Khimji’s House of Travel has signed a multiyear agreement with Sabre Corporation, the leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, to expand its operation and fuel its growth. The agreement has reaffirmed more than a decade of partnership between the two companies. Under this agreement, Khimji’s House of Travel will leverage Sabre’s broad portfolio of technology solutions, and deploy its industry leading platform, Sabre Red 360, to deliver an intelligent and consultative service to travellers and create highly personalised offers for its customers. It will utilise its management solutions, such as automated exchanges and refunds, to drive operational efficiency and excellence. “This challenging travel landscape has not deterred us from moving forward,” said Cashio Vettom, General Manager, Khimji’s House of Travel. “Our renewed partnership with Sabre will help us enable our growth and expansion plans, while deploying intelligent solutions to respond to the evolving market trends.” Sabre has been working to realise its long-term vision for a personalised travel marketplace and have announced last year the development of Sabre Travel AI ™, an industry-first technology that will utilize state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to deliver highly relevant and personalized content that better meets the demands of today’s traveller. “The current traveller demands a new level of personalization, increased choice, control and flexibility. We believe that Sabre has the experience, technology, innovation and support to help us better respond to these expectations”. Vettom added. Khimji’s House of Travel operates in both leisure and corporate sectors and will use Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, to sell customized travel packages from suppliers …

The Philippines invites all UAE residents and tourists, Expo visitors, and Filipinos from across the world to join the Philippines National Day on Feb 11 at Expo 2020 Dubai and to take part in its month-long festive celebrations. On February 11, Expo 2020 Dubai will host the Philippines National Day with the grandest presentation of music, dance, and colorful performances. The day-long celebrations will witness a country business briefing, a Philippines-UAE bilateral meeting, Country Pavilion tours, as well as its official flag hoisting ceremony both at the Philippines Pavilion and the Al Wasl Plaza in honor of the country’s National Day attended by delegations of notable officials from the Philippines and the UAE. The Philippines will also take its colorful parades and joyous dances in a superb and striking performance during the Philippines National Day Parade at the Avenue of Nations. Expo 2020 Dubai visitors will imbibe the fun-filled spirit of the Filipino ‘fiesta’ across back-to-back performances by skilled and talented Filipinos based across all parts of the UAE. Join thousands of Filipinos wave the Philippine’s flag at the Jubilee Park at 6:30 PM as they culminate the day-long celebrations with an awe-inspiring cultural and musical presentation titled “Tides of our Soul,” or “Daluyong ng Diwa.” Ten (10) lucky audience may also win a trip to the Philippines at the onset of the grand show with free roundtrip tickets (Dubai-Manila-Dubai) via Philippine Airlines.

Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turespaña, Spanish Tourism Institute, to help boost trade and tourism to Spain. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group welcomed Her Excellency María Reyes Maroto Illera, Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, at the Emirates Group Headquarters. The MoU was signed by Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates and Miguel Ángel Sanz Castedo, Director General of Turespana. The ceremony was also attended by Juan Ignacio Diaz Bidart, Cabinet Chief to the Minister, Ministry of Industry; Iñigo de Palacio, Spanish Ambassador to the UAE; Andres Salinero, Trade and Economic Counsellor, Embassy of Spain; and  Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director, Spain Tourism Office, Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Spain. Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates, said: “Emirates launched operations to Spain more than 12 years ago and the country remains an important market in our global network. We’re very happy to be exploring mutually beneficial initiatives that will drive tourism to Spain, and also offer Emirates more opportunities to serve the market. Thank you to our partners for their ongoing support and we look forward to continue growing our long-standing partnership.” Mr. Miguel Angel Sanz, Director General Tourspain Madrid said: “Spain and Emirates are strategic partners of the recovery of travel. Spain, as one of the most visited countries in the world, and Emirates, one of the world’s leading airlines, will work together to improve the connectivity and generate confidence, which are key factors for recovery.” Mr. Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director Spain Tourism GCC & Iran said: “We are happy to sign this MoU …

Dubai’s key international markets regain momentum with positive performances led by No.1 source market India with 910,000 visitors, followed by KSA, Russia and UK. Dubai welcomed 7.28 million international overnight visitors between January and December 2021, representing 32 per cent year-over-year growth (YoY), establishing a momentous marker in the global tourism recovery, and setting the city firmly on course to achieve sustainable growth on its way to becoming the world’s most visited destination. According to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) international visitation to the city surpassed 3.4 million visitors in the fourth quarter of 2021, achieving 74 per cent of the total pre-pandemic tourist arrivals of Q4 2019, and paving the way for hotels in Dubai to deliver a stellar fourth quarter performance that surpassed pre-pandemic levels. A positive trend which is expected to continue throughout 2022 and beyond, the 2021 visitation figures underline the resilience and resurgence of the city’s travel and tourism sector and reaffirm the role of tourism as a key driver of economic growth, while further validating Dubai’s recent selection as the world’s most popular destination in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022. HE Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “Under the visionary leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, our ability and agility in achieving a remarkable turnaround amid continuing global challenges has cemented Dubai’s position as the destination of choice for international travellers. The outstanding performance also advances our journey towards becoming the most visited destination and the world’s best city to live and …

flydubai announced the start of flights to Al Ula in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first UAE carrier to operate this route from Dubai. The carrier will also resume its operations to Yanbu growing its network in the Kingdom to six points including Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh. Flights to Yanbu International Airport (YNB), also known as Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport, start on 24 February with a three times weekly service. Flights to Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport (ULH) will start on 02 March 2022 and will operate twice a week from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB). Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we are pleased to be able to offer passengers from the UAE and our network the opportunity to visit and explore one of the world’s most beautiful and untouched destinations. We are also looking forward to the resumption of our operations to Yanbu in the Al Madinah Province. flydubai is dedicated to further strengthening the cultural, trade and tourism ties between our two countries by making travel more accessible. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the authorities for their ongoing support.” Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) at flydubai, added: “we are looking forward to the start of our twice weekly service to Al Ula from March. This route will be popular for our passengers from the UAE, as well as for travellers from the GCC, Russia and Central Asia. Al Ula offers passengers great options for seeking immersive cultural and historical experiences as well as outdoor adventure activities, especially in the cooler winter season.” Al Ula is an unseen wonder of the …

The first ever 25hours Hotel in the Middle East has finally opened, overlooking the stunning Museum of the Future and just a stone’s throw away from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Relaxed, fun and packed full of things to do; guests of 25hours Hotel One Central will experience ancient traditions of the Bedouins brought back to a modern life. Boasting 434 rooms and suites, 25hours Hotel One Central seamlessly blends nomadic yet contemporary design, masterminded by world renowned interior design firm, Woods Bagot. Unapparelled gastronomy and eclectic experiences making it the perfect playground for travelers and residents of the city to enjoy and revel in. Commenting on the launch, Christoph Hoffman, CEO 25hours said, “We are thrilled to be finally opening doors to the 25hours Hotel One Central playground and welcoming the local community and travelers from all across the globe. All our experiences and offerings have been carefully curated to make this property truly multi-dimensional – a living room, a party paradise, a romantic getaway or simply the go to destination for creative business meetings and co-working. This is one of the most exciting projects I have worked on, and me along with our incredible team are looking forward to paving the way for a new hospitality experience standard in Dubai.” The urban tale starts in the 25hours Hotel One Central lobby where guests will be greeted by the ‘Fountain of Tales’, a colossal fountain with seating spaces and bookshelves featuring over 5,000 books. Adorning the top of the fountain is a rotating lit up globe showcasing artwork created by a number of local artists around the concept of modern nomadic lifestyle. As guest scan upwards, they will find …

Al Naboodah travel and tourism agencies, the GSA for Turkish Airlines recently celebrated their 40 year partnership. The inaugural flight to Dubai was operated on 5th November 1983, while the daily Sharjah route was launched on 11th April 2019. Currently Turkish Airlines operates 28 weekly flights to the UAE (21 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Dubai Airport, 3 weekly flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Dubai Airport and 4 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport). Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism is proud to be a GSA of Turkish Airlines in Dubai and the Northern Emirates since 1983. Al Naboodah Travel is part of one of the UAE’s most renowned and innovative groups, the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group. With over 45 years of experience, the dynamic travel and tourism company enjoys an unparalleled reputation for quality and excellence encompassing all aspects of the travel industry. Turkish Airlines, famed for flying to more countries than any other airline, celebrates its 40-year anniversary of flying to the UAE in tandem with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The airline, established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft launched its first Middle East flights to Beirut and Cairo in 1951, while the first Turkish Airlines flight landed in Abu Dhabi on 7th January 1981 with the route relaunching on January 25th, 2006. Nasir Jamal Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism said, “On behalf of the entire organisation at Al Naboodah Travel, we extend our sincerest congratulations to our partner Turkish Airlines for completing 40 glorious years of success in the UAE. We hope to continue our wonderful relationship for years to come. This is …

Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) has announced a new partnership with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading curator of magnetic experiences, to strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), specifically targeting business events with more than 500 attendees. The partnership has resulted in the creation of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Miral Joint Business Event Fund, a first-of-its-kind fund that aligns with the Tourism Strategy of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to synergise efforts with industry partners across different sectors aimed at attracting and generating larger meetings and inbound incentive groups to the emirate. With global destinations increasingly bidding and attracting corporate groups by offering enhanced support, the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Miral Joint Business Event Fund will create a compelling proposition to attract corporate clients and will be an additional tool for local and international DMCs and meeting planners to promote the UAE capital. With the programme adopting a gradual rollout, which started on 1 January 2022, the pilot phase will focus on meetings and incentive travel only. Based on the success of these two units, conferences and exhibitions are set to join at a later stage. Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of ADCEB, said: “When selecting a host city for any event activity, many factors come into play — accessibility, accommodation availability, venue capacity, meeting spaces, unique experiences and, of course, budget. In Abu Dhabi, individually, there is a lot of competition, but collectively, we have a unique proposition to target niche groups where we can offer Abu Dhabi as a lucrative option to potential clients. Looking at …

Already a firm favourite amongst travellers and their four-legged friends, the team at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) introduces Ras Al-K9, a pet-friendly program running across 25 hotels, restaurants, pet friendly-festivals, outdoor parks and beaches in the Emirate. Ras Al Khaimah is the perfect getaway for exploring the great outdoors with dogs. From spectacular wadi walks and mountain hikes on Jebel Jais to chilled out beachside café lunches, desert adventures and overnight stays, there is plenty of experiences on offer across its stunning landscapes – the sea, desert and spectacular mountains – especially this season with milder temperatures. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, commented: “Ras Al Khaimah’s natural typography alongside its spirit of genuine hospitality appeals to both travelers and their four-legged friends. We understand how hard it can be to leave a beloved pet at home while on holiday so we made it as easy as possible for guests to bring their pawsome family members with them. Ras Al-K9 is a community initiative, tapping into the Emirate’s affinity for dogs and providing hassle free options to explore, engage and stay in Ras Al Khaimah. Teaming up with Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Center, hotel partners and others committed to animal welfare, we aim to create an inclusive and supportive community for both visitors and their canine companions.” Set tails wagging with beachside & inland frolics: The Emirate is famed for its pristine white sandy beaches, most of which are open to dogs and their hoomans and offer up the ideal spot to spend the day snoozing under a beach umbrella, catching a frisbee or splashing around in the water. Firm favourites include …

Starting 20th February 2022, Air Arabia will commence flights from Sharjah to Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The bookings are now open in their website. The new destination will operate from Sharjah at 21:45 to Osh at 03:15 on Fridays and Sundays. The return from Osh will be at 04:25 to reach Sharjah by 06:25 on Mondays and Saturdays. The new service represents the second city that Air Arabia flies to after Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Located in the south of the country and referred to as “the capital of the south”, Osh is considered the second largest and oldest city is Kyrgyzstan which represents a major economic and cultural center of the country. Osh invites business and leisure travelers to enjoy its unique charm and mystery of the ancient East. Featuring an epic mountain panoramic view, architectural marvels and bazaars. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sharjah and Osh by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Ensuring the highest standards of safety at every step of the journey by following all health and safety protocols, Air Arabia has also added to the convenience and confidence of passengers by introducing free COVID-19 insurance coverage. The insurance is automatically included as part of the booking and no additional documents are required from passengers.