VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, will be recognised at CinemaCon, the world’s most influential cinema conference, for its contribution to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning cinema sector. During the International Day programme (25 April), Saudi Arabia will be honoured with the Emerging Market Spotlight Award and, as a leading exhibitor and key player in the growth of the Kingdom’s cinema industry, the award will be presented to VOX Cinemas. This is the second time that VOX Cinemas has been recognised at the prestigious event having previously been awarded Global Achievement in Exhibition in 2017. Saudi Arabia is receiving the honour following a 95% year-on-year box office increase in 2021 according to Comscore, the media measurement and analytics company, who sponsors the award. The previous recipient of the award was Nigeria in 2019. “Cinema in Saudi Arabia is growing at an unprecedented speed and, in just over four years, it has established itself as a major box office player on the global stage. VOX Cinemas will continue to play a leading role in creating a sustainable film industry and growing the cinema culture in the Kingdom by expanding its footprint and developing a dynamic content ecosystem”, said Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas. He added, “We are proud to see Saudi Arabia’s film industry receive international recognition and are honoured that CinemaCon has selected us to accept this award.” Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon added, “With almost 80% of the worldwide box office now coming from overseas, the international market has never played a more important role the cinema industry. In particular, the Saudi film sector is the emerging market to watch …

VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, is celebrating the spirit of giving this Ramadan by hosting a series of outdoor movie screenings at workers’ accommodation sites in Dubai. The initiative reaffirms Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to give back to the local community and promote the highest standards of worker welfare within its supply chain, in alignment with its sustainability strategy Dare Today, Change Tomorrow. Over the course of two weekends (23, 24 and 29 April), VOX Cinemas is installing outdoor pop-up cinemas at Laing O’Rourke and Khansaheb G+3 in Jebel Ali and showing a variety of movies for 1,500 construction workers. The screenings are being made possible with the support of more than 20 volunteers from Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas. “Cinema has an incredible ability to bring people together and VOX Cinemas is proud to enable colleagues within partner organisations to enjoy the shared experience of watching a movie on the big screen. As part of our sustainability strategy, we are committed to making a difference in the community and these screenings perfectly encapsulate the spirt of giving and togetherness, which is synonymous with Ramadan”, said Peter Stubbs, Director of HSE and Sustainability, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas. He added, “I would like to thank Laing O’Rourke for partnering with us on this initiative and to all the volunteers who contributed their time to make it possible.” Jason Lowe, General Manager, Laing O’Rourke added, “I am extremely grateful to VOX Cinemas for bringing the magic of movies to Laing O’Rourke’s workforce. This is a great opportunity for the workers to come together and be part of this special screening of their …

flydubai is to  launch flights to Izmir in Turkey starting from 26 June with a three-times weekly service. Flights to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB) on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. With the start of flights to Izmir, flydubai’s network in Turkey will grow to four points including Ankara (ESB), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and Istanbul Airport (IST). flydubai will also operate summer seasonal routes to Bodrum (BJV) and Trabzon (TZX) frpm 23 June to offer passengers more options to travel this summer. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “we are pleased to see our network in Turkey further grow with the start of flights to Izmir. During the busy summer period, we will operate 24 flights a week to Turkey, providing passengers with more opportunities to experience different cities in the country whether they are travelling for a city break or beach holiday. The new direct flights will help stimulate trade links between Dubai and one of the busiest cities in Turkey.” Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey located on the Aegean coast. It is known for its archaeological sites, rich heritage and its pleasant coastal climate. Its central location provides access to the most mesmerising coastal villages and beautiful beaches, ideal for a day trip to unwind and get away from the city’s urban atmosphere. ​ Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “we are committed to making travel more accessible and providing more choice for our passengers. We are confident that Izmir will be a popular choice for passengers from the UAE …

With Eid Al Fitr approaching and more travellers planning to take to the skies, Emirates is responding by offering more flights across seven cities in the GCC and Middle East. The airline is stepping up its schedule by adding 23 flights and layering on additional seats with the deployment of both A380s and Boeing 777s between 28 April and 8 May to the four cities it serves in KSA, as well as to Kuwait, Beirut, and Amman. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emirates will be layering on two additional flights on 2nd and 8th  May to serve demand in and out of Riyadh. In Jeddah, the airline will add five flights served by its Boeing 777, and will be upgrading one of its existing flights to an A380, to become an all A380 operation. Medina will also be served with four additional flights during this time, and travelers from Dammam will also have the option of one extra flight on 28 April as they start their holidays. This year, Emirates customers in KSA will be venturing to Dubai for their Eid Al Fitr celebrations, in addition to the Maldives, Paris, Bangkok, Mauritius, Manila and Los Angeles in the US. Popular destinations for Kuwaiti travelers this year include Dubai, the Maldives, Manila, Bangkok, London, Mauritius and Paris and Emirates will be operating eight additional flights served by its Boeing 777 during Eid. Emirates will be layering on three flights served by its Boeing 777s to the airline’s existing Beirut schedule to accommodate for more travelers as they head home to visit friends and relatives. Amman flights served by the Boeing 777 will also be upgraded with higher seat capacities. Travellers …

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is set to return to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) next month by unveiling of two campaigns to the GCC market, which will run throughout 2022. The market-leading, international travel and tourism event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 9-12 and Germany’s presence will feature a strong focus on local culture and the diversity of its various cities. Located in the Europe Hall at stand EU1235, GNTB’s participation will reinforce Germany’s efforts of enhancing sustainable travel and enjoy the support of six delegated partners: Baden-Baden Tourism Board, Breuninger, Frankfurt Tourism Board, Düsseldorf Tourism Board, Hotel Palace Berlin and visitBerlin. Positioning Germany as a leading cultural and environmental destination, the two campaigns span nature, sustainability, and traditional culture. In essence, each highlights Germany’s key objectives of promoting enjoyable, sustainable travel with a focus on diverse local culture accessible throughout the country. “We will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our long-standing friendships with the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman next month,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “Our relationship with the region has seen monumental growth as travellers from across the GCC have been exploring Germany’s vast itineraries for years. The appetite of GCC nationals to visit Germany’s cultural sites, national parks, and urban destinations remains undiminished, and we look forward to the continuous growth of our campaigns and regional appeal.” Baden-Baden Tourism is set to highlight its latest accomplishment of being awarded UNESCO world heritage status as part of the ‘Great Spa Towns of Europe’. Despite travel restrictions within the past couple of years, GCC visitors remains a …

Over three million passengers travelled in the first quarter of 2022 through Sharjah Airport, witnessing an increase of 119.2 per cent as compared to 1.3 million passengers in the same period last year. The aircraft movement for the same term also marked an increase in the number of flights by 89 per cent with 21,336 flights, compared to 11,279 flights last year. In terms of cargo movement, the airport recorded more than 39,566 tons during the first three months of this year, highlighting an increase of 26.39 per cent compared to last year, with 14.457 thousand tons in March alone. H.E Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah International Airport Authority, said: “The ease of international travel restrictions as well as the gradual recovery from Covid-19, allowed airlines to resume their previously suspended flights, resulting in improved growth rates. This is also in line with the Sharjah Airport’s commitment to providing the highest levels of safety and security for customers during the pandemic, making traveling from and to the city of Sharjah a safe and enjoyable experience.” “Sharjah Airport has been successful in gaining the trust of passengers due to its expansion and innovative strategies, as well as promoting its partnerships by attracting new airline and cargo companies. This approach fits with our vision of being one of the best five airports in the region, promising an exceptional travel experience and leading services,” His Excellency added. Furthermore, the Sharjah Airport continued to provide customers with the most innovative and modern services, while ensuring their safety and security, during the first quarter of this year. In addition, the airport recently received the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ award in …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), in partnership with RAK Ports, announces the appointment of Zaiton Consultancy to support the Emirate’s cruise tourism. Experts in developing and promoting cruise services, Dubai-headquartered Zaiton Consultancy will be responsible for developing and marketing Ras Al Khaimah’s burgeoning cruise sector.  The announcement comes as the global industry gathers at the Seatrade Cruise Global event in Miami until April 28, where Zaiton Consultancy is participating as Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s representative. One of the fastest growing sectors in tourism, cruising saw an annual passenger growth rate of 5.4% from 2009 to 2019, with services now close to pre-pandemic levels owing to immediate action and thoughtful planning. In recognition of the importance of cruise tourism, the Authority and RAK Ports have worked together on a number of projects to further develop the Emirate’s offering. This includes the transformation of its old ferry terminal into a modern and efficient boutique cruise passenger terminal and the development of marine transport infrastructure around it. The Authority has also invested in designing bespoke visitor itineraries for arrivals to attract a larger segment of leisure cruise passengers and welcome new audiences from across the world to the destination. Considered as one of the most diverse and fastest growing destinations in the region, a key part of the Authority’s strategy to attract three million visitors a year by 2030 is to ensure accessibility via all means of transport, including luxury cruise ships. These passengers will be welcomed to the Emirate via the dedicated terminal, which is able to accommodate multiple cruise ships of up to 214m in length docking simultaneously. To ensure a continuation of the service levels luxury …

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 is ready to welcome the world to the UAE from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May, playing host to 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 112 global destinations, and an anticipated 20,000 attendees. The live show will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will run from Tuesday 17 to Wednesday 18 May. Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 29th edition of ATM will form an essential part of the UAE’s annual Arabian Travel Week. In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘The future of international travel and tourism’, ATM 2022 will feature a huge selection of sessions and events, enabling industry professionals from around the world to discuss current trends and explore long-term opportunities within the fields of travel, transportation, tourism, hospitality, events, attractions and more. Kerry Prince, Chief Growth Officer, RX said: “Business travel expenditure in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32% this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and these figures underscore the positive sentiment, that we’ve experienced throughout the region. “This naturally bodes well for yet another successful edition of ATM, providing a catalyst to put our industry firmly on the path to a robust and sustainable recovery, alongside our partners the DET and of course the DWTC.” The show floor at this year’s edition will be over 85% larger than at ATM 2021. This growth is thanks to the expansion of several sector- and region-specific zones, including Travel Tech (380%); hotels (71%); the Middle East (57%); Africa (56%); Asia (50%); and Europe (49%). Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism …

It was announced by the Spain tourism authority in the GCC that they will be exhibiting at this year’s Arabian Travel Market from 9th to 12th May 2022. Spain is a destination which caught the attention well ahead of time to the travelers from GCC, mainly due to the bilateral relationship which exist between the countries, the fact that the country opened fairly early than the rest of Europe and also vaccinated their population just like the UAE ahead of the rest. Daniel Rosado, Director Spain tourism in GCC reiterated, “We will be promoting Spain as a destination which is safe, friendly and offering a vast variety of activities where to enjoy a hassle free holiday. We will present various destinations and also continue to promote our current campaign ´´You deserve Spain ´´In addition to this we will be signing up with an online platform   for a campaign to promote Spain this summer. There will be around 30 partners from across Spain representing various regions, DMCs, Hotels etc.” During the pandemic, Spain has been proactively working to ensure that their destination was top on the minds of the travelers with many B2B sessions online and then when they finally opened borders, ensured that the physical road shows continued. 2021, for Spain was a considerably good year as the visitor numbers form the GCC rose due to ease of restrictions. Rosado shared, “We had relatively good numbers from GCC in 2021 despite the fact that the country opened up only in June. we are positive that the trend continues and with the ease in restrictions for GCC travelers and the seasonal summer flights to Malaga other than the regular Madrid – …

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, announced the opening of W Dubai – Mina Seyahi. Situated on the highly sought-after Jumeirah Beach coastline, the 31-storey hotel boasts striking glass architecture with unobstructed views of the sun-soaked Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s iconic landmarks. “Dubai is an always-on, high-energy city with a growing luxury lifestyle scene, making it the perfect destination for the iconic W Hotels brand,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President – Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is the third W hotel to launch in the UAE and reflects its world-famous culture and social vibrancy, and brings the W brand’s signature style of luxury to travellers looking for new ways to celebrate the destination. Guests and locals can expect the unexpected with intriguing spaces, vibrant dining experiences and dynamic programming.” Dubai’s historical, cultural and social fabric is woven throughout the design of the hotel with surprises waiting to be discovered around every corner. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the artfully designed porte-cochère that leads to a show-stopping Welcome Desk featuring bold colours and textures inspired by the romanticism of a snake charmer – a nod to the Middle East’s history of mystique and its mix of poets, storytellers, and performers who brought the energy of the region to life. Inside, the W Lounge – the brand’s take on the hotel lobby – pays homage to famed, Middle Eastern gold souks, with rich, warm hues and gold accents to create a lively, modern-day bazaar. Guests can connect over imaginative cocktails and savoury bites infused with local flavours, complemented by live music and nightly DJ sets. …