Sabre Corporation partnered with Diwan of Royal Court, Royal Court Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Sultanate of Oman to deliver a series of workshops. These sessions are designed to support the Omani government’s broader digital transformation initiative by upskilling the travel management departments within these entities, enhancing operational efficiency, and automating manual processes. Held at Sabre’s regional headquarters in Bahrain, these two weeks of training sessions represent the first collaboration of this kind between Sabre and the Omani government, reaffirming Sabre’s leadership in Oman’s government travel sector. Building on a 15-year partnership, Sabre has supported these key Omani government entities with advanced solutions to elevate their travel management capabilities. This collaboration is the latest milestone, offering a training program that equips teams with the skills to use advanced tools like Sabre 360 Graphical View and New Distribution Capability (NDC). It also emphasizes best practices to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance operational excellence. “We are proud to be partnering with the Omani government on this initiative, which is a testament to our commitment to empowering governments with advanced technology, tools and training,” said Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “By equipping the Omani government with the skills to leverage our advanced tools, we are not only enhancing their operational efficiency but also reinforcing the trust and reliability that have been the foundation of our partnership for over a decade. This collaboration exemplifies Sabre’s role in helping governments achieve their strategic goals, including cost savings and operational excellence.” As Oman pioneers its ambitious digital transformation, it is the first government in the region to launch such a strategic training program to modernize the travel …

Hilton announces the opening of two hotels in Dubai – Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay, marking the debut of the Embassy Suites by Hilton brand in the UAE, and Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Business Bay – both offering guests world-class hospitality in the heart of the city’s bustling Business Bay district. The highly anticipated Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay brings the brand’s upscale hospitality to the UAE for the first time. Features synonymous with Embassy by Hilton including spacious suites, complimentary made-to-order breakfast, flexible meetings and events space and a complimentary evening reception are all available for visitors to Dubai to enjoy. Next door, Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Business Bay offers affordable stays and an open, inviting atmosphere with warm service, ensuring guests have an easy and comfortable stay. An ideal base to explore the city, both properties are just minutes from Dubai’s iconic tourist attractions such as Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall and are well-connected to key business hubs like Dubai Design District, Emaar Square and Bay Square. Commenting on the openings, Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “These openings build on our footprint in the UAE, an incredibly dynamic market with great momentum. With the debut of Embassy Suites by Hilton – our first All-Suites brand in the UAE – we now have ten brands operating across the country. We look forward to welcoming guests to these properties, which are set to be a hub of hospitality excellence for leisure and business travellers alike.” Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay With the majority of guest rooms offering views of the Burj Khalifa, the UAE’s first Embassy Suites by Hilton is …

Dubai Reef is aligned with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. Leading reef developer HaejooX has been formally confirmed as the official construction and fabrication contractor for Dubai Reef, a sustainable initiative by Dubai Can. The signing ceremony for the agreement was attended by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), a strategic partner of Dubai Reef, His Excellency Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, Chairman of Regulatory Committee on Fishing of Living Aquatic Resources in Dubai and Director General of Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA), and Sang-Hyun Paik, Chairman of HaejooX. In the contract signed by Yousuf Lootah, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Performance at DET, and Ryan Paik, CEO of HaejooX, it was announced that the company will design and construct 20,000 purpose-built reef modules, which will be deployed across Dubai’s waters over a three-year period. HaejooX, a pioneer in the purpose-built reef industry originating in Korea, has been involved with the Dubai Reef project since its initial proof of concept in 2021. Inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the Dubai Reef pilot stage began in April 2024, and the deployment of the first 1,000 purpose-built reef modules is expected to commence in late November 2024. A citywide collaboration of key partners from across the public and private sectors, Dubai Reef is aligned with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate …

Emirates has added a fourth daily flight on the in-demand route. This follows the recent announcement of the second daily A380 between Dubai and Johannesburg, which launched on 1 September, reaffirming the importance of South Africa on the airline’s extensive global network. The fourth daily service will begin on 1 March, 2025, and will be operated on a three-class Boeing 777-300ER, offering an additional 708 seats in and out of South Africa’s largest and busiest international airport every day, broadening options for leisure and business travellers alike. EK767 will depart Dubai at 00:10hrs, arriving in Johannesburg at 06:20hrs; the return flight, EK768, will depart Johannesburg at 10:15hrs arriving in Dubai at 20:15hrs, expanding the airline’s schedule to introduce a morning departure from Johannesburg. Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “South Africa has long been a highly popular destination for both leisure and business travellers connecting to and through Dubai, and the fourth daily flight enables us to better serve the growing demand for travel to and from the market. We’d like to extend our thanks to the South African authorities for their partnership and support in securing this new service, which reinstates the capacity we offered South Africa pre-pandemic, with 49 weekly flights, across three gateways. As we reflect on nearly three decades of operations to the market, we remain committed to driving inbound travel to South Africa, supporting the government as they aim make tourism the leading economic contributor and vehicle for transformation, as well as encouraging more inwards investment to the country.” The fourth daily flight further supports connectivity across Emirates’ global network of over 140 destinations, optimising schedules to key destinations including Dubai, …

Dubai’s latest addition to its tourism destinations is Port De La Mer which promises an array of premium dining, shopping, entertainment, leisure, and hospitality amenities, alongside panoramic views of both the open ocean and stunning skyline. Khalid Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Holding, said: “Port De La Mer represents a strategic milestone in our long-term vision to position Dubai as a premier global leisure and tourism destination. Port De La Mer will be added to the current marinas in our key waterfront destinations, including Jaddaf Waterfront, Marasi Bay and Marina Al Seef Dubai, setting a new benchmark for luxury marinas worldwide. Our ongoing collaboration with D-Marin, known for their exemplary management and commitment to sustainability, underscores our shared dedication to excellence and innovation. Together, we are setting new standards by delivering world-class facilities, ensuring Dubai remains at the forefront of the global yachting community.” Selcuk Balci, Managing Director at D-Marin Dubai, said: “Port De La Mer sets new standards for what is expected from a marina. The entire project surrounding Port De La Mer is inspired by the Mediterranean including the residential communities, recreational areas and the marina itself. It is a truly unique marina for yacht owners in Dubai. We look forward to working in partnership with Dubai Holding whilst showcasing the highest standard of marina experiences and innovations.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism launched a new report revealing the stark impact of the pandemic on women and youth employment within the global Travel & Tourism sector. Almost 70 million people working in Travel & Tourism lost their jobs during the pandemic, but women and young people were disproportionately impacted because their roles were more likely to be in the worst affected areas such as hospitality and food services. While the sector has broadly seen a strong recovery, the ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment’ report found it employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people in 2022, notably lower than the 48.4 million women (-13%) and nearly 19 million young workers (15%) supported by the sector in 2019. While the sector remains a vital source of jobs for underrepresented groups, the report makes clear that more must be done to ensure an inclusive and equitable recovery. The report, which examines employment trends across 185 economies from 2019 to 2022, underscores the sector’s potential as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and social progress. It is critical that we learn from these hardships and implement measures to protect these groups from being disproportionately affected in future crises. According to the latest EIR data, in 2023, the Travel & Tourism sector’s GDP contribution rose by 29.1% above pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the global average, which remained 4.1% below. Yet despite this economic rebound, the social recovery continued to lag, particularly for women and young people who remain more likely to be stuck in informal, part-time, or low-wage roles without security or growth potential. Julia …

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia achieved an increase of 73% in the number of international tourist growth, while international tourism revenues recorded an increase of 207%, according to the latest UN Tourism Barometer report issued this week at the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Belem, Brazil. It was also shared that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tops the list of G20 countries in the indicators of the growth rate of the number of international tourists and the growth rate of international tourism revenues according to the latest data for the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2019. Several tourist destinations in the Kingdom witnessed a significant increase in the number of international tourists this year, with 17.5 million tourists during the first seven months of 2024. The Kingdom achieved a growth of 56% in the number of international tourists during 2023 compared to 2019, with 27.4 million tourists, and travel receipts recorded a historical surplus of 48 billion SAR during 2023, an annual increase of 38%. In its September report after the conclusion of the “Article IV Consultation 2024”, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised the unprecedented achievements made by the Kingdom’s tourism sector under Saudi Vision 2030. Diversifying the economic sectors, in which travel and tourism emerged as the most important – recording the highest level in the number of visitors, spending, job creation and contribution to GDP. These achievements reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a leading global destination, and the continuous growth in the number of inbound tourists reflects in the Kingdom’s attractive options and diversity for visitors.

Starting 27 October, ITA Airways will be operating direct flights from Dubai to Italy with the state of the art A321neo, the new-generation aircraft that combines efficiency and style to make your travel experience truly unforgettable advised Mr. Mohamed Jassim Al Rais, Executive Director, APG Gulf, the General Sales Agent of ITA Airways in the UAE. He added that ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, is committed to providing exceptional service and connectivity as with a modern fleet and a focus on sustainability, ITA is well-equipped to offer travelers a comfortable and memorable journey between Dubai and Rome and on its vast network beyond. ITA will operate a daily service on DXB-FCO-DXB routes offering highly attractive fares (both in business and economy class) to Rome and beyond sectors, including points in UK/Europe and USA. ITA would operate to Dubai with A321 Neo with a 3 class figuration offering Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy, thereby offering full service product with aggressive fares. Schedule: Rome Fiumicino to Dubai: Starting October 27th, departing at 10:40 a.m. (local time) and arriving in Dubai at 7:50 p.m. (local time). Dubai to Rome Fiumicino: Starting October 28th, departing at 1:50 a.m. (local time) and arriving in Rome at 6:00 a.m. (local time). Mr. Mohamed Al Rais, expressed his enthusiasm about this new venture, “We are proud to partner with ITA Airways to bring this exciting route to Dubai. This collaboration not only enhances our portfolio but also enriches travel options for our customers. We look forward to providing outstanding service and showcasing the best of Italy to travellers in the UAE. We invite everyone to explore the beauty of Italy with ITA Airways. Stay tuned for …

As part of SAUDIA’s investments to make King Abdulaziz International Airport into a true hub and enhance the guest’s travel experience, they officially inaugurated its new First and Business Class Check-In Lounge at Terminal 1 of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. H.E. Eng. Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar, the Director General of SAUDIA Group inaugurated this luxurious, exclusive space which is designed to elevate the travel experience for SAUDIA’s First and Business Class guests, as well as AlFursan Gold members. The lounge offers personalized services tailored to meet the needs of discerning travelers. The new lounge features 10 dedicated check-in counters, each complemented by a comfortable seating area to ensure a seamless and relaxed start to the journey. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by specialized staff and treated to traditional Saudi coffee and dates. The lounge also includes a dedicated café counter, offering a selection of hot and cold beverages. The opening of the new First and Business Class Check-In Lounge marks a significant milestone in SAUDIA’s strategy to strengthen its Jeddah hub. This strategy involves centralizing operations in state-of-the-art facilities and services, optimizing connectivity and transit traffic, and maintaining a distinctive on-time performance through integrated operations. By creating a true hub, Saudia is also contributing to the broader Saudi Vision 2030 goal of attracting 330 million visits and welcoming the world to the Kingdom. Additionally, the lounge’s design reflects the rich Saudi culture and landmarks, highlighting SAUDIA’s new era and its dedication to presenting the nation’s rich identity and culture to its guests. Riyadh M. Alhudhaif, General Manager of the Jeddah HUB stated: “Unveiling SAUDIA’s new First and Business Class Check-In Lounge marks a landmark milestone in luxury travel, redefining …

 Abu Dhabi Airports and Etihad Airways are taking a significant step towards creating a more supportive travel experience with the launch of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme at Zayed International Airport (AUH) and onboard Etihad Airways flights. This initiative underscores both organisations’ commitment to supporting all passengers, particularly those with non-visible disabilities. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, a globally recognised symbol for non-visible disabilities, is now available at Zayed International Airport (AUH). This programme provides a discreet way for passengers with conditions like autism, chronic pain, or anxiety to signal to staff that they may require additional assistance or compassion. Passengers can pick up their complimentary Sunflower lanyards at the two dedicated Special Assistance desks located in the pre-check-in area of AUH, allowing them to discreetly communicate their needs and fostering a more supportive environment for all. “At Abu Dhabi Airports, we are dedicated to providing a seamless and inclusive travel experience for every passenger,” said Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports. “The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme is a natural extension of this commitment, empowering passengers with non-visible disabilities to discreetly communicate their needs and receive the support they deserve throughout their journey at Zayed International Airport. It’s about recognising that the kindest gestures are the ones that acknowledge unseen challenges. This means our staff are now even better equipped to assist passengers who may require a little extra time, understanding, or assistance, ensuring a smoother and more positive experience for everyone.” To ensure the programme’s success, both AUH and Etihad Airways have implemented comprehensive staff training. Frontline teams from the airport, its stakeholders and business partners have undergone specialised training to better understand the …