According to musafir.com, this summer around 50% of UAE residents are focusing on leisure holidays, while 25% are considering combining leisure travels with a visit to their home country, and 25% will be visiting their home countries. Despite the summer being a time when residents often visit their home countries, it does not deter them from planning leisure trips this year. Many individuals are also opting for two breaks: a short one for the upcoming Eid Al-Adha break at the end of June, followed by a longer one in July or August. There has been a significant increase in the demand for group tours and holiday packages during the upcoming Eid Al-Adha holidays. Compared to the Eid-Al-Fitr break, demand has risen by 47%, and it has surged by 35% compared to last year’s Eid-Al-Adha. This year, with Eid Al-Adha and the school summer holidays coinciding, more people are planning longer vacations. Leisure travelers prefer group departures due to well-designed itineraries, value-for-money deals, direct flights, visa assistance, and hassle-free booking. Taking advantage of their annual leave, people combine these long breaks to enjoy extended vacations. When it comes to exploring new places, travelers prefer visa-hassle-free destinations such as Kenya, Thailand, Singapore, and countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Another emerging trend is the preference for combo deals, where neighbouring countries or different locations within the same country can be visited together. Popular choices include Singapore-Malaysia, Bangkok-Pattaya, Switzerland-Paris or Italy, and Georgia-Armenia or Azerbaijan. Raheesh Babu, COO of Musafir.com said, “There is a significant increase in travel inquiries for European countries, with an expected 30% of leisure travelers heading to Europe. Switzerland, France, …

Travel insurance provider battleface announced its integration with Concur Travel. The new offering is designed to deliver customizable travel protection benefits for corporate, bleisure and group travel such as: trip cancellation, interruption & delay, rental car damage, business equipment and baggage loss & delay, security evacuation and travel medical & emergency medical transportation. Lisa Conway, CUO, battleface, comments: “battleface’s corporate travel insurance provides a vital component to the duty of care solution in the event something goes wrong during an employee’s trip. This new integration with Concur Travel enables us to extend the reach of our duty of care solution, ensuring businesses and employees have the right form of customizable protection for every trip their employees take, just about anywhere in the world.” Conway continues: “Travel has changed dramatically in recent years. Remote workers, ‘bleisure’ travel, work/life balance and corporate spend have all added to the need for travel insurance that not only provides duty of care, but also allows for flexibility and customization that employees want. battleface’s corporate travel insurance allows companies to select the specific benefits that are necessary to their travel policy and provide others as optional for employees to select on an as-needed basis.” Once connected, when employees book travel, the Concur Travel platform provides battleface with the employee booking information and, based on this data, a travel protection quotation will be sent to the employee’s registered email address and will include a summary of the benefits which the employee can then purchase. battleface Travel Protection is now available in the SAP Concur App Center.

Get ready to experience the ultimate thrill at GLITCH, Dubai’s newest – and one of the largest – family-focused entertainment centre, set to swing open its doors on June 19 at the Al Ghurair Centre in Deira. With more than 30 interactive attractions designed for children, teens, and the young at heart, GLITCH promises non-stop excitement and endless fun for all the family both residents and travellers. Owned and operated by Al Ghurair Properties (AGP), the complex is spread across 40,000Sq ft on Level Two of the Al Ghurair Centre. The region’s hottest new entertainment facility offers a host of activities, including Newton’s Wall, an ultimate climbing challenge that dares thrill seekers to test not only their physical but also their mental strength, as well as their ability to defy gravity. Wannabe ninjas can level up at Kazu by tackling multiple warrior courses that test strength and agility, while SkySurf, Dubai’s only indoor roller glider, allows visitors to get their adrenaline pumping as they zip around the ceiling, 10-metres high, embodying the feeling of flying. And that’s not all. GLITCH also offers a gaming haven hidden within its walls. GamePort Arcade caters to all age groups, with old-school nostalgia-inducing video games alongside the newest Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, the arcade boasts a rare range that guarantees hours of entertainment. GLITCH is also home to BeastBowl, an eight-lane bowling centre fitted with state-of-the-art automated scoring from Brunswick. So, rally the troops and rack up those monstrous strikes and spares! Bert Grogor, Vice President of Leisure and Entertainment at GLITCH, said: “GLITCH was not created to be just another theme park, land, or zone. We set out to create a unique, immersive …

​As part of Kuwait Airways’ continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations and develop its services to the highest levels of quality, the company announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flights to the city of Antalya in the Republic of Turkey, with two flights a week on Mondays and Thursdays, commencing from 1 June 2023, and as part of its summer schedule for this year.  The Director of Network Planning at Kuwait Airways, Mrs. Shorouk Al-Awadhi stated, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our first scheduled flights to the city of Antalya in Turkey. Selecting Antalya as a destination complements the plans set by the company to expand its network of routes around the world, and to new destinations that will meet the requirements and preferences of its valued customers. The choice of Antalya as a destination comes after comprehensive research, taking into consideration the travel requirements of our customers. Kuwait Airways also focuses on launching other new destinations to Turkey due to the increasing demand from our valued customers, especially in the summer, the feasibility of these destinations and its benefits for the company. The Blue Bird will fly to five destinations in the Turkish Republic namely, Sabiha, Istanbul, Trabzon, Bodrum and Izmir.” Al-Awadhi added that Kuwait Airways is relentlessly striving to provide its passengers with diverse options for meeting their travel requirements with better services with the inclusion of new destinations, as well as offering them every means of comfort during their travel on board, starting from providing reservations for customers through all available channels and providing them appropriate services, from the check-in at Terminal 4, completing their travel procedures with ease and …

​Within the framework of Kuwait Airways’ relentless endeavours to provide the best services to its valued customers, and with the advent of the summer travel season of 2023, along with the growth of passenger traffic, KAC announced the signing of an agreement with the Turkish healthcare group, Acibadem Hospitals, to provide discounts on medical services and to examine emergency cases for its Premium Class customers of Royal, First, and Business classes in the city of Istanbul from 1st July 2023. In this regard, the Head of the Medical Center at Kuwait Airways, Dr Mohammad Al-Qenai stated, “Kuwait Airways continues its unremitting efforts to provide various diverse services to its valued customers, as the company signed an agreement with Acibadem Hospitals, one of the largest providers of health care services and treatment regionally. This service will be provided to Kuwait Airways’ customers from the start of the summer travel season of 2023, witnessing the growth of travel and passenger traffic. This is a continuation of many services provided by Kuwait Airways to its valued customers, from the start of the current year and with a chain of hospitals with which agreements will be signed shortly and in addition to such services in Bangkok, Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah.” Al-Qenai explained, “Kuwait Airways is currently studying the expansion of similar agreements with health care providers in numerous cities around the world, especially in Europe such as London, Manchester, Paris, Geneva and other important cities in Europe.” Al-Qenai pointed out that this step comes within the company’s objective to meet the requirements of Kuwait Airways’ passengers of the Premium classes and to provide them with various solutions and services. Moreover, this is in line …

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the new futuristic development masterplan of Palm Jebel Ali. Palm Jebel Ali will feature over 80 hotels and resorts, and a wide choice of entertainment and leisure facilities that will contribute to Dubai’s tourism sector, while distinguishing the archipelago as an aspirational residential destination in the city. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said Dubai will continue to innovate and deliver world-class lifestyle destinations that enhance its status as the globe’s best city to live, work and visit. “Dubai has entered a new phase of development driven by innovation and creativity. By taking advantage of the opportunities arising from the evolving global environment, Dubai’s competitiveness and reputation as a thriving global business and tourism hub continue are set to grow further. We remain committed to shaping a brighter future both for our people and the world. We have vast ambitions for the future and we are confident that we can transform our grand vision for development into reality. Palm Jebel Ali will further strengthen our urban infrastructure and consolidate the city’s emergence as one of the world’s leading metropolises. This new groundbreaking project reflects our strategic development plan centred on raising the quality of life and happiness of residents.” Part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Palm Jebel Ali is one of a series of visionary projects being undertaken by world-leading Dubai-based real estate master developer Nakheel. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin …

In line with Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s objective of solidifying the emirate’s position as one of the top three global cities for business and travel, business tourism accelerated its role in fostering economic growth during 2022. Continuing to drive Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector growth in Dubai in a post-pandemic new market, the largest operator across the wider region, Dubai World Trade Centre’s (DWTC) event calendar remained an economic catalyst for the nation – generating sustainably high returns for adjacent industries connected to the MICE ecosystem. The latest 2022 Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) Annual Report estimates DWTC’s total economic output across 63 large-scale events at AED 13Bn, of which a substantive AED 7.4Bn was retained within the local economy. These business events hosted, organised and delivered at the venue, welcomed nearly 1.2MM attendees with 40% being international – an impressive 49% YOY increase in foreign participation, emphasising Dubai’s leadership as a global mega-event hub. The study further observed that direct investments in an event at DWTC generated 7.4x in impact across the wider economy, meaning that every AED 1MM spent at these MICE events, drove circa AED 7.4MM of economic output for Dubai across other interlinked sectors. “Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the recently launched Dubai Economic Agenda D33, DWTC remains committed to furthering its contribution to the targets of doubling GDP over the next decade, particularly in consolidating its position as a top three global city,” said His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, in his capacity as Director General, DWTC Authority. “The MICE sector has long been an integral pillar of …

SAUDIA proudly launched its inaugural flight from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Gatwick International Airport in London. Gatwick Airport holds the second position among the United Kingdom’s airports. This launch is part of the implementation stages of the airline’s new strategy, aimed at expanding its reach to new international destinations, and connecting the world to the Kingdom, based on marketing and operational studies. It aligns with the vision of SAUDIA Group to operate flights to 25 destinations across 3 continents. The inaugural flight of SAUDIA, SV119, departed from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to the city of London. The event was attended by Mrs. Cecille El Beleidi, the British Consul General in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Mohammed Baakdhah, Vice President of Ground Operations at SAUDIA. The inauguration ceremony was held at the AlFursan Lounge, signaling the departure of the first flight at the airport. Mohammad Baakdhah highlighted the importance of strengthening relations between the two countries through the launch of new destinations by SAUDIA to Gatwick Airport, and soon to Birmingham. These additions will join the existing flights to London Heathrow Airport and Manchester International Airport. He further explained that the increase in destinations is accompanied by an unprecedented development of the SAUDIA fleet, ensuring the achievement of operational targets, in addition to continuous improvement in the digital service system.

Oman Air announced the return of its popular Maldives flight, starting 24 June 2023. With four weekly direct flights to the capital and easy access to the islands, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Starting from just OMR 149 per person, guests can plan a quick weekend getaway or a relaxing summer holiday with a choice of the following times: Flight Number Date Destination Timing From To Departure Arrival WY 381   Saturday, Sunday Muscat Malé 0210 0720 WY 382 Saturday, Sunday Malé Muscat 0920 1220 WY 383 Friday, Saturday Muscat Malé 0840 1350 WY 384 Friday, Saturday Malé Muscat 1505 1805 Oman Air has increased a number of its flights for the peak summer season, including Moscow, Bangkok, Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur, offering guests excellent value, convenient timings, and seamless connectivity. Moreover, guests can have their entire trip taken care of with a range of tailored packages from Oman Air Holidays. Tickets can be purchased through omanair.com, the Oman Air app, the Call Centre, any Oman Air sales office and official travel agents.  

Qatar Airways will be resuming a scheduled non-stop service between Tokyo International Airport  (“Haneda”) and Hamad International Airport, commencing on 1 June 2023. Qatar Airways will operate its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, equipped with 36 award-winning Qsuite Business Class seats and 247 Economy Class seats. In addition to the existing Narita-Doha service, the resumption of daily flights from Haneda Airport will increase the flight frequency from the greater Tokyo area from seven to 14 flights a week. Travellers from Tokyo will be able to enjoy seamless connections to over 160 destinations using the World Best Airline’s extensive global network, including popular destinations across Africa, Eurpore, the Middle East and more, through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ accolade for the ninth time in a row. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The resumption of the Tokyo Haneda-Doha service follows our major network expansion announced at ITB Berlin 2023, which will see an extra 655 weekly flights in 2023 compared to 2022. Japan remains a significant market for Qatar Airways and its passengers, and in addition to Haneda, the airline will soon be resuming flighs to Osaka this year.” Qatar Airways Regional Manager for Japan and Korea, Shinji Miyamoto, said, “We are very pleased to announce the resumption of flights to Haneda Airport due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also very pleased that Japanese customers will be able to experience Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class, Qsuite, which is being introduced for the first time ever in Japan. Qatar is scheduled to host various world-class events this year following the successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, including the coveted …