Dubai announced the opening of world’s tallest wellbeing resort ‘Therme Dubai’ to be opened by 2028. This landmark AED2 billion development will feature an interactive park and the world’s largest indoor botanical garden, designed to host 1.7 million visitors annually. To be located at Zabeel Park and set to open in 2028, Therme Dubai will be an iconic addition to Dubai’s skyline. This innovative project reflects our commitment to enhancing urban biodiversity and environmental sustainability, and creating enriching experiences for Dubai’s residents and visitors. In May 2024, Dubai marked a new chapter in its pursuit of enhancing the well-being of its community under His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s visionary leadership with the launch of the Quality of Life Strategy 2033. This ambitious roadmap aims to establish our city as the world’s best place to live.  

flyadeal targets 75,000 overseas Hajj pilgrims in 2025 as they unveil plans to operate more dedicated charters during the holy season. The figure represents yet another significant milestone for flyadeal which has been scaling up the number of overseas Hajj flights since 2023. From 35,000 pilgrims flown by flyadeal into the Kingdom last year – up 35 per cent on 2023 – the number is expected to more than double to 75,000 in 2025, with the airline operating additional widebody charters into Jeddah and Madinah, gateway to the Holy City of Makkah. flyadeal is also stepping up its year-round Umrah services, which will continue to operate from Turkey, Iraq and Uzbekistan, with the UK, Thailand, India and countries in Africa and Central Asia set to be included for 2025. The growth plans were announced during the 4th edition of the annual Hajj Conference and Exhibition that took place at the Superdome in Jeddah last week under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and organised by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. flyadeal joined sister companies Saudia and SGS (Saudi Ground Services) under the umbrella of parent Saudi Group – this year’s strategic sponsor – with a joint exhibition stand promoting products and services to visiting Hajj committees, ministries and tour operators from around the world. His Excellency Dr.Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom, together with HE Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia, and HE Engr. Ibrahim bin Abdulrahaman Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, were among the many visiting dignitaries. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive …

While the Los Angeles wildfires have presented challenges, the indomitable spirit of Los Angeles, as well as its iconic attractions and experiences, remain intact. In fact, the best way to support Los Angeles is to visit and patronize the hotels, restaurants and other businesses that depend on tourism. Over 98% of Los Angeles County remains untouched by the fires, and the city’s iconic landmarks—from the Hollywood Sign to Universal Studios Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, the Santa Monica Pier, and more—are open and ready for visitors, as depicted in the recovery map provided by VisitCalifornia. Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta today issued the following statement on how tourism will support Los Angeles’ recovery: “Our message to travelers is simple: Now is the time to visit Los Angeles. “As households across the country – and world – are planning their 2025 vacations, we want everyone to know that Los Angeles remains open and ready to welcome you. “Ninety-eight percent of Los Angeles, including its iconic landmarks and attractions, remains untouched and fully prepared to welcome visitors. “The economic impacts of these wildfires are already becoming increasingly evident. One out of five California tourism-related jobs are in Los Angeles County, highlighting just how vital the tourism industry is to the region’s economy and recovery efforts. “LA’s local businesses and residents depend on tourism, and there’s no better way to help the region recover than to plan a trip now.” Postponing or cancelling trips will only make the economic impact of this disaster worse for everyone. Instead, visit Los Angeles and encourage your clients, friends and family to experience its vibrant culture. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we unite and …

Qatar Tourism has announced the highlights of the mid-season cruise season 2024/2025, which show Qatar’s growing position as a major tourism destination. By 20 January 2025, Qatar had received 53 cruise ships, carrying 191,944 visitors, including 20,951passengers have used Doha as a starting point for their cruises. So far, the season has welcomed passengers from Germany (30.2%), followed by Russia (10.8%) and Italy (9.2%), with the top ten nationalities collectively accounting for 69.2% of the total number of passengers. This season saw the addition of four new cruise ships: Resorts World One, MSC Eurobia, Celestial Journey and Costa Esmeralda. In addition to the ship “Norwegian Sky”, which is expected to arrive on 12 April 2025. The Costa Esmeralda, the eighth largest cruise ship in the world, will visit Doha Port ten times this season, carrying around 82,000 passengers. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development  at Qatar Tourism, said: “The incredible growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a testament to our vision within the National Tourism Strategy 2030. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, more than 30 cruise ships are expected to arrive by the end of the season in April 2025, carrying around 185,000 visitors, reflecting Doha’s growing position as a major cruise destination, coupled with strong partnerships with global cruise operators, all of which demonstrate the growing demand for Qatar’s exceptional cruise offerings. As we continue to invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience, we remain committed to positioning Qatar as a premier cruise destination.” The cruise sector has become a key pillar of Qatar’s national tourism strategy, with remarkable growth in recent years, with Doha Port strategically located in the heart of the …

Orient Travel won the title ‘outstanding tour operator for Malaysia’ award at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024.“Orient Travel has since evolved and grown to become one of the Top Travel Management companies in the UAE. With over 50 years of enriching experience and quality services we have positioned ourselves as market leaders and trendsetters in the region.” Waseem Rahmany, GM- Sales & Holidays, Orient Travel

Emirates unveils its Emirates World store in Egypt, expanding the reach of its refreshed travel retail store concept that elevates the customer experience through product showcases, smart technologies and expert travel consultants. The Emirates World store, located at the luxurious 5A WaterWay in Cairo, was inaugurated by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Centre, in the presence of Her Excellency Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador, Pilot Montaser Mana, the Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation of Egypt and Amr Kady, CEO of Egypt Tourism Authority. The opening ceremony was also attended by other distinguished guests, trade and media partners. Commenting on the milestone, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “This year marks our fourth decade of operations. Egypt was one of the first five destinations that we launched to at the very beginning of our operations, and we are proud to further enhance our offering for customers with the inauguration of Emirates World in Cairo.” He continued, “Our global retail strategy is perfectly aligned with our ‘Fly Better’ promise, offering our customers the elevated hospitality they expect from Emirates, along with smart and efficient technologies, hands-on product displays and expert support and advice. We will continue to roll out Emirates World concept stores in Africa and across our network, to connect more deeply with our customers at more touchpoints on the ground.” At 332m2, Emirates World Cairo brings the airline’s iconic product and services even closer to customers in the city. With its light and airy colour palette and open-plan lounge-like environment, the concept store is reminiscent of the airline’s signature inflight look and feel, further …

The airport welcomed 92.3 million guests in 2024, surpassing its previous all-time high of 89.1 million in 2018. Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports shared, “This year’s results exceeded our forecast by almost 200,000 in guest numbers, underscoring the strength of DXB’s global appeal. Over the past decade, DXB has welcomed more than 700 million guests on over 3.3 million flights. Since 2014, DXB has led the Airports Council International’s rankings as the world’s busiest international airport. Dubai International (DXB) has set a new benchmark in global aviation, welcoming 92.3 million guests in 2024 – the highest annual traffic ever recorded in its history. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 89.1 million achieved in 2018 and coincides with a landmark achievement: a decade of DXB leading the Airports Council International’s (ACI) list of the world’s busiest international airports.* This record-breaking performance was driven by sustained growth throughout the year, capped by an extraordinary final quarter that highlighted Dubai’s magnetic appeal as a global destination for travel, business, and investment. December emerged as the busiest month of 2024, with 8.2 million guests choosing DXB as their gateway and destination, reaffirming its position as the airport of choice for millions worldwide. Commenting on the achievement, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “Dubai International (DXB) is a global success story that reflects the UAE’s ability to transform bold ambitions into reality. Consistently ranked as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, its record annual passenger traffic this year is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence that continues to shape the UAE’s progress.” “Our sustained …

Al Rais Travel clenched the title of ‘Top Performing Travel Agent for Malaysia in UAE’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It is a great feeling. You try to do all your best to support the industry and work hard for the industry. And then you get recognised by people, which is a very good feeling, and it is very encouraging to give more. We are trying to adapt to the market, the changes with technology, with AI, not only in B2C or only on selling, but also in adapting in operation and other aspects of the organisation. We would like to adapt to these changes.” -Mohamed Jassim Al Rais, Executive Director, Al Rais Travel and Shipping Agencies

Hotel Management Company “Adeera” signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism to open new horizons for developing the hospitality and tourism sector in the Kingdom. This agreement aims to enhance national capabilities, creating new opportunities, exchange expertise and knowledge, and launch specialized training initiatives. These efforts align with the national tourism strategy and Adeera’s goals to strengthen the commitment of developing exceptional hospitality experiences and elevating Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector in line with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Through this partnership, Adeera seeks to strengthen the Kingdom’s position on the global tourism map and transform Saudi Arabia into an exceptional tourist destination sought by the world, highlighting the Kingdom’s hospitable nature with national expertise capable of providing exceptional services and experiences. The memorandum includes key pillars to developing the tourism sector in the Kingdom, including: Workforce Planning: Building clear career paths and quality job opportunities, enhancing national capabilities and efficiency. Training, Development, and Localization: Designing specialized training programs to prepare Saudis for work in the hospitality sector, with incentives to promote employment through attractive support packages. Quality Improvement: Collaborating with leading educational institutions to provide innovative educational programs that ensure the highest standards in tourism education. Supporting Tourism Projects: Facilitating procedures and promoting the growth of tourism projects, enhancing the presence and visibility of Adeera in the sector. On this occasion, Mr. Stefan Leser, CEO of “Adeera,” expressed his affirmation of the importance of this strategic partnership in supporting and empowering the tourism infrastructure. He added: “At Adeera, we believe in the importance of developing qualified national talents equipped with the skills and expertise to compete on the global stage.” He further stated, “Our aim is not …

Select Group announced the acquisition of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City, in a landmark transaction valued in excess of AED 200m+.  The Radisson Blu Hotel occupies a prime location in Dubai, surrounded by global corporate headquarters, including META, Pfizer, Samsung, and Mastercard. Select Group plans to embark on a comprehensive refurbishment of the property, with a focus on enhancing its food and beverage offerings to address a critical gap in the area’s hospitality landscape, as well as enhancing all the accommodation and other public areas to cater to the strong demand generators through the corporate catchment. Commenting on the acquisition, Rahail Aslam, Founder & Chairman of Select Group, said:  “We are excited to announce the acquisition of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City, marking a pivotal milestone in our ongoing commitment to securing prime assets in strategic locations.  This addition to our hospitality portfolio signifies a key step in our growth journey. As part of our vision, the property will undergo a comprehensive refurbishment program for rooms, public areas and food & beverage venues to enhance the experience for travellers and residents. Our upgrades aim to create dynamic offerings that meet evolving demands, solidifying our dedication to excellence in hospitality.” The deal, brokered by Andrew Love, Regional Partner and Head of Capital Markets at Knight Frank MENA, represents the highest recorded hotel sale transaction in Dubai’s Media Free Zone. Andrew Love, Regional Partner and Head of Capital Markets at Knight Frank MENA, added:“The sale of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City is a testament to Dubai’s continued evolution as a global hotspot for hotel investment. As the highest recorded hotel sale transaction in the Media Free Zone, it demonstrates …