Majid Al Futtaim has announced the launch of a coding program designed specifically for women – and the private sector’s first of its kind for the region. The announcement is in line with the government led initiative, ‘Projects of the 50’, aiming to attract 100 coders every day to the UAE’s workforce and attain the highest percentage of female coders per capita in the world in the next five years. Following the launch of the UAE’s National Programme for Coders in July, which aspires to develop talent, expertise and innovation in the field of coding, Majid Al Futtaim will provide a prominent platform for women in tech to make their mark on the industry. Aimed at training 5,000 women over the next five years, the program will target university students, recent graduates and career women, as well as upskilling MAFers. Early focus will be to create a dedicated tech community for interactive knowledge sharing in collaboration with the UAE Government, industry and academia, which will include outreach to universities across the Emirate to spark interest in tech subjects and encourage women to enter the sector at a greater pace. This program, in combination with other company-wide initiatives, will ensure Majid Al Futtaim achieves its goal to employ more than 35 percent women in advanced technologies and digital roles by 2023. Commenting on the launch, Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding said, “There are numerous invisible barriers that discourage women from pursuing a career in the digital space which has a knock-on effect, further widening the skills and gender gap. Research suggests that women make up only 28 per cent of the global tech sector’s workforce and with …

Barceló Hotel Group partners with world-famous football organization LaLiga and Spanish Extravaganza Festival to host the second edition of this gastronomic festival in UAE, taking place from 15th to 17th September 2021. This international event is set to celebrate the rich gastronomic heritage, culture and traditions of Spain in general, and this year will focus on the Principality of Asturias. Barceló Hotel Group welcomes guests to commemorate the flavourful festival across Dukes The Palm, A Royal Hideaway Hotel and Occidental Al Jaddaf, at the new authentic Spanish restaurant Carmen. This year, Spanish Extravaganza will be partnering with ASTUREX, the Trade Promotion Agency of the Principality of Asturias, to offer guests a unique culinary experience showcasing exceptional Asturian gourmet products and its culinary creations. Revered Michelin Star Chef, Ricardo Sotres will be the host for a series of unique live gastronomic experiences to be delighted at the two hotels. José Canals, Managing Director Middle East and Asia at Barceló Hotel Group says, “We are proud to host the second edition of this festival at our properties. As the leading Spanish hotel chain in the Middle East, it gives us great pleasure to support the international recognition of Spanish culture with residents and visitors of the UAE and introduce them to authentic Asturian gastronomic cuisine. We are honoured to partner with LaLiga and Spanish Extravaganza for the second consecutive year.” Maite Ventura, LaLiga Managing Director MENA adds, “Spanish Extravaganza is an international reference festival in the promotion of Spanish gastronomic culture and working hand in hand for the second consecutive year with Barceló Hotel Group is a motivating project for us. LaLiga clubs and the culinary tradition of each region to which …

Disney Wish – the newest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line family – sets sail in summer 2022. Be among the first to experience the all-new enchantment on board, where fantastical worlds and beloved stories from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar are bought to life like never before. Here’s 20 reasons to stand up and take note! Imaginative dining Dining meets storytelling aboard the Disney Wish. Step into the magical worlds of some of your favourite Disney stories and feast upon delectable, gourmet specialties at 3 all-new upscale family restaurants. Arendelle: A “Frozen” Dining Adventure  – For the First Time in Forever. Be a part of the world’s first Frozen-themed, theatrical dining experience as you’re magically transported to the enchanting Kingdom of Arendelle aboard the Disney Wish. Queen Anna and Kristoff are celebrating their engagement and have invited you, their honoured Guest, to join them. Behold festive musical performances from Elsa and Olaf as you devour hearty Norwegian-inspired cuisine made by Oaken himself. It’s a dinner worth melting for! Worlds of MARVEL Assemble for a heroic dining adventure of epic proportions! Explore state-of-the-art tech at the Avengers Technology Showcase while indulging in flavourful global cuisines—from classic all-American fare to rich African flavours—inspired by some of your favourite heroes. During dinner, leap into your own action-packed Super Hero story, where an Avenger or two might turn to you to help them save the day! Innovative experiences Combining inventive design, cutting-edge technology and classic storytelling, the Disney Wish seamlessly brings Disney magic to life in new and unexpected ways, while creating the next generation in family entertainment. First–ever Disney attraction at sea Join Mickey and Minnie on an exhilarating water …

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an agreement with Uber, an e-hailing giant, to enhance the training of chauffeurs of RTA limos. The aim is to use Uber’s e-hail methodology, which leads the world in this field of the industry. “This initiative stems from RTA’s keenness to enhance the level of services delivered to all community segments. It is part of RTA’s efforts to realise the government directives to make concerted efforts and strategies to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world,” said Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA. “Smart mobility is one of the key pillars of smart cities. As such, this agreement with Uber opens a new channel that will contribute to the happiness of residents using taxi and limousine services. Besides offering a superb service to tourists and residents, the step is poised to enrich the experience of customers, serve their needs and raise their satisfaction and happiness. Thus, it contributes to realising the vision of RTA to become ‘The World Leader in Seamless & Sustainable Mobility’. “Under the agreement, a smart video-based training methodology will be set up and will be integrated to RTA’s official drivers’ training programme. The methodology will be delivered to the existing and new chauffeurs and added to the basic training courses delivered to drivers. A short and intensive methodology will be set up for the complimentary training courses called: Uber Methodology,” added Bahrozyan. Saad Pal, General Manager of Uber for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, said: “We are keen to work with RTA in delivering more accessible technological services to all riders of limousines in the emirate in a bid …

Emirates announced that it will be expanding its operations in and out of South Africa, boosting its schedule to 28 weekly flights by October. This is the airline’s largest weekly schedule to South Africa since the start of the pandemic, which aims to bring more competitive choices for customers wishing to visit Dubai, and through Dubai to the airline’s network of over 120 global destinations. The ramp up of operations will see double daily flights to Johannesburg, including the introduction of Emirates’ iconic A380 on one of the daily flights, in addition to daily services to both Cape Town and Durban. The new frequencies and capacity increases across all of the airline’s gateways in South Africa are effective from 31 October 2021. From 1 January 2022, Emirates will serve Johannesburg with double daily A380 services. The airline’s flagship and customer favourite will offer South African passengers the best experience in the sky with signature features like First Class private suites, luxurious Shower Spa, the ever-popular Onboard Lounge, in addition to spacious seating in Economy and Premium Economy Class cabins* featuring the industry’s largest seatback screens for customers to enjoy over 4,500 channels of on-demand entertainment on ice. Emirates’ flight schedule expansion comes in response to a surge in customer demand to Dubai as tourist visas have opened up for all nationalities, in addition to the easing of restrictions across some destinations that now allow quarantine-free entry for South Africans. Emirates is also firmly committed to supporting the recovery of South Africa’s tourism industry through facilitating enhanced connectivity for international visitors into the country. Dubai has long been one of the most popular holiday getaways for South African travellers, and remains …

​Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) presented various models of the latest next-generation aircraft seats in both business and economy classes which will be included in the airline’s upcoming new Airbus A321XLR aircraft deliveries. During the two-day event held at the SAUDIA Club at the airline’s headquarters in Jeddah, guests from the Al Fursan loyalty program along with media representatives, were invited to experience and share their views and votes for their preferred models. The votes will be grouped with the decision of stakeholders which will eventually be taken into consideration for choosing the final seat on the new aircraft. During the seat selection event, the Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, engaged with a number of guests at the event and heard their input and comments with regards to current onboard products and services. The seat manufacturers featured in the event included Thompson Aero Seating, Safran Seats, Stelia, Collins Aerospace, Geven, Haeco, and Recaro. The models presented include a new business-class suite featuring a 180 degrees fully-flatbed seat with sliding doors. Some of the presented suites also include a 24-inch HD screen. The spacious economy class seats come fully equipped with the latest amenities, together with storage areas and 13-inch seat-back entertainment screens. Captain Ibrahim S.  Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, stated that the main goal of providing high-quality products is to provide comfort and industry-leading ergonomic features. Koshy indicated that the first of Saudi Arabian Airlines’ Airbus A321XLR aircraft is expected to arrive in 2024. SAUDIA has ordered a total of 15 Airbus A321XLR, which will serve regional, European, and Asian routes. Captain Koshy further asserted that the company is forging ahead with several customer-focused development …

UAE’s newest 14-year-old resident is an excellent swimmer, weighs 115KG and prefers a diet of ducks and rabbits. When measured, 12 people had to hold her at full length. Hold on to your seats, we are talking about, what is believed to be, the largest living snake on display in the world! Super Snake is a seven-metre reticulated python and The National Aquarium at Al Qana in Abu Dhabi is her new home. She will live at the Flooded Forest Zone along with more than 8,000 fascinating rainforest creatures. Native to South and Southeast Asia, the reticulated python is the world’s longest snake. They can grow to be over 5 meters long in the wild, with the largest ever recorded at 10 meters. Although this species is non-venomous, they kill prey by wrapping themselves around them and constricting tighter as the victim exhales. Making them even scarier, Pythons’ jaws are connected by very flexible ligaments allowing them to stretch around large prey and swallow them whole. Reticulated Pythons are wildly feared due to their size and ferocity and are among the few snakes that can prey on humans. Although attacks on humans are not common, this species has been responsible for several reported human fatalities. Considering their incredible size, a full-grown reticulated python can open its jaws wide enough to swallow a small person. There have been numerous reports of people being eaten by reticulated pythons, particularly on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and Super Snake is of similar size to these reported man-eaters. The UAE’s new Super Snake, on the other hand, was born in a Los Angeles captive breeding program. She has grown accustomed to human contact during …

VistaJet further expands its comprehensive VistaPet program, as the number of animals onboard soars 86% over the last two years and global pet ownership continues to rise. Safety, security and the wellbeing of clients are fundamental for all at VistaJet. In addition to the unparalleled training with the British Butler Institute, Norland College and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, as well as being the first in private aviation to have in-house MedAire instructors, VistaJet’s team of over 200 Cabin Hostesses now has tuition in all segments of pet first aid to ensure safety for all in-flight and that loyal companions receive the same leading service as their owners.   The extensive training program includes: Pet CPR procedures from checking circulation, identifying location of the heart and optimum ratio of compressions to breath; Recognizing warning signs of chocking and the best maneuvers for the situation; Vital signs such as heart rate, varying pulse locations, body temperature, and mucous membrane and capillary refill time to check for circulation and levels of oxygen in the bloodstream; Understanding indications of poisoning from ingested or topical, spider or insect bites, and the best treatment for each; And to better understand behaviors, crew members also learn how to read body language, whether that be a friendly dog holding its ears up and a loosely wagging tail; a fearful dog with ears back and tail tucked; recognizing the difference between a rapidly twitching tail and a friendly wag; or the unpredictability of cats, gaining clues from their eyes, ears and whiskers.   Matteo Atti, EVP Marketing & Innovation at VistaJet said: “The fast increase in pet adoptions is paired with a habit of having pets as …

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, the vibrant hotel that connects the historic and modern Dubai, is ready to welcome visitors to the city as the doors to the much-awaited Expo 2020 opens on October 1. The world’s most significant and impactful event ever to take place in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) will welcome participants from different nations, multilateral organisations, businesses, and educational institutions who will witness the event with the theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” To date, 191 nations have confirmed participation at the event, which will last for 182 days until March 31, 2022. “The opening of Expo 2020 will be a historic event for the UAE and an exciting period for the hospitality industry. We have been preparing for years, and Park Regis Kris Kin is all set to welcome visitors and participants to the largest cultural gathering in the world. We have seen a steady pick up on group inquiries for Expo, which in turn complements our forecast of recording a strong occupancy during Q4 of 2021,” noted Colin A. Baker, Regional Director, Middle East, StayWell Holdings. The mega event is forecasted to bring in 25 million visitors to the country, of which 11 million are international travelers. With 12,000 new keys expected to be added in the second half of 2021 in Dubai and 1,400 in Abu Dhabi, the industry gears for a good recovery. “Expo 2020 remains a great contributor to the hotel’s occupancies during the six-month event. We are closely monitoring the countries travelling inbound, which may still have travel restrictions when Expo begins whilst being optimistic that these [restrictions] will be lifted before the opening,” reveals Baker. …

With less than 25 days to go until the opening of the world’s greatest show, Emirates is inviting visitors to experience Expo 2020 Dubai’s endless possibilities in a new global campaign. Fronted by actor and celebrity powerhouse, Chris Hemsworth, the campaign illustrates the ultra-futuristic themes and incredible experiences in store at Expo 2020 Dubai when it opens its doors to the world on 1 October. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai said: “We partnered with Emirates to produce a bold and exciting campaign that we believe will resonate with audiences around the world, and inspire them to come and experience Expo 2020 Dubai for themselves. Expo 2020 Dubai will be one of the greatest must-see events in the world. In addition to impressive marquee pavilions that immerse visitors in the themes of mobility, sustainability and opportunity, and 191 amazing country pavilions, there will also be an unforgettable celebration of music, art and culture with a packed entertainment programme, unique culinary experiences, and much more. It’s truly shaping up to be an event not to be missed.” Chris Hemsworth also remarked on the importance of EXPO 2020 in shaping a brighter future: “In 2019, I partnered with Emirates and EXPO 2020 Dubai to help bring awareness to what is a really important event for the world. We all have the power to shape a better future, and the last year and a half has shown us that the possibilities are endless when we put our minds together. At Expo 2020 Dubai, the world will come together in the spirit of collaboration to provide real life solutions that will benefit …