Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi is slated to open by Q1 2024 in Cairo, Egypt. Overlooking the River Nile, Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi will be located within five kilometres of Cairo’s most popular attractions, including the Church of the Virgin Mary, Hanging Church, the Museum of Egyptian Civilization, and the Coptic Museum. Cairo International Airport CAI is 28 kilometres away. The hotel will offer several restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and a fitness centre.

Dubai’s Jumeirah Group announced its plans to expand its brand presence in Asia, Europe and US whilst doubling its portfolio by 2030, building on its strength in the UAE and further expanding into key global markets. Plans include upweighting its presence in Europe, leveraging its strong base in London, Capri, Mallorca and Geneva to acquire luxury properties in other major cities as well as exploring opportunities in the US. The Group will also look to capitalise on the strong growth potential of the Asia Pacific market to extend its current reach beyond its properties in China, Bali and the Maldives. The growth plans are part of Jumeirah’s Mission 2030 strategy which will also see an evolution of the brand with a renewed focus on delivering distinct guest experiences and new ancillary businesses to complement its ultra luxury positioning.  Launching in 2024, this will include the integration of wellness into the entire guest journey based on the principles of lifelong learning, longevity and inclusivity, as well as a re-imagined family experience with a focus on education, self-discovery, environmental stewardship, cultural immersion and the arts. Katerina Giannouka, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, commented: “The luxury landscape continues to evolve in response to consumer demand, particularly from younger millennial and Gen Z audiences, and as a brand we need to continually innovate to stay relevant.  Mission 2030 is a strategic plan that is designed to evolve the Jumeirah brand from a regional success story to a global leader in ultra luxury hospitality. It focuses on four key areas – international expansion, brand and product development, operational excellence and ancillary business – with an overall aim to sustainably double the size of our …

The 4th Abu Dhabi Family Forum 2023, organised by the Family Development Foundation (FDF), continues to attract visitors, heritage lovers and people interested in learning about the cultural and popular heritage through a variety of cultural activities, performances and sessions that are being organised in collaboration with various entities. A number of events and activities were organised at the Emirati Heritage Station, including ‘Saf Al Khos’ organised by the UAE Heritage Club, ‘Old Emirati Wedding’ organised in cooperation with the Women’s Association Sanad Al Watan, as well as the ‘Al Sanaa Al Emirati’ organised by the Sharjah Heritage Centre. Numerous visitors of different ages visited the Event Theatre at the Emirate Heritage Station, which featured heritage and entertainment competitions with a wide audience participation. The competitions included the Emirati Popular Proverbs and Wedding Competition, UAE History Workshop, Bakery Workshop, and Children’s Popular Games Workshop. The station offers tourists with an immersive experience of UAE heritage and culture through the ‘Al Nabti Poetry’ competition, which is jointly organised by the Family Development Foundation schools in collaboration with ADNOC schools, in which participants can delve into the local food culture through the engaging cooking corner and its competitions. Additionally, the ‘Coffee Corner’ showcases authentic UAE hospitality and welcoming rituals, emphasising the significance of Arabic coffee in the lives of Emiratis. For those interested in the historical aspects, ‘Cinema Al Awal’ presents an opportunity for visitors to enjoy old shows and series produced by Abu Dhabi TV. Aisha Salem Al Kaabi, Senior Organiser and Head of UAE Heritage Station, said: “Through the Emirati Heritage Station and with strategic partners and entrepreneurs, our efforts have been dedicated to imparting the rich cultural heritage of …

Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour is slated to open by Q1 2024 with 96 suites and two penthouses. The highly anticipated opening is part of the Bahrain Financial Harbour, a commercial waterfront development located in Bahrain Bay. With 96 suites and two penthouses, the property will provide an exceptional location for hotel guests and residents to enjoy spectacular coastal views of the Arabian Gulf while being conveniently located in the heart of the capital city’s up-and-coming business and residential district.

The third edition of the #DubaiDestinations winter campaign was launched to be held from 15th to 31st December 2023. The campaign puts the spotlight on the unique places, activities and attractions that make Dubai one of the world’s most-loved winter getaways. As part of the campaign, Brand Dubai announced that it has partnered with the Supreme Committee Overseeing Hatta Development to launch the inaugural edition of the Hatta Festival, a vibrant celebration of culture, sports and family entertainment in the heart of Dubai’s picturesque mountain region. This launch was conducted under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO). Being held from 15-31 December at the newly-developed Leem Lake in Hatta and the Hatta Wadi Hub, the festival is the centrepiece of the third edition of the #DubaiDestinations winter campaign. Running until February 2024, the latest season of the campaign seeks to tell the story of Dubai’s emergence as one of the world’s best winter destinations. Over the next two months, the campaign will unfold with captivating narratives from diverse sources on the emirate’s unique winter activities and experiences. Marking the launch of the campaign, Brand Dubai hosted a press conference at GDMO to outline the key activations at the Hatta Festival and the prominent attractions that capture the spirit of the larger winter campaign. The launch of the ‘Hatta Festival’ aligns with the leadership’s directives to transform Hatta into a prominent business, investment and tourism destination. It also aims to highlight the historical importance and natural and archaeological wonders …

Turkish Airlines has once again added Osaka International Airport to its flight network starting from December 12. This move stands as a testament to the airline’s ongoing commitment to network expansion, ensuring passengers enjoy unparalleled connectivity. Flights to Osaka now operate four days a week—on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—between Istanbul Airport and Osaka International Airport, featuring the Boeing 787-9. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated, “Reinstating our flights to Osaka not only strengthens the presence of Turkish Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region but also demonstrates our dedication to connecting people and cultures around the world. “We continue to offer the highest quality service while enabling our passengers to explore the world with our extensive and far-reaching flight network.” Osaka is the third largest city in Japan after Tokyo and Yokohama, respectively, and one of the most popular tourist destinations of the island country. Considered the capital of Japanese cuisine, Osaka is known as a gourmet city while also serving as a gateway to exploring the Kansai region, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Tourists wishing to explore the wonders of Japan can now experience the unique blend of historical and modern attractions in Osaka with Turkish Airlines.  

Qatar Airways welcomed Iberia’s first non-stop flight to Doha, Qatar from Madrid, Spain. Iberia’s new daily service complements Qatar Airways’ two daily flights between the capital cities of Spain and Qatar and three daily flights between Barcelona and Doha. These services expand on our commitment to the Spanish market and support our joint ambition to expand the world’s largest airline joint business between Qatar Airways, British Airways and Iberia. This addition, further cements the Skytrax “Best Airport in the Middle East”, Hamad International Airport (DOH), as a gateway to the world. Through Madrid, London and Doha, the three strategic partners offer unparalleled connectivity to more than 200 destinations in Asia, Australasia, the Middle-East and Africa, with the most efficient transfers through their five-star hubs. Whether travelling from Madrid to Bali, Sydney to Ibiza, Lisbon to Maputo, or Doha to Malaga, the combined networks will provide fast and reliable itineraries to all passengers. “As part of the unique partnership between Qatar Airways, British Airways and Iberia, passengers can enjoy the best service on the ground and in the air, while seamlessly connecting to their favourite destinations. The unique partnership between Qatar Airways, British Airways and Iberia offers more customers even greater flexibility, choice and value, and today’s inaugural flight reinforces Qatar as a destination of choice in the region, and Hamad International Airport as a global gateway.” Passengers transferring through Hamad International Airport are treated to a vast array of offerings that transform the transit experience into a seamless journey. Serving as a diverse lifestyle destination, the airport caters to all passenger profiles, ensuring a personalised and enjoyable visit. Offering a plethora of dining and shopping options to numerous spaces for …

Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai won ‘Best 5 Star Business Hotel’ at the sixth edition of the most coveted industry awards, the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Amro Nagah – General Manager – Swissotel Al Murooj shared, “This award, gives me the confidence to go back to my team and celebrate with them and make sure that we provide a superior service to every individual, which again gives us self confidence with this prestigious award and we are really honoured to have won it.”

Iran announced the removal of visa requirements for 33 nations, including Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in diplomatic dynamics after years of strained relations and a recent thaw in ties. According to ISNA, the new countries under consideration for visa-free travel to Iran in the near future are Argentina, South Africa, Indonesia, Jordan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ecuador, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Paraguay, Peru, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Thailand and Turkmenistan. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement brokered by China to restore diplomatic relations, which were severed in 2016. As part of this diplomatic thaw, citizens of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain, among other things, will now benefit from visa requirements being waived. As for Russians, they will only benefit from the visa exemption when travelling to Iran in groups. At the same time, Omani nationals enjoyed visa-free travel to Iran before this recent announcement. In a significant development, Iranian pilgrims are set to commence regular travel to Saudi Arabia starting on December 19, marking the first time in eight years for such a routine pilgrimage between the two nations. In January 2023, Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, Iran’s vice president of tourism, proposed ​​waiving visas for travellers from 50 countries. However, this list now includes only 45 countries that will enjoy visa-free travel to Iran. Shalbafian also mentioned a previously signed program to waive visas for specific tourist groups between Iran and Russia, initiated in 2017 by former Iranian President Vladimir Putin. Furthermore, in November 2023, the Iranian government, following a proposal by the Ministry of Tourism, eliminated visa requirements for passport holders …

President William Ruto delivering a speech at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, Kenya during Jamhuri Day Celebrations on December 12, 2023 shared that starting January 2024, the government will abolish the requirement of visas for all visitors coming to Kenya. To implement the new policy, he said the state has developed a digital platform to ensure that all travelers to Kenya are identified in advance on an electronic platform. This means that all travelers will only need to obtain electronic travel authorisation before visiting the country which is known for its tourist attraction sites. “It is with great pleasure, as president of this extraordinary country, to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya. Beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country,” Ruto said. “It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya. To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home!” he added. The move comes at a time when most countries are making progress towards simplifying entry processes and dropping restrictions on some other nations.