Solidifying Dubai’s place as a major maritime tourism hub, Emirates and AIDA Cruises have renewed their partnership for a further two seasons. The renewed partnership was signed on the sidelines of the first day of ITB Berlin and is in line with Dubai’s efforts to significant grow its cruise capacity. Dubai continues to attract the biggest players in the industry through offering a seamlessly integrated maritime hub, with state-of-the-art handling facilities supported with unrivalled air connectivity. Emirates will explore a number of opportunities with AIDA Cruises for joint marketing, operational alignment and strategic planning around flight schedules from across its network, in addition to enhanced transportation solutions between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. The partnership will continue to focus on sharing relevant data and insights to improve service delivery, providing dedicated support teams for cruise passengers, and facilitating a smooth check-in process at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. The airline will also dedicate capacity for the next two seasons to ensure continued momentum to meet the demand for cruise packages to Dubai. The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline; and Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises. Adnan Kazim commented on the renewed partnership: “We’re proud of AIDA Cruises’ long-standing commitment to Dubai, when they were one of the first cruise liners to home port in 2006. We are readying the business for another robust cruise season in Dubai, and through the support of partners like AIDA Cruises anchoring in our home city and hub, we’ll continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as an attractive gateway for winter cruising.” “The Arabian Gulf is one of our most popular winter destinations due to its …

Cozmo Travel celebrated the inauguration of their largest retail outlet in Ras Al Khaimah. This not only marks a significant expansion for Cozmo Travel but also introduces the first Air Arabia City Check-in facility in the Emirate. Located strategically in Ras Al Khaimah, the new outlet showcases a seamless integration of Cozmo Travel’s comprehensive range of travel services with Air Arabia’s City Check-in Facility as well as their growing network of flights out of the Ras Al Khaima Hub. The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Sagr Al Qasimi the Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al-Khaimah and Mr. Adel Ali the CEO, Air Arabia Group; as well as other honorable dignitaries in the Emirate. “This new outlet reflects the shared commitment between Cozmo Travel and Air Arabia to enhancer the travel experience for our customers within the Emirate and the region by offering innovative travel solutions and unparalleled convenience with the City Check-in facility that will make traveling much smoother.” Said Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO Cozmo Travel. The ceremony also saw the attendance of representatives from various sectors, including the travel and tourism industry, airline, and media. Their presence highlights the collective effort to revolutionize the travel industry and provide travelers with unparalleled access to a comprehensive suite of services. With the establishment of this new office, Cozmo Travel continues to make strides in revolutionizing travel experiences, ensuring that every journey is not just a trip but a memorable adventure. The Cozmo Travel network is spread over 56 branches in 9 countries including UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Egypt & India; To ensure that the reach of Cozmo’s large …

Dubai Mall welcomed a record 105 million visitors in 2023, a jump of over 19% on the previous year’s 88 million; sales were also exceptionally strong in 2023. New figures released by the mall today also show a staggering 20 million people visited the mall in the first two months of this year alone, with 2024 set to be another record year. “These numbers reflect Dubai Mall’s impressive status and mirrors the forward-thinking leadership and strong economy of Dubai. Our mall embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and dedication to excellence, turning the leadership’s vision into a reality. Being an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation,” said Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar. The new figures also show how the mall has become a global draw, attracting visitors from every corner of the world. “This wide range of nationalities not only underscored the mall’s worldwide charm but also reflected the cosmopolitan culture of Dubai itself,” Alabbar added. Global Retail and Leisure Icon The mall’s events and promotions in 2023 and the beginning of 2024 were a key driver of its foot traffic, as well as essential festive occasions and international celebrations. Major events like the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Dubai Food Festival and the acclaimed 3 Day Super Sale further demonstrated the mall’s ability to draw and engage massive crowds. The mall’s digital footprint expanded significantly, with an Instagram following currently at 1.3 million. The mall’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in the high customer satisfaction scores, which averaged 4.6, reflecting positive feedback from thousands of customers. Elevating Shopping to an Art Form In 2023, Dubai Mall redefined luxury retail. The “Retail Relation” programme …

His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, today opened MRO Middle East and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) 2024. Running until 6th March, the co-located events are welcoming leaders from across the global aviation supply chain at a time where the industry is on a strong upwards trajectory, particularly in the Middle East. According to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast, the region’s commercial aircraft services market will more than double in value by 2042, growing from $12 billion to $28 billion and registering a 4.4% average annual growth, surpassing the global average growth of 3.6%. Set to contribute to this growth, the show has seen a 20% increase in footfall, and more than 240 exhibitors and 120 airlines have gathered to explore new avenues of collaboration, commercial opportunities and showcase industry-leading products and services. Key announcements and signings during the first day of MRO Middle East and AIME included Joramco announcing a new maintenance agreement with TUI, and HAECO announcing the induction of Emirates’ first Airbus A380 aircraft at its airframe facility in Xiamen, marking a new base maintenance contract between the two entities. The Go Live! Theater welcomed a host of global experts for sessions on key industry themes. The ‘Capacity Issues on the Horizon?’ panel discussed fleet expansion plans, collaboration and what MROs, OEMs and other suppliers must do to ensure they have enough bandwidth to sustain the new fleet size in the region. During the session, Justin ODonnell, Director Technical Operations at Riyadh Air, said: The transient nature of seasonal passenger traffic influences airlines to behave in ways that create a surge in MROs, especially during the winter period, …

PIF and ATP announce multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate the growth of global tennis. This new partnership focuses on enhancing global tennis and its long-term future, elevating youth and unlocking opportunities for tennis’ next generation. PIF to serve as the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings. Partnership incorporates PIF’s four sponsorship pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and ATP today unveiled a new multi-year strategic partnership, marking a significant shared commitment to enhancing global tennis for players, fans, tournament organizers and stakeholders at all levels of the sport. The major partnership will see PIF become the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings, celebrating players’ journeys and progress across the season and championing excellence as the Year-End No. 1, presented by PIF, is crowned at the Nitto ATP Finals which will take place in Turin, Italy until 2025. PIF will partner with ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing and the Nitto ATP Finals, in addition to the Next Gen ATP Finals, hosted in Jeddah until 2027. Following the launch of ATP’s Baseline program earlier this year, PIF has further committed to develop and unlock new opportunities for young players and player pathway initiatives, providing a significant boost to the game’s next generation of stars. The ATP partnership forms part of PIF’s broader sponsorship platform, investing in people, projects and partnerships with an emphasis on the brand’s four pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. Together, PIF and ATP will also collaborate to elevate the long-term future of tennis. PIF will actively contribute to ATP’s OneVision Strategic Plan which focuses on driving unity, enhancing fan experiences and leveraging scalable growth opportunities across the …

SAUDIA announced its participation in the third edition of the world-renowned technical conference “LEAP”, taking place from March 4th to 7th, 2024, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center. At this prestigious event, SAUDIA will unveil its latest digital initiatives, marking a new era in service excellence driven by cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and integrated connectivity solutions tailored to enhance the travel experience for all guests. Preparations have been finalized to welcome visitors at SAUDIA stand No. A02, offering an interactive experience where attendees can explore a range of digital projects aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Key highlights include the debut of “Travel Companion”, an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to streamline booking processes, flight planning, and destination exploration, revolutionizing the travel experience. SAUDIA takes pride in being the first airline in the MENA region to pioneer this technology, offering attendees an exclusive opportunity to experience its beta version firsthand. Additionally, SAUDIA will showcase “GovClick”, an e-wallet service facilitating seamless government ticket issuance and after-sales services through a unified digital platform, with plans to expand to benefit corporations and individuals as well. The revamped digital experience of the “AlFursan” loyalty program underscores SAUDIA’s commitment to simplifying procedures, allowing guests to effortlessly manage rewards, track mileage activity, and upgrade membership levels with a single click. Moreover, SAUDIA will present its “Guest Care”, delivering swift and efficient solutions tailored to diverse operational scenarios, ensuring guests are promptly updated on flight details and disruptions. Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Digital Transformation at SAUDIA Group, emphasized the significance of SAUDIA’s participation in this international conference, held in the Kingdom, a hub for leading events across various sectors. She highlighted the pivotal …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority will once again showcase its many offerings at  Messe Berlin from 5 -7 March 2024 to display their latest products and services to various markets across the globe on one platform over 3 full days of business interactions. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, shared “At this year’s ITB Berlin we are proud to showcase Sharjah as a comprehensive 360-degree destination for travellers from every corner of the globe, offering a truly experiential mix of cultural, adventure, natural, and seasonal experiences for all ages. In line with UAE’s Green Agenda 2030, our continued commitment to sustainability has propelled Sharjah’s status as an example of success in the tourism industry. As a regional leader in ecotourism, Sharjah’s success serves as a prime example of our dedication to preserving environmental, heritage, and cultural values. The collaborative efforts with our esteemed partners in the government and private sectors have proven essential in achieving these milestones. Together, we are continuously positioning Sharjah as a global destination, contributing towards the rapidly expanding ecotourism market.”

The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Abu Dhabi has officially announced the availability of eVisas to Morocco for residents of the UAE. Individuals holding a valid Emirates ID card with a minimum of 180 days of legitimate residency will be eligible for the eVisa. The eVisa will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and allows a single entry for a short stay of up to 30 days within the Moroccan territory.

Yalago announced a record high in hotel bookings with its global travellers in January and February 2024, since the inception of the company in 2017. Yalago’s team sources exclusive, leading rates for hotels across the world, offering significant savings for trade partners and travellers. In comparison to January and February 2023 levels, hotel bookings through Yalago have grown 25% year-on-year in this time period in 2024. Overall, Yalago’s highest number of hotel bookings in 2024 so far have been made across the UAE, Thailand, USA, Maldives, and Spain, respectively. The largest growth destinations, trending for 2024, include the USA, Maldives, Greece, Mexico, and Hong Kong, with bookings up more than 100% compared to 2023. The largest source markets for travel include the UK, USA, Thailand, Australia, and Italy – with record numbers of travellers from these countries booking hotel stays this year. Trends with global travellers include a longer lead-time for bookings, expanding by seven days compared to previous years. The global average for 2024 is three-and-a-half months to make a hotel booking ahead of the date of travel. Yalago’s global, direct hotel portfolio has grown 15% since 2023, and this year its team is focused on expanding this further across markets in trend. This includes across the USA and Asia – with Bali and Thailand as an example, trending due to the affordability of world-class accommodation options. Maria Del Pozo, Head of Sales Europe at Yalago, commented: “Travel demand is at a high, and travellers are seeking to secure their ideal accommodation and better value further in advance of their journey. This is where Yalago can support global travellers, with increasingly affordable rates across the world’s leading destinations and hotels – …

Jazeera Airways announced that the airline’s current Chief Executive Officer, Rohit Ramachandran, will be stepping down after over seven successful years with the organization. Barathan Pasupathi (Bara), a former CFO of Jazeera Airways, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Jazeera Airways effective 26 March 2024. Bara comes with over 30 years of experience in aviation, oil and gas, and supply chain management. His aviation industry experience spans key finance, management, and operations functions for airlines as well as aircraft procurement and leasing. Speaking about this management change, Marwan Boodai, Jazeera Airways Chairman said, “Rohit has been a strong, visionary and passionate leader, and a true champion of our brand and our people. He has led Jazeera in its enormous chapter of growth and delivered solid and robust results with a deep commitment to operational excellence while building shareholder value, which is deeply respected by industry peers. During his tenure and by forging strong strategic relationships with key stakeholders, supported by the strength of our outstanding Jazeera teams, Jazeera tripled its fleet. Under his leadership, the airline expanded into 65 destinations, hit record passenger volumes, achieved unsurpassed results, and initiated a purpose built, profitable Jazeera Terminal 5. I am particularly grateful for the way Rohit helped navigate Jazeera through the pandemic, ensuring we are set up for future success. The business is now in a strong and resilient position and well placed to navigate the next chapter as we look towards the order book of 26 A320neo and A321neo aircraft. I would like to thank Rohit for his exceptional contribution to Jazeera over many years. Bara, a former Jazeera Airways CFO was instrumental in the setup of Sahaab Aircraft …