NEOM announced that global leader in superyacht concierge and maritime agency services, BWA Yachting, will establish an office at its luxury island development Sindalah. Appointed as the ‘Key partner superyacht agency in NEOM,’ BWA Yachting’s office will provide services for the world’s most spectacular luxury vessels, as Sindalah becomes the Red Sea’s long-awaited first ultra-prime superyacht destination. Rising out of the crystalline waters of the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, Sindalah will define a new dimension of exquisite bespoke travel. The island will be the first of NEOM’s assets to be unveiled, in the process introducing the world to how the project envisages the future of civilization. Offering its inhabitants an idyllic luxury lifestyle, Sindalah is one of NEOM’s 39 islands that will be home to a world-leading yachting ecosystem with more than 5,000 berths. BWA  Yachting will assist operations at Sindalah’s international superyacht marina, providing world-class services to the island’s clientele. The office will be staffed by the BWA Yachting team which has decades of experience in the industry to support captains, managers and crews with everything they need to manage a superyacht, from customs and clearance procedures to provisioning, logistics, shipping, concierge and financial services. Onboarding the BWA Yachting team will ensure a seamless premium experience for customers as Sindalah becomes the new destination on the yachting calendar with six months of winter sun a year. Commenting on the partnership, Antoni Vives, Chief Urban Development and Islands Officer at NEOM, said: “Sindalah will redefine the luxury island experience and become the most sought-after yachting destination in the world, offering six months of winter sun and less than a day’s sail from the ports of the Mediterranean. …

Kuwait Airways held a bilateral meeting with Turkish Airlines to consolidate relations between the two sides and to discuss commercial aspects related to exchange under the common codeshare agreement. This meeting was held in the presence of Kuwait Airways’ delegation in the city of Istanbul, and headed by the Chairman of Kuwait Airways, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan along with accompanying officials. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan stated, “We are pleased to meet the CEO of Turkish Airlines, Mr. Bilal Ekşi and his accompanying delegation. The focus of the meeting was to strengthen bilateral relations between Kuwait Airways and Turkish Airlines through a codeshare agreement and ways to develop this agreement to include new prospects in the interest and benefit of the two companies, as well as to increase the destinations between the two networks.” Al-Dukhan added, “The meeting complements the plans of Kuwait Airways to expand the horizons of cooperation with important airlines such as Turkish Airlines, in line with the company’s objectives in linking Kuwait to the world through such partnerships and discussions and to achieve them.” Al-Dukhan pointed out that Kuwait Airways is moving towards developing and improving all its services, many of which have been launched since the beginning of this year, in response to the requirements of its esteemed customers and coinciding with the commencement of the summer season and the increase in travel and passengers in Terminal 4. Kuwait Airways has launched 105 flights per day, operating to 60 destinations around the world with its new and diversified fleet.   Al-Dukhan emphasized the extent of relations between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Turkey, pointing out that the partnership was part of this …

Tom Cruise returned in style to Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Midfield Terminal, where key parts of the movie were shot, ahead of the film’s Middle East premiere at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental tomorrow night. The star of the highly anticipated seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise arrived on the first flight into the new Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport. In celebration of the film, Tom Cruise unveiled custom Mission: Impossible livery on an Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner. As the official airline of the movie, Etihad will now carry the movie branding on this aircraft as it flies to destinations worldwide. Midfield Terminal’s iconic structure was also decorated with a similar theme to recognise its role in the movie, with one of the film’s most thrilling and technically complex action scenes having been shot on the building’s 315 metre roof. The movie marks the first time that the terminal’s interior will be seen by the public when it releases in cinemas on July 13, 2023. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One also features purpose-built sets at the airport, including an Etihad First Class Lounge, as well as scenes set in the stunning Liwa Desert. Elena Sorlini, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said:“We are delighted to welcome Tom Cruise, the cast and crew of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One back to Abu Dhabi. We’re proud of our role in the film and our contribution to Abu Dhabi as a destination that attracts global talent. The scenes showcased in the movie are a testament to the architecture, scale and design of the iconic Midfield Terminal, which is inspired by the cultural elements …

The past few weeks saw a hike in airfares especially in the UAE. As an expat populated destination, the short breaks are always popular, and this continues year on year. Hitherto known destinations, have become the best escapes for the UAE travellers over the past few years. Georgia started off this campaign offering visa on arrival for residents of the UAE. Following them, other destinations too wanted a piece of the business, hence employed similar tactics to attract this huge expat market by ensuring they provide either visa on arrival or visa free for any nationality with a resident visa from the UAE. However, connectivity is a concern with the rise of the air ticket pricing, yet the number of travellers hasn’t really reduced, especially in the case of the Asian sectors. When it comes to holiday destinations such as Turkey which is a key outbound getaway for UAE travellers the pricing went up to almost 6k return, and Asian destinations, especially India was at a staggering 3k plus. Many travellers opting to spend time with their families back in India over the Eid holidays, are seen to be taking smarter ways by checking in from Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah. No matter the price, travellers in the UAE would always take a chance to travel. Some travellers have also become smart in the sense that they pre-plan their travel dates almost six months prior so that they can partake in some of the best deals. What are the criteria for all this drama? What becomes of the families who wish to travel? Is there a balance between supply and demand? Well, we spoke with some of the key agents who …

Dubai Festivals & Retail Establishment, in association with Majid Al Futtaim Malls, announced the return of the Dubai Summer Surprises exclusive 12 Hour Sale. One of the most anticipated shopping events of the season, the sale will take place on 29 June, from 10am to 10pm, with incredible offers of up to 90 per cent off over 100 participating brands and outlets across a number of iconic Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls across the city.  Dubai Summer Surprises is an annual festival that brings joy and cheer to many, during this unique season in the city. Immerse yourself in summer fun with upbeat concerts, exciting raffles and all sorts of entertainment, dining and shopping offers for all ages. Shoppers can plan ahead and make the most out of this deal taking place within the stores at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, City Centre Me‘aisem and City Center Al Shindagha. What’s more, customers spending AED 300 and above can also enter into a draw to get the chance to win 1 Million SHARE points and become the 12 Hour Sale SHARE Millionaire. To participate, Majid Al Futtaim SHARE rewards members can use the SHARE application to scan their shopping receipts for a minimum of AED 300 in a single or cumulative purchase. This will automatically earn an entry into the lucky draw, taking place on 6 July. Get ready for the ultimate summer extravaganza filled with incredible surprises, unmissable retail offers, diverse culinary delights and endless entertainment this Dubai Summer Surprises, running from 29 June to 3 September. For more information, visit @CelebrateDubai and @StyledByDubai on social media channels, and mydss.ae. Dubai Summer Surprises is supported …

Saudi Arabia commits to sustainable tourism by launching for the first time in Hajj, self-driving vehicles to transport pilgrims. The Transport General Authority, for the first time, is launching the trial of self-driving electric buses to serve the pilgrims this Hajj season. It aims to provide innovative modern technologies for sustainable and environment-friendly transportation. The initiative is part of the authority’s efforts to offer multiple transportation options, making it easier for the pilgrims. The self-driving buses utilize artificial intelligence, cameras, and surrounding sensors to operate without human intervention along a predefined route. They gather information during movement and analyze it to make necessary decisions, aiming to enhance passenger experience and ensure safety. Each bus has 11 seats, operates for 6 hours per charge, and can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h. The service aims to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims and assess the feasibility of using these technologies during Hajj. It also aims to establish the necessary requirements for their commercial operation in coming years. This falls within the role of the authority in providing different and diverse transportation options, as well as adopting modern technologies and smart mobility solutions to assess their suitability and contribution to providing a unique transportation experience for Hajj pilgrims. It aims to ensure smooth and comfortable transportation and enable pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind. — SPA

Abu Dhabi’s unique culture is central to plans to increase overall visitation to more than 24 million, from 18 million in 2022. DCT Abu Dhabi’s research reveals that culture was the primary reason for travel for almost half (47 per cent) of international tourists. With the rise of the culture-seeker segment, about 4 million visitors are expected at DCT Abu Dhabi’s cultural sites this year – more than one million additional visitors compared with the previous year. His Excellency Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the plans to promote and protect the emirate follow a strong 2022 performance that demonstrated innovation, resilience and integration of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. His Excellency Al Hosani said: “With culture at the heart of everything we do, we have set bold and ambitious targets for 2023 as we promote, protect and progress Abu Dhabi and share it with the world. We are proud to share some of our 2022 results, which powerfully demonstrate how we re-ignited the engine of growth through resilient culture and tourism sectors, with visionary leadership and key partnerships across the different creative industries. “We are progressing Abu Dhabi by creating new job and career opportunities and enabling growth across the culture sector throughout the culture and creative industries (CCI) while enabling business and leisure tourism to thrive. Our purpose is to share Abu Dhabi with the world and enrich lives.” With the promotion and protection of culture central to its mandate, DCT Abu Dhabi is building on the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, to strengthen national identity, nurture talent, create better awareness of Emirati heritage and …

SalamAir  continues expanding its reach with the addition of a new destination to its network. Starting July 12th 2023, SalamAir will be offering weekly flights to Fujairah, UAE, with four flights a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Fujairah is the latest addition to SalamAir’s growing list of destinations, offering travelers an exciting new opportunity to experience the unique culture, history, and natural beauty of the United Arab Emirates. The launch of this new destination comes in response to the rising demand for economical and practical air travel options among both leisure and business travelers. With the latest addition of Fujairah, SalamAir now serves a total of 39 destinations across 13 countries, making it one of the region’s fastest-growing value-for-money airlines. Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, expressed his excitement about the new route to the airline’s network, stating, “The introduction of Fujairah to our destination network is part of our strategic plan to expand our reach within the regional routes we offer. We are certain that this new route will be a popular choice for all travelers, especially given the convenient connections from Fujairah to some of our most sought-after destinations on the network, and we look forward to welcoming our guests on board our flights to and from Fujairah.” Passengers can book their flights to Fujairah starting today through SalamAir’s website, call center, or their preferred travel agency. Visit www.salamair.com to book your next trip. You can also contact our customer service 24/7 at +968 2427 2222. With the addition of Fujairah, SalamAir continues its commitment to providing travelers with a range of affordable and convenient travel options while maintaining its focus on safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. Now, …

Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first flights to the city of Athens, Greece with two flights per week on Fridays and Mondays, commencing from 16 June 2023. The Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Airways, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first scheduled commercial flights to the city of Athens in the Republic of Greece as part of the implementation of its objectives to launch new and permanent destinations that was announced earlier.” Razouqi added, “The city of Athens is an excellent summer destination, both for travel and tourism. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cites in the world, famous for its history, rich culture and ancient heritage dating back to centuries. Taking this into account, Kuwait Airways launched this destination to suit the preferences of our valued customers, as well as to meet their requirements to diversify the network of routes and expand around the world by including new and diverse destinations.” Razouqi indicated that choosing the destination of Athens came after comprehensive research to meet the growing demands for destinations such as these and to different markets for our customers. Moreover, Kuwait Airways is diligently striving to provide customers with the opportunity to select what suits them the most, especially with recovery of the summer travel season and the diversity of destinations. Razouqi concluded that passengers travelling on the national carrier can enjoy a unique experience on board with advanced technology, as well as comfortable and distinguished services provided by the cabin crew who are ready to assist them with their requirements. On his part, the Ambassador of Greece to the State of Kuwait, H.E. Konstantinos Piperigos stated, “The …

In an historic first, the world’s two leading Travel & Tourism organisations representing the global public and private sectors agreed to work together across a number of key objectives. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations (UNWTO) at the G20 Ministerial meeting (Goa, India), focused on advancing public-private sector cooperation at the global level whilst promoting job creation, talent development and business opportunities around the world. Together, WTTC and UNWTO will promote tourism in the global and national agendas while working to progress skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient Travel & Tourism sector. The two parties will also foster community empowerment and inclusion, and collaborate around crisis preparedness, management, and recovery, building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said “Through the signing of an historic new MOU, WTTC and UNWTO embark on a new chapter of collaboration together, uniting our expertise to pave the way for a prosperous future for the Travel & Tourism sector. Together, we can create a powerful synergy that will shape the global landscape, opening doors to endless opportunities and benefiting travelers, businesses, and destinations alike.” Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General, underscored that “We are only stronger if we work together to respond to the interconnected challenges facing our sector. Strong public-private partnerships are the foundation to transform tourism and build resilience, and consolidating our partnership with WTTC will achieve exactly what we need – joining efforts to build a better future through tourism.” The MOU was signed by WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson and …