For more than 50 years, Zahara Travel has become renowned for demonstrating an entrepreneurial and pioneering approach to corporate travel. This strategy has helped the company gain prominence as a premium service-oriented organization, resulting in winning the “Oman Award for Excellence” in Tourism six times. Thanks to its collaboration with Amadeus, the corporate travel specialist plans to boost its level of automation to deliver an enhanced and more personalized customer service. Zahara Travel has chosen to implement the latest cloud-based Amadeus Selling Platform, which delivers fast access to a comprehensive range of travel services using real-time connectivity for the most up-to-date inventory and pricing. To benefit customers further, Zahara Travel will deploy Amadeus Productivity Suite, which is a behind-the-scenes set of tools that enable travel consultants to focus on delivering the best customer service rather than the administrative processes that need to be managed. Amadeus Web Services is another key component of the agreement between the two companies. Gautam Broota, CEO of Zahara Travel and Service Bureau LLC said, “As a pioneer in the Travel and Tourism business in Oman, we strive to offer our customers the most efficient and seamless award-winning service. Our partnership with Amadeus ensures we are using highly advanced products and services that enhance our ability to deliver customer service in a comprehensive and personalized manner. We are excited about the expanded range of solutions included in this agreement as it elevates our offering to the next level for all our stakeholders.” Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, adds: “Amadeus’ travel solutions will help enhance the services offered by Zahara Travel and is backed by our commitment to support our customers every step of the …

Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas, the region’s premiere leisure pioneer, has signed a deal with Immersive Gamebox (IGB) to introduce seven hyper-immersive and interactive ‘Gameboxes’ to Magic Planet in City Centre Mirdif, Dubai and City Centre Al Zahia, Sharjah, giving visitors access to 12 different experiences. The partnership underscores Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to evolving and diversifying its offering in line with customer preferences and emerging trends. IGB (formerly known as Electric Gamebox) is a leading immersive      gaming company which designs and develops interactive digital smart rooms called ‘Gameboxes’     , catering      for groups of two to six players per Gamebox. The platform is a completely new genre of group entertainment featuring cutting-edge technologies, including      patented touch screens, 3D motion tracking and      surround sound      to deliver a hyper-immersive shared gaming experience     . IGB has a growing library of licensed and original IP games created by its in-house studio. All titles will be available at Magic Planet including Alien Aptitude Test, Ticket to Mars, Psychedelic Mansion, James Bunny: Casino Tropicale, and Squid Game      lasting 60 minutes each, as well as Temple of Coins, Angry Birds, Block Smash Mania, Trivia Mash-up, lasting 15-30 minutes each and kids’ games including Temple of Coins Junior, Tip Tap Memory Challenge and Shaun the Sheep: Championsheeps, lasting 15-30 minutes each. IGB will also be providing localised versions of these games in Arabic. Commenting on the partnership, Mark D. Haak Wegmann, Managing Director, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure and Entertainment said, “Immersive Gamebox (IGB) is a pioneering gaming company, and we are excited to partner with them to expand our offering at Magic Planet. Together, we will introduce technology-enabled shared play and a whole new genre of …

Begin your experience of limitless luxury at the “greatest venue of them all” – the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah with the journey of a limited-edition exotic sports car, Pambuffetti. Pambuffetti is a limited edition Italian Hyper Car inspired by the current Formula 1 made to provide the same sensations on the track and on the road. Pambuffetti PJ-01 features an 820 hp- V10- 5200cc engine, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds. This car was born with the same aerodynamic philosophy of a Grand Prix single-seater and was created to enhance the potential of sports driving on the road. “This is the car for me! But my goal is to share it with those who share my passion,” proudly states Juri Pambuffetti. This iconic car is in the Middle East region for the first time and showcased at the iconic luxury resort Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah. The first female F3 driver of the United Arab Emirates, Amna Al Qubaisi, was invited to unlock the gear of Pambuffetti for the first time at Waldorf Astoria RAK. “It was breathtaking to drive this extremely powerful sports car, and I am happy that the Pambuffetti team gave me the opportunity to try the car out,” said Amna Al Qubaisi. The resort invites luxury car lovers and collectors to get a first look at the Pambuffetti with a VIP Suite Package. Your curated luxury hospitality experience starts with Royal Caviar in-suite breakfast and Waldorf Afternoon Tea at Peacock Alley and follows up with an adrenaline-filled exploration of Pambuffetti “PJ-01”. This truly epic journey allows you to sit inside, talk to the car designers and take …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has hosted the third Dubai Gastronomy Forum, the major industry event focused on engaging Dubai’s key F&B stakeholders, showcasing new gourmet concepts and content series, highlighting key events and culinary happenings with a briefing of Dubai Food Festival 2023 – all further elevating Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for food tourism. The event, which was attended by 150 gastronomy industry culinary stakeholders, hotel groups, destinations, key industry specialists, and F&B partners, was hosted by DET and took place at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai. The Gastronomy Forum, part of DET’s Gastronomy Always On (GAON) initiative, further reaffirmed Dubai’s standing as an international hub for gastronomy, and a beacon for visionary restaurateurs, chefs, discerning foodies, epicurean travellers and culinary aficionados. During the forum, DET shared opportunities with industry stakeholders in the gastronomy sector of forthcoming calendar of events, new content series, activations and partnerships taking place to support and promote the F&B industry, with the aim of further strengthening the city’s dynamic ecosystem of more than 13,000 restaurants and cafés and rallying their support in further enhancing the city’s reputation as a year-round global gastronomy hub. As the industry looks forward to 2023, DET also unveiled new details of the 10th anniversary edition of the much-anticipated Dubai Food Festival (DFF).  Taking place from 21 April – 7 May 2023, DFF 2023 will showcase the depth, diversity and creativity of Dubai’s gastronomy offering through an expanded programme of events and activities, celebrating home-grown concepts, Emirati and international cuisine, as well as global trends and the chefs, culinary pioneers, gourmet thought leaders and tastemakers that continue to reflect and inspire Dubai. During the 17-day DFF …

The vibrant and varied culture of Hungary is a dialogue of ages and fates, captivating tourists with its folkloric tales, classical exuberance and modern expressions. Art and culture are a cornerstone of daily life for many Hungarians where originality, artistic expression and virtuosity are highly regarded. Indeed, Hungarian intellectual and cultural heritage is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. As such, in 2023 Hungary is looking to position and promote its cultural pedigree in all its forms to become the European must-visit hub for Middle Eastern travellers interested in theater, concerts (both classical and modern), festivals, museums, and art galleries. For the first three months of 2023 a number of key exhibitions and events will be highlighted, including the first complete exhibition of El Greco’s work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, which will be held until 19 February 2023. The exhibition seeks to provide a broad overview of the life’s work of one of the foremost masters of European art, Domenikos Theotokopoulos, most widely known as El Greco, by presenting the complexity of his visual world and sweeping stylistic development. For more information, click here. Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and music has for decades been an essential part of life for many Budapest residents with many families experiencing the opera as part of their annual festive season traditions. Playing at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest until January 15, 2023, the opera house itself has recently undergone extensive renovations, making this year a particularly poignant time to visit. For more information on performance dates, click here. A lot more is on offer too, including: Museums and Galleries: Explore the National Gallery in Buda Castle in Budapest, home …

VOX Cinemas in collaboration with AURA Skypool Lounge are taking luxury cinema to new heights with Movie Magic in the Sky for a one-off experience on Christmas Eve. Taking place on December 24 from 8:30pm, movie lovers can now enjoy watching the quintessential festive film Home Alone al fresco style, while situated 200 meters in the sky, against the backdrop of the iconic Dubai skyline and the glistening horizon of the Arabian Gulf. Tickets go on sale on December 19 at 10am and are expected to sell out fast due to the limited capacity of 50 seats. Starting from AED500 per person, the package includes admission to the movie, a welcome reception with free-flow bubbles and a selection of sweet and savory canapes, popcorn as well as a host of surprises throughout the evening and branded merchandise to take home. During the immersive big-screen experience, guests can wrap up with a cashmere pashmina and unwind on the poolside sofas, whilst indulging in festive food and beverages from the a la carte menu delivered straight to the pool-side sofa at an additional cost. VOX Cinemas is the region’s largest cinema exhibitor and boasts an impressive portfolio of innovative cinematic experiences including OUTDOOR, an open-air cinema concept, Snow Cinema at Ski Dubai, the region’s first cinema as well as THEATRE and GOLD, which combines film with fine food. AURA Skypool is a one-of-a-kind experience triggering all senses, and a truly magical spot to capture the essence of Dubai at new heights.

2022 has brought many challenges and opportunities for the aviation industry. With the sector still recovering after the global pandemic while threatened by geopolitical instability, companies had to prove their resilience and adaptability. And that’s exactly what Aviator Airport Alliance, a full-range provider of aviation services at 15 airports across the Nordics, has done over 2022. Regardless of the challenges that still disturbed the industry, 2022 has proven to be an exciting year for Aviator. The company has signed plenty of new contracts while also strengthening current partnerships. “Never waste a good crisis,” says Jo Alex Tanem, CEO of Aviator Airport Alliance. “We were able to offer opportunities and solutions to new and existing clients, in line with their current needs.” Over the year Aviator has strengthened their partnerships with such well-known industry names as Japan Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Wizz Air, Eurowings, Luxair, TAP Air Portugal, Freebird Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Transavia, Braathens, Fly PLAY, Regional Airways (BRA), Pegasus and Air Baltic. Aside from extending agreements with current clientele, Aviator has also added a number of new names to its client list. In 2022 the company began working with Niceair, Vueling Airlines and Atlantic Airways to name a few. “We value new as well as our returning partners. Their trust in our expertise and service quality proves that we as a business are on a right track,” Jo Alex Tanem says. While at this point Nordic aviation volumes are still at 83% YTD of the pre-pandemic levels, the company’s sales have already significantly exceeded the 2019 numbers. Aviator’s team has also grown significantly. Compared to 2019, now Aviator has over 200 more employees providing services to the company’s clients. In …

Internationally renowned ballerina Svetlana Zakharova – the Bolshoi’s prima and the first and only Russian Etoile at Teatro alla Scala – has announced an additional performance date at Dubai Opera due to high demand for tickets. It comes after the star announced last month that she would perform in Dubai with Stars of the Bolshoi this January and shared the details for the historical first ever world’s ballet superstar performance in the UAE.  The original date at the Dubai Opera announced was Friday, January 27th, 2023. Now, Zakharova is doing an additional show the following day, Saturday, January 28th. Speaking about her upcoming Dubai performances, Svetlana said: “I am very excited to be performing at the Dubai Opera for the first time and really look forward to meeting my fans in the United Arab Emirates. These are going to be amazing shows.” Tickets for the additional Saturday’s show by Svetlana Zakharova and Stars of the Bolshoi starting from AED 349, on sale now at dubaiopera.com and platinumlist.net, +971 508702674. A towering figure in the 21st century ballet, Zakharova comes to the Dubai Opera in January with MODANSE, a thrilling double bill that brings together the world of fashion and the art of the dance. It was produced by MuzArts specifically for Svetlana Zakharova who will be joined onstage by a star-studded cast of dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet including Mikhail Lobukhin, Denis Savin, Artemy Belyakov, Anastasia Stashkevich, Elizaveta Kokoreva and also by a modern dance star Ildar Gainutdinov. The night will open with a ballet Come Un Respiro (Like a Breath) set to the 18th century Baroque music by George Frideric Handel. Incidentally, the Baroque period is present not only in the …

Footgolf, a sport combining football and golf, is set to take center stage at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club for the ‘Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament’ from 12 to 14 January 2023. The Professional Footgolf tournament will take place at Sharjah’s world-class country club, with some of the world’s best players traveling to the Emirate from across the globe to participate. The event will bring together over 140 players from more than 20 different nationalities to take on the challenging course. Organised by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority (SCTDA) in partnership with Sharjah Sports Council and Professional Footgolf Tour, The Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament will host the world’s top footgolf players, with both men and women competing for cash purses over a two-day competition, utilising an 18-hole, stroke-play format. The tournament will consist of four players per group, teeing off every six minutes. Players will compete across two days, vying for more than $40,000 in total prize money. The event is also open to amateur footgolf players based in UAE with a prize fund of $1,500 up for grabs, with these players also eligible for the overall fund. While Footgolf tournaments have taken place all over the world to date, the Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament will be the first of its kind within the GCC. “We’re thrilled to be bringing the region’s first footgolf tournament to Sharjah. We have a line-up of world-class footgolf players flying in from all over the world, and we’re excited to show them the beauty of the UAE and everything Sharjah has to offer” said Dan Ferretti, Co-Chairman of Professional Footgolf Tour. “While there are some immaculate golf courses across the UAE, to date there have …

Closing the year on a high note of achievements Cozmo Travel recently opened its 20th branch in the UAE at City Center Ajman. This will serve the customers as the travel agency and a city check in service for Air Arabia customers. The Cozmo Travel and Air Arabia City-Check in Outlet in Safeer Mall Ajman was inaugurated by Cozmo Travel CEO Jamal Abdulnazar and Chief Guest Salah Zainal – Head of Ground operations at Air Arabia. Cozmo Travel winner of many awards and accolades including the Arabian travel award for the most trusted travel partner in the Middle East. Speaking on the occasion, Jamal Abdulnazar CEO Cozmo Travel reiterated, “Cozmo Travel has had a great year, even with the risks and adversity towards travel which was pandemic induced, we managed to persevere and come out stronger than ever with the inauguration of our newest branch in Safeer Mall Ajman, UAE. Additionally, ending the year with a bang, Cozmo Travel has started operations in Armenia & Pakistan, with plans to open up more branches in the two countries while also being a GSA for Fly Jinnah & FlyArna the latest joint ventures of Air Arabia. These expansions bring up the Cozmo Travel global network to cover thirteen countries with multiple branches including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, KSA, Oman, Jordan, Iraq, India, China & Egypt. This brings about the Bounce Back of tourism and Cozmo Travel’s role in facilitating travel in the region.”