Al Barakah International Investment revealed the latest progress of Abu Dhabi’s much-anticipated waterfront social dining and entertainment destination. Commenting on the progress of Al Qana and the market situation, Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment, developer of Al Qana said, “Al Qana is our ultimate touristic project that will provide a very unique experience we all envision for the Entertainment and Tourism sectors in the UAE. As the tourism sector recovers from the travel restrictions due to the pandemic, Al Qana would be ready to receive visitors in 2021. We are almost there, and it will be worth the wait! 2021 is the year we and the UAE celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary.“Our top priority is to adapt to the new social norms in place to ensure the safety of visitors coming to this special social destination. Our team is working on new protocols and procedures with the relevant authorities to ensure the required guidelines are applied fully at our premises. There are exciting times ahead of us and Al Qana will be a unique contribution to this.” Stuart Gissing, General Manager of Al Qana said: “There are high expectations for Al Qana, a cornerstone development for the future of the UAE. It’s the realization of a seven-year vision from Al Barakah International Investment that will positively enhance Abu Dhabi’s reputation. We are committed to bring to the market a new way of experiencing entertainment. We are not a mall but a vibrant lifestyle destination of entertainment for all age brackets.”

Al Hai project in partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Emaar. Featuring immersive, innovative and sustainable art installations that were four months in the making, Al Hai is electrifying the buzzing Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, opposite the Address Downtown hotel, through specially installed lights and clever use of shadows. Commenting on Dubai Culture’s participation in this initiative, Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communication, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Arts & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, said, “Dubai Lights is an innovative event that aligns with the aspirations of our inspiring leadership and reflects the keenness of Dubai Culture to collaborate with various government and private agencies to enrich the cultural and aesthetic scene of our emirate.” Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said, “Al Hai is a wonderful and intriguing addition to the packed lineup of entertainment and activities on offer throughout this edition of DSF. The artistic project truly captures the essence and unique nature of the traditional Emirati neighbourhoods that can be found across Dubai by inviting visitors to explore their unmistakable landmarks and architectural features through the highly innovative use of immersive lighting techniques.“AlHai’s light creations will be instantly familiar to long-time Dubai residents and also welcoming to visitors who will be able to stroll through an entire neighbourhood just by following the different installations in place along Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.”

General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced reopening of airspace and resuming of air traffic between the UAE and the State of Qatar, following the signing of the Al-Ula Declaration, which includes an agreement for permanent solidarity. The GCAA said that it will resume scheduled and unscheduled flights between the two countries, in coordination with the civil aviation authorities and national carriers in the UAE. Khalid Abdullah Belhoul, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, announced that the UAE will begin to end all measures taken against the State of Qatar according to the statement issued on June 5, 2017, following the signing of the Al-Ula Declaration. The Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation noted that the Al-Ula Declaration, and the associated permanent agreement of GCC solidarity, is considered a Gulf and Arab achievement that promotes and bolsters the cohesion of the GCC, Arab and Islamic unity. He indicated that the UAE will work to re-open all land, sea and air ports for inbound and outbound movement, and that all relevant authorities in the UAE have been notified of these measures which will go into effect as of 9 January. He added the UAE will work with the State of Qatar to resolve all other outstanding issues through bilateral talks.

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts announced the highly-anticipated opening of The St. Regis Cairo. Rising tall on the banks of the River Nile, The St. Regis Cairo is an illustrious icon weaving a powerful story of luxury in the region. Located at the North end of the Corniche, in the heart of Egypt’s bustling metropolis, the 39-storey hotel offers easy access to the magnificent monuments of a city steeped in history. To celebrate the opening, The St. Regis Cairo hosted a special ceremony which was attended by H.E. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, Minister of Finance for Qatar, Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of Qatari Diar , Eng. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, CEO of Qatari Diar, Steven Mnuchin, United States Secretary of the Treasury, Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, Satya Anand, President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, and other VIP’s. “Egypt has historically been one of our key markets and strategically significant to our growth in the region,” said Satya Anand, President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Cairo is a storied destination that has long mesmerized the global traveler with its incredible energy offering a vibrant mix of history, culture, tradition and glamour. The St. Regis Cairo is an exciting addition to our fast-growing brand portfolio and is set to elevate Cairo’s luxury hospitality landscape with its remarkable design, uncompromising service, and exceptional culinary venues.” Eng. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, CEO of Qatari Diar commented, “We are delighted to strengthen our global portfolio of hospitality developments with the opening of The St. Regis Cairo. This luxury landmark will introduce higher standards of hospitality to this beautiful destination with its unparalleled …

In a move to take all preventive precautions to protect citizens and residents from the Coronavirus and limit its spread, the new medical passport has been launched by the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia in the Tawakkalna App. As Saudi Arabian Government is keen to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents within its soil from the risk of the spread of novel coronavirus; The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) developed Tawakkalna App in order to support government efforts aimed at countering Covid-19. Tawakkalna App was developed to facilitate the issuance of movement permits electronically during the curfew period for government and private sector employees, as well as individuals, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and all relevant authorities during the curfew, thus helping to reduce the spread of the pandemic in the Kingdom. Tawakkalna helps individuals, security, health and private entities, that are exempted from the curfew, to automatize all transactions between relevant parties in order to mitigate the health, economic and social impacts that may result from the implementation of policies taken to eliminate the spread of Covid-19. Although cautiously people return to normal life, Tawakkalna is helping in this phase by new services such as showing Users’ health condition and other services. And as a part of promoting social responsibility, Tawakkalna has provided many services regarding raising concern if there are violations, as well as providing the ability to notify Ministry of Health in the event of a suspected case. The Minister expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Crown Prince for their care and continuous interest …

Etihad Aviation Training (EAT) has signed a contract with Israir Airlines to offer Full-Flight Simulator pilot training for Israir Airlines’ Airbus A320 pilots. As part of the agreement, Israir will dry lease EAT’s Full-Flight Simulators at the training facility located in Abu Dhabi. The training will be conducted by Israir instructors at the Etihad training facility. Captain Paolo La Cava, Managing Director Etihad Aviation Training, said: “Following Etihad’s announcement to commence services to Tel Aviv, EAT is delighted to further commercial opportunities with Israel by providing comprehensive aviation training services to Israir Airlines” “Continuing our commitment to providing highly skilled pilots by offering state-of-the-art training facilities, EAT is looking forward to working with Israir Airlines and is anticipating further collaboration with the airline to cement this landmark agreement,” added Captain La Cava. Uri Sirkis, Chief Executive Officer, Israir Airlines, said, “The short visit revealed to me a rare opportunity to use the EAT simulator facility, just a three-hour flight away from Israel. Beyond the economic and professional benefits, I believe that the more meeting points we find between the countries, the stronger the tourism movement will be. This is the true peace.”

Conrad Hotels & Resorts announced plans to bring the global brand to Manama, Bahrain following the signing of an agreement to open Conrad Residences Bahrain Financial Harbour in 2022 at the upcoming state of the art, mixed-use development, First Energy Bank Tower. The highly anticipated property will be the first fully residential luxury development for the Conrad brand in the Middle East. Part of Bahrain Financial Harbour, a commercial waterfront development located on the northern shore of Manama, Conrad Residences Bahrain Financial Harbour will provide an exceptional location for people to enjoy spectacular coastal views of the Arabian Gulf while being conveniently located in the heart of the capital city’s up-and-coming business and residential district. “We believe that this will be a high value addition, not only for the upcoming FEB Tower at Bahrain Financial Harbour, but for the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Mohamed Ghanem, CEO of First Energy Bank. “The introduction of the Conrad brand to Bahrain will provide further visibility of the hospitality sector in the Kingdom, enabling the property to offer a unique and premium product appealing to regional and international travellers, and will attract a new class of travelers to the Kingdom of Bahrain.” Carlos Khneisser, Vice President of development, Middle East and Africa, Hilton, said “We see significant opportunity in branded luxury residences for our world class hospitality brands. Whether planning a long or short-term stay, guests can look forward to enjoying unparalleled service standards and state-of-the-art amenities at this exclusive Conrad property.” “Providing a host of both leisure and business opportunities amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain Financial Harbour is the ideal setting in which to debut Conrad’s modern yet stylish residential …

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort welcomes the new year with the exciting launch of an all-new experience, Extreme Jabal Activity Wall and the big reveal of the much-anticipated dining platform, The Royal Edge in addition to a range of upgrades across the property. This comes right in time with the amazing news of the Sultanate reopening its land, air and sea borders after a temporary closure. The Supreme committee has also made it compulsory for all travellers to take a PCR test 72 hrs prior to the scheduled time of arrival in Oman with a mandatory 7-day quarantine thereafter. While the travel restrictions being updated, every other week, keeping in mind the health and safety of all citizens and travellers, Oman is still considered one of the safest countries to travel offering warm and friendly locals and a rich history, making it a must-visit travel destination in 2021. To experience the country in splendour, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort welcomes guests to live life at 2000m with unparalleled views, great adventure, Omani hospitality and scrumptious food. Rami Farhat, Acting General Manager at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar said, “With the borders just recently opened to international travellers, followed by visa exemptions, Oman is slowly bouncing back and taking actions to establish a new sense of normalcy. We are glad that we’ll be able to welcome guests locally from Oman as well as from all around the world to enjoy our new activities, improved living and fully immerse themselves in true Omani hospitality. The entire team has put in a lot of work into forging an experience that breaches a new level of luxury which the GCC region is …

Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways,  concluded 2020 with a positive outlook following a series of corporate social responsibility activations and member initiatives. During 2020, the programme and its members donated 48 million miles to support relief campaigns for COVID-19, Australia’s bushfires and the explosion in Beirut. In addition to this, multiple projects were launched to support and reward loyalty members globally. Etihad Guest and its members donated 23 million miles to buy ventilators, masks and soaps for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, 22 million miles supported Australia’s bushfires which equated to feeding over 1,100 koalas for one year, and 3 million miles were used to support home renovations following the Beirut explosion, in addition to food, medical and hygiene supplies. Throughout 2020, Etihad Guest continued its transformation journey to enhance its customer experience and as a result of the pandemic, evolved with the changing landscape. To recognise members who were unable to travel, Etihad Guest gifted monthly bonus Tier Miles to ensure guest statuses were not downgraded, reduced the tier requirements and provided various Tier Miles promotions. Expired miles were also reinstated, transferring to friends and family enabled and the GuestSeat change fee was removed. Kim Hardaker, Head of Loyalty & Partnerships, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Last year, Etihad Guest focused on delivering the greatest flexibility and support for members around the globe. The programme expanded customer choice, connectivity, and convenience by growing its partnerships with Aldar, Miral, Majid Al Futtaim and ADNOC. This year, Etihad Guest will continue to leverage those partnerships and form new collaborations to provide our members with more benefits both on the ground and in the air.”

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced the resumption of desert tours and related activities in the emirate with strict implementation of the precautionary measures and guidelines issued for desert tours and Sharjah tour operators. This latest decision comes as part of the efforts to resume the tourism activities in the emirate and bring them to a normal pace by adopting the highest standards in prevention and safety practices, health protocols, and the implementation of government directives on national health and safety of tourists, visitors, employees, citizens, and residents of Sharjah. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA commented that the decision is a step forward in the process of the gradual return of all tourism activities in Sharjah in accordance with the larger plan and in close coordination with all relevant partners from the government and private sectors. Al Midfa highlighted that adherence to the precautionary measures is key as it provides a foundation to rebuild the momentum of activities in the tourism sector while at the same time ensuring the health of employees and tourists alike, and thereby establishing Sharjah’s position as a safe and preferred tourist destination. Al Midfa added, “We continue to work closely with all concerned entities to intensify our joint efforts to maintain public health and safety as we take new steps to launch and implement various major initiatives aimed at enabling the recovery of the tourism sector from the repercussions of the pandemic and revive growth. We are implementing a strict schedule of inspection of establishments and activities through regular field visits under the supervision of an integrated team of SCTDA inspectors to ensure the issued precautionary measures are being …