Category Archives: Govt

Oman lays foundation for RO 147.8 million Cultural Complex

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik laid the foundation stone for RO 147.8 million Oman Cultural Complex to promote cultural, literary, theatrical and research activities through the enhancement of relevant programmes aimed to expand the scope of engagement in highlighting Oman’s cultural heritage and exploring the country’s accomplishments. The building will be about 80,200 square metres (sqm) that will be constructed on land plot of 400,000 sqm. His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik also presided over a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the building of the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) at the Airport Heights in Muscat Governorate. When His Majesty the Sultan arrived at the project’s site, he was received by HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Chairman of the Founding Committee of Oman Cultural Complex Project, and Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Dhoyani, NRAA Chairman. Then, His Majesty the Sultan viewed Oman Cultural Complex building’s designs, presented in showcases that highlighted the components of the project. The project is considered an embodiment of the Royal vision of His Majesty to establish a state-of-the-art cultural designation, a civilizational accomplishment and a scholarly and institutional edifice of Oman’s blessed renaissance. Then, His Majesty the Sultan watched a visual presentation about the project and listened to a briefing about the building’s innovative model. The project houses many institutions and facilities, including the National Library, the National Theatre, Children’s Public Library, the House of Arts, the House of Cinema, the Literary Forum and the National Records and Archives Authority. It also comprises restaurants, cafeterias and a public park. His Majesty the Sultan then laid the cornerstone marking the start of construction of …

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ADQ and ADNEC Group enter into definitive agreement to acquire 40.5% stake in Egypt’s Talaat Moustafa Group Holding hospitality subsidiary

ADQ and ADNEC Group have signed definitive agreements for the strategic acquisition of a 40.5 per cent stake in Egypt-based Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) Holding’s hospitality arm, ICON Group, through a capital increase. ICON is a leading player in Egypt’s luxury and upscale hospitality market, with a track record of building and owning some of the most celebrated luxury hotels in Egypt. The group owns four operational hotels – Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza, Kempinski Nile Hotel Cairo, Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh and Four Seasons Alexandria at San Stefano – and has three hotels and luxury residential real estate assets currently under development, such as the Four Seasons in Madinaty and Luxor and Radisson Collection in Marsa Alam, and one hotel under design, the Four Seasons at The Pyramids. ADQ and ADNEC will invest through a special purpose vehicle, with 49 per cent equity ownership by ADQ and 51 per cent equity ownership by ADNEC. The transaction represents a major foreign direct investment (FDI) in Egypt and marks a vote of investor confidence in the Egyptian tourism and hospitality sector. The investment by ADQ and ADNEC in TMG’s hospitality arm will be used partially to de-leverage the existing debt of ICON, with the remaining used for the acquisition of a stake through ICON in the portfolio of seven luxury heritage hotels owned by the Egyptian Government, for which definitive agreements have been signed. The seven hospitality assets include Marriott Cairo Omar Khayyam Zamalek, Marriott MENA House Cairo, Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Steigenberger Cecil Hotel Alexandria, Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Cairo and Mövenpick Resort Aswan. Post-transaction, ICON will have a combined portfolio of 15 luxury and upscale …

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NEOM announces 450 meter high luxury mountain range, Aquellum

The Board of Directors of NEOM  announced Aquellum, a luxury and experiential mountain resort space embedded within the mountains, and the latest striking addition to the ongoing regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia. With its foundations steeped in cutting-edge technology, avant-garde architecture and forward-thinking concepts, Aquellum will offer guests a taste of futuristic living through its array of pioneering experiences. Concealed from the outside along the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, Aquellum is hidden within a breathtaking, 450-meter-high mountain range and represents a futuristic ecosystem that is harmoniously integrated into the natural surroundings. Crafted to inspire originality and imagination, Aquellum will push the boundaries of conventional design and construction possibilities. To access Aquellum, visitors will embark on an extraordinary journey, beginning at the world’s first floating marina. Here, guests will board a specially designed vessel to enter Aquellum through a concealed underground canal, unveiling a hidden community that offers an incredible sensory journey. Once inside, visitors will be treated to an exhilarating, 100-meter-high vertical experience with an impressive courtyard space stretching from the water to the sky. ​This subterranean digitalized community creates vibrancy and interconnectivity through seamlessly blending hotel accommodation, apartments, retail spaces, leisure and entertainment zones and innovative hubs. A dynamic boulevard winds through the courtyard, connecting diverse social spaces, world-class hospitality, immersive arts, events, shopping and dining. A signature space, dubbed ‘The Generator’, houses unique research labs for disruptors, innovators, and creative thinkers, offering a platform where the future is reimagined. An omnidirectional internal transit system facilitates easy access to upper floors, transporting residents and visitors to their homes and hotels, ascending to rooftop gardens with breathtaking coastal views. Guided by its unwavering commitment to crafting spaces in nature that …

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Sharjah promotes sports tourism bringing sports legends to the emirate

Sharjah tourism and development authority shared that the emirate of Sharjah has witnessed growth in terms of visitors due to its great developments, infrastructure and most importantly sports tourism. Speaking at the press conference Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa shared that this week of starts in Sharjah will be an opportunity to showcase its rich offerings not only as a family tourisistic destination but also as a sporting and adventure tourism hub. This week will feature friendly football matches to paddle tennis matches to develop sports tourism. 24 football legends will be a key highlight during this week as they will expose the rich heritage and sporting tourism infrastructure of Sharjah to both local and international travellers. There will be 3 different events – paddle tennis, football and footgolf and stars week until the end of this week. Last year there were over 120 players from 20 countries giving Sharjah exposure at the first footgolf tournament.

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Over 300,000 visitors across GCC and beyond attended the biggest ever Liwa International Festival

The 2023 edition of the annual Liwa International Festival has officially concluded after 24 fun-filled days that welcomed more than 300,000 visitors from across the UAE, GCC, and beyond. Organised by Liwa Sports Club, with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, each year the festival captivates visitors with its distinctive motorsport thrills, desert experiences, and family-friendly fun, centred around the 300-metre-tall Tal Moreeb dune. The integrated motoring, music and cultural festival brought its famous mix of family fun, variety of F&B options, superb live music, and high-octane motorsports to Al Dhafra. The biggest, best, and most popular festival yet, this year’s event ended with a drone and fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. The unique fusion of the Al Dhafra region’s majestic sand dunes, the perfectly cool winter weather, and an exciting array of activities meant the event once again provided visitors with experiences that are simply unavailable anywhere else in the region or beyond. H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism, the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi, said: “As a prominent highlight on Abu Dhabi’s back-to-back year-round events calendar, the 2023 Liwa International Festival was an exciting, fun-filled celebration for families and motorsport fans. It stood out as one of the biggest and best events to date, showcasing the festival’s continuous growth in size, scale, and popularity each year. Al Dhafra remains the top destination for exceptional entertainment and family-friendly fun in the heart of the desert. I look forward to next year’s edition and even more memorable experiences.” The biggest Liwa Festival ever This year, the festival featured the return of Liwa Village, which …

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Saudi Tourism Forum to take place from 22nd to 24th January in Riyadh

The second edition of the Saudi Tourism Forum will kick off from 22nd to 24th January 2024 at the Riyadh International and Conventional Center. It will be an important forum where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be promoted as a tourist destination, strengthen constructive collaboration among all stakeholders in the Saudi tourism sector, and deepen awareness about investment and development opportunities in this vital industry, This forum will serve as a platform for achieving remarkable successes and fostering a spirit of cooperation and partnership. There will be seminars and workshops conducted over the three day event to showcase the rich diversity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

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Statement by the Government of Maldives

The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives. The Government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks.

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World Aquatics’ first regional centre to open in Bahrain

In a move to promote water sports tourism in Bahrain and the region the World Aquatics and the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC)  laid the foundation stone for the establishment of the Bahrain World Aquatic Centre at the University of Technology Bahrain (UTB), in partnership with GFH Financial Group and the Bahrain Swimming Association. Held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports First Deputy Chairman, General Sports Authority Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President, the foundation stone laying ceremony was attended by senior state officials, guests and Bahrain national swimming team players. HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad expressed pleasure at the new achievement, noting that it represents a new step towards establishing a global centre for water sports in the kingdom. His Highness stressed that the project will boost water sports in the region, and add to the kingdom’s status as a pioneering global sporting hub, expressing congratulations to the partners for their efforts to develop the project. “We look forward to welcoming world athletes to the kingdom to train and compete, as well as realise their dreams and aspirations in the field of sports,” HH said. HH Shaikh Khalid underlined the importance of the Bahrain World Aquatic Centre in embracing renowned swimmers from Bahrain and abroad, as well as in linking science with sports in one of the most successful sports projects launched in partnership with the private sector. His Highness stressed BOC’s keenness to strengthen its partnership with the World Aquatics, and cooperation with the GFH Group to make the Kingdom a centre for developing various water sports. Commenting, Dr. Husain Al Musallam, World Aquatics President, asserted that …

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France becomes first EU country to issue digital Schengen Visas for the Paris Olympics

Since Monday, 1st January 2024, France has started operating a new system called the “Olympic Consulate” which will be processing applications of 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists and delegations of foreign countries participating in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports. The system has been established in a bid of the French authorities to prevent the applications for the Olympics from getting mixed up with the flood of files currently being processed at French visa centres abroad. “It [the system] is indeed necessary to guarantee the issuance of visas within timeframes compatible with the successful organization of the Games.” shared, France Ministry of the Interior. Applications will be filed and processed via the France-Visas platform completely online, which makes France the first EU country to process visas online, in line with the EU Schengen visa digitalisation plans adopted by the Parliament last October. At the same time, these 70,000 people will not have their visas affixed to their passports, but will have them integrated directly into their accreditation cards. The Olympic and Paralympic Games in France are set to be held from July 26 to August 11 and from August 28 to September 8, 2024, respectively. The country expects around 1.5 million spectators from all over the world to attend the games. “In 2024, France will host the summer Olympic Games for the first time in a century, and the Paralympic Games for the first time in its history. It will host 15,000 athletes, over 9,000 accredited journalists, and almost 1.5 million spectators from all over the world ” said France Diplomacy. Previously, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games services and relations manager, Alejandro Recalde, had announced that athletes and officials who …

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The Ministry of Tourism announces that inbound visitor spending in Saudi Arabia has surpassed SAR 100 billion by the end of Q3 2023

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism proudly announced that Saudi tourism has reached a historic milestone in inbound visitor spending, as indicated by the Travel Account Data in SAMA’s Balance of Payments. Exceeding SAR 100 billion during the first quarters of 2023, this achievement resulted in a surplus in the Travel Account Data in the Balance of Payments, estimated at SAR 37.8 billion, reflecting a remarkable growth rate of 72% compared to the same period in 2022. These accomplishments coincide with the complete recovery of Saudi tourism, with the tourism sector’s rebound reaching an impressive recovery rate of 150% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Numerous Saudi tourist destinations have experienced a surge in both inbound and domestic visitors. This historic achievement is in line with reports from the UNWTO, confirming that Saudi Arabia led the G20 countries in the growth rate of inbound tourists during the first three quarters of 2023. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia secured the second position among the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations

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