Saudia Private signed a strategic partnership agreement with Jetex joining forces to enable Saudia Private to expand its ground handling services at all Saudi Arabian airports including airport security clearance, marshalling, immigration services, fuelling, and catering arrangements as well as private terminals for VIPs. As a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO), Saudia Private provides services ranging from on-the-ground operations, aircraft management and maintenance, and charter flights. It delivers tailored services and products to local partners and international guests to and from any of the Kingdom’s airports and everywhere in the world. The agreement was signed at the Saudia Group Pavilion at the leading global aerospace show, in the presence of Dr. Fahad Aljarboa, CEO of Saudia Private, and Mr. Adel Mardini Founder & CEO of Jetex. Dr. Fahad Aljarboa, CEO of Saudia Private, said: “This partnership marks a new significant milestone for both Saudia Private and Jetex. By combining our extensive expertise in delivering world-class FBO and ground services with Jetex’s extensive array of commercial Ground Services, we’re able to strengthen the Kingdom’s and the region’s position as leaders in the sector.” “The strategic agreement with Saudia Private is instrumental for Jetex to deliver on our ambitious vision by supporting our expansion across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Mr. Adel Mardini, Founder & CEO of Jetex. Providing best-in-class services to its guests and partners is a priority for Saudia Group as it broadens its operations in order to better service international travellers and the aviation industry, while supporting the tourism sector in the Kingdom, in line with its Vision 2030. Saudia Group’s recent rebrand and ambitious digital transformation reinforces its commitment to its goals as the Kingdom’s ‘Wings of 2030’, bringing …

This weekend Ferrari celebrates the fourth edition of Casa Ferrari Abu Dhabi in the Middle East, taking place during the excitement of the F1 Grand Prix weekend from the 24th – 26th November 2023. To mark the occasion, Al Tayer Motors, the exclusive UAE importer-dealer for Ferrari invited Ferraristi from across the country to take part in a stunning 210-car parade which departed from the Al Tayer Motors Ferrari showroom in Dubai, before cruising to Casa Ferrari in Abu Dhabi. The impressive parade welcomed Ferraristi and created a unique opportunity to bring Ferrari owners together. Casa Ferrari Abu Dhabi showcases the very best of Ferrari through an invite-only immersive experience, where guests enjoy the Italian automaker’s unique hospitality along with a celebration of the brand’s heritage as well as some of its latest innovations.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has established a hospitality education academy in Abu Dhabi, which will open in September 2024 to be managed and guided under the stewardship of Les Roches. The objective is to provide hospitality skills and academic knowledge to nurture homegrown talent in the UAE, GCC and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Les Roches Global Hospitality’s first campus in the area will welcome its first students in September 2024. Founded in 1954 in Switzerland, Les Roches ranks fourth in the world’s higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023). The hospitality education academy will be defined by its objective to attract UAE Nationals and regional talents to the industry. The academy aims to focus on the practices and values of the UAE within its curriculum. The programme and methodology seeks to support the hospitality sector by cultivating local talent with high quality education and skills needed for the industry’s future. The academy will feature a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees. The curriculum includes a range of hospitality-related and practical skills certifications, across areas including hotel operations, travel, tourism, transport and entrepreneurship. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “In line with our vision of inspiring journeys of creativity and discovery, the new academy will play a key role in ensuring the long-term sustainable growth of the hospitality industry overall, propelling future generations with a keen interest to reach their full potential. Accelerating high potential industries such as hospitality through collaboration and strategic partnerships will continue to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s growth as a dynamic and …

Qatar Tourism has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mowasalat Karwa to innovate and enhance the tourism experience for visitors coming to Qatar via cruises. The MoU aims to enhance coordination and cooperation between the two parties in the field of cruise tourism, which in turn is an integral part of the National Tourism Strategy that seeks to make Qatar one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. The MoU outlines the joint cooperation between the two organizations to maintain the continuity of communication with transparency, optimize cost, and provide the necessary support for the success of the upcoming cruise season. Qatar Tourism will provide Mowasalat Karwa with data and statistics related to the tourism sector to facilitate their cooperation, and will send advance notice of the arrival times of ships and cruise ships, enabling effective planning of transport services. The MoU was signed by H.E. Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, and Mr. Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, CEO of Mowasalat Karwa. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Cruise tourism is a key pillar in supporting Qatar’s national tourism strategy and contributing to Qatar’s position on the global tourism map. Qatar Tourism is working continuously with its key partners to ensure an exceptional tourism experience for visitors to Qatar. Transportation plays an important role in enhancing this experience, and we are confident that our partnership with Mowasalat will contribute to the success of the current cruise season.” Mr. Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, CEO of Karwa, said: “We believe in the importance of transportation for visitors and its impact on the competitiveness of tourist destinations. Tour operators in Qatar market …

Cozmo Travel clinched ‘Most Trusted Travel Partner in the Middle East’ Award at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. Gallery of Legends 2016 and CEO of Cozmo Travel, Jamal Abdulnazar shares, “Participating in the Arabian Travel Awards year after year is truly an enriching experience, fostering industry connections and celebrating excellence in travel. Grateful for the recognition! Being recognized as Most Trusted Travel Partner is an immense honor. It’s a testament to our commitment to excellent travel services and a source of pride for our dedicated team. This award fuels our determination to elevate our standards and clients’ expectations even higher in 2024. The recognition inspires us to innovate and deliver unparalleled travel experiences. Thank you for the encouragement!”

Al Naboodah Travel clinched Best GSA  and Best Corporate Travel Agency at the sixth edition of the prestigious Arabian Travel Awards. Speaking on the continued win, Nasir Jamal Khan, the CEO of Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies shared, “Al Naboodah Travel Marks 50 Years of GSA Partnership In 1973, Al Naboodah Travel embarked on a journey that has spanned half a century, starting with its ground-breaking GSA collaboration with Air France. We are proud in the company’s recognition at the Arabian Travel Awards 2023, winning the Best GSA award for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting its consistent dedication to serving UAE airlines. The travel and tourism industry’s excellence takes center stage as Arabian Travel Awards recognizes Al Naboodah Travel as the Best Corporate Travel Agency. We extend heartfelt thanks to the entire Al Naboodah Travel team, dedicating the award to their collective efforts. Gratitude is also expressed to Arabian Travel Awards for consistently organizing this impactful event. This accolade serves as a motivating force for Al Naboodah Travel to sustain and surpass current standards, meeting the expectations of valued clients and customers.”

The industry-defining Dubai Association Centre Conference is set to return for its fourth edition, 27-28 February 2024, with the theme ‘Value Amplified: Associations Empowering Change’ and hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Reflecting Dubai’s continued growth as a global association hub, the conference will once again provide a powerful platform for sector leaders and experts from around the world to come together and consolidate the pivotal role associations play in not only serving the needs and aspirations of their members, but also as agents of positive change within their communities and wider societies. Organised by the Dubai Association Centre and taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, the 2024 edition will explore innovative strategies, best practices, and collaborative approaches to create tangible and lasting value for communities and societies. Targeted at association executives and stakeholders who play a crucial role in leadership and management, including government officials and strategic partners, the conference aims to contribute to the immediate civic, economic and social development of the region. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said: “Through the Dubai Association Centre Conference, the city has consistently demonstrated a commitment to not only developing a vibrant association community here, but also offering a platform to navigate change and forge new paths for the sector globally. As Dubai’s own economy continues to evolve to meet the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda – D33 – the city will provide an ideal setting to explore the theme around empowering change, and we look forward …

Emirates joins UAE based research consortium for renewable and advanced aviation fuels. In the UAE Year of Sustainability, and at the 3rd ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) was held in Dubai, eight founding entities announced the launch of the “Air-CRAFT” initiative – a UAE based research consortium focused on developing, producing, and scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies. Air-CRAFT, or the UAE Centre for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation, is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring together entities across the value chain – industrial policy makers, aviation regulators, fuel producers, academia and researchers, aircraft and powerplant manufacturers, and airline operators. While based in the UAE, the consortium will also engage with, and welcome the participation of relevant international entities as it progresses. The new initiative was announced on the sidelines of CAAF/3 today and ahead of COP28. Air-CRAFT is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. “The aviation sector holds great importance as a key contributor to the GDP and as a target sector for our robust decarbonization drive,” said His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “The UAE has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, and this goal can only be achieved by slashing the emissions across the board. Air-CRAFT will go a long way in supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector, helping to make it resilient and sustainable well into the future.”   His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the UAE and Chairman of the GCAA said: Introducing ‘Air-CRAFT’ at CAAF3 in Dubai emphasizes the UAE’s commitment to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, uniting government, private sector, and academia …

Emirates has become the world’s first airline to operate an A380 demonstration flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Today’s flight, proudly commanded by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Philippe Lombet, took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB) with one of four engines powered on 100% SAF, helping demonstrate its potential as a drop-in replacement that matches jet fuel’s technical and chemical requirements, while being a more sustainable alternative. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85%* over the fuel’s life cycle when compared to conventional jet fuel. Demonstration flights like the one conducted today pave the way for future standardisation, qualification and adoption for 100% SAF flying, as governments adopt broader strategies to support the production and scale up of SAF. The A380 demonstration flight underlines the performance and compatibility of SAF, making it a safe and reliable fuel source, and contributes to the growing body of research carried out by the industry to evaluate the beneficial effects of 100% SAF on aircraft performance. SAF is currently capped at a 50% blend limit in engines for commercial flights. The Emirates A380 demonstration flight comes as the aviation industry, international organisations, regulatory bodies and high-level officials driving policy-related decisions converge in Dubai for the Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3). Dedicated collaborators from Airbus, Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney, Neste, Virent and ENOC have been working on the testing, technical assessments and data analysis for today’s flight. The 100% drop-in SAF used on today’s flight includes renewable aromatics and closely mimics the characteristics of conventional jet fuel. This is the first time that drop-in SAF has been used on an A380 aircraft, …

On the sidelines of Qatar Travel Mart, Cozmo Travel signed an MoU with SAUDIA in order to boost tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cozmo Travel has been instrumental in carrying out various marketing campaigns to promote the kingdom across the GCC. This partnership will be enhancing the efforts put forward by Cozmo Travel.