Kuwait Airways signed an agreement with Airbus to restructure the Company’s fleet of Airbus aircraft. The agreement was signed by the Chairman of Kuwait Airways, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan, representing Kuwait Airways and by the President of Airbus for Africa and Middle East, Mr. Mikail Houari as representative of Airbus, and in the presence of the President of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, the Ambassador of Germany to the State of Kuwait, HE Stefan Mobbs, the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the State of Kuwait, HE Claire Le Flecher, Board Members of Kuwait Airways, the Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi, and various senior officials and Heads of the Company. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Mr. Ali Al-Dukhan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce the signing of the agreement to restructure the Company’s Airbus aircraft, which aligns with the plans and strategies of the Blue Bird to develop the fleet with the addition of new models, different types, capacities and sizes appropriate to the vision of Kuwait Airways in the coming years and in line with its ambitious plan to expand its network around the world and provide the best, distinguished services to its passengers.” Al-Dukhan added, “This agreement is one of the largest agreements concluded between Kuwait Airways and Airbus, as our relationship with Airbus extends over four decades of successful and fruitful partnership, and we always strive to strengthen and develop it for the benefit and public interest of both parties. Airbus has greatly contributed to the development of the Kuwait Airways fleet, with its modern and diverse aircraft that has the best technological characteristics that keep pace with the latest and finest …

Sabre Corporation and Gulf Air have reaffirmed their long standing relationship with an expanded, multi-year agreement. Under the renewed agreement, Gulf Air will continue to use Sabre’s passenger service system (PSS) SabreSonic to help power its digital transformation, provide a seamless traveller experience, and drive revenue growth. The PSS is designed to automate sales and reservations with enhanced functionalities that can help provide increased revenue opportunities by tailoring offers to meet the needs of travellers and help create an efficient airport experience. Gulf Air has also renewed a suite of solutions that will help ensure the airline’s operational efficiency and help incremental revenue opportunities through advanced fares management, schedule and network optimization and state-of-the-art revenue management. The agreement has also been expanded to include Sabre’s Dynamic Availability tool. A key building block for personalized retailing, the dynamic pricing engine will allow Gulf Air to identify ways to unlock greater value. “We’re delighted to reaffirm our relationship with Sabre and leverage its technology to further support our strategic plans,” said Captain Waleed Al Alawi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air. “We are currently undergoing a major transformation to upscale our technology strategy, advance operational efficiencies and improve traveller experience. As we move into recovery, we are confident that the flexible and intelligent nature of Sabre solutions, including SabreSonic, will enable us to be more efficient and offer a modern retail experience that enables personalized travel at scale, increases growth opportunities and allows us to create a differentiated brand experience in a highly competitive environment.” Sabre’s high performance, flexible PSS enables Sabre’s valued partners to realize increased growth opportunities through merchandising, codeshare agreements and alliance partners, plus cost savings from better …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the launch of the first Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, a youth basketball league for 450 boys and girls ages 11-14 from 30 schools across Abu Dhabi.  The league will begin play on Saturday, March 5 and run through the first Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League Finals on Saturday, May 21. DCT Abu Dhabi and the NBA held an opening ceremony and draft event that saw each school assigned an NBA team, receive corresponding NBA team-branded jerseys for games and participate in basketball development clinics, skills challenges and contests.  DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director Ralph Rivera, and 10-time NBA All-Star Clyde Drexler attended the draft event and interacted with the youth players.  As part of the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, yesterday 40 Special Olympics athletes from Abu Dhabi participated in a Special Olympics Unified Clinic. The Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, which is part of the league’s global Jr. NBA programme, will feature boys and girls divisions comprised of 20 teams and 10 teams, respectively, and will expand to include additional schools and leagues in future years.  The league is part of a groundbreaking multiyear partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that will see Abu Dhabi host the first-ever preseason NBA games in the Arabian Gulf in October 2022.  The partnership also includes a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT Clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event. Al Mubarak said: …

Emirates has pledged its support to promoting tourism in Thailand through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Under the agreement, both the tourism body and Emirates will explore joint initiatives and opportunities for collaboration that will enhance each party’s marketing and promotional efforts to attract travellers to Thailand. The MoC was signed by Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Far East at Emirates and Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and HE Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports. Also present at the signing ceremony were Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, HE Chairat Sirivat, Consul-General of Thailand to the UAE and Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates. Through the MoC, Emirates will develop initiatives to boost tourism to the Kingdom by showcasing it to customers across its global network. The airline will also engage in efforts to promote the country through its network of agents in key strategic markets in addition to collaborating on joint familiarisation trips designed to appeal to various customer segments. Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Far East at Emirates said: “Emirates launched operations to Thailand more than 30 years ago, and its destinations are among the most popular in our Southeast Asian network, especially amongst holidaymakers from the US, Europe, and the Middle East. We are delighted to join hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to boost tourism to the country, and build on the success achieved over the years, thanks to our …

Following the latest UAE government directive, from 26 February, guests who are fully vaccinated and travelling with Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi will no longer need a PCR test before their flight. Guests who are fully vaccinated and departing or transiting through Abu Dhabi also do not need a PCR test, unless it is a requirement of their end destination. Vaccination certificates must have a QR code. Guests who are not vaccinated and travelling to or from Abu Dhabi must present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a Covid-19 recovery certificate with a QR code dated within 30 days of departure. Children younger than 16 are exempt from the vaccination and testing requirements to fly, on arrival, or to transit. Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi as their end destination will continue to receive a free-of-charge PCR test on arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. No further tests are required once in Abu Dhabi. Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19. Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand and Marketing, Etihad Airways, said: “We warmly welcome this move by the UAE authorities to make travelling to and from Abu Dhabi and the UAE even easier, while maintaining a safe environment. Abu Dhabi has built a reputation for delivering a robust response to the pandemic with high vaccination rates and a comprehensive approach to health and safety measures. Similarly, through the Etihad Wellness programme, we’ve ensured a healthy inflight environment with fully vaccinated crew to look after our guests on board. With this in mind, we look forward …

With momentum continuing to accelerate across Dubai’s tourism industry, the Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), a part of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is ramping up efforts to increase the number of professional tour guides to cater to Dubai’s diverse visitor profile, further enhance the overall tourism experience and maintain the city’ position as one of the world’s most recommended travel destinations. The latest drive by DCT is to encourage talented individuals to pursue a career as a tour guide. The College runs a world-class year-round training programme for tour guides with the aim of helping prospective candidates obtain a valid Dubai tour guide license, which is a pre-requisite for those interested in taking up this occupation. The training programme hosted by DCT is delivered entirely online and designed to make the process of getting the Dubai tour guide license as convenient as possible, while teaching participants how to correctly present Dubai and its culture to international visitors, as well as key hospitality skills. As Dubai continues to lead global tourism recovery with campaigns and initiatives worldwide to further consolidate and sustain its global appeal in both existing and emerging source markets, DCT envisages that the arrival of visitors from a range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds will create high demand for tour guides, especially those with specific language skills including Portuguese, Spanish, Bulgarian, Serbian, Albanian, Slovakian, Czech, Poland, Romanian and Hungarian. Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager, Dubai College of Tourism, commented: “With the steady increase in global travellers making Dubai their destination of choice and with the in-dustry continuing to regain its vibrancy, it is crucial to deliver exceptional visitor experiences across the board in line with …

With the clock ticking towards the March 16th start of Saudi Arabia’s Rally Jameel, the Middle East’s first-ever women-only navigational rally, it has been announced that the historic motorsport event will be held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Ambassador to the United States. The addition of the backing of Her Royal Highness is in keeping with the country’s Vision 2030, which aims to empower women across Saudi Arabia in all areas of society, including the field of sport. The rally is sanctioned by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and  enjoys the support of the FIA Women in Motorsport Committee (WIMC). Her Royal Highness has a background in promoting Saudi Arabian sporting initiatives, having previously worked as Vice President of Women’s Affairs at the Saudi General Sports Authority. In that role she developed policies and programs that benefited women and children throughout the Kingdom. This led to Her Royal Highness being promoted to Deputy of Development and Planning, as well as being appointed as President of the Mass Participation Federation, making her the first woman to lead a multi-sports federation in the Kingdom, a role that she occupied until her appointment as Saudi Ambassador to the United States. Her Royal Highness is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women in Sports Commission and is a member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee. Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, commented: “It is an honor to be involved with this first-of-its-kind rally, which will shine a light on the positive steps being taken across Saudi Arabia to empower women …

Kuwait Airways announces the operation of its scheduled commercial flights to Madrid, Spain, starting from 11th June 2022, with three flights per week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan stated, “Madrid is one of the most important new destinations for Kuwait Airways. The selection of Madrid is a result of systematic research, in view of its demand from our valued passengers for this destination which is an excellent touristic location as well as related to historical, and cultural aspects and other attractions featuring new and diverse options to meet the requirements of passengers.” Al-Dukhan added, “Kuwait Airways is keen to assist its passengers and provide them with all means of comfort during their travel on its aircraft; in addition to providing its services in an integrated manner, as well as eliminating any hindrances during their travel, beginning with providing reservations for customers through all available channels and offering them appropriate services, to the check-in at Terminal 4 and completing their travel procedures with ease. Customers can book their tickets through several different methods by visiting the Company’s offices at the Avenues Mall, the Ministries Complex, the Farwaniya Office and Terminal 4, which provide numerous services, including reservations, amending, upgrading and ticket cancelations, as well as assisting with all inquiries, complaints and comments from customers and working to assist them or by contacting the Call Center on 171 or by downloading KAC’s application or by visiting the Kuwait Airways website.” In the same context, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways was honored to receive the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State of Kuwait, His Excellency, …

Akhom Consulting and METT Hotels & Resorts, a 5-star lifestyle collection of Hotels & Resorts, announce their partnership starting from March 2022. Akhom Consulting will lead the Sales representation of METT Brand in the Middle East luxury hospitality market. With a particular focus on the GCC region, Akhom Consulting will expand METT’s brand presence in the luxury hospitality market. METT Hotels & Resorts is a luxury brand by Sunset Hospitality Group. METT lives up to its Bohemian-chic, minimalist style in unique locations. The concept of METT Social Living takes its routes from the way people live in the Mediterranean, with a focus on driving incredible dining experiences. The brand offers an enriching escape to all guests looking for easy living in a mesmerising setting. Since May 2021, METT Hotels & Resorts have welcomed guests in Bodrum, Turkey, by the turquoise Aegean Sea. With a strong pipeline including Dubai, Spain, Greece, and Italy, METT is getting ready to set the new hospitality norms for the elite travellers in multiple destinations. The next resort opening is scheduled for summer 2022 in Marbella. Mouhamed Abdulkhalek, Managing Director of Akhom Consulting said: We are delighted to partner with METT Hotels & Resorts and represent this top-notch luxury brand in the Middle East market. We believe that METT Hotels & Resorts will bring a different perspective in hospitality. METT’s Bohemian-chic Social Living concept will help the brand be the leading name this season. Our triumphant work will allow METT to access the Middle East market, one of the most efficient tourist-generating regions, and to ensure a strong market presence and the desired revenue for the brand.

According to new research commissioned by Arabian Travel Market and conducted at the end of 2021 by hotel market intelligence and global benchmarking company STR, Makkah and Doha are both expanding their hotel room inventory by 76%, followed by Riyadh, Medina and Muscat with 66%, 60% and 59% growth respectively. In Dubai, rooms growth stands at 26%, which is still extraordinary, considering its existing base and following years of continuous hotel development – it is still more than double the global average. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 9-12 May 2022 said, “With the global average sitting at 12% we are witnessing multiple GCC destinations growing at six times those rates.” “These figures coupled with the ongoing relaxation in travel restrictions, will undoubtedly encourage travel professionals throughout the Middle East and further afield. As such we are expecting a substantial increase in the number of participants at our live event this year, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the UAE,” she added. According to the report, there are almost 2.5 million hotel rooms currently under contract around the world, 3.2% or 80,000 rooms of that supply is taking place in Saudi Arabia alone. Furthermore, although Expo 2020 in Dubai, is now drawing to a close (31 March 2022), the mega event has been the catalyst for accelerated hotel room growth in the UAE with almost 50,000 rooms still due to open across the Emirates. Following closely behind is Doha with final preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2022 now being put in place. Doha is on track to deliver 23,000 hotel rooms pre- and post-World Cup …