Tag Archives: Bahrain

Frasers Hospitality has further expanded its presence in the Middle East with the entry into a new management agreement to operate Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain. This is in partnership with Seef Properties. This development cements Frasers Hospitality’s presence in the Middle East region. The development comes as Frasers Hospitality strengthens its long-standing partnership with Seef Properties through an extension of its existing management agreement of Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain to 2031. The newly anticipated Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain will offer 63 gold-standard serviced apartment units across a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, spread over three floors. This will include nine one-bedroom serviced apartments, 44 two-bedroom serviced apartments and 12 three-bedroom serviced apartments, perfect for those seeking comfort in accommodations fitted with the latest technologies and modern furnishings. Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain forms part of the Al Liwan mixed-use development under Seef Properties which has been designed to embody the essence of the ‘Live, Work and Play’ lifestyle and is nestled within the neighbourhood of Hamala with a direct connection to the Al Liwan Mall in the Kingdom of Bahrain’s primary entertainment district. The development is ideal under the Fraser Suites brand due to its unique ability to cater to the highly-premium lifestyle needs of extended-stay guests. The name, Al Liwan, reflects cohesion, unity, and togetherness, inspired by the culture of the region and speaking to the desires of discerning guests. Alongside Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain, the new district offers numerous dining options, cafés, and leisure opportunities. At the core of the development lies the Central Plaza, a generous open space created for communal gatherings and entertainment, providing a city retreat for both visitors and …

SalamAir announces the introduction of new non-stop flights connecting Salalah and Bahrain during the much-anticipated Khareef season. Commencing July 5th, this strategic initiative aims to cater to the growing demand from travellers seeking a seamless travel experience between these two popular destinations. SalamAir’s CEO, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, said, “We are proud to announce the launch of a new non-stop flight route between Salalah and Bahrain during the Khareef season in response to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s direction to the concerned authorities to provide direct subsidies on fuel prices at Salalah Airport, equivalent to fuel prices at Muscat International Airport.” Captain Mohamed Ahmed added, “The introduction of non-stop flights between Salalah and Bahrain supports the growing inbound tourism sector and contributes to the realization of Oman’s ambitious Vision 2040.”

Oman Air has announced the expansion of its flight services to Bahrain and Doha, offering passengers increased convenience and flexibility. As of this month, the airline is operating 11 flights per week between Muscat and Bahrain, while flights between Muscat and Doha will increase from 21 to 35 a week on 24 June. Part of its summer schedule, the airline is offering a range of convenient timings, from early in the morning to late at night, enabling guests to seamlessly plan business trips, weekend getaways and even daytrips. Connecting Muscat to major cities across the GCC, Oman Air also offers 35 flights a week to Dubai, 21 flights a week to Riyadh and Jeddah, and 14 flights a week to Kuwait. Meanwhile, it continues to cater to the increasing number of Muscat-based travellers who are choosing to holiday in the region. Wherever the destination, the enhanced flight schedule allows travelers to optimise their plans and enjoy a smooth and seamless travel experience.

It was shared by Bahrain News Agency that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding between the two countries to boost tourism in both destinations. This landmark agreement not only signifies a milestone in their bilateral relations but also sets the stage for an exponential surge in their respective tourism sectors. Fatima Bint Jaffar Al Sairifi, Tourism Minister Bahrain has affirmed that the signed agreement with Saudi Arabia in the field of tourism will confirm the status of both nations as a joint regional and global tourism destination. According to Minister Al Sairifi, this agreement is the first cooperation agreement between the tourism sectors of the two countries, where they also prepared a comprehensive marketing plan in this area that consists of engaging the private sector in promoting the two countries as one tourism destination. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister, underlined the importance of the agreement between the two countries, pointing out that the MoU signing is the culmination of the long-standing historic relations, in line with the directives of their leaderships. He emphasised the importance of staying on top of the latest developments in the Gulf region’s tourism sector, especially in the two kingdoms, which boast a rich culture, civilization, and heritage, in order to strengthen tourism cooperation. Minister Al Khateeb said that the agreement addressed important issues, including training and developing human resources, investing in technology in the tourism industry, and establishing joint marketing programmes to promote the cultures of the two countries and the region to tourists from around the world. He affirmed that the agreement will also develop the tourism investment in both countries, as well as improve and enrich the …

 The Kingdom of Bahrain has cemented its business-friendly reputation, ranking 1st globally as the ‘Best Destination for Getting Started Abroad’ in 2023, according to the Expat Essentials Index published by InterNations. The milestone ranking of first in the overall index, which places Bahrain firmly ahead of leading countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, is based on a comprehensive survey that analyses the performance of countries across several key indices, resulting in a comparative scale on both regional and international levels. Citing Bahrain as the ‘ideal place for easy beginnings’, the index surveyed foreigners across 52 countries in the world, rating each destination based on vital aspects typically associated with settling into a country. Alongside its global ranking of 1st overall, the Kingdom additionally ranked 1st in MENA and 11th globally for Digital Life, a testament to Bahrain’s advanced financial and digital infrastructure and progressive regulatory framework. The survey scored countries across four key pillars, analyzing aspects including digital readiness, online government services, ease of digital payments, ease of opening a bank account and obtaining a visa, in addition to ease and affordability of housing. Furthermore, the metrics assessed potential language barriers, in terms of ease of living without speaking the local language, for which Bahrain ranked 4th globally, which reaffirms Bahrain’s business friendly environment and talented workforce that combines highly skilled, multi-lingual, hospitable Bahraini nationals alongside a diverse expat talent pool offering a global perspective. Bahrain also ranked 1st in MENA and 3rd globally in ease of opening a bank account. 67% of surveyed expats reported high levels of ease in dealing with local authorities, versus the global average of 40%. Ranking 2nd globally …

RezLive.com hosted two networking events, firstly in Muscat, followed by Bahrain which was attended by leading local travel agents and tour operators. The purpose of the event was to thank the local travel industry for its consistent support and to inform travel partners about the additional benefits of working with RezLive.com. Real business discussions, a flow of knowledge and information, and a few feedbacks and suggestions took place throughout the session. Jaal Shah (Group Managing Director – Travel Designer Group), firstly expressed his gratitude to the local travel partners for the resounding support they have received from the respective local markets. He also stressed the significance of maintaining and bolstering the strong foundation they share with RezLive.com. Last but not least, he added, we at RezLive.com (A Product of Travel Designer Group) recognise the value of our travel partners and work tirelessly to provide them with cutting-edge services that will simplify their tasks. Zaheer Jeddy, Deputy Regional Manager, updated the travel partners with innovative offerings from RezLive.com and at the same time oriented them about An Exclusive Loyalty program i.e “rezREWARDS”, which was appraised by the local travel partners and they look forward to continuing their support and business cooperation to RezLive.com (Preferred B2B Global Travel Wholesaler).      

It was announced by the UK Government that, from 1 June, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will join other Gulf Cooperation Council countries with UK electronic visa waiver status, making it easier and cheaper to travel to the UK. This positive change comes as the UK is open to business and welcoming back international visitors with all COVID-19 travel restrictions lifted.  VisitBritain has already been rolling out a multi-million-pound global GREAT Britain marketing campaign “Welcome to another side of Britain” to inspire visitors to book a trip to the UK. VisitBritain Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa (APMEA) and North Asia Tricia Warwick said: “It is fantastic news that travel to the UK will become easier for travellers from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain who will now be able to obtain their British visa in 48 hours and for 30 GBP. Saudi Arabia is one of our highest spending markets, we know there is strong pent-up demand for international travel from the Gulf and making it easier for visitors to get to the UK is crucial to our message of welcome and to our competitive tourism offer. We know that GCC visitors are keen to visit the UK now that travel restrictions have eased and we can’t wait to welcome them back. GCC visitors enjoy our outstanding experiences whether that be in shopping, sports events, food or our beautiful landscapes. “VisitBritain is out in market competing hard for visitors from the Gulf at the Arabian Travel Market this week in Dubai, working with top travel trade buyers from across the region to highlight why now is a brilliant time to book a trip to Britain. We very much hope that visitors …

Emirates will be providing more choice and comfort for its customers in Bahrain, with the introduction of the first scheduled Airbus A380 service during the month of June. This is the first time an airline operates the double-decker on a regularly scheduled basis to the Kingdom, and demonstrates the operational readiness of the new airport to provide the necessary infrastructure to accommodate for an A380 service.  Flight EK 839/840, previously operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, has been upgraded to the flagship and customer favourite, the Emirates A380. The change of aircraft will help meet growing demand to and from Bahrain during the summer, and underscores the airline’s commitment to make connections for travellers to and through Dubai even easier. In line with the start of A380 services, the airline is also offering special fares to popular destinations for Bahrainis including Dubai, Istanbul and Maldives. Economy passengers can enjoy fares to Dubai starting from BHD 108, Istanbul from BHD 226 and Maldives from BHD 400. Fares in Business Class start from BHD 683 to Dubai, BHD 770 to Istanbul and BHD 1,063 to the Maldives. The offer is valid for booking from today, until 30 June 2021 for outbound travel until 31 December 2021.* Emirates flight EK 837 will depart Dubai daily at 1530hrs, arriving in Bahrain at 1550hrs. The return flight EK 840 leaves Bahrain at 1750hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2000hrs. The Emirates A380 aircraft will operate daily, in addition to an earlier morning service, EK837/838, served by a Boeing 777-300ER. The Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft serving the Dubai-Bahrain route offers a total of 507 seats in a three-class configuration, with 417 spacious seats in Economy Class, 76 fully …

Air Arabia Egypt, has announced the introduction of a new service to the capital of Bahrain, Manama with direct flights from Cairo commencing on May 6, 2021. Customers can now book their direct flights between Cairo and Manama by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Since COVID-19 outbreak, Air Arabia’s customer journey has been upgraded to include all safety measures that are in line with the highest international measures. Air Arabia’s entire fleet is fitted with HEPA cabin air filters, which help to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers. Customers are always requested to comply with the conditions and requirements of the countries of departure and destination.

Emirates airline has reaffirmed its commitment to growing its operations in Bahrain with the introduction of a second daily flight to the Kingdom. The expanded schedule will offer enhanced connectivity for customers travelling to Dubai and beyond to Emirates’ network of over 85 destinations. The second daily flight will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER. Starting from 20 September, EK837 will depart from Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Bahrain at 1000hrs. The return flight, EK838 will depart from Bahrain 1130hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1355hrs. Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents as well as online travel agents. Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.