Emirates will restart services to Beirut, Lebanon from 1 February 2025 with a daily flight. The airline will also reinstate daily services to Baghdad in Iraq on the same day. From February, Emirates’ daily flights to Rafic Al Hariri International Airport will be served by a Boeing 777-300ER in three classes, offering more than 5,000 seats both ways each week, and adding more choice, increased comfort and enhanced connectivity from Beirut to Dubai and onwards to the airline’s network of more than 140 destinations. From 1 April 2025, the airline will scale up its operations and layer on a second daily service to Beirut with the addition of the EK957/958 morning service, which is also set to be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in three classes. The airline will operate to Beirut and Baghdad with the following schedule (all times are local): Beirut: From 1 February, Emirates will operate daily on EK953 and EK954. EK953 departs Dubai at 1130hrs, arriving in Beirut at 1400hrs. The return flight, EK954 leaves Beirut at 1530hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2120hrs. From 1 April, Emirates’ second daily service EK 957 takes off at 0730hrs, arriving in Beirut at 1030hrs. EK958 departs Beirut at 1205hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1655hrs. Baghdad: Emirates’ daily flights to Baghdad will be served by a Boeing 777 aircraft. On Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, EK 941 will depart Dubai at 0805hrs, arriving in Baghdad at 0950hrs. EK 942 will then take-off at 1125hrs, landing in Dubai at 1435hrs. On Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, EK 943 will depart Dubai at 1300hrs, arriving in Baghdad at 1425hrs. EK944 leaves Baghdad at 1555hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1910hrs. For more information or …

Marriott International announced the signing of Sheraton Al Khobar Al Hamra with Ashaad Company – marking the debut of the Sheraton brand in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Anticipated to open in 2028, Sheraton Al Khobar Al Hamra will reflect the brand’s new vision with its design and activations, use of technology and welcoming communal spaces. “Sheraton has had a long-standing presence in the Kingdom, and we are excited to work with Ashaad Company to further expand the brand’s portfolio in the country with its entry into Al Khobar,” said Chadi Hauch, Regional Vice President, Lodging Development, Middle East, Marriott International. “This hotel will embody Sheraton’s new identity, offering guests a unique experience through enhanced services and designs while staying true to its legacy. This deal also further supports the demand we are seeing for business and leisure travel into the Eastern Province of the country.” Ali bin Mohammed Al Ali, Chairman of Ashaad, commented: “In light of the great momentum in the Kingdom, driven by transformational developments and its growing reputation as a regional and international hub for global events, we at Ashaad are proud to be part of this remarkable transformation. Our strategic agreement with Marriott International and Aleph Hospitality to introduce the prestigious Sheraton brand to the city of Al Khobar represents an important step in our commitment to delivering world-class hotel projects. This collaboration reflects our dedication to enhancing the hospitality sector by providing unparalleled experiences to guests from around the world. The new Sheraton Al Khobar Al Hamra will embody creativity and sophistication, in line with the brand’s new identity while meeting the aspirations of visitors and residents of the Kingdom. We are honoured to contribute to …

Golden Sands Hotel Apartments won the ‘most comfortable hotel apartments’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. ‘Golden Sands’ is the pioneering hotel apartments brand in the region. With a comprehensive range of room types to cater to individuals and families visiting Dubai for leisure or business, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments offer the perfect home away from home.

With the global travel technology market currently valued at $10.7 billion, this year’s traveltech exhibitors at the Arabian Travel Awards will witness an increase of 25% year-on-year with leaders and innovators from around the world are preparing to steer the future of the tourism industry at the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 28 April to 1 May 2025. ATM 2025’s extensive conference programme and exhibition reflect this year’s theme, ‘Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity’. With Travel Tech exhibitors experiencing year-on-year growth of 25% and the segment’s exhibition space expanding by 22%, this year’s event will explore how technology is transforming the tourism sector, presenting new growth opportunities for enterprising start-ups and established multinationals alike. The Future Stage at ATM 2025 will host a range of expert speakers, who will explore how advances in fields such as analytics and machine learning, workplace collaboration, blockchain, next-gen mobility and augmented reality are driving our sector forward. This year’s event represents an unparalleled opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their innovations in front of an international audience of senior decision-makers and purchase influencers. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “ATM Travel Tech draws together the best and brightest from across our industry, creating an unrivalled forum for discovery, debate and deal-making. Now more than ever, opportunities related to connectivity and integration are at the forefront of our minds, and they will take centre stage at ATM 2025.” According to IMARC Group, the global market for travel technology is on course to hit $18.6 billion in the next eight years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) …

Almosafer announced a strategic partnership with Jisr to integrate the Almosafer Business travel management portal on its platform to enable clients and partners to book their business travel, with flights, hotels, and other services available through Almosafer’s proprietary channel. The strategic integration underscores Almosafer’s commitment to supporting local startups and expanding their digital offerings across a wider platform. By joining forces with Jisr as a leading HR software platform in the Kingdom, Almosafer reinforces its position as a trusted partner for Saudi companies seeking seamless digital-first travel and booking services. Khalid Alyahia, VP of Almosafer, said: “At Almosafer, collaborations and partnerships are key to driving our strategic agenda to reinforce our leadership in the digital travel sphere. By aligning Almosafer Business with Jisr, a company focussed on leading the digital transformation of HR across Saudi Arabia, we are reaffirming our commitment to be at the forefront of driving Saudi Arabia’s digital-first agenda, while providing state-of-the-art travel management services to Jisr’s wide portfolio of clients in the Kingdom.” Mohammed Akkar, CEO of Jisr, said: “In our ongoing commitment to delivering a 360-degree comprehensive platform that empowers HR benefits and finance departments to manage all their needs in one place, we have elevated our enablement efforts and expanded our services from just handling travel requests for business trips and expats home visits to enabling HR teams and employees to directly book their preferred tickets on the same platform, through our partnership with Almosafer, the leading travel partner in the region. Our collaboration with Almosafer marks a significant step toward satisfying a critical business need across all sectors in Saudi Arabia, and offers a user-friendly solution, marking this service’s first time in the …

Organised by Visit Qatar for the first time, the Sealine Season has been an exceptional success to date, attracting more than 48,000 visitors since its launch on 3rd January 2025. The Samaritan Night, held on Friday 24 January, was one of the highlights of the season, attracting a large audience who experienced the rich cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula. The Samaritan Band, which has more than 400 members, dazzled more than 23,000 visitors with its traditional musical and poetic performance. The site was fully prepared in just 72 hours, reflecting outstanding planning and execution. During the final weekend of Celine Season, visitors also witnessed drone displays, a spectacular fireworks display, and the thrill of the Celine Season digital draw. Celine Season continues to offer visitors a variety of experiences until 27 January, including desert safari adventures, family fun activities such as football and volleyball, children’s activities and creative workshops. The high turnout underscores Celine’s position as a seasonal destination that celebrates Qatari culture and adventure experiences.

Blueberry Travel (Friends Travel & Tourism LLC) won the ‘Fastest growing travel management company’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “We feel happy as we won the title of fastest-growing travel management company which is a huge achievement for all of us. It showcases our dedication towards creativity along with the quality within the travel sector. This special honor raises the bar for the sector which will motivate our team and upgrade our brand reputation. For me, it is a proud moment that boosts my enthusiasm for teamwork and development.” Pradeep Kishnani, Vice President of Blueberry Travel (Friends Travel and Tourism LLC)

In a special interview with TravTalkME, Dr. Abdelrazzak Arrabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board shared that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is their source market in the region and last year had seen 1.2million visitors, standing in its second position was Kuwait, followed by the United Arab Emirates. ” Last year, almost 60% of our tourists came from GCC. Number one market is Saudi Arabia. We received more than 1.2 million, because of the proximity and especially as Jordan is a family destination. Kuwait stands at number two with over 50,000 travellers and the United Arab Emirates at 25,000. Internationally United States of America is among the top markets where we received over 200,000 visitors and 100,000 from the Italy. In the summertime, the weather is very nice. People come to Jordan to enjoy the summertime where they can do outdoor activities. The temperature is about 19degrees in the night, which is very comfortable for people and most importantly there is no humidity. You must experience Jordan weather as its fresh and people love to go out and do activities, especially at night.”

Strengthening its position as a global leader in smart technologies and innovation, Dubai and Abu Dhabi announced a high-speed train project between the two emirates. The project will enable seamless connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, significantly reducing travel times. It will also enhance the quality of life for citizens, residents and visitors while strengthening socioeconomic ties between the two emirates. Additionally, the high-speed train will reinforce infrastructure to drive business growth and unlock new investment opportunities across key sectors such as logistics and tourism, contributing to sustainable development for generations to come. The project further strengthens the UAE’s position as a global leader in smart transportation. By integrating cutting-edge and innovative technologies, the project elevates the nation’s transport infrastructure, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship, while contributing significantly to achieving the objectives of the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy. Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, have witnessed the announcement of a new high-speed train project linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in an official ceremony organised by Etihad Rail at Al Faya Depot. H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised that this ambitious project reflects the UAE leadership’s vision to advance national infrastructure and elevate mobility services to the highest standards. He also underscored that the high-speed train aims to bolster the UAE’s global competitiveness, support sustainable …

Turkish Airlines has resumed its flights to Damascus, which were first started on February 1984 and suspended since April 2012. Resuming from 23 January, Turkish Airlines will operate three flights per week to Damascus on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. On the resuming of the Damascus flights, Turkish Airlines CEO, Bilal Ekşi stated: “As Turkish Airlines, we are excited to recommence our flights to Damascus, capital of Syria. With the historical ties we share between the two countries, we believe that the return of Turkish Airlines will further reinforce these bonds and contribute to trade and cultural potential of the region. As we continue to diversify the Middle East’s gateways to the world, we continue our mission of building bridges between countries and peoples around the globe with our unparalleled flight network.” Turkish Airlines passengers can travel round-trip from Istanbul to Damascus for prices starting from 299 USD, inclusive of all taxes and fees. These fares are based on Turkish Airlines’ official website pricing and may vary in sales offices and agencies. Flight Schedule: FLIGHT NO START END DAYS DEPARTURE ARRIVAL TK  846 23.01.2025 27.03.2025 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday IST 09:00 11:00 DAM TK  847 23.01.2025 27.03.2025 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday DAM 13:00 15:10 IST *All times are in LMT Operating flights to 352 destinations in 131 countries, Turkish Airlines continues to expand its seamless connectivity through new destinations, while offering unmatched service quality worldwide.