Weather admiring the vibrant colors along the scenic country lanes or enjoying breezy and live evenings in the capital, autumn is a wonderful time to visit Azerbaijan. Summers in the country last right-up till the end of September, following colorful and chilly Autumn. With local residents returning to the city from the coast, life begins to bustle again in Baku. Mid-September is a perfect time to enjoy long walks along the Caspian Sea admiring the perfect scenery on the Seaside Boulevard or end up in the world-class museums or galleries of the capital. You might as well choose to get away from the busy city life and take either a road trip across different routes in Azerbaijan or join a hiking group, promising for a day of fun and fulfilment brought by conquering the magnificent Caucasus mountains. Either way, you will find yourself in a fairy-tale environment coloured with autumn shades of amber, gold or scarlet around lakes and waterfalls as well as the scenic mountain roads and pristine woodlands. While out in the wild, you might explore quaint villages like Khinalig and Lahij in the northern part of Azerbaijan, get to know locals and learn about their traditions. Autumn is also the perfect season for grape harvesting. When you combine this with Azerbaijan’s little-known winemaking traditions dating back centuries, you have a perfect chance of visiting some of the best wineries of the country. Meysari in Shamakhi, Chabiant in Ismayilli or Savalan in Gabala will certainly surprise you with their perfect climate and vineyards located at the hilltops of the Caucasus, producing high-level wines made from both European and endemic grape varieties.

Inmarsat unveiled the United Arab Emirates (UAE) results from its Passenger Confidence Tracker 2021 — the largest and most comprehensive global survey of airline passengers since the pandemic began. The research reveals that passengers in the UAE are amongst the most confident in the world to fly again. In fact, only those from China were more likely to have taken a short or long haul flight since the onset of Covid-19, with 79% having done so, compared to the UAE’s 75%. 56% of UAE passengers surveyed said they had travelled to international destinations, and expressed that their overall confidence in air travel had not waned — with 42% confident about taking their next flight within six months. This sentiment was reflected in the responses of fellow travellers from Spain (43%), India (43%) and Mexico (46%), who have similar levels of confidence to fly during the same  time period. Neale Faulkner, Regional Vice President for Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Although airlines have faced unprecedented challenges over the past 18 months, they have once again shown their resilience and met those challenges head on. And the dark clouds are starting to clear, with the latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures showing significant momentum for international and domestic travel. “This news will be welcomed by UAE airlines. However, to maintain and even accelerate this growth, it’s essential to rebuild passenger confidence and ensure their evolving needs are met in a post pandemic world. Our latest Passenger Confidence Tracker offers detailed insights into the main areas of confidence and concern around air travel, direct from UAE passengers themselves. Such findings will allow airlines to increase their focus on key priorities and seize the exciting opportunities ahead.” Flying …

flydubai has launched flights to Warsaw and Budapest from 30 September. The carrier will operate four weekly flights from Dubai International (DXB) to Budapest International Airport (BUD) and daily flights to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). This will be the carrier’s second destination in Poland after Krakow (KRK). Representative of this new direct airlink, the first flight to Budapest was piloted by Captain Fabian Laszlo from Hungary and First Officer Eisa Al Suwaidi from the UAE. In addition, among the Hungarian cabin crew operating the inaugural flight was the Captain’s daughter, Senior Cabin Crew Cserne Fabiana Rebeka and Cabin Crew Toth Reka.  The inaugural flight to Warsaw was operated with Polish nationals including Senior Cabin Crew Agata Samborska and Cabin Crew members Katarzyna Boryna and Paulina Kaniowska. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “we have seen growing demand for travel this summer and with the start of flights to Budapest and Warsaw, we are expanding our network over the winter schedule to offer our passengers more choice for travel. Our newly launched operations to Hungary and Poland will also strengthen links with the UAE.” Warsaw is the capital and largest city in Poland. It is known for its beautiful architecture as well as its vibrant café and restaurant culture. Situated on the Vistula River and offering numerous green outdoor spaces, Warsaw has become a popular destination especially among those seeking an experience that is steeped in history. Located on both sides of the Danube River Budapest is a popular leisure destination and can be explored by bike, boat, bus or on foot. Visitors to the Hungarian capital can explore a wide variety of museums and galleries, impressive architecture and the well-known thermal …

Qatar Airways announced that it will launch a new service to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 3 December with twice weekly flights, this new route will follow the resumption of operations to Luxor on 23 November with four weekly flights. In a further expansion of services to Egypt, Qatar Airways will also increase its Cairo service starting from 1 October 2021, increasing flights to the capital to triple daily. The resumption of operations to Luxor and launching of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh sees Qatar Airways now operate a total of 34 weekly flights to Egypt via the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport (HIA) as voted by Skytrax. The new services will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in First Class and 132 seats in Economy Class. The resumption of operations to Luxor and the launch of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh will enable passengers flying to and from these destinations to enjoy seamless connectivity to over 140 destinations in Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Americas. Qatar Airways also features flexible booking policies that offer unlimited changes in travel dates and destinations, and fee-free refunds for all tickets issued for travel completed by 31 May 2022. The upcoming expansion of services in Egypt will further provide Egyptian football fans more travel options to attend the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™ in Qatar, enjoy the finest Qatari hospitality and follow their national team in person. The region’s showpiece tournament will take place from 30 November to 18 December 2021. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named …

The Spain Pavilion was presented at the Dubai 2020 World Expo, which was inaugurated on 1st October under the slogan Connecting minds, creating the future. Spain participates in this exceptional event, which provides an opportunity to -showcase its image and serves as a remarkable platform for engaging in business, cultural, scientific and technological diplomacy. Expo Dubai 2020 (the Expo retains 2020 in its name) opened its doors nearly one year later than originally planned due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the first global event enabling collective reflection since the health crisis hit and caused months of international anxiety. It is a unique occasion for the world to come together and reflect on a future that is more aligned with the wellbeing of all individuals and in better balance with our environment. Expo Dubai 2020 Expo Dubai 2020, under the theme Connecting minds, creating the future, and recognized as an “Event of Exceptional Public Interest”, will be held until the 31st of March 2022. The event is the first world expo hosted by an Arab country and the region of the Middle East and is expected to bring together more than 200 participants and attract over 25 million visitors. The Spain Pavilion The slogan Intelligence for life sums up the main communication objectives of the Spain Pavilion: its ingenuity, ability to innovate and commitment to preserving a good quality of life on the planet for the present and future generations. The pavilion presents and represents Spain at the expo, a singular event for boosting the country’s branding and a unique platform for engaging in business, cultural, scientific and technological diplomacy. The Spain Pavilion is located in the Sustainability District, close …

The pavilion officially opened in an elegant ceremony on the morning of Friday, October 1, the vibrant destination has revealed more details about what visitors can expect from its exciting line-up of special events. Welcoming special guests H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy & Society and the Commissioner General of Section for the Thailand Pavilion and Ambassador Waravuth Pouapinya, Thailand Ambassador to the UAE, the intimate and exclusive ceremony featured a carefully selected guest list of Dubai’s most significant dignitaries, professionals and journalists. Historically one of the most popular representations at every staging of the amazing World Expo show, Thailand is bringing its largest, and most impressive pavilion in 150 years to the UAE from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Located in the Mobility District on a plot of more than 3,600 sqm, the dynamic space takes visitors through the story of ‘Digital Thailand’, the nation’s technologically driven, economic vision. In addition to connecting Thailand to the rest of the world, the Pavilion aims to showcase the full wonder of authentic Thai culture. Filled with colour, beautiful decor and charm, the ‘Miracle of Smiles’ pavilion has pulled out all the stops to create an uplifting and enlightening journey that showcases the true essence of Thailand. Thailand intends to use Expo 2020 to forge new connections and make significant steps towards creating a more sustainable future. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) assigned the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) as the body responsible for creating its cutting-edge and technology filled pavilion. Primarily organised by Index Creative Village, Thailand’s top creative company, UAE-based …

Ishraq Hospitality, a division of the Mohammad & Obaid AlMulla Group, announced the launch of its newest upscale hotel in the new part of Dubai located next to Expo Dubai 2020 site. Holiday Inn Dubai Al Maktoum Airport comes in line with the company’s expansion plans in the region and is adjacent to another successful property owned by the company; Staybridge Suites Dubai Al-Maktoum Airport which comprises a total of 606 rooms. The hotel also enjoys a strategic location as it is in proximity to Expo Dubai 2020, next to Al Maktoum International airport and top attractions such as Dubai Park & Resorts. Holiday Inn Dubai Al-Maktoum Airport is set to become a leading business destination with its 300-pax pillarless ballroom, boardroom with daylight, meeting rooms, business centre and a co-working environment. It also caters to the needs of families and leisure guests as it provides a perfect destination to escape the city hustle for a staycation with more than 600 rooms and apartments, perfect for families, where kids eat and stay for free under 12 years old. The hotel has a large 24/7 gym, spa, hair salon, yoga studio, pool bar & lounge, and the South Central; lounge, kitchen, bar and terrace. Chady Kanaan, General Manager of Holiday Inn Dubai Al Maktoum Airport and Staybridge Suites Dubai Al Maktoum Airport, added: “Now that we have our two hotels open and running, we are looking forward to receive our esteemed guests in our new properties right in the heart of in this new business hub. And with the offerings we have, we are confident that we will be the hotels of choice for family and business travellers alike.” Alexander Suski …

With South African Airways (SAA) resuming operations, Emirates has been working closely with SAA to reactivate its long-standing partnership which aims to improve the customer experience and provide more value to travellers when flying on both carriers. The move also helps cement SAA’s standing and position and will build growth momentum as the carrier initially restarts flights to six African destinations. Emirates and SAA have been working towards increasing alignment across products, services and reactivation of synergies between loyalty programmes, and will be initially kicking off with a reciprocal commercial arrangement. The agreement includes SAA coded and Emirates-operated routes between South Africa and Dubai on a single ticket, enabling travellers to seamlessly check-in their bags to their final destinations from 1 October. Emirates will also place the SAA code on major trunk routes between South Africa and Dubai. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline, remarked on the revival of the partnership: “The partnership between Emirates and South African Airways builds on our shared commitment to providing customers more schedule choices and increased connectivity across Africa and through our growing network. We value our nearly 25 years of successful partnership with SAA and we are working hard to take more positive steps forward to continue to grow our relationship and provide our customers with even more connectivity in the future.” SAA’s Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo says, “As SAA starts to rebuild, the long-standing partnership with Emirates is both valued and critical to our future growth plans : “We share the same vision of seamless, efficient, and excellent customer service with connectivity to multiple destinations. We are confident this partnership will lead to the addition of more route and destination options, …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)  announces the opening of Banan Beach in Ras Al Khaimah by the end of 2021. The hotly anticipated glamping resort will welcome guests for beachside vibes, campfire gatherings, yoga and wellness sessions, making it the ideal spot to enjoy memorable experiences with loved ones. Located on Al Marjan Island, renowned for its beautiful shoreline and relaxed atmosphere, the chilled beach getaway will feature numerous facilities including vibrantly coloured tepee designed tents located around a central firepit, private chalets, family-friendly attractions, barbeque areas, designated spots to practice mindfulness, as well as an outdoor cinema screening a mix of blockbusters and family-favourites for all to enjoy. The new attraction aligns with the Authority’s recently announced Sustainable Tourism Destination Strategy that will see the Ras Al Khaimah become the regional leader in eco-tourism by 2025. All furniture, fixtures, doors, windows and decorations for the chalets and tents, will be handmade by the Banan Beach team using recycled, locally sourced and biodegradable materials. The resort’s sustainability theme will also extend to its dining concepts, with natural and sustainable methods such as wood and charcoal for cookery used in its kitchens, instead of the conventional electricity and gas. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “Banan Beach is the perfect addition to our growing portfolio of family-friendly outdoor activities in Ras Al Khaimah. The sustainably driven camp aligns with our mandate to invest and launch authentic new tourism initiatives across the Emirate, and underscores our ability to continuously adapt to meet changing traveller needs and the growing desire for experiences in safe, open environments. We look forward to welcoming resident, local and international visitors …

Latvian airline airBaltic has launched direct flights between Dubai and Riga, Latvia. airBaltic now links the both cities with four weekly flights, offering a wide variety of convenient connections to travellers coming from Dubai to further destinations in Europe. Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “We see a great potential in strengthening the business ties between UAE and Latvia. airBaltic team is glad to launch this new route to Riga which is a vibrant and dynamic city in the Baltic States. The new route will play an integral role connecting the two countries and will be of a significant benefit to travellers both in the United Arab Emirates and Latvia.”   Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports: “We are delighted to welcome airBaltic to the DXB family with the launch of their services between Dubai and Riga. Creating this additional connectivity during the year of EXPO adds to the growing strength of the DXB hub, and we are confident that it will boost the number of visitors travelling between Latvia and the UAE.”   Flights between Dubai and Riga are operated by the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets for the new destinations are available on the company’s homepage at www.airbaltic.com.