Emirates has become the first international airline to join The Solent Cluster, a UK initiative focused on low carbon investments established to reduce CO2 emissions from industry, transport and households in the South Coast of England. The Solent Cluster is a cross-sector collaboration of international organisations, including manufacturers and engineering companies, regional businesses and industries, leading logistics and infrastructure operators and academic institutions. Emirates joins over 100 members as part of the Cluster, alongside founding members the Solent Partners (previously the Solent LEP), global energy provider ExxonMobil and University of Southampton. The founding members have each shared details of their vision for the Solent and how it could secure existing jobs and produce low-carbon fuels for a variety of sectors, including aviation. Sustainable aviation fuel potential The Solent Cluster has the potential to create a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant with an estimated fuel production capacity of 200,000 tonnes (200 kt) per year. If approved, the plant could start operating in 2032. Jet fuel produced by the SAF plant could avoid emissions of 563 kilotons of CO2 per year by producing fuel with 70% less emissions than fossil kerosene. Existing pipeline networks can supply the SAF from the plant to major airports served by Emirates such as Heathrow and Gatwick. Emirates’ long-term aspiration to secure UK-produced SAF with The Solent Cluster is in addition to several SAF initiatives the airline has announced over the last year. It follows Emirates’ A380 and Boeing 777 demonstration flights using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2023. Emirates has expanded its partnership with Neste for the supply of SAF in 2024 and 2025 for its operations in Amsterdam and Singapore. The airline also uplifted SAF for the …

flynas launched a training program for its cabin crew and ground services employees on the best ways to care for passengers with autism spectrum disorder in cooperation with the Saudi Autistic Society, the first training workshops were held in Riyadh during the 3rd week of January 2024. Waleed Ahmed, the corporate communication director and the spokesperson at flynas expounded that the program held in Prince Nasser bin Abdulaziz Autism Center, included theoretical education and practical training by specialists and consultants from the Saudi Autistic Society for the members of the air hospitality crews and ground service employees at flynas, aiming to learn the best methods for dealing with passengers with autism and learning about strategies for effective communication and interaction with them. The program also included introducing participants to the characteristics of autism and how to interact with them, as well as training on providing a comfortable and supportive environment for passengers with autism, focusing on improving their travel experience, as part of the company’s social responsibility programs and its commitment to adopting initiatives with sustainable impact on society. The Saudi Autistic Society is the largest specialized association in the Kingdom accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It was established in 2003 to include its services throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide support, assistance and appropriate care and contribute to the integration of beneficiaries with autism spectrum disorder as well as community awareness. And contributing to the early detection of beneficiaries with autism spectrum disorder, through Prince Nasser bin Abdulaziz Autism Center in Riyadh, Prince Turki bin Nasser Autism Center in Jazan, and the daycare centers in Mecca and the Eastern Province.

flynas celebrated launching direct flights from Jeddah to two destinations in two continents within a couple of days, adding Mumbai, in India, and Asmara, in Eritrea, to its ever-expanding network of international destinations, in parallel with the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques and the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 100 million tourists yearly by 2030. Representatives from flynas and Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) attended the ceremony held at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to celebrate the launching of direct flights from Jeddah to Mumbai, the financial center and the most populous city of India in South Asia and to Asmara, the capital and most populous city of Eritrea, located on the Horn of Africa. As of Monday, January 15, flynas started operating two weekly direct flights to Mumbai on Mondays and Wednesdays and to Asmara on Wednesday, January 17, with two weekly direct flights on Wednesdays and Sundays. flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 60 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030. The success of flynas was recognized with many international awards, including Skytrax International Award as the 4th Best LCC worldwide and the Best Low-cost Airline in the Middle East in 2023 for the sixth time in a row. Meanwhile, flynas won the Best Low-cost Airline Award in the Middle East from …

Etihad Airways is meeting customer demand by adding more flights to key destinations across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. The latest increase means the airline now offers almost 27% per cent more weekly departures than last summer. The airline is increasing flights to Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Amman in Jordan, Beirut in Lebanon, as well as Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Kolkata and Bangalore in India. The enhancements are part of Etihad’s ambitious expansion of flights and frequencies to further boost Abu Dhabi’s global reach offering more flexible travel options for its guests. Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De said: “These latest flight increases aligned with our seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi and our growing global network offer our guests more opportunities to fly where they want to at a time that suits them. “It also makes it easier to enjoy a fantastic visit or stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.” Destinations Change Total Frequency Start Date Jeddah +7 per week 28 per week 15 March 2024 Riyadh +7 per week 28 per week 15 March 2024 Amman +4 per week 11 per week 15 June 2024 Beirut +2 per week 7 per week 15 June 2024 Colombo +4 per week 17 per week 15 June 2024 Kolkata +1 per week 8 per week 15 June 2024 Bangalore +3 per week 17 per week 15 June 2024 Already announced Kozhikode New route 7 per week 1 January 2024 Thiruvananthapuram New route 7 per week 1 January 2024 Boston New route 4 per week 31 March 2024 Nairobi New route 7 per week 1 May 2024 Colombo +3 …

This extraordinary development, with an estimated value of AED 4.8 billion, will be ready for handover by 2026. The JW Marriott Residences & JW Marriott Al Marjan Island Resort will stand as a beacon in Marriott International’s residential portfolio. Following the announcement of their strategic collaboration with Marriott International in November 2023, WOW Resorts, a premium resort and residential developer, unveiled the JW Marriott Residences & JW Marriott Al Marjan Island Resort, on Al Marjan Island, one of the Northern Emirate’s premium tourism, business and investment destination. Al Marjan Island will be the home to the first JW Marriott branded residential property in the GCC. The luxury development is set to redefine coastal living in the UAE market and wider region. This significant development by WOW Resorts is anticipated to showcase the magnitude of their commitment to elevate the standards of residential living in the region. The development promises to be a fusion of cutting-edge design, world-class amenities, and unparalleled hospitality, creating an iconic landmark within the Al Marjan Island community. “This venture marks just the beginning of an exciting journey for WOW Resorts in the UAE. With more awe-inspiring projects in the pipeline, we are poised to redefine hospitality and real estate in this thriving market. We are ready to captivate and inspire residents in the years ahead, offering unparalleled experiences that reflect our unwavering dedication to excellence and commitment to the UAE,” said Anwar Aman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of WOW Resorts. “We believe that the UAE has a discerning clientele with a taste for uncompromising luxury, and Ras Al Khaimah provides the perfect canvas for this vision. The breathtaking landscapes and thriving community of Al Marjan Island come together …

Cruise Saudi and Al Madinah Region Development Authority signed an MoU to foster economic development in historic Al Madinah Region. This will develop the region and expand facilities to accommodate an increased number of tourists, with a focus on social impact both locally and across Saudi, in line with Vision 2030. Both Al Madinah Region Development Authority and Cruise Saudi share the vision to advance and aid access to Al Madinah, developing the region and expanding facilities to accommodate an increased number of tourists. As part of the agreement, both parties will utilize their capabilities and experiences to achieve their shared vision. The MoU signing took place at this year’s Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh, the annual event which promotes Saudi as a tourist destination, and which provided the perfect backdrop for both parties to mark their intent to enhance the tourism offering in the region of Al Madinah. Madinah is the second holiest city in Islam, with beautiful architecture in abundance, such as the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi mosque with its striking green dome dominating the skyline, sites of historic interest such as the The Ghars Well (also known as Bir Ghars) and Mount Uhud which was the site of the second battle between the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the polytheists of his tribe of Quraysh, and impressive natural landmarks of farms and valleys. The Al Madinah region has a multitude of historic wonders to explore, as well as modern sights including the coastal city of Yanbu. Cruise Saudi will facilitate cruise passengers’ visits to the region via the Red Sea. Mashhoor Baeshen, Executive Director, Destinations Development & Management at Cruise Saudi said “Unique in history and culture, Al Madinah …

Construction of Bandar Al Khairan Resort worth RO 36m Started in Oman. The resort will include 121 hotel rooms, as well as various types of facilities, restaurants, spas and gyms on an area of 189,000 sqm. A ceremony was held to celebrate the start of construction work of the project which was designed to be a qualitative addition to the tourism sector in Oman. According to Oman News Agency, Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, patron of the inauguration event, said that the project will support the tourism sector in Muscat. Al Mahrouqi added that the resort will meet the aspirations of guests and residents. The Ministry, he affirmed, will follow-up on the implementation of the project to augment local added value and provide job opportunities for Omani youth. The project will provide various opportunities for small and medium enterprises in Al Khairan and adjacent areas to offer their products and services.

His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and members of ADNOC’s executive leadership team, joined Etihad Rail’s first rail journey that connects the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Dhannah. Once operational, the rail service, which is currently under development, will enable ADNOC’s staff and contractors to travel between the two destinations. Following the milestone rail journey, His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber toured ADNOC’s world-scale downstream and petrochemicals hub in Al Ruwais Industrial City, during which he was updated on strategic growth projects at Borouge 4, ADNOC Refining and the Ruwais LNG project. His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “ADNOC’s partnership with Etihad Rail is fully aligned with our strategic priorities to successfully implement transport solutions that contribute to the UAE’s development and future prosperity. In line with our leadership’s visionary directives and under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Head of the Office of Development Affairs and Martyrs’ Families at the Presidential Court, and Chairman of Etihad Rail, the development of passenger rail services between Abu Dhabi City and Al Dhannah City aims to connect the UAE’s main centres of trade, industry, manufacturing, production, logistics and population. The Etihad Rail project is more than just a rail network, it will serve as a vital artery for economic growth and infrastructure development while driving decarbonisation, for the benefit of the UAE and its people. “I am proud of our world-class facilities in Al Ruwais Industrial City and the commitment and dedication of our staff, who are passionate to showcase our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. …

In his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has issued a law establishing the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority. The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will replace the Emirates Heritage Club and the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority’s key roles and responsibilities include developing strategies to preserve Emirati heritage and traditions; promoting traditional and national identity values within society; documenting heritage practices; and conducting studies and research on literature and traditions, in line with Abu Dhabi’s strategy for cultural heritage. Furthermore, the authority will support, foster and document Nabati and classical Arabic poetry initiatives, and review historical studies and publications focusing on the oral history of the emirate, as well as its spoken dialects, in addition to poems and written, visual and audio mate­rials on the UAE and its leadership. The authority aims to raise awareness regarding the UAE’s traditions and heritage, and highlight national identity and traditional values to enhance community cohesion. The authority will also manage and organise festivals, exhibitions and heritage programmes inside and outside the emirate through coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Sharjah government launched a brand new identity for the emirate developed according to the identification of the strengths and distinctive features of Sharjah, as well as its attractiveness for tourism, living, working, studying, and investing. It represents an open invitation to the world to explore the richness and diversity that Sharjah possesses, along with its tremendous opportunities and potential. It also provides a wide range of promising prospects across various cultural, educational, economic, social, and entertainment sectors. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, attended on Sunday at Al Noor Island , the launch of the new Sharjah identity, which reflects all its visual and cultural components, expresses its distinguished cultural and artistic heritage. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed was received upon his arrival at the ceremony for the launch of the new Sharjah identity by: Sheikh Khalid Bin Isam Bin Saqer Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Department; Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations (DGR) ; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Districts and Villages Affairs Department; Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Department; Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, the Director of the Statistics and Community Development Department; Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed bin Salem Al Qasimi, Director of Tourism and Commerce Development Authority; His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Consultative Council and a number of senior officials, Heads and directors of government departments and a group of media professionals. On that occasion, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi said: “The new identity represents a …