Australia is a key and highly valued market in the global network of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, with the three largest cities, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane all served daily. In response to the country’s devastating bushfires, Etihad Airways will waive flight change fees for Australian residents affected by this ongoing national emergency. The waivers will apply for travel to or from Australia. UAE-based Australians, or those in Australia seeking changes to their Etihad flights as a result of the fire emergency, should contact Etihad Guest Services in the UAE. In addition to passenger fee waivers, the airline will also work in partnership with Emirates Red Crescent to raise funds within the UAE to help support bushfire relief. As part of its international workforce, Etihad is the proud employer of more than 300 Australian nationals outside Australia, who, with their families, number more than 1,000. Most reside in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, where the airline is based.  In total, some 16,000 Australian nationals live and work in the UAE.

According to the Dubai Media Center, the UAE Cabinet has approved the issuance of a five-year multi-entry tourist visa for all nationalities visiting the country. The decision was made during the Cabinet’s first meeting during 2020 the Year of Preparation, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The move comes in a bid to support the UAE’s tourism economy, and affirm the country’s position as a global tourist destination. Another key decision made during the meeting includes the introduction of a visa waiver for Mexican citizens travelling to the UAE. The two decisions will be implemented during the first quarter of 2020. During the meeting, held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, Cabinet members reviewed the achievements of the UAE government in 2019. The meeting was held in the presence H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Emirates is all set to showcase its latest flagship Airbus A380 to visitors and spectators on January 15, 2020 at the Kuwait Aviation Show 2020. Visitors to the show will be able to tour the popular double-decker’s signature interiors and experience its industry trendsetting products across all three classes, including Emirates’ latest generation Onboard Lounge. Always a popular draw for aviation enthusiasts, industry visitors and the general public, Emirates’ latest generation Airbus A380 will be decorated in blue livery, representing the ‘mobility’ theme of Expo 2020, and spreading awareness about the world’s greatest show which will be hosted for the first time in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asian region. Expo 2020 Dubai will be held between October 20, 2020 and April 10, 2021. Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East & Central Asia for Emirates said, “The Expo 2020 ‘mobility’ themed Emirates A380 being showcased during the Aviation Show demonstrates our long-standing commitment and contribution to Kuwait’s air transport sector, which is investing in development projects and progressively positioning itself for future growth. It also highlights the importance of air connectivity and mobility as a facilitator of trade, tourism and strong relations between Kuwait and the UAE.” Emirates has been serving Kuwait for 30 years, and today operates to the country’s capital with 6 daily flights, providing business and leisure travellers with choice and connectivity to over 150 global destinations. The airline also operates its latest world-class products to Kuwait, including its latest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with the ‘Game Changer’ First Class suites. Anticipated to be popular with aviation enthusiasts as well as the general public, the Emirates A380 will feature 14 …

Yas Island has launched a flash sale offering 30 per cent off incredible holiday packages on stays through the end of October 2020. From January 3-10, 2020, UAE holidaymakers and staycationers can plan their 2020 holidays well in advance with ultimate exclusive discounts on stay packages at selected hotels on the island. Booked holiday packages will give guests access to Yas Island’s award-winning experiences, with more than 100 thrilling rides and attractions at the three one-of-a-kind theme parks. From thrilling rollercoasters at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, to coasting waves lazy rivers at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, to hanging out with their favorite characters at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi – Yas Island offers a holiday destination like nowhere else. Adventure seekers will also able to experience the great outdoors indoors, at CLYMB Abu Dhabi, Yas Island’s latest record-breaking attraction, home to the world’s largest indoor skydiving flight chamber and world’s tallest indoor climbing wall experience. For those looking to bask in the Abu Dhabi sun, holiday packages also include complimentary entry into Yas beach as well, transporting guests to a sweet and serene escape made out of white sands, crystal clear waters and a picturesque view of Yas Island’s mangroves. Shopping and food enthusiasts will also be able to join in the fun, as they explore the capital’s biggest mall. With over 370 stores, a massive entertainment zone and 60 dining options, visitors will be spoilt for choice of activities and experiences. For those seeking to extend their stay in Abu Dhabi, they can also add-on new experiences within the UAE capital, including tickets to some of Abu Dhabi’s latest cultural attractions.

Dubai Festival City Mall and LEGO Middle East have joined forces to bring to the UAE the Middle East’s largest LEGO Festival in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Dubai Shopping Festival. The festival, running from January 8 to March 14, 2020 promises visitors of all ages an exceptional family friendly experience with the array of fun activities its offering and the first ever LEGO Ninjago-themed IMAGINE show. Visitors can enjoy all the activities featured in the seven LEGO zones that include: LEGO City, LEGO Friends, LEGO Duplo, LEGO Ninjago, LEGO Technic, LEGO Architecture, LEGO Shadow Runner and LEGO Jungle. Each of these zones celebrates a popular LEGO brand and offers exciting experiences from building a life-sized sculpture, trains, snow man, fire engine or even a Burj Khalifa model. Steven Cleaver, Director, Shopping Centers Dubai, Al-Futtaim Malls said, “We are confident that launching the Middle East’s largest LEGO Festival will bring an unrivalled experience to our visitors with its fun-packed activities and the thrilling new LEGO Ninjago-themed IMAGINE show. LEGO is one of the most popular global brands that resonates with both children and adults and a key driver to why we decided to bring this phenomenal festival to Dubai on this occasion.” Urszula Bieganska, Head of Marketing, LEGO Middle East & Africa, added, “We have created the seven unique zones at the festival to build genuine connections with visitors through engaging and interactive experiences inspired by their favorite LEGO brands and characters. We’ve tailor-made the festival activities and created a special journey with the aim of ensuring everyone, no matter what age, has an incredible time. Fans of our popular Ninjago characters will enjoy seeing them come to life …

Turkish Airlines added Xi’an, the Chinese city with three thousand years of history, to its flight network on December 30, 2019. Xi’an became the flag carrier’s fourth destination in Mainland China and the 318th destination in the world. The flights will be operated three times a week with Airbus A330 aircrafts. Starting its flights to People’s Republic of China back in 1999 with Beijing as its destination, Turkish Airlines reinforced its strong position in Asia with the Xi’an flights. With this new addition, global carrier’s flight network encompassed the entirety of the historical Silk Road that started in Xi’an and ended in Venice. During the ceremony of the inaugural flight Bilal Ekşi, Turkish Airlines General Manager, stated, “We will carry our guests to 126 countries from Xi’an, one of the most significant historical capitals while transferring the historical Silk Road to above clouds with our cargo operations. Our new flights will also contribute to the tourist numbers coming to our country with the increasing attention from Chinese tourists to tourism centres of Turkey.” Turkish Airlines passengers travelling to Xi’an, one of the oldest civilizations of the world, will have the opportunity to explore the numerous cultural heritages along with the historical fabric of the three thousand years old city. Serving as the capital of 13 different dynasties during the history of China, the region’s most popular destination is the Terracotta Army, which draws over two million tourists annually.

Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) revealed the new identity and logo of Manama as the “Capital of Arab Tourism for 2020″ following the announcement that was made during the 22nd session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism. The Kingdom of Bahrain celebrated the beginning of 2020 with a spectacular fireworks show as part of the New Year’s Eve celebratory event organised by the BTEA. BTEA had organised a number of entertainment activities for visitors including a live performance by Majaz Musical Band, a ballet dancer performance on stilts ‘A Dance of Color’, in addition to the breathtaking musical aerial performance by the dancers and acrobats of SONIC as well as the live DJ and drumming with Sonic Snares from the United Kingdom. During the countdown, the identity and logo of Manama were revealed on the side interface of the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, which was shortly followed by a spectacular display of fireworks to mark the occasion.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) announced the opening of online registration for exhibitors, media professionals and visitors to participate in the fourth edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition and Conference (SimTEX) and the accompanying conference. Both are held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and organised by ADNEC in cooperation with the General Command of the Armed Forces, from February 23-25, 2020. The Higher Organising Committee of UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions indicated that all sub-committees are ready for the event a specially set programme, with the aim of achieving the highest levels of excellence for the upcoming edition at all levels. This will be done by building on previous editions’ successes, achieved on regional and international levels, with teams that include distinguished national competencies who will work to prepare and develop events in a manner that benefits the reputation and standing of the UAE. Saeed Al Mansouri, Executive Director of IDEX, a subsidiary of ADNEC, said, “The third edition of UMEX and SimTEX witnessed great success and local and international record turnout, thanks to the directives and support of our wise leadership, and as a result of the exceptional efforts made by ADNEC and its group of companies in cooperation with partners from the public and private sectors, organising committees and media establishments sponsoring the exhibitions and the accompanying conference. At ADNEC, we are always focused on hosting and organising international exhibitions and events that support business tourism sectors identified in the Abu Dhabi plan, that contribute to advancing economic development …

The emirate welcomed six international cruise liners on December 29, 2019 through Mina Rashid. The terminal dealt with over 60,000 cruise passengers, as they handled all processes for the smooth arrival of TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 5, Pullmantur Cruises’ Horizon, MSC Cruises’ MSC Lirica, Jalesh Cruises’ Karnika as well as the maiden calls from Costa Cruises’ Costa Diadema and Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas. Throughout the upcoming season, the city will go on to receive five cruise vessels in a single day on 10 additional occasions and six cruise vessels in a single day twice during the season. Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al Mannaei, CEO – P&O Marinas & Executive Director, Mina Rashid, said, “The flawless handling of more than 60,000 cruise visitors on a single day testifies to the operational efficiencies we’ve put in place. Welcoming six cruise ships simultaneously also reflects the immense trust that cruise operators place in our capabilities.” Hamad Bin Mejren, Senior Vice President, Dubai Tourism, commented, “With the arrival of six leading international cruise liners to Dubai on a single day, we are delighted to celebrate this historic occasion for the city. As we increase momentum, and continue our efforts to raise the bar even higher for the city’s cruising industry, the support and collaboration we receive from our stakeholders will be paramount to our sustained success and will allow us to ensure that we are able to provide enriching, world-class services to cruise visitors from across the globe.”

Wego today announced signing a retailing agreement with ATPCO. Wego will integrate Routehappy Rich Content to enhance flight shopping displays across its meta-search site in 22 languages including – English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic. Through this partnership, Wego will provide Middle East travellers with a richer flight shopping experience in their local language. Wego will integrate all three of ATPCO Routehappy Rich Content types: Amenities, Universal Ticket Attributes (UTAs), and Universal Product Attributes (UPAs) into its shopping display, Amenities: provide at-a-glance information about flight features; UTAs (Universal Ticket Attributes) provide travellers with easy-to-understand benefits and restrictions such as cancellation, refund policies and boarding priority by fare; UPAs (Universal Product Attributes) provide relevant media, captions, and descriptions that define the airline’s products and services by aircraft type, cabin, time of day, etc.; Routehappy Rich Content has been steadily growing in both EMEA and APAC regions with coverage of more than 90 per cent total flight schedule (Available Seat Kilometres) for airlines in EMEA and more than 89 per cent in APAC for both for Amenities and UTAs. Wego will begin its Routehappy Rich Content integration with Amenities and UTAs, which are anticipated to go live in Q1 2020, followed by UPAs later in the year. Wego is urging more MENA carriers to partner with ATPCO in the creation and distribution of rich content so Wego can consume their Amenities, UTA, and UPA content and get it in front of more passengers.