NEOM, the sustainable regional development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, announced the NEOM Beach Games 2022 that will bring together leading world class sport events with high performance athletes from over 25 countries, as the region aims to become a hub for sport. The series of major sport events will launch on October 19 and feature five dynamic sports; kitesurfing, triathlon, 3×3 basketball, beach soccer and mountain biking. Commenting on the announcement, NEOM’s CEO, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, said, “We are delighted to host the NEOM Beach Games which brings together local and international rights holders for five globally popular sports in one diverse location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. NEOM is a place of unparalleled natural beauty and will be the ideal backdrop for what promises to be a period of exciting competition amongst world-class athletes competing in a variety of challenging sports.” The dynamic sport event will commence with world cup kitesurfing over the first five days, closely followed by Olympic level competition of short course triathlon on October 29. Other events to be held include an international 3×3 basketball tournament and a four-day beach soccer competition that will see 12 teams from around the world compete in the intense tournament.  In total, NEOM will host over 25 nations over these four sports. The NEOM Beach Games 2022 will then conclude on December 9 with the desert mountain biking race which will host 220 male and female riders from around the world for a four-stage event, varying 80 – 120 kilometers per stage. Jan Paterson, Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, added, “We are excited to be hosting world class events in NEOM as we aim to develop …

The Spain Tourism office in Abu Dhabi celebrated an event to celebrate the World Paella Day. The event was held in El Sur restaurant – The Westin Mina Seyahi , Dubai with trade partners from different sectors, including travel trade profesionals , influencers and media. The objective of this event was to promote and to share with the world the iconic Spanish dish, its different variations and its origin. For this reason, everyone was able to see the chef prepare and cook the different types of paellas (seafood, chicken, vegetarian & black paella ) while also sharing some insights about the history of this special dish. The menu also presented typical spanish starters (croquetas, cheese) and ended with some “churros”  . Invitees could also enjoy a traditional show of our typical Flamenco dance, which was one of the key moments of the evening. This year was quite special as this year was the first time a chef represented UAE at the Paella World Cup. This years’ edition has taken place from the 16 to 20 of September, gathering the best chefs  from all over the world in Valencia, Spain. Representing the United Arab Emirates-our candidate, Chef Piedade Fernandes along with Mariano from Sevilles . He was just 20 years old when he switched  from playing  football to cooking. Since then, he has been working for 22 years at the Seville’s Restaurant in Dubai, where he is in charge of the paella section, among other activities. Our representative was able to attain the final quarters elaborating a “classic paella”. Piedade was able to return with the 4th position for best paella chefs in the world. The World Paella Day aims to …

‘Beyond Better, Forward Together’ went way beyond a catchy tagline for Emirates’ Commercial Operations Management Conference, delivering action-packed, high-voltage sessions for more than 300 of its leaders and senior executives based globally and locally. Over two days this week, the audience were taken through an inspirational journey that mapped out Emirates’ solid strategy around fleet, destinations, products, and unimaginable growth – all wrapped around the airline’s hub Dubai. Dinner at the Museum of the Future, Dubai’s latest iconic attraction and a strategic partner of the airline, served as a fitting backdrop for the programme on day one. All of it was topped by an impromptu visit by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group that brought the attendees to their feet. Invited speakers enlivened the conference with their take on aviation, tourism and the economy. Speakers included: HE Helal Saeed Al-Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism; Arjun Vir Singh, Partner with Arthur D. Little’s Financial Services Practice; and Nawal K. Taneja, consultant and author with more than five decades of experience in aviation. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are once again firmly set on the path of a massive growth trajectory in travel, and Emirates is ready and revving up to optimise every opportunity, as is Dubai. This conference was one of our biggest platforms to rally our leaders and senior executives, who are also some of Emirates and Dubai’s biggest brand advocates globally. They’ve now witnessed first-hand the many exciting initiatives rolled out by the airline and the city over the past two years, thanks to strong and visionary leadership. We’re absolutely thrilled with …

IndiGo India’s leading carrier has commenced new daily direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al Khaimah, starting September 22, 2022. Ras Al Khaimah is the 100th overall destination and 11th in Middle East in 6E network. Ras Al Khaimah was also named as Gulf Tourism Capital for the year 2020 and 2021 by Gulf Cooperation Council. The operator and managing body of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport welcomed the arrival of the inaugural IndiGo flight from Mumbai. The aircraft received a ceremonial water cannon salute as it taxied to the terminal to mark the occasion. Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Mr. Atanasios Titonis Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, Mr. Stanislav Bujnovsky, Director – Commercial & Business Development, welcomed Mr. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo who travelled in the inaugural flight to Ras Al Khaimah. Mr. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “We are very pleased to commence this first direct connection between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah. For IndiGo, this is 100thdestination in 6E network and our fourth Emirate. Ras Al-Khaimah, which is known for its bright agricultural surroundings, is also focused on becoming the regional leader in sustainable tourism, which aligns well with our overall focus on sustainability. In vast and diverse India, IndiGo already serves an unparalleled 74 cities and communities throughout the nation. This new route, warmly welcomed by our customers and authorities, further enhances connectivity in the region as envisioned in IndiGo’s strategy.” His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of The Department of Civil Aviation Ras Al Khaimah & Ras Al Khaimah International Airport said: “It is our …

Sudan’s most innovative and customer-focused conglomerate, DAL Group, and Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, today announced the planned launch of “Air Arabia Sudan”, a joint-venture company to be based in Khartoum International Airport. Air Arabia Sudan will follow the value-added product offering operated by Air Arabia Group. The ticket pricing model will be best-in-class and accessible to all income-groups, which empowers travellers to save and spend more wherever they may decide by paying for only the services they want. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “We are delighted at Air Arabia Group to partner with DAL Group on this joint venture to launch Sudan’s new low-cost carrier. We are confident that Air Arabia Sudan will add significant value to the air transport sector of Sudan and directly contribute to the growth of the local economy and the development of the travel and tourism sector. We thank DAL Group and the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority for their trust, and we look forward to working hand in hand to develop the new airline, which will serve as a new value-for-money air travel option for the country.” Osama Daoud Abdellatif, DAL Group’s chairman, commented: “DAL Group is excited to launch Air Arabia Sudan in partnership with Air Arabia Group. Our decision to partner with a leading pioneer of low-cost air travel is driven by our core commitment to perpetually contribute towards realizing Sudan’s long-term human and economic growth and development potential. Given Sudan’s rich national cultures, rarely publicized yet fascinating ancient history and breathtaking topography, our nation enjoys a unique untapped potential, and we are therefore steadfastly committed to …

St. Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau and Committee for tourism development of Saint Petersburg organized a very successful roadshow for the travel trade in Dubai. There were 10 partners who conducted B2B sessions with the agents from Dubai and shared information about the destination and their new attractions and programmes especially designed for the GCC clientele.The partners from St.Petersburg included, DMCs, hoteliers, cruise/shipping companies and medical tourism specialists. The roadshow was divided into three main parts, the first was the one on one B2B sessions where the travel trade could spend time and get to know the destination, followed by detailed presentations by the partners. The final part of the event was the grand dinner with authentic St.Petersburg entertainment, which included a ballet performance as well. Ksenia Narvatkina, Chief Specialist of the development department from St. Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau and Committee for tourism development of Saint Petersburg, shared that they were very excited to showcase the beautiful offerings in their destination and the fact that it was open for visitors from across the globe. The only requirement at present is a negative PCR test 72 hours before flying into the country. She further reiterated that the goal of the event was to promote the potential of St. Petersburg as a world tourist center and to develop partnerships between St. Petersburg tourism enterprises and representatives of tour operators and travel agencies in Dubai. The presentation videos and the great performances took the audience to the destination for a short period of time. Travel trade agents present at the event shared that it was really a great opportunity to meet with partners in one platform and having different DMCs who …

Singapore-based travel-tech company utu (utu Pte Ltd) has announced that Etihad Guest, the frequent flyer programme of the UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways, will now allow Etihad Guest members to shop tax-free globally with the utu Tax-Free Card. Etihad’s Vice President Loyalty & Partnerships, Kim Hardaker said, “With nearly 8 million members globally, we’re constantly innovating and expanding our network of global partners to provide even greater rewards for being an Etihad Guest member. Today, we’re pleased to join forces with utu to allow our members to earn Miles as well benefit from utu’s tax refunds capabilities.” Under the partnership, Etihad Guest members can now use the utu Tax-Free Card to: Earn 6,250 miles (worth US$125) for every US$100 tax refunded on the utu Tax-Free Card. To celebrate the launch, until 30 November 2022, Etihad Guest Members can simply download and register on the utu Tax Free App and select Etihad Guest as the default rewards programme to receive 500 Etihad Guest miles. The first VAT transactions (accumulated) of U$100 in the UAE or U$150 for refunds from the rest of world qualifies for an additional 2000 bonus Etihad Guest Miles. Commenting on the new partnership, Asad Jumabhoy, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at utu said, “We are incredibly excited to announce our new partnership with Etihad Guest. For utu travellers, it is even more exciting as they can now select one of the most popular airline programmes, Etihad Guest, as their rewards programme when converting their VAT refunds to miles.” As the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad operates to more than 70 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. The Etihad Guest …

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organized today (Wednesday) a seminar to explore investment opportunities in Indonesia, in cooperation with the Consulate General of Indonesia in the UAE. HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, Dr Kandra Negra, the Indonesian Consul General in Dubai and northern emirates, and Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the SCCI, attended the event, in addition to a host of Emirati and Indonesian businessmen representing mega commercial and industrial companies. The business meeting discussed ways to boost partnership and bilateral cooperation between the business communities of both countries, as well as potential deals and how Indonesian businessmen can take advantage of Sharjah’s distinguished position to promote Indonesian industrial products and expand into the region’s markets. Al Owais stressed that the areas of bilateral cooperation with Indonesia cover many sectors and are rapidly expanding, particularly in light of the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the substantial volume of trade exchange between the two nations, which in 2021 totaled about $3 billion. He stressed that the gathering represented an opportunity to build on both countries’ solid partnership. For his part, Dr Kandra Negra noted that the Consulate General of Indonesia will continue to play a crucial role in coordinating with the business communities on both sides to support the growth of commercial cooperation between the UAE and Indonesia through Sharjah. He noted that the Consulate General can arrange meetings between SCCI delegations and business owners in Indonesia and facilitate the chamber’s trips to factories and companies in some areas of Indonesia, to enhance trade relations and improve economic cooperation between the business communities of both countries.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has concluded the “Sharjah Summer Promotions 2022”, after a spectacular 67-day season, offering the emirate’s shoppers and visitors a wide range of entertaining and promotional activities, as well as valuable prizes, at different shopping malls across the Emirate. The event has drawn a significant number of shoppers from all over the UAE to Sharjah’s tourist attractions and markets, where they enjoyed a series of entertainment activities. Thanks to the summer promotions, the emirate’s residents and visitors have enjoyed a wonderful summer vacation along with their families in an atmosphere filled with joy, thrills, and entertainment while also benefiting from attractive offers and huge discounts, which reached 80% on various goods and products. With the event attracting an impressive turnout of shoppers, shopping malls and stores have got an exceptional opportunity to grow their businesses and improve their sales, thus reinforcing the emirate’s reputation as a premier international shopping and tourism destination. HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), stressed that the 2022 edition of Sharjah Summer Promotions has been a success by all standards, drawing a sizable crowd of tourists, shoppers, and visitors to Sharjah’s malls and shopping centers. This achievement does undoubtedly highlight Sharjah’s solid reputation as one of the top family travel destinations worldwide, particularly during the summer and vacation seasons. “The Summer Promotions provided a selection of fascinating offers that inspired Sharjah residents and guests to enjoy and explore the Emirate’s tourism attractions and top-notch retail destinations,” Al Awadi said. For his part, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing at SCCI and General Coordinator of Sharjah Summer, …

From the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai, Marriott International, Inc. announced plans to expand its Middle East footprint with the expected addition of over 20 properties and more than 5,000 rooms across the Gulf countries over the next 15 months. The company’s growth in the region is fuelled by ongoing demand for its extraordinary portfolio of hotel brands across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and increased appetite from developers for conversions and adaptive reuse properties. “The tourism industry in the Middle East continues to undergo significant growth in line with the long-term strategies of regional governments to diversify their economies,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “The reputation of Marriott International and our world-class brands, along with our long-established presence in the Middle East, continue to put us in a great position to contribute to the ongoing growth and diversification of the region’s tourism sector.” Luxury Segment Spearheads Growth in Saudi Arabia, While Select Segment Maintains Momentum With significant demand for luxury offerings in Saudi Arabia, particularly within the country’s ambitious developments such as the Red Sea Project and Diriyah Gate, Marriott International expects to enhance its portfolio with six additional luxury properties in the Kingdom by the end of 2023.  The anticipated openings will debut the St. Regis and EDITION hotel brands in the country and introduce the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East with the opening of Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Red Sea Project. Additionally, the company is responding to strong demand in the country for select service accommodation, with a new Four Points by Sheraton in Riyadh and Courtyard by Marriott in Jubail expected …