Digital forum will be focusing on Israel as the new travel destination for UAE travellers. Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) is all set to host its inaugural tourism forum on the December 16, 2020, following the normalization agreement with UAE. The aim of the forum is to highlight the new developments between the two nations and to showcase the tourism offerings of Israel to the travel trade of UAE. Israel’s Minister of Tourism, Orit Farkash-Hacohen will open the forum to welcome the participants. Panelists will include other officials from the Ministry who will present opportunities of Israel as a leisure and a MICE destination. Representatives from Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem Development Authority will also have their presence to promote the uniqueness of the two main gems of Israel. Along with the travel trade fraternity from UAE, this webinar will also be attended by partners from Israel. Followed after the forum, Israel’s Tourism Minister will also be addressing the media for an exclusive press briefing to discuss the strategy of the Ministry of Tourism to attract tourists from the UAE.

The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has announced that the region’s leading business aviation platform, the MEBAA Show, has been rescheduled to its original date cycle and will now take place in December 2022 at DWC, Airshow Site. The event has been cancelled due to concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions imposed across numerous countries around the world. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA commented, “As a result of the ongoing challenges with global border restrictions and lockdowns, we have decided to realign the MEBAA Show with its original dates and postpone it again to 2022. All recent indications suggest that the business aviation sector will make a strong recovery in the coming years and the MEBAA Show will play an important role in restoring confidence, driving collaboration and creating new opportunities for the sector.”

Emirates’ multi-channel advertising campaign, which showcases Dubai’s diverse attractions to those seeking a winter getaway, will initially launch in the UK and key European markets on television, online and social media channels. The airline has also partnered with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) on a promotion to offer complimentary stays at the JW Marriott Marquis to all Emirates customers visiting Dubai from 6 December until 28 February 2021. Courtesy of Dubai Tourism and Emirates, the airline’s Economy Class passengers will receive a free night’s stay, while passengers flying First or Business Class can enjoy two complimentary nights’ stay at the modern JW Marriott Marquis which is conveniently located near attractions like the Dubai Mall, BurjKhalifa and the Dubai Opera. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said, “The remarkable vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, have been a huge source of inspiration to us all, leading to the decisive and efficient management of the pandemic and ultimately paving the way for the reopening of the city to tourists in July. Since then, Dubai has seen a steady increase in visitors, underpinned by comprehensive measures to safeguard the wellbeing of our guests. Going into 2021, Dubai will continue to strengthen its offering for business and leisure visitors with the launch of new facilities and attractions, as well as the return of world-class conferences, events and festivals including the iconic Dubai Shopping Festival, and the first ever World Expo to be held in this region.” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said, …

Majid Al Futtaim launched the region’s first cinema in the snow and the world’s only movie theatre in an indoor ski resort. Snow Cinema by VOX Cinemas allows guests to experience the magic of movies on the snow-laden slopes of Ski Dubai, which has been crowned the ‘World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort’ for five consecutive years. Cameron Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment, said, “At Majid Al Futtaim, we continue to push the boundaries of possibility and, after brining the magic of movies to the region and making snow in the desert a reality, we’re extremely excited to launch the Middle East’s first cinema in the snow. Snow Cinema by VOX Cinemas underpins our commitment to innovation as we constantly strive to redefine the cinematic experience for our valued guests and introduce new offerings that go beyond their expectations.” Mitchell added, “This year, celebrating togetherness is more important than ever and Snow Cinema allows family and friends to enjoy socially-distanced entertainment in the hugely unique setting of the ‘World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort’.”

Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman, Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman and Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche signed a partnership agreement with Evolvin’ Women, a social enterprise dedicated to the advancement of women in developing areas through skills development in the hospitality sector. Ravi Santiago, cluster general manager of Wyndham hotels Ajman, commented, “The collaboration with Evolvin’ Women is an excellent way for us to expand our CSR initiatives by placing emphasis on women empowerment. We believe women will continue to play a big role in the success of any organisation and we aim to highlight their contributions to our hotels whilst enhancing their careers. Through this, we recognise that we will be able to help not just one person or family, but an entire community and encourage younger women, especially from developing countries, to aspire for a rewarding career in hospitality.” Assia Riccio, founder of Evolvin’ Women said, “We have several success stories from the women that were part of the programme since its launch in 2017, and we thank Wyndham hotels Ajman for allowing us to add more inspiring narratives for Evolvin’ Women, and to create progressive and measurable impact. More hotels and companies are affirming the value of inclusivity and women empowerment in the workplace and we hope to see more businesses on board in the future.”

Etihad Airways joined the £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) consortium, due to open next year at Cranfield University in the UK. As the first airline to join the DARTeC consortium and a leading industry innovator, Etihad’s expertise across the fundamental fields of sustainability, operational efficiency, safety and improved passenger experience will lend valuable insight and real-world operational capability to the DARTeC initiative. Specific topics Etihad and DARTeC will collaborate on include: reducing aircraft emissions both in the air and on the ground; creating safe, secure and efficient airspace; better understanding of whole-life sustainability impacts of aircraft; enhancing the passenger experience; and increasing the reliability and availability of aircraft. Professor Graham Braithwaite, Project Lead and Director of Transport Systems at Cranfield, said, “As an innovative airline focused on the future challenges of safety, efficiency and sustainability, there is much overlap between Etihad’s aims and the research themes of DARTeC. We look forward to working together to deliver the innovation required to enable the industry to ‘build back better’ from Covid-19.” Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad has long been known as a leader for innovation in aviation and our role in the consortium reinforces our commitment to driving the industry forward through technology, and corporation. “As an innovative, future-focused carrier, membership of DARTeC is a natural fit for Etihad, providing a unique opportunity to expand exploration of key topics across sustainability, safety and passenger experience with industry leading partners. With this new partnership we hope to bring the best ideas, approaches and projects to Etihad to ultimately ensure that our operations are cutting edge and that our Guests have the best possible …

Riu Dubai, Nakheel’s 800-room joint venture with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts, is now open at Deira Islands, adding a new dimension to Dubai’s hospitality offering as the emirate’s first 4-star, 24-hour all-inclusive beachfront resort.  Riu Dubai, Nakheel’s first hospitality joint venture and the first attraction to open at Deira Islands, was inaugurated by Nakheel Chairman, HE Mohammed Al-Shaibani and Luis Riu, Chief Executive Officer of RIU Hotels & Resorts. HE Mohammed Al-Shaibani, Chairman of Nakheel, said, “Nakheel has a long, successful history of creating and delivering a diverse range of tourism and leisure projects in line with government goals, and I am delighted to see our first hospitality joint venture come to fruition. The opening of Riu Dubai is a key milestone for Nakheel, Deira Islands and Dubai, and underlines our commitment to partnering with reputable, international brands to bring new and unique tourism concepts to the emirate.” Luis Riu, Chief Executive Officer of RIU Hotels & Resorts, said. “This is a unique opportunity to offer all our experience with the 24-hour all-inclusive product – so popular among our European and American customers – in a completely new destination. We undertook this enterprise with Nakheel, the best partner you could imagine thanks to its extensive experience in master developments and large-scale destination projects, and its firm commitment to Dubai’s tourism sector.” Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), commented,  “The Riu Dubai is yet another development of distinction by our key partner Nakheel that will contribute towards the growing momentum in the hospitality sector and add to the city’s diversity of offerings designed to enhance the global appeal of Dubai as …

Marriott International announces the official opening of Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road in the heart of the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2020, after a soft opening that took place June this year.Featuring stylish accommodation and excellent service, the hotel is ideally located near King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh Digital City and Riyadh Business Gate and provides easy access to the city’s top leisure attractions, including Riyadh Park, Riyadh Boulevard and famous shopping malls. “Courtyard by Marriott represents one of the fastest growing brands in the region under our portfolio and we are delighted to be opening our fourth Courtyard by Marriott in the Kingdom,” said Guido De Wilde, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International. “The brand is a great fit for the city and its prominent location is perfect for our independent, forward-thinking guests who want to pursue their personal and professional passions while traveling on business or leisure.”

Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium has achieved a major milestone in steering the global logistics industry towards worldwide COVID-19 vaccine distribution after facilitating the transportation and storage of two million vaccine doses in partnership with G42 Healthcare.Supported by consortium members, Etihad Cargo chartered seven Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to fly the temperature-sensitive cargo into Abu Dhabi International Airport. The UAE’s national carrier then utilised its road fleet to transfer the shipment to Abu Dhabi Ports’ KIZAD for holding in a purpose-built cool storage warehouse. “This operation illustrates what can be achieved when leading private-public sector partners collaborate to deliver cohesive solutions to a global logistics challenge,” explained HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. “This shipment showcases our combined capabilities and reinforces our commitment to support global efforts in the distribution of such vital cargo. The Hope Consortium provides the best available solution in one consolidated effort to meet the anticipated demands of vaccine shipments.” Ashish Koshy, CEO, G42 Healthcare, added: “This partnership is a logical progression in a journey that has seen G42 Healthcare emerge amongst the key global players leading the charge against a virus that has crippled the world. Ever since COVID-19 struck, we reacted with agility and precision, building on our inherent DNA of proactive thinking and innovation. Following the 4Humanity trials, we look forward to leveraging our unique expertise as the sole distributors of the COVID-19 vaccine to effectively, safely and efficiently manage the vaccine supply chain in the region and beyond. We will continue to synchronise our efforts to draw on the combined technical know how of our partners and build trust through collaboration.”

flydubai announced the start of flights to Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic in the Russian Federation. Flights between Dubai International (DXB) and Grozny Airport (GRV) will operate twice weekly starting from 17 December 2020. flydubai will be the first carrier to offer direct flights on this route from the UAE. flydubai has been operating flights to Russia since 2010 and offers passengers from the UAE through the combined flydubai and Emirates network easier access to Moscow and other major Russian cities. The airline has been steadily increasing its operations since July and continues to operate all-cargo flights and repatriation flights in addition to scheduled services. The new service to Grozny will give passengers access to Dubai and other holiday destinations across the carrier’s network. Commenting on the announcement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at flydubai, said: “since commencing operations in 2009, we have been committed to opening up new routes to previously underserved markets to offer more people the opportunity to travel more often. As we continue to see more countries lifting restrictions on international travel and expect the demand for travel to increase during the winter holiday season, we are pleased to announce the start of flights to Grozny.” Located on the Sunzha River, Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic. The city has a lot to offer including modern architecture, shopping malls and attractions such as the Grozny Central Dome Mosque. Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, added: “Russia has always been an important market for flydubai. With the new direct route between Dubai and Grozny we continue to support the flow of travel, trade and tourism …