Safarak Travel and Tourism, the premier destination management company based in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), is thrilled to announce its recent membership with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the renowned global community and knowledge hub dedicated to the international association and governmental meetings industry. As RAK emerges as a growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination, Safarak Travel and Tourism’s collaboration with ICCA is a strategic move to bring world-class association events to the region. This aligns seamlessly with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA) long-term vision to position Ras Al Khaimah as a preferred destination for international meetings. “The affiliation with ICCA is a significant milestone for Safarak Travel and Tourism. It opens doors to a global MICE community and allows us to showcase Ras Al Khaimah as a strong contender for hosting international events.” said Cathy Mead, General Manager of Safarak Travel and Tourism With RAK gaining prominence in the MICE sector, this partnership with ICCA enables Safarak Travel and Tourism to play an active role in a global business networking platform. The collaboration provides opportunities to educate the international community about Ras Al Khaimah while fostering connections with planners who might be already familiar with other Emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, commented: “ICCA is thrilled to witness Safarak Travel and Tourism’s continued commitment to excellence in the industry. Their recent endeavors, especially the strategic collaboration with ICCA, exemplify their dedication to shaping Ras Al Khaimah as a premier destination for international meetings. This alliance not only showcases Safarak Travel and Tourism’s prowess but also underlines the growing significance of Ras Al Khaimah in the global Business …

The Hotel Galleria Jeddah, Curio Collection by Hilton was opened by Hilton President & CEO Chris Nassetta. Two-thirds of Hilton’s Saudi pipeline is under construction across the Kingdom, with plans to exceed 100 properties in the coming years. Hilton’s President & CEO Chris Nassetta visited the Ministry of Tourism to further discuss Hilton’s growth plans across the Kingdom. Hilton is re-affirming its commitment to growth in Saudi Arabia during a visit led by President & CEO Chris Nassetta as the global hospitality company plans to quadruple its presence and open more than 60 new hotels across the Kingdom in the coming years. Hilton will be introducing more of its award-winning brands in new tourism destinations and large-scale developments, as well as major cities and regional locations across the country. H.E. Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, stated: This significant expansion underscores our dedication to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s tourism infrastructure, positioning the Kingdom as a prime opportunity for global investors. In line with our Vision 2030 objectives, we are aiming to increase hotel rooms to 550,000 by 2030, showcasing the vast opportunities for private sector investment in our tourism recovery efforts. Our collaborative efforts with leading international brands, including Hilton, highlight our commitment to developing a world-class tourism sector. By focusing on enriching our hospitality offerings, as well as activities and entertainment options, we are catering to the growing number of visitors attracted by our sporting events, giga-projects, and cultural and religious sites. Our goal is to welcome 150 million tourists by 2030 and increase tourism’s contribution to our GDP by 10%.” Chris Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton said: “It’s great to be back in Saudi Arabia and experience the incredible progress made …

Riyadh Air and Adobe announced a strategic technology partnership. Riyadh Air will integrate with a broad range of travel partners, both in the Kingdom and globally, allowing guests to manage their entire travel experience through its digital properties. As the lead systems integrator, IBM Consulting will employ Adobe’s Experience Cloud technologies to create a cohesive and tailored travel journey for Riyadh Air guests. With plans to carry its first passengers in 2025, Riyadh Air aims to connect the Kingdom to more than 100 destinations around the world, supporting both the National Aviation Strategy’s and National Tourism Strategy ambitions to bring 330 million annual visitors to the Kingdom by 2030. “We’re on a mission to shape the future of travel and meet guest’s expectations of their travel experience,” said Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer at Riyadh Air. “Through our strategic partnership with Adobe, we will be able to create incredible, personalized experiences for our guests at every stage and every moment of their journey, from planning their trips towards booking and boarding their flight and towards the arrival destination across the world.” “As a new digitally native airline, Riyadh Air has an opportunity to push the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to delivering personalized, real-time digital experiences for air travelers,” said Anil Chakravarthy, president, Digital Experience Business at Adobe. “The airline’s vision, combined with the power of Experience Cloud and generative AI, holds the promise of setting entirely new standards for digital experiences in the travel industry and beyond.” Adobe technology will be used by Riyadh Air to offer a seamless, end-to-end travel experience to the guests traveling globally to and from Saudi Arabia, as well as those traveling …

In a significant move towards fostering collaboration between the tourism promotion and education sectors in the Emirate of Ajman, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been successfully signed between the Ajman Department of Tourism Development (ADTD) and the Private Education Coordination Office in Ajman. This collaboration aims to fortify the relationship between the two entities, establishing a strategic partnership crucial for the success of private education in the emirate, and aligning with international best practices. The MoU was formalized in the presence of His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development, and Acting Director-General of the Private Education Coordination Office in Ajman. This initiative solidifies a comprehensive strategic partnership of paramount significance in elevating private education initiatives in the emirate to international standards. The memorandum outlines various facets of collaboration, encompassing the exchange of experiences and best practices, service-related areas, and cultural diversity initiatives catering to students and intercultural professionals. Additionally, the agreement includes joint efforts in organizing conferences, seminars, and workshops. Expressing his thoughts after the signing, His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi remarked, “This memorandum marks a significant stride in nurturing collaboration within the private education coordination framework. We are dedicated to sharing our efforts for the advancement of private education and delivering greater sector services collectively in the emirate.” Alhashmi stated, “This strategic diversification will play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of private education in the emirate, leading to new opportunities that contribute to unique experiences for everyone involved. We are confident that this collaboration will aid in building advanced societies and aligning with Ajman’s vision towards comprehensive development and sustainable progress.” The partnership involves sharing effective expertise and best …

The Tourism Development Fund has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dan Company, one of the Public Investment Fund companies specializing in agri, eco, and adventure tourism that offers a mix of daytime hospitality experiences and overnight stays, with the aim of supporting investments in the agritourism sector in the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy. The agreement was signed by the CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, Qusai bin Abdullah Al-Fakhri, and the CEO of Dan Company, Abdulrahman Abaalkhail. This agreement comes within the framework of the Fund’s goal to support and encourage the private sector by providing financing programs for farm owners and developing the business of the agritourism sector, supporting the future of tourism and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a promising global tourist destination. Commenting on the signing, Qusai bin Abdullah Al-Fakhri, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, said: “This memorandum reflects our firm commitment to developing and enabling all investments in the tourism sector and creating qualitative investment opportunities for the private sector to support the future of the tourism industry in the Kingdom and enhance its competitiveness, providing unique experiences for our visitors. It also contributes to the sustainability and growth of the tourism sector, which is considered one of the pillars of economic development.” Al-Fakhri added: “Integrating rural agricultural elements into tourism programs will enrich visitors’ experiences and provide them with a unique opportunity to discover the beauty of nature and its competitive potential and to connect with the local agricultural culture.” Abdulrahman Abaalkhail, CEO of Dan Company, welcomed the signing of the memorandum with the Tourism Development Fund, stressing that it will support the development of agritourism …

In a special interview with TTME Amsa Hospitality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it was shared that they will be looking at developing new properties across tier 2 cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve the mid scale market which will bring in a good number of visitors to the Kingdom. They already signed 18 properties with Accor last year at ATM and this year they plan on bringing a new Saudi brand as an international brand by Q4, more details will be revealed later this year. The management team of Amsa Hospitality shared that their main focus would also be in keeping with Vision 2030 and sustainability to be incorporated in the properties that will be opened. The team consisted, Aamir Riaz – Chief Operating Officer, Malik Ali – Chief Financial Officer, Mohamad Mandili – Chief People Officer, Laurent Cartier – Chief Research and Development Officer and Bandar Abdulmajeed – Chief Brand and Marketing Officer.

The inaugural Saudi Travel Mart successfully concluded with TravTalk ME as media partner with 14k plus visitors. The fruitful three days witnessed the travel trade flocking from around the globe to connect with 135 exhibitors from 20 countries. Speaking with TTME, Mohamed Al Harbi CEO of Saudi Travel Mart shared, “my intention is to position Saudi Arabia as one of the most visited countries in the world and promote inbound travel to the Kingdom. We lacked a B2B platform for our travel trade partners to connect with the new companies that have risen in the kingdom over the past few years. Hence we planned this three day exhibition with some of the big names in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors so that they will have an opportunity to connect, network and talk business with new partners. We are thankful to all our partners who joined us and had faith in us as we started a journey together to position Saudi Arabia as one of the most sought after destinations and for the next edition, we hope to bring in more players together.”

WegoPro announced its collaboration with Circles. This partnership aims to enhance the booking experience for business travelers by integrating data roaming services seamlessly within their booking journey on WegoPro. With this collaboration, businesses can now streamline their business travelers’ experience across both pre and post-booking stages on the same platform, ensuring better control and efficiency while meeting the needs of the travelers. By adding connectivity services, WegoPro not only elevates the convenience for the business traveler but also enables businesses to manage all expenses within the same platform, simplifying the entire travel process. “We are thrilled to partner with Circles to enhance the business travel experience for our users,” said Prashant Kirtane, CEO of WegoPro. “By integrating Jetpac’s eSIM into our platform, we are empowering business travelers with seamless connectivity and exclusive perks, further solidifying WegoPro as the ultimate solution for modern business travel.” One of the key highlights of this collaboration is the introduction of Jetpac’s eSIM, offering users the ultimate convenience of travel roaming services. With a one-time installation of the eSIM, travelers can enjoy connectivity across all destinations covered by Jetpac, eliminating the hassle of SIM swapping forever. This eSIM can be used in over 100 countries and across multiple destinations within 30 days, enabling travelers to connect instantly upon landing without worrying about data roaming charges. Aditya Goyal, Business Head of New Business Build in Circles, said: “We are very excited to partner with WegoPro to bring our award-winning Jetpac Travel eSIM product to Business Travelers. With Jetpac Travel eSim, WegoPro customers will get seamless connectivity around the world. This is a new milestone in revolutionizing the Business Travel across the globe”. Jetpac’s eSIM also comes …

Miral, in collaboration with The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Airports and OACIS ME LLC, an off-airport baggage processing solutions provider, has launched airport check-in services at The Fountains at Yas Mall. The collaboration allows guests and their families the opportunity to explore dining experiences, shopping and entertainment at Yas Mall, as well as theme parks Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and CLYMB™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi prior to departure, supporting guests to optimise their time before take-off. Available exclusively for Etihad Airways and Air Arabia flights, the initiative aims to elevate the overall travel experience for guests and their families. The user-friendly process simplifies and saves time for UAE residents and international visitors before embarking on travel plans. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said: “As we unveil the revolutionary airport check-in at The Fountains at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, it is a testament to our relentless efforts to position Yas Island as a global destination for leisure and entertainment, while contributing to making Abu Dhabi a top tourism hub. We believe in creating memorable moments that matter for our guests, and this transformative service is poised to redefine the way our guests embark on their journeys, seamlessly, efficiently and distinctly.” Titten Yohannan, Chairman and CEO at OACIS Middle East, said: “We are thrilled to announce the strategic partnership between OACIS and Miral, which brings forth the YAS Mall City check-in activation. This collaboration, in conjunction with the launch of futuristic Abu Dhabi Terminal A, is a testament to our joint commitment to enhancing Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a top tourist destination. The YAS Mall City Check-in reflects the …

SAUDIA, signed a contract with Collins Aerospace, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to elevate guest experience and advance operational capabilities. This collaboration signifies a significant upgrade to Saudia’s fleet interiors and paves the way for further synergies for Saudia Group’s subsidiary, Saudia Technic. Under this agreement, Collins Aerospace, a globally recognized leader in aviation solutions, will install newly designed seats in Saudia’s upcoming Boeing 787 fleet, scheduled for delivery from early 2026 onwards. Additionally, a comprehensive seat retrofit program with an aim to enhance both functionality and aesthetics, is planned for Saudia’s current Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 fleet, starting in late 2025 and concluding by late 2027. It’s worth mentioning that the Business Class cabin across Saudia’s wide-body fleet will all consist of private suites, ensuring an elevated and comfortable travel experience for Saudia guests. A key feature of the plan involves the establishment of localized repair capabilities as well as select spares manufacturing capabilities with Saudia Technic, reinforcing Group’s commitment to the localization of content in the region. This will improve Saudia’s in-house repair capability, streamline spares support, deploy localized product support, and implement comprehensive solutions to optimize fleet performance and operational efficiency. “We are thrilled to join forces with Collins Aerospace to introduce state-of-the-art Business and Economy Class seats into our new fleet, as well as retrofit our existing fleet’s interiors,” commented Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Saudia. “This partnership represents a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering exceptional comfort and convenience to our guests. Additionally, the establishment of additional capabilities in Jeddah underscore our dedication to fostering local expertise and driving economic growth.” He added, “This synergy reflects the Group’s …