Accor continues to expand its luxury footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the signing of its first Sofitel property in the Holy City of Madinah, scheduled to open in 2023. With plans to revamp and rebrand under the Sofitel marque next year, the hotel will continue to operate under white label while it undergoes a comprehensive renovation to position it at the pinnacle of the luxury market in Madinah.  Upon completion of the revitalization works, the hotel will stand out as a beacon of modern luxury and French savoir-faire, blending the brand’s unique sense of joie de vivre with the very best of the locale. Partnering with Waqf Sheikh Abdul Bari al-Shawi, represented by the principal of Sheikh Hamza al-Shawi, the hotel ownership is part of a joint charitable entity that donates a portion of its annual profit to treat patients in need in Madinah. “The agreement reinforces and advances the humanitarian message the Waqf stands for. We could not think of a better group to collaborate with than Accor and look forward to a successful partnership in the coming years,” mentioned Sheikh Hamza al-Shawi, Principle and representative of the Waqf. The hotel boasts a landmark location in the centre of Madinah, a short walk from the northern entrance of the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. The property features 469 keys, including the most luxurious suite in Madinah, two- and three-bedroom suites, three dining outlets, an executive lounge, two meeting rooms and a fitness centre with a gym. “The hotel is another great addition to our luxury portfolio in the Kingdom and the region overall”, says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa & Turkey. “The new Sofitel Madinah …

Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority formally opened World Art Dubai at Dubai World Trade Centre, touring the venue with a high-profile delegation of dignitaries. With more than 4,000 artworks from 300-plus artists and galleries, from 50 countries, the eighth instalment of the region’s largest affordable art fair is its biggest yet. Her Excellency toured the show, taking in some of the huge cross-section of art disciplines, from mixed media, fashion, music and dance to sustainability, digital art, photography, graffiti, sculptures, and more. “We’re showcasing a replica of the Global Gate at this year’s World Art Dubai, with the original made out of 37 sea freight containers and standing at 21 metres high. The installation is made by young artist Leon Löwentraut and selected to travel around the world to represent the 17 SDGs by UNESCO,” said Marcus Schaffer, Managing Partner – Global Gate. Collectors looking to bulk up their sculpture collections will revel in the expanded dedicated area with features from key sculpturists, including Hagok Karakashian Jerusalem who bring with them high quality pottery; Gishyan Ceramics started by Armenian Folk Master, Alina Gishyan who focus on avant-garde and abstract ceramics; and Dubai based Camelson who creates art depicting fun things to do in Dubai. “I started Camelson because I felt the market needed specially designed sculptures targeted at expats that embody Dubai’s culture while being completely unique. Camelson is a character that incorporates the magic of the city with each of my pieces having a story behind them,” said Hani Naji, Artist at Camelson. “I have doubled my presence here – last year I had three stands, this year six and I’m looking …

With the Airports Council International (ACI) predicting global passenger traffic recovering by end of 2023 to 2019 levels, airports, especially in the Middle East region, have started sharply focusing on their sustainability and ‘green’ goals. More vulnerable to climate changes than most regions due to limited water supplies and harsh summers, the Middle East is expected to see its aviation market reaching the US$23.07 billion mark in 2026. The region is seeing airports using environment-friendly reclaimed wood, daylighting systems and water treatment technologies. With officials becoming focused on sustainability to ensure a better future for the airport industry, Reed Exhibitions Middle East is focusing on sustainability at the world’s largest airport industry B2B platform that will be organized from May 17 to 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The 21st edition of Airport Show, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, will provide insights about airports facing the sustainability challenge. Airport show, in partnership with dnata, will launch e-Apron zone. The e-Apron zone will provide exhibitors an opportunity to display electric and hybrid ground handling equipment and GSE. Reducing the carbon footprint is a key target for dnata as a world-leading air and travel services provider at 129 airports and we expect more exhibitors will join our efforts for more sustainable operations, said Raed Younes, Vice President, UAE and Regional Business Development at dnata. The airport operations have a sharp focus on reviewing the intensity of environmental impacts like carbon emissions, energy consumption, air and noise pollution, waste management and biodiversity. They are practising …

With Tourism Malaysia participating for the fourth consecutive time at the Gulf Travel Show (GTS) on 22nd and 23rd March 2022 from 11am to 5pm, Sarawak tourism will be one of the key partners to attend the event virtually to meet the agents for two consecutive days. Mary Wan Mering, Director – Marketing, Sarawak tourism board shares, “we are showcasing the 5 pillars of the SARAWAK destination’s unique selling points on Culture, Adventure, Nature, Festival and Food. The experiences of being close to tropical rainforest and wildlife will give the lasting memory of a lifetime. The ethnic cultures and lifestyles are uniquely found in Sarawak. Expected to meet buyers who are interested in experiential holidays.” As a platinum partner, Malaysia is having its own virtual pavilion with 15 booths consisting of tourism boards, tour operators and hotels and resorts such as Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Tourism Malaysia Jeddah, Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism Selangor, Asian Overland Services, Universal Holidays travel and tours, World Express tours Malaysia, Sunway hotels and resorts, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, New World Petaling Jaya hotel, Dash Box Hotels, Lexis hotels and resorts, Berjaya hotels and resorts and Gembox. It will be an opportunity to network with travel agents and tour operator partners from the Middle East. Travel products from across the world have signed up to participate. Find out what is trending in the region with the auditorium special sessions with a host of speakers who will share the latest happenings in the region. Focused on business meetings, the digital event will host buyers from across the region. After the success of the first three editions in November 2020, March 2021 and October 2021, Gulf …

For the first time around, Israel is now open to all travellers residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As of 01 March 2022, vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists of all ages are permitted to enter Israel upon presenting a negative PCR test before departure and after arriving in Israel. The Israel Ministry of Tourism made the official announcement at the Expo 2020 Israeli Pavilion on 15 March 2022. The announcement follows a recent agreement between the UAE and Israel extending visa-free entry to all UAE nationals as part of the ongoing strategic partnership between both countries.   Following the announcement, the Israel Ministry of Tourism hosted a B2B workshop for travel partners in the UAE. Dignitaries from the Ministry shared an informative destination presentation showcasing exceptional prospects for post-covid tourism. The workshop attracted over 65 agents from the travel industry, followed by a pavilion tour to the travel trade partners and media. The event concluded with a networking gala serving Israeli delicacies and music that welcomed top travel stakeholders in the market.   Israel’s tourism offering: Israel is a global destination attracting over 4.5 million tourists in 2019 alone. The country provides the perfect conditions to accommodate all UAE visitors, including halal food restaurants. The local Israeli Kosher food is halal-friendly and is liked by many tourists. Additionally, the country offers diverse family-oriented hotels and heritage sites which can be explored with the help of Arabic tour guides.   Speaking at the event, Ksenia Kobiakov, New Markets Development Department Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism, said, “There is a tremendous potential in the UAE to drive incoming tourists to Israel. I hope travellers from the UAE will appreciate Israel’s unique offerings, …

Emirates has confirmed that it will be commencing daily services to Tel Aviv from 23 June 2022. Emirates will operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “We look forward to finally welcoming customers onboard our flights to and from Tel Aviv this summer, and offer them substantial connectivity to and through our Dubai hub as COVID travel restrictions continue to ease around the world and more borders open up. In addition to unlocking tremendous pent-up demand, Emirates’ debut into Israel will mean more choice for travellers as they return to the skies, and more opportunities for businesses to visit Dubai and beyond to our far-reaching network of almost 130 destinations, alongside our signature hospitality and award-winning onboard experience.” He added: “Emirates is committed to creating new opportunities for business and tourism, and strengthening the bilateral ties between the UAE and Israel. We are confident that our new services will have a positive impact on enhancing Israel’s connectivity to a wealth of global destinations, and we thank the UAE and Israeli authorities for their ongoing support in making this service possible.” The first flight taking off on 23 June will operate as EK931, leaving at 15:50hrs, and arriving at Ben Gurion Airport at 18:00hrs local time. The return flight EK 932 will depart Tel Aviv at 19:55hrs, arriving in Dubai at 23:59hrs (local time). Flight schedules have been timed to provide convenient access to Dubai, and optimum connection opportunities to popular holiday destinations like Thailand, India, Philippines, the Maldives, Sri Lanka …

Qatar Airways is to resume flights to London Gatwick Airport from 5 June, 2022. The multi-award winning airline will operate a daily service from Gatwick to Doha using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an environmentally advanced aircraft. It consumes 20 per cent less fuel and its carbon dioxide emissions are 20 per cent lower than other similar aircraft. With the addition of daily flights to London Gatwick, passengers can now enjoy seamless connectivity to almost 150 destinations across the airline’s extensive global network via the best airport in the world, Hamad International Airport, connecting with popular destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. The resumption of the London Gatwick service complements recently launched flights to Doha from Gatwick by Qatar Airways’ Joint Business partner British Airways, meaning the airlines can now jointly offer more options between London and Doha and beyond, earning Avios frequent flyer points as they go. UK customers will now have access to four gateways including five-times daily services from London Heathrow, 18-times weekly from Manchester and four-times weekly from Edinburgh rising to daily from 2 June. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our commitment to the UK market has been unwavering and we operated continuously and reliably throughout the pandemic, so I am pleased we can resume our popular service to London Gatwick. We offer excellent connectivity to and from the UK, providing travellers with more choice and convenience. “This year is very special for us, not least as it is the 25th anniversary of the start of our flights to …

Cruise Saudi is pleased to announce the appointment of Lars Clasen as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. He is a global industry expert with 30+ years of experience in the shipping and cruise industries across Asia, Europe and North America. Prior to joining Cruise Saudi, Clasen held several key roles across leading cruise companies; Managing Director at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Co-founder and Managing Director of Dolce Cruise Management, CEO of A-ROSA River Cruises, President of AIDA Cruises, and is also the founder and owner of Lars Clasen Cruise Consulting.  His deep experience in the world of cruising is ideally suited for Cruise Saudi as it pursues its development of the cruise sector in the Red Sea and elsewhere. Fawaz Farooqui, Managing Director of Cruise Saudi commented: “We are excited to announce that Lars Clasen has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Cruise Saudi. Clasen brings three decades of experience in the global cruising industry, and we look forward to having him as a key member of the team.” Clasen on joining Cruise Saudi said: “As a cruise professional and enthusiast, I’ve been following the tremendous progress Cruise Saudi has made in such a short span of time; from setting up an entirely new industry and welcoming guests on cruise ships for the first time in Saudi Arabia, to garnering a great deal of attention globally as the newest player in the cruise industry. I am honored to be joining a diligent team of professionals and look forward to achieving more milestones together as Cruise Saudi embarks upon a new phase of development in opening not just one gateway, but several new gateways connecting the world to the …

The Malaysian state of Melaka kicked off a week-long campaign to woo foreign investments in maritime, IT, energy, electric vehicles, tourism and other sectors at the Expo 2020 Dubai with an initial target of RM500 million (US$119 million) in projects. The state is also showcasing its latest and ambitious waterfront economic zone, which it says will help transform the once-thriving trading port into a modern metropolis and an important investment hub in Southeast Asia. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Utama Sulaiman Md Ali, who led a high-powered delegation of investors and government officials, said the Expo would also help boost tourism in Melaka, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Melaka, along with George Town, are historic cities of the Straits of Melaka. Both cities have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with rich multicultural heritage. “Our history as a maritime hub and a busy trading centre goes back a long way.  The deep, sheltered harbour on the narrow channel which took our name, the Straits of Melaka, positioned us at the crossroads of one of the busiest sea lanes in the world,” Sulaiman said in his speech at the launch of the Melaka Week. Besides preserving heritage, Melaka is also forging ahead in its drive for a more relevant and sustainable economic future. It is aggressively pushing to develop the economic corridor called the Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone or M-WEZ. Launched just a year ago, state authorities are banking on international investors to help turn the huge 25,000-acre site into a vibrant corridor. A unique aspect of this corridor …

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched two marine transport lines to coincide with the opening of the latest tourist destinations and residential communities in Dubai. The move, which is part of the Marine Transport Master Plan 2020-2030, aims to serve residential communities and development projects with a sea view. The first line shuttles between two tourist and recreational areas namely the Bluewaters Island and the Marina, on all weekdays according to a plan tailored to the pattern of daily riders. The service operates from Monday to Friday from 4:50 pm to 11:25 pm and during the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 4:10 pm to 11:45 pm. The fare is set as 5 dirhams. The second line connects the residential areas at the Dubai Creek Marina: (Creek Harbour Station), with the surrounding attractions at the Dubai Festival City, during weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 4:00 pm to 11:55 pm, with a tariff of just two dirhams. This coordination between the Maritime Transport Department and real estate developers stems from the keenness to continuously improve services to meet customer needs and expectations. It also seeks to measure up to the objectives of Dubai and RTA’s strategic goals to improve the wellbeing of residents. RTA is keen to improve the public and tourist marine transport services and enhance the satisfaction of customers all over the Emirate. The marine transport services consist of the Dubai Ferry, abras, and the water taxi on demand. Coordination is in hand with the developer to link Souk Al Marfa on Deira Island with Dubai Creek through the ferry and traditional abras. The new line is scheduled for operation in the first quarter of this year. For …