Air Arabia announced the resumption of its seasonal flights to Bodrum and Antalya, in Turkey from Sharjah starting July 1, 2022. Schedule to Bodrum, effective July 1, 2022 (all times local):   Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency  G9 311 Sharjah 13:00 Bodrum 16:45 Airbus A320 Tue/Fri/Sun G9 312 Bodrum 17:35 Sharjah 23:00 Airbus A320 Tue/Fri/Sun   Schedule to Antalya, effective July 1, 2022 (all times local):   Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency  G9 315 Sharjah 08:30 Antalya 11:55 Airbus A320 Wed/Friday G9 316 Antalya 12:35 Sharjah 17:35 Airbus A320 Wed/Friday  G9 315 Sharjah 09:00 Antalya 12:25 Airbus A320 Sunday G9 316 Antalya 13:05 Sharjah 18:05 Airbus A320 Sunday   Bodrum represent the third city while Antalya represents the fourth city that Air Arabia flies to after Istanbul and Trabzon in Turkey. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sharjah and Bodrum or Antalya by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call center or through travel agencies.

As travel begins to boom again, Carlos Brito, President of Embratur — Brazil’s Tourist Board — shares why Brazil is an ideal choice for travelers from the UAE and across the GCC. “Brazil is the perfect to travel in 2022,” says Carlos Brito. “As travel begins to resume to pre-pandemic levels and travelers in the region begin to plan their next vacation, we want Brazil to be top of their list. With exquisite natural beauty and numerous similarities between Arab and Latino culture, the South American nation offers a new yet familiar experience to Arab tourists. We’re ready to introduce these incredible adventures to visitors while also being mindful of their faith-based needs.” Home to an Arab population of 7-12 million people, Brazil is steadily rising as an attractive destination for Muslim and Arab travelers. Aside from its vast biodiversity and enigmatic cities, the cultural similarities and Muslim friendly services are creating a big draw for Muslim travelers. Firstly, the increased number of core faith-based services — which are important to Muslim travelers — are becoming more readily accessible and available across Brazil. Brazil has a strong Muslim community and beautiful mosques that serve both as temples and as cultural centers for Muslims in the country. Thanks to Brazil’s growing Arab Muslim community, the nation now has over 150 mosques — offering Muslim visitors access to prayer facilities. In a bid to attract more Muslim travelers, Brazil is also ramping up its halal tourism.  As such, restaurants and hotels in various cities are becoming halal-certified including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Parana and Foz do Iguaçu — the first city that is expected to become halal certified in Latin America. …

Etihad Airways unveiled its new Airbus A350-1000, registration A6-XWB, on a special inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris. The aircraft is the first A350 to be operated by a UAE airline, and the first of five A350s set to join Etihad’s fleet over the coming months. The first flight departed Abu Dhabi for Paris Charles de Gaulle at 7.30am with a delegation including diplomatic dignitaries, Etihad and Airbus representatives, media, trade partners and other VIPs. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The Airbus A350 is an absolutely incredible aircraft, and we are proud to introduce it into the Etihad Airways network today. Our teams have worked closely together to craft a product and travel proposition that will ensure every journey with Etihad is a choice well made – both for our guests and for the planet. With highly efficient fuel consumption and CO2 savings, the A350 will support our goals to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an unmatched flight experience for our guests.” Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa and Middle East, commented: “Etihad Airways has been a long-standing partner of Airbus in the UAE and we are excited to continue our collaboration. The A350-1000 is setting new standards of air travel, offering unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions. This marks the start of a promising new chapter for the UAE’s aviation sector, led by innovation and a commitment to sustainability. We look forward to many more years of partnership and working together to support Etihad Airways expand its network through our most technologically advanced and efficient aircraft.” The aircraft, named Sustainability50, carries a unique livery in recognition …

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the Malaysia Pavilion has secured over RM70 billion worth of trade and business leads through its 6-month participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. The trade and business leads achieved cover a wide range of sectors based on the 26 thematic weekly business programmes organised by the Malaysia Pavilion including agricommodities, digital economy, Industry 4.0, energy, health, education and tourism, agriculture, technology and innovation and others. The weekly programmes were led and participated by 21 different ministries, 70 agencies, 5 state governments, almost 500 Malaysian companies, involving over 10 industry verticals. The Prime Minister announced this at an appreciation luncheon at the 2020 Club by Emaar in Expo 2020 Dubai’s site. “This historic Expo has provided the global business community a platform to engage each other in recovering from a post-pandemic fallout,” said the Prime Minister. “Malaysian companies have leveraged this opportunity to grow their network and promote their products to a global marketplace,” he added. “Prior to our participation at the Expo, Malaysia had set a target of achieving between RM8 billion and RM10 billion in potential trade and investment opportunities throughout our six-month participation,” said the Prime Minister. The luncheon event was also attended by Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Tarid Sufian; Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry The Honourable, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, The Honourable Dato’ Sri Dr. Adham Baba; Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Honourable Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah; Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) cum Commissioner-General of Malaysia for Expo 2020 Dubai, Datuk Zainal Abidin Abu Hassan; as well as other …

Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has signed a contract with SITA to deploy SITA Airport Management, enabling BAS to manage its ground handler operations as cost effectively as possible and ensure the services are delivered in a timely manner, avoiding flight delays.  A key component of the technology upgrade is SITA Mobile Resource Manager which calculates optimal staffing levels, creates optimized rosters, and gives a real time view of task allocations and activities at Bahrain International Airport (BIA). Through the new system, agents will be offered mobile access to enable data entry at the time and place of their operations. The system can also be used by all BAS staff working on shift rosters. SITA Mobile Resource Manager provides an innovative way to connect mobile wireless devices in the hands of employees with the back-office systems and people needed to make things happen. Real-time updates improve and accelerate decision-making as events unfold, enabling more effective planning and allocation of resources. Automatic task logging increases the accuracy of billable services, boosting revenue generation and dramatically reducing time spent on charging disputes. Commenting on this upgrade, Mohamed Khalil, CEO, BAS, said: “As we phase out manual and paper-based operations, the SITA solution offers the next generation of mobile resource management systems that will enable us to significantly improve our planning and rostering activities. The system will optimize resource deployment for ground handling management at BIA while also assisting us in enhancing planning, operational efficiency, employee management, and customer service.” The approach ensures the involvement of ground operations staff by using digital personal devices to replace paper-based records of advocacy services provided to airline customers. This technology will also help BAS to assess all …

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) announced the opening of its latest property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA): the highly-anticipated Somerset Downtown Al Khobar. Serving as the newest addition to Ascott’s burgeoning Middle East, Africa and Turkey portfolio, the property marks the group’s 12th operational property across the region and sets the pace for an exhilarating start to property openings across the region. Located in the heart of Al Khobar, Somerset Downtown Al Khobar offers guests comfort and exclusive living in the city’s prime entertainment and business district, the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Road. The property is part of a dynamic neighbourhood that is home to a melting pot of diversified experiences, with an ever-growing business sector and an array of entertainment options that include shopping malls, beaches, gardens, museums, water sports and culinary treats, all within close proximity for guests to explore. The city of Al Khobar is accessible via the King Fahd International Airport, King Abdul Aziz Port, and the Bahrain-Khobar causeway. Commenting on the signing, Mr. Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Managing Director, Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of Ascott’s largest growing markets in the Middle East, and the opening of Somerset Downtown Al Khobar is the latest milestone in our unparalleled expansion plans for the region. We are thrilled and look forward to welcoming guests to Somerset Downtown Al Khobar to experience its world-class amenities and inspiring living spaces, coupled with Ascott’s award-wining hospitality for the perfect home-away-from home retreat. Whether planning a long stay or a little getaway, Somerset Downtown Al Khobar is the perfect choice for travellers who enjoy balanced living.” Somerset Downtown Al Khobar is a …

Dubai Autodrome announced that the 2021-2022 motorsport season recorded a contribution of AED 17.9 million to the UAE’s tourism and economy sectors. Dubai Autodrome hosted several regional and global championships during the season, spanning six months from October 1, 2021 to March 13, 2022. Dubai Autodrome hosted several major international sporting events, starting with the Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival, the Hankook 24H Dubai, the Asian Le Mans series, Formula 4 UAE, Formula Regional Asian Championship (formerly known as F3 Asia), the Ferrari Challenge APAC, the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, the Gulf Radical Cup, the Sportsbike Racing Series and the NGK UAE Procar Championship. In addition to offering an exciting experience for fans, the sporting season also made a positive impact on the country’s tourism sector, resulting in more than 20,426 sold-out hotel rooms from November 2021 to March 2022. The figures also reveal that bookings worth AED 6 million have been made for over 3,000 inbound flights, as a direct result of international drivers and teams in-bound to the UAE. When it comes to the logistical requirements of the championships, over 258 containers were shipped to Dubai for the motorsport events further enhancing the economic impact of the season. Faisal Sahlawi, General Manager, Dubai Autodrome, said: “We are proud of how the motorsport season has contributed to the UAE’s tourism industry and economy, through several major sporting events in Dubai. Hosting some of the biggest motorsport championships and drivers in the world is extremely rewarding and showcases why the city of Dubai is widely regarded as one of the  greatest sporting destinations in the world. The events were attended by motorsport professionals from all over the world, and …

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment industry continues to grow, emerging partnerships indicate the sector’s increasing strength in the country. One critical development is the partnership agreement between Al Hokair Group for Tourism and Development and the entertainment brand Brass Monkey. The partnership will see Al Hokair Group develop a range of destinations across several regions where customers can enjoy Brass Monkey’s unique approach to entertainment and fun. Established in the United Arab Emirates, Brass Monkey has been combining good times with delicious dining featuring American and Asian dishes since 2020. The brand has enjoyed substantial success in a short time by focusing on creating happy moments filled with dynamic activities. Across its venues, it offers over 60 arcade games, bowling alleys, basketball, hockey, and nostalgic favorites, like Pac-Man, which appeal to all ages. Fahad Al-Fawaz, CEO of Al-Hokair Group, and Ziad Al-Senussi, owner of the Brass Monkey project, signed the agreement in the presence of several officials from the two companies. Mohamed Attia, Al Hokair Group’s General Manager of Entertainment, expressed his optimism regarding the partnership, noting, “We are pleased to sign the partnership agreement with Brass Monkey, a promising entertainment brand that has achieved remarkable success during the past two years. We are working in Al Hokair Group’s entertainment sector to enhance our portfolio and maintain our leadership position in the industry.” Al Hokair Group has been a dominant force in hospitality and entertainment for decades and is the recognized leader in tourism for Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabic world. Founded in 1975, the Group has invested in the entertainment and hospitality sectors under Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair’s leadership. Over the past five decades, the Group’s …

Kuwait Airways announced the operation of its scheduled commercial flights to the city of Mykonos in Greece, commencing 6th June 2022, with two flights per week on Mondays and Wednesdays. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce to its customers the operation of its flights to the city of Mykonos in Greece. The destination of Mykonos is one of the most important and new destinations of Kuwait Airways, selected after extensive and systematic research due to its historic and touristic attractions along with its rich, diverse culture, in addition to its distinction as a suitable destination for spending the summer vacation.” Razouqi added, “The launching of Mykonos destination emanates from within the framework of the Company’s strategy to expand its network to various destinations and locations, especially for the summer season, during which we expect to witness recovery and tremendous demand from passengers, that will significantly encourage tourism and travel around the world and develop it for the benefit of the tourism and hospitality sector. Moreover, Kuwait Airways is relentlessly striving to provide diverse and newer options that meet the requirements and aspirations of its customers to travel.” In the same context, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi received the Ambassador of Greece to Kuwait, H.E. Konstantinos Piperigos, in the presence of KAC’s Board Members, Mr. Adel Al-Sane and Mr. Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, where they discussed methods to enhance joint cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries and seek to develop them in all fields related to the aviation sector. In this regard, Razouqi said, “We are honored by the visit of Ambassador Konstantinos Piperigos to the …

Travellers from the UAE are planning to go away for longer and spend more than usual on their summer holidays this year to make up for a lack of breaks abroad over the past two years. The new data, released today by Marriott Bonvoy, the travel loyalty programme, shows that amongst the 85% of people from UAE who already know they will be heading abroad this summer (June-September), 98% say they will be spending more than they usually would – on average by AED11,832 per person. This is compared to their typical spend on summer holidays pre-Covid. This increase in spend is being spearheaded by older holidaymakers aged over 65, who plan to spend an average of AED25,416 more than they usually would – more than any other age group. Meanwhile those aged 45-54 are most likely to be going on holiday (92%). It’s not just more money travellers plan to spend on their summer holidays this year – they also plan to spend more time away than usual. Amongst those heading abroad, nearly three-quarter (73%) say they plan to go away for longer than normal, rising to 83% older travellers aged over 65. Many travellers have not been on a long break in quite some time. In fact, 43% have not been on a holiday of two weeks or longer in three years or more. But that looks set to change this year, with 62% of those going away planning to do at least one holiday of a fortnight or more. Figures from Marriott Bonvoy’s own data strongly back-up this trend, showing that in Europe and the Middle East, the proportion of holidaymakers booking longer 8-14 day stays for …