The National Aquarium at Al Qana, the Middle East’s largest aquarium with over 46,000 sea animals and 300 different species, is now offering visitors a breathtaking diving experience with the regions largest diversity of animals in a single tank, with diving options available for both certified and non-certified divers, and anyone eager for an adrenaline-pumping adventure. Paul Hamilton, General Manager at The National Aquarium says, “We are absolutely delighted to be offering our visitors such an extraordinary dive experience with our vibrant selection of sharks and rays. Of course, the reality is that sharks are grossly misunderstood, and many of them are currently endangered due to overfishing. Through our immersive experiences, the National Aquarium hopes to dispel this fear and celebrate these magnificent and fascinating creatures.” Visitors without prior diving experience or certification can delve into the depths of the National Aquarium’s main tank, which houses the Middle East’s largest shark and ray collection, including the infamous hammerhead sharks, zebra sharks, eagle rays and a variety of other shark and ray species. Certified scuba divers, on the other hand, get to immerse themselves in this one-of-a-kind adventure, which includes a bonus 2in1 experience diving with 2.5m long sand tiger sharks and lemon sharks, as well as the opportunity to cross over to dive with one of the world’s only school of hammerhead sharks. All the divers will be accompanied by a guide as they interact with the wide variety of marine life while learning underwater sign language and taking part in the live feeding demonstrations. To top all of this, divers will also get the chance to commemorate the unforgettable experience, by having their photos taken with the iconic underwater …

Diamond Developers, the mastermind behind The Sustainable City brand, the first fully operational sustainable community in the Middle East has entered into a development partnership agreement with the Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), the executive arm of the Sultanate for tourism development. The agreement entails the development of first phase of the Yiti Tourism masterplan with an investment value of approximately AED 3.7 billion (approximately USD 1 billion). In conjunction with this partnership, a joint venture called Sustainable Development and Investment Company (SDIC) S.A.O.C has been established to carry out the execution of this phase. “OMRAN Group’s partnership with Diamond Developers marks a major milestone in Yiti Development as we together begin the first phase of this integrated urban destination in Muscat. The signing further attests to OMRAN Group’s strategic vision in expanding the nation’s tourism sector and continuing to play a pivotal role as a catalyst and enabler of multi-fold, lucrative investment opportunities in the country in line with Oman Investment Authority’s directions in realising the ambitious goals of Oman Vision 2040 and supporting the delivery of the National Tourism Strategy,” said Hashil Bin Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group. “We are delighted to collaborate with Diamond Developers as they are one of the leading and reputable companies in building sustainable cities in the region.  Their approach is in line with our vision of adopting the foundations of placemaking and harnessing sustainability in all aspects of the development.” Al Mahrouqi added. The first phase of the Yiti project, which covers 900,000 square meters, will focus on constructing a fully sustainable mixed-use project, the Sultanate’s first of its kind community that promotes sustainable living. The first phase will …

The world’s first all-electric motorsport series, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is set to return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later this month for the start of its eighth season and, as the Official Airline Partner of the all-electric street racing series, Saudia is launching a new campaign to connect fans around with world with the sport they love. The Take Your Seat campaign features exciting new Formula E content, the chance to win the ultimate international race hospitality experience, and the opportunity to redeem new loyalty benefits and better rates for travel to Championship races in iconic world cities with Saudia and its SkyTeam Airline Alliance. The new campaign is intended to bring Saudia’s partnership with Formula E to life by providing a platform for fans to enjoy shared experiences both at races and at home. A new digital hub for the partnership has been launched at https://takeyourseat.saudia.com where fans can purchase tickets to the race and download a stunning augmented reality application exploring this season’s Formula E racing cars in 3D, enter a competition to win a VIP trip to an E-Prix of their choice, and have the chance to sign up to the Saudia loyalty program ALFURSAN to receive up to 5000 reward miles. Saudia Group Chief Marketing Officer, Khaled Tash is excited for the launch of a new chapter of Saudia’s ten-year partnership with Formula E: “Season 8 marks a new milestone for our landmark partnership with Formula E, and with the world starting to open up, this new campaign allows Saudia to provide the best support for race fans – namely to connect them physically and virtually with this thrilling race series. …

In just a few hours, at 12noon GST you can virtually explore one of the hidden gems in Germany; its northern region with pristine sandy beaches, white chalk cliffs, sophisticated Baltic seaside resorts, cozy fishing villages, sky high brick churches and fairy tale castles of Meckenburg-Vorpommem. Germany is one of the most popular vacation destinations for the travelers in the Middle East as it has a diverse offering catering to each traveler from the Middle East, whether it be family, millennial, leisure, MICE etc. Meckenburg-Vorpommem located between the metropolises of Berlin and Hamburg in the northeast of Germany, the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has fascinated guests from all over the world for centuries. It is time once again for the agents in the region to take a quick peak at the destination to offer a new area to explore to those yearning to discover. Yamina Sofo Director Sales and Marketing German National Tourist Office GCC shares the importance of attending this event and invites all trade partners to join and learn about the novelties of this destination virtually at first. “We are looking forward welcoming our valued trade partners to ´The Gems of Northern Germany` where we will inform and update the GCC trade about Destination Germany and shed a special light to the beautiful federal-state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, one of Germany´s leading tourist destinations. We see immense potential of Germany`s Northern regions for our GCC guests and therefore wish to showcase the special natural wonders and cultural offering there are to experience. From pristine beaches to cozy fishing villages, fairy tale castles to sophisticated seaside resorts the destination has a treat for all age groups.” The region welcomes its guests …

As part of efforts to achieve a cashless, contactless payment system across the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PayBy, the innovative financial technology platform. In support of the UAE government’s vision to create a secure financial ecosystem for merchants and consumers and its drive towards digital transformation across all sectors, PayBy’s widely accepted, user-friendly and highly secure platform will now be in use across hotels, malls and other tourism establishments. With the current global concerns around hygiene and safety, the use of PayBy’s system will also play a key role in minimising touch points across the emirate. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Acting Tourism Products Development Director, DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our MOU with PayBy is an important step towards a seamless and innovative financial ecosystem throughout Abu Dhabi in line with the national digital transformation which will clearly benefit consumers, visitors and many other stakeholders. At DCT Abu Dhabi, we are committed to the use of state-of-the-art technology to improve the experience for tourists and residents, so the implementation of PayBy’s innovative platform is another key measure in achieving this objective.” Financial transactions on PayBy are protected by advanced technologies, including an Artificial Intelligence-based fraud management system to detect unauthorised activities, which complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS), the international gold standard in this sector. By offering security to guests’ payments at participating establishments and entities across the emirate, PayBy will support Abu Dhabi’s efforts to be a globally renowned, ‘smart’ tourism destination equipped with leading digital infrastructure. PayBy was launched to offer greater safety, …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and HSBC Bank Middle East have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), paving the way for increased cooperation in further enhancing Dubai’s position as a global liveability destination. The MoU was signed by Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Abdulfattah Sharaf, CEO of HSBC UAE and Head of International, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited. Under the terms of the agreement, DET and HSBC will promote to HSBC customers and employees the unparalleled quality of life in Dubai, its position as a global investment hub and the diverse features of the destination that everyone can enjoy. The MoU also envisages collaboration in marketing activities designed to promote events and experiences across the tourism ecosystem to further amplify the city’s position as a leading international business, leisure and events destination. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “We are pleased to partner with HSBC, a global brand that has played a significant role in the development of Dubai’s business, banking and finance sectors, in showcasing our multi-faceted business and tourism offering. This MoU reflects the trust and confidence reposed in Dubai by multinational corporations and will further enhance our efforts to support the aim of our visionary leadership to make Dubai the most sought-after international city and the most attractive location to live and work in. Our partnership with HSBC is also testament to the continued efforts being made in collaboration with our stakeholders to leverage the city’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure and its position as one of the world’s safest destinations to attract multinationals, entrepreneurs, investors and tourists to Dubai.” Abdulfattah …

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi celebrating its one-year anniversary announced their new services to Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan), Yerevan (Armenia), and Krasnodar (Russia) from February 2022. Travellers of all ages and backgrounds can fly on the expanding Wizz Air Abu Dhabi network, enjoying a range of attractive destinations both in the UAE and abroad. To thank customers who have chosen to fly with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, 50 free return tickets will be made available to winners of a competition on social media. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi trip in the comments on the Wizz Air Abu Dhabi birthday post starting from the 15th of January on the airline Facebook or Instagram and the winners will be randomly selected within 7 days. Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, commented: “We are delighted to offer a one-time 20 per cent promotion and encourage adventurous travellers to explore our expanding route network. We thank all our customers in the past year and look forward to rewarding 50 lucky winners of our social media competition. We are ambitious and want to continue expanding our network to encourage tourism with affordable packages for all, and delighted to be announcing an additional three new routes. After a challenging and uncertain period, we look forward to connecting people to create great memories. We are also proud to have been the latest UAE national airline to launch, creating an exciting new travel segment for the UAE and wider region.” According to GlobalData’s Q3 2021 Global Consumer survey, 53 percent of respondents said affordability was the biggest influencing factor when choosing a holiday, while 51 percent said that accessibility was the most important. Consequently, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi …

The first webinar of the year is to kick off tomorrow 18th January 2022 at 12noon GST to discover Northern Germany virtually. It is about the pristine sandy beaches, white chalk cliffs, sophisticated Baltic seaside resorts, cozy fishing villages, sky high brick churches and fairy tale castles of Meckenburg-Vorpommem. Germany is one of the most popular vacation destinations for the travelers in the Middle East as it has a diverse offering catering to each traveler from the Middle East, whether it be family, millennial, leisure, MICE etc. Meckenburg-Vorpommem located between the metropolises of Berlin and Hamburg in the northeast of Germany, the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has fascinated guests from all over the world for centuries. It is time once again for the agents in the region to take a quick peak at the destination to offer a new area to explore to those yearning to discover. Yamina Sofo Director Sales and Marketing German National Tourist Office GCC shares the importance of attending this event and invites all trade partners to join and learn about the novelties of this destination virtually at first. “We are looking forward welcoming our valued trade partners to ´The Gems of Northern Germany` where we will inform and update the GCC trade about Destination Germany and shed a special light to the beautiful federal-state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, one of Germany´s leading tourist destinations. We see immense potential of Germany`s Northern regions for our GCC guests and therefore wish to showcase the special natural wonders and cultural offering there are to experience. From pristine beaches to cozy fishing villages, fairy tale castles to sophisticated seaside resorts the destination has a treat for all age groups.” The region …

Reed Exhibitions (RX) the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has announced that this year’s four-day event will now open on Monday 9 May 2022 and close on Thursday 12 May 2022, to fall in line with the UAE’s new Monday-to-Friday working week. Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the revised dates are also expected to complement international markets, the majority of which also follow the Monday-to-Friday working week. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the global travel and tourism community to the UAE on Monday 9 May 2022. Made possible by the UAE’s forward-thinking decision to transition to a 4.5-day, Monday-to-Friday workweek, we are confident ATM 2022’s updated timings will benefit both exhibitors and attendees by offering improved alignment with international markets.” Endorsing ATM’s position, UAE business sentiment is certainly very positive. According to a poll conducted by management consultancy Mercer, overall, 84% of private sector firms welcomed the initiative and 37% would adopt a long-term flexible approach, particularly those with close trading links with other Gulf countries. Now in its 29th year and working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) – previously known as the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), ATM 2022 will feature a broad selection of show highlights. Travel Forward, the leading global event for travel technology, will shine a spotlight on next-generation innovations for tourism and hospitality. ATM buyer forums and speed networking events will take place during the four days of the show. After joining remotely for ATM 2021, this year will see both the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and …

A high-level government and tourism delegation from the Republic of Mauritius visited the United Arab Emirates this week (10 – 13 January, 2021), as part of a week-long promotional and business development mission to position Mauritius as the destination and partner of choice for the UAE’s travel agents, tourism industry partners and leisure-seeking residents. Led by the Honourable Louis Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, and supported by H.E Showkutally Soodhun, Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius to the UAE, as well as Mr. Arvind Bundhun, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), the delegation included 25 tour operators and hospitality representatives from Mauritius eager to reconnect with the UAE’s leading travel agents, and grow visitation from the UAE and Gulf region to Mauritius. The delegation heads met with Dubai and UAE government officials, private companies and airline representatives to strengthen established partnerships and seek new opportunities that position Mauritius as a safe, exciting and rejuvenating destination for all residents of the Gulf region. A number of key events were held as a platform to bring the tourism industries together to create innovative and enticing holiday packages to Mauritius. A travel agent workshop was held on January 11th, 2021 at the One and Only Royal Mirage Dubai, that saw 110 leading travel agents and outbound travel professionals from Dubai and the Northern Emirates hold one to one meetings with sales representatives from Mauritius’ preeminent hotels, resorts, and tour operators. On January 12th, 2021, a similar workshop was held at the same venue for 80 travel specialists from Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, that were especially invited by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. The promotional week concluded with a …