Saudi held meetings in Central Asian countries with roadshows in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The delegation participating in the official visit was led by H.E. Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudi’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the committee of the Pilgrim Experience Program. As part of Vision 2030, the aim of the visit was to promote Saudi’s new and enhanced arrival procedures that will enable pilgrims all over the world to complete their religious journeys with comfort and ease. In addition, these new procedures will enrich visitors’ religious and cultural experiences. The roadshows witnessed the signing of several agreements with the aim of facilitating procedures and developing greater air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the two countries. These agreements and partnerships were made in line with improving the quality of services under the Pilgrim Experience Program, an initiative of Vision 2030. The Nusuk e-platform offers a wide range of options and various solutions for accommodation and flight reservations for all Muslims visiting the Two Holy Mosques, including visitors and Umrah performers. Nusuk has been developed in partnership with an accredited and elite selection of travel companies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, along with Umrah specialists to better serve visitors and Umrah performers. Fahd Hamidaddin, Nusuk Managing Director, stated, The launch of Nusuk is one of the most significant announcements since the Saudi eVisa in 2019. These trade partner agreements and new procedures will increase the number of visitors and pilgrims that Saudi will be able to welcome from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In addition, partnerships with national and low-cost airlines will make travel to Saudi more accessible than ever.

SailGP, the purpose-driven global racing championship, packs up and heads to the region for the first-ever Dubai Sail Grand Prix Presented by P&O Marinas, which will take place at Mina Rashid, November 12-13. Having just passed the halfway mark of Season 3, the enthralling on-water racing continues next month in the Middle East to complete the 2022 calendar, where sports fans will see SailGP’s revolutionary F50 foiling catamarans sail at high speeds just minutes away from some of Dubai’s globally recognized attractions. 2023 will then see the league next head to Singapore, Sydney and Christchurch before the Grand Final in San Francisco in May. The recent final race at the Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía – Cádiz presented by NEAR, saw the closest-ever finish to a SailGP event, as Quentin Delapierre led the France SailGP Team to a stunning victory by just three seconds over Jimmy Spithill’s U.S. team to claim its first event win in the championship. The high-adrenaline event saw tens of thousands of people packed on the shoreline to witness the action-packed weekend of racing between the SailGP national teams – Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United States – as they continue their battle for the winning trophy. Jimmy Spithill, United States SailGP Team CEO and driver, spoke of the challenging race in Cadiz; “The team was under real pressure going into the last two events, but we have stuck together and it’s given us a lot of belief and a lot of confidence. We are determined to keep this momentum going, and it’s great that we are now much closer to the overall pack on the leaderboard, as …

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has organized the “Sharjah-Russia business forum” to discuss ways to boost economic ties and deepen commercial collaboration with Russian business community. During the meeting, the chamber briefed the Russian trade mission on Sharjah’s business advantages and facilities as well as on the investment opportunities available in various economic sectors. The forum also witnessed bilateral meetings between business owners from the two sides to exchange experiences and explore new avenues to advance their collaboration. Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Sharjah Chamber, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations and Marketing Department, SCCI, and Maksim Zagornov, Business Ambassador of Business Russia to the UAE, attended the meeting. Also present were a number of businessmen, investors, and representatives of the local business community. Abdulaziz Shattaf stressed that the business relations between the UAE and Russia are rapidly growing across various fields, something which has had a significant impact on the volume of trade exchange that reached AED 12 billion in 2021, an increase of 116%. “The UAE accounts for 55% of the total Russian-Gulf trade, and holds 90% of Russia’s total investments in the Arab countries. Additionally, 80% of the total Arab investments in Russia are made by the UAE, while Russian exports to the UAE amounted to AED 10.6 billion. Also, Emirati exports to Russia increased by almost 40% to AED 1.46 billion,” Shattaf said. He went on to say that the mutual economic cooperation covers different strategic sectors, including renewable energy, space, modern technology, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, food security, infrastructure, petrochemicals, ports, and aviation. For his part, Maksim Zagornov said that the …

Musafir.com revealed in its bi-annual travel trend report that sporting events will augment the tourism and hospitality economy up to 30 % in the region. The Middle East is becoming the world’s fastest-growing sports tourism destination valued at an estimated $600bn, according to the World Trade Organisation. Major events such as FIFA World Cup Qatar, Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, etc. will give Gulf tourism a boost in the last quarter of the year. Amongst the GCC countries, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar will see the majority arrival of travellers mainly from Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the UK. The UAE topped the list as the preferred destination by travellers due to its proximity to major sporting events as well as family-oriented activities, personal safety and societal security, room availability, varied retail experiences, adventure sports and leisure, and seamless connectivity. Due to seamless connectivity, the UAE can expect inbound flights to soar up to 20% as compared to same time last year. Apart from attending sporting events, fans will want to explore ‘thrill-seeking’ activities as an add-on for a comprehensive travel experience encapsulating all that the country has to offer. Camping and outdoor activities will also see an increase in Q4 of 2022 due to the pleasant weather. Sachin Gadoya, CEO and Co-founder, Musafir.com and Musafir Business said, “Sports events act as a catalyst and can have a tremendous impact on the economy – as we will see millions of fans gather to not only watch their favourite sport but also to have an unforgettable experience during their stay in the region. We are anticipating an exponential growth in the tourism sector, due to the increasing number …

Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading travel and tourism event for inbound and outbound tourism professionals throughout the Middle East, has announced that ‘Working Towards Net Zero’ will be its official theme for ATM 2023, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 1-4 May. RX (Reed Exhibitions), the organiser of ATM, will celebrate its 30th annual event by unveiling a dedicated sustainability pledge, not only to make the ATM 2023 event more sustainable but to announce 30 long-term goals as ATM works towards net zero in line with the RX Global pledge. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “If the UAE and the wider Middle East are to achieve their net zero ambitions, the travel and tourism industry will play a vital role, given its share of regional economic activity and of course its growth potential. With COP27 being held in Sharm El Sheikh this year and COP28 in Dubai in 2023, it is essential that hotels, airlines, leisure resorts and all associated companies start to put their sustainability strategies in place. While unveiling our strategic path to net zero, ATM 2023 will also provide an ideal platform for industry players to engage with sustainability experts and their peers to address the challenges of achieving net zero.” According to a World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report, travel and tourism account for between 8-11% of the world’s emissions. It also revealed that 42% of the travel and tourism businesses analysed currently have publicly announced climate targets, 61% of travellers say they want to travel more sustainably in the future and over 80% of travellers plan to prioritise sustainability in their travels in the coming year. …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) recently concluded its Visit Abu Dhabi Roadshow in India, alongside 28 stakeholders from the UAE capital that included key airlines, cruises, hotels, attractions and DMCs. More than 800 travel trade delegates attended the roadshow across six events in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to learn about the unique and diverse experiences Abu Dhabi offers Indian travellers, whilst at the same time paving the way for long-term partnerships in the sector. The successful events showcased the emirate as a leading tourism destination for leisure, business and incentive travel via a programme of briefings, presentations and a demonstration of the cultural experience of perfume making. This was followed by exclusive networking dinners attended by key industry professionals and buyers, held at The Oberoi (New Delhi), ITC Gardenia, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Bangalore) and Four Seasons (Mumbai). Over the week-long schedule of events, DCT Abu Dhabi showcased key destination highlights to help familiarise industry professionals with the many exciting experiences on offer at the destination including Abu Dhabi’s leading leisure and entertainment destination, Yas Island, which is home to award-winning theme parks such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. DCT Abu Dhabi stakeholders also spoke to key partners about the timeline for new developments, and the exhilarating events set to take place across the UAE capital, which include the debut of Broadway musical The Lion King, the UAE’s first-ever NBA games, UFC 281, and a performance by Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman, as part of Diwali celebrations. The event, which was hosted by DCT Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) in partnership with the Experience Hub, will …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the capital’s first low-cost carrier, has announced the launch of its new route from Abu Dhabi to Moscow in Russia. The new direct flights will connect Abu Dhabi International Airport to Moscow Domodedovo Airport with a frequency of five flights weekly, starting from November 18, 2022. Schedule to Moscow, effective November 18, 2022 (all times local):   Flight     Departure           Time      Arrival   Time      Aircraft Frequency 3L 750  Abu Dhabi           09:00     Moscow               13:35     Airbus A320        Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun 3L 751   Moscow               14:25     Abu Dhabi           20:35     Airbus A320        Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun   As part of its expansion plan, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi continues to add more connectivity to and from the capital city. Its fleet has also witnessed expansion, from just 2 Airbus A320 aircrafts at inception to 8 new aircrafts today. The new route to Moscow marks the 27th destination that Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flies to after Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Nepal, Sudan, Pakistan, Oman, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, served directly from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is continuously working on serving its passengers with exceptional quality, starting from its aircraft which is configured with 174 seats, providing passengers with added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitches of any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with “SkyTime”, a free in-flight streaming service that will allows passengers to stream a wide selection of entertainment directly to their devices. Before flights, eligible travellers can also benefit from the Abu Dhabi City Check-in service where they can drop off their bags and collect their boarding passes at the Air Arabia Abu Dhabi Sales Shop on Hamdan Street. Customers can now book their direct …

Yango, an international ride-hailing app, has launched in Dubai, marking the company’s first foray into the GCC market.  The service received all necessary permissions and was approved by local authorities to operate in the emirate. The service already operates in more than 20 countries across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. “We are delighted to officially announce the launch of our service in Dubai, one of the most influential economic centres in the region, attracting investments and people from all over the world. We believe there is high demand for a premium, high-tech, ride-hailing service, and the highest standards of service, attention to detail and smart technologies that Yango brings to customers can really make a big change. We are excited to present users in Dubai with an advanced ride-hailing service like no other,” said Islam Abdul Karim, general manager for Yango GCC. To hail a car, all users have to do is download the app, launch it, and select their destination. Using the customer’s geolocation, the service will alert the nearest drivers. Users have a choice of two tiers to choose from for their rides: Comfort, granting them pick-ups in premium cars, such as Lexus ES, and Premier tariff, ensuring users luxury cars, including GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes S-class, BMW 7 Series cars as well as promising a supreme level of customer service for a slightly higher price. Vehicles from both tiers will provide phone-charging cables and bottles of water, while the Premier tier also offers passengers dates. Unlike other players, Yango provides quick car dispatches thanks to its exclusively developed technologies that help reduce the time a driver spends seeking a customer or driving to …

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Etihad Airways will host the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) 55th Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held in Abu Dhabi from 24 to 26 October. The opening ceremony will be held at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, welcoming senior aviation leaders and decision-makers with the participation of 34 airlines from across the region, as well as international and regional organisations in the aviation sector. His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, stated: “We are proud Etihad Airways is hosting the upcoming AACO Annual General Meeting for the second time since 2011. This highlights the vital role airlines have in supporting the economic development of the region, which became more evident with the challenges the pandemic imposed on the aviation industry. “The AGM is an opportunity to highlight the achievements we have accomplished together as an industry over the past years, as well as a chance to strengthen the existing cooperation on issues of common interest.” Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Hosting the upcoming AACO AGM rounds off a great year, when we reported the most successful financial results for H1 our business has achieved in its history and were named the Environmental Airline of the Year for our relentless efforts in the drive for sustainability. “Thanks to the aviation infrastructure we have in Abu Dhabi, and to our continuous business transformation plan, we come out of the crisis with more flexibility and readiness to operate our business and connect our communities. The AGM will be an …

Dubai Municipality  announced that the Dubai Safari Park opened its doors for its 2022-2023 season. One of the emirate’s most popular recreational and tourism destinations, the Park’s new season will see a wide range of new unique interactive entertainment and educational experiences and the addition of a number of new animals. Dubai Safari Park, which saw over half a million visits in the last season, is expected to ride on the rapidly growing international tourism interest in the emirate to be a big draw not only among residents but also global travellers. Aligned with Dubai Municipality’s plan to create world-class recreational destinations, the Dubai Safari Park has contributed to enriching Dubai’s value proposition as a major international tourism destination. The Park offers unique experiences with its diverse community of animals from across the world that live in a climate-controlled environment close to their natural habitat. Each season, the Park revitalises its attractions to further enhance its offerings for visitors. Ahmed Alzarooni, Director of the Public Parks and Recreational Facilities Department at the Dubai Municipality, said: “With attractions designed to appeal to visitors from across the world, the Park is fully geared to offer another unique entertainment and educational experience for visitors. In the 2022-23 season, the Park is strongly focused on raising awareness about preventing extinction of endangered species through animal breeding programmes. Dubai Safari Park has implemented a wide range of conservation strategies to provide a better life for the animals. The Park’s dedicated veterinary and animal care units, together with other teams, work to maintain the highest global animal welfare benchmarks.” In November, a number of new animals will be added on the Safari Trip, which will contribute …