preserving environmental, heritage, and cultural values. The collaborative efforts with our esteemed partners in the government and private sectors have proven essential in achieving these milestones. Together, we are continuously positioning Sharjah as a global destination, contributing towards the rapidly expanding ecotourism market.”

The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Abu Dhabi has officially announced the availability of eVisas to Morocco for residents of the UAE. Individuals holding a valid Emirates ID card with a minimum of 180 days of legitimate residency will be eligible for the eVisa. The eVisa will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and allows a single entry for a short stay of up to 30 days within the Moroccan territory.

Yalago announced a record high in hotel bookings with its global travellers in January and February 2024, since the inception of the company in 2017. Yalago’s team sources exclusive, leading rates for hotels across the world, offering significant savings for trade partners and travellers. In comparison to January and February 2023 levels, hotel bookings through Yalago have grown 25% year-on-year in this time period in 2024. Overall, Yalago’s highest number of hotel bookings in 2024 so far have been made across the UAE, Thailand, USA, Maldives, and Spain, respectively. The largest growth destinations, trending for 2024, include the USA, Maldives, Greece, Mexico, and Hong Kong, with bookings up more than 100% compared to 2023. The largest source markets for travel include the UK, USA, Thailand, Australia, and Italy – with record numbers of travellers from these countries booking hotel stays this year. Trends with global travellers include a longer lead-time for bookings, expanding by seven days compared to previous years. The global average for 2024 is three-and-a-half months to make a hotel booking ahead of the date of travel. Yalago’s global, direct hotel portfolio has grown 15% since 2023, and this year its team is focused on expanding this further across markets in trend. This includes across the USA and Asia – with Bali and Thailand as an example, trending due to the affordability of world-class accommodation options. Maria Del Pozo, Head of Sales Europe at Yalago, commented: “Travel demand is at a high, and travellers are seeking to secure their ideal accommodation and better value further in advance of their journey. This is where Yalago can support global travellers, with increasingly affordable rates across the world’s leading destinations and hotels – …

Jazeera Airways announced that the airline’s current Chief Executive Officer, Rohit Ramachandran, will be stepping down after over seven successful years with the organization. Barathan Pasupathi (Bara), a former CFO of Jazeera Airways, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Jazeera Airways effective 26 March 2024. Bara comes with over 30 years of experience in aviation, oil and gas, and supply chain management. His aviation industry experience spans key finance, management, and operations functions for airlines as well as aircraft procurement and leasing. Speaking about this management change, Marwan Boodai, Jazeera Airways Chairman said, “Rohit has been a strong, visionary and passionate leader, and a true champion of our brand and our people. He has led Jazeera in its enormous chapter of growth and delivered solid and robust results with a deep commitment to operational excellence while building shareholder value, which is deeply respected by industry peers. During his tenure and by forging strong strategic relationships with key stakeholders, supported by the strength of our outstanding Jazeera teams, Jazeera tripled its fleet. Under his leadership, the airline expanded into 65 destinations, hit record passenger volumes, achieved unsurpassed results, and initiated a purpose built, profitable Jazeera Terminal 5. I am particularly grateful for the way Rohit helped navigate Jazeera through the pandemic, ensuring we are set up for future success. The business is now in a strong and resilient position and well placed to navigate the next chapter as we look towards the order book of 26 A320neo and A321neo aircraft. I would like to thank Rohit for his exceptional contribution to Jazeera over many years. Bara, a former Jazeera Airways CFO was instrumental in the setup of Sahaab Aircraft …

According to Skyscanner’s latest research shared, Kazakhstan is at number one position as most popular search by UAE travellers as residents plan ahead for the Eid Al Fitr break. The findings reveal that 2 April 2024 is the most popular travel departure date during this period, and more than half of travellers (51%) are searching for trips that are one week or less. At the same time, 43% of travellers are taking advantage of the extended break by booking longer holidays*. Skyscanner also reveals 10 destinations rising in popularity among UAE travellers. From mountainous Kazakhstan to sunny Greece, these are the trending destinations with the highest year-on-year increase in searches for April departures. 10 Trending Destinations 1. Kazakhstan: 195% 2. Seychelles: 115% 3. Cyprus: 99% 4. Japan: 90% 5. Vietnam: 81% 6. Oman: 78% 7. Switzerland: 56% 8. Kenya: 53% 9. Mauritius: 52% 10. Greece: 49% Skyscanner’s Travel Expert, Ayoub El Mamoun, comments, “With Eid Al Fitr just a month away, the majority of UAE travellers we surveyed are keen to make the most of their holidays with breaks to 2 weeks long. We’ve also witnessed a significant year-on-year increase in search destinations such as Kazakhstan, Seychelles and Cyprus as residents look to more culture focused travel, as well as relaxed holiday destinations this Eid Al Fitr break. For travellers still deciding on a destination to visit this upcoming break, a Skyscanner ‘Everywhere’ search is one of the easiest ways to be inspired. Ordered by cheapest price, a search to ‘Everywhere’ shows travellers all the destinations available for your desired travel departure. For example, a quick Everywhere search on Skyscanner reveals return flights to Türkiye from AED 864, Italy from AED 1,177 and …

Seed Group has taken a significant step towards revolutionising the travel industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through its strategic partnership with Seoul-based hospitality tech startup ONDA. With a strong presence in South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan, ONDA is transforming the labor-intensive hospitality industry with digital and data. ONDA supports the continuous growth of the hospitality industry, providing both digital transformation solutions and B2B platforms that enable properties around the world to increase their online sales and operational efficiency. Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group, expressed his excitement about this partnership, saying, “We are delighted to collaborate with ONDA, a forward-thinking hospitality technology company with an impressive track record. Seed Group is committed to identifying and partnering with innovative companies that can bring positive changes to the Middle East market. ONDA’s expertise and technology will undoubtedly redefine the landscape of the MENA travel industry, enhancing the guest experience and operational efficiency for accommodations across the region.” “We are incredibly enthusiastic about our partnership with Seed Group, a pivotal advancement in ONDA’s global journey. This venture not only symbolises a significant opportunity for us to showcase our leading-edge hospitality technology but also marks the beginning of providing our innovative solutions to newly launching hotels in the MENA region. We are confident that this collaboration will redefine the hospitality landscape, underscoring ONDA’s commitment as a key driver behind the industry’s technological evolution.” Established in 2016, ONDA embarked on its journey as a B2B hospitality tech startup. ONDA now distributes 700,000 properties from vacation rentals to luxury hotels and resorts across 60 online channels globally. ONDA also drives digital transformation in the hospitality industry, providing operational solutions to …

The Board of Directors of NEOM has announced Elanan, an exclusive guest retreat that redefines luxury and well-being experiences, set in the heart of nature. Its announcement marks the latest addition to NEOM – the evolving sustainable development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia. Situated on the pristine Gulf of Aqaba coastline where the mountains meet the sea, Elanan sensitively emerges from within its lush oasis surroundings, fed by ancient natural springs. Featuring 80 bespoke rooms and suites, the retreat is designed with well-being at its core, offering a unique nature resort that embraces all the senses. Elanan takes a modern approach to wellness, perfectly blending new technologies in a discreet luxurious setting that promotes relaxation and reflection. The signature facilities provide numerous options for guests to embrace themselves in tranquility, rest and recharge. Elanan’s architectural vision is underpinned by innovation and natural harmony. Utilizing ultra-modern design techniques, it creates intricate sculptures that delicately blend with the surrounding natural beauty. It boasts a contemporary aesthetic but retains a synergy with nature, creating a unique architectural experience for all to enjoy. Guests can explore the large plazas, enjoy specialty private dining, find relaxation in the sun garden, or soak up the spectacular views from the top of the observation tower. From the moment visitors arrive, they begin a rejuvenating journey within the calming embrace of nature. The revealing of Elanan follows the recent announcements of Leyja, Epicon, Siranna, Utamo, Norlana, Aquellum, Zardun, and Xaynor which are sustainable tourism destinations within the Gulf of Aqaba, all interlaced by NEOM’s commitment to sustainable development.