Qatar Tourism has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mowasalat Karwa to innovate and enhance the tourism experience for visitors coming to Qatar via cruises. The MoU aims to enhance coordination and cooperation between the two parties in the field of cruise tourism, which in turn is an integral part of the National Tourism Strategy that seeks to make Qatar one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. The MoU outlines the joint cooperation between the two organizations to maintain the continuity of communication with transparency, optimize cost, and provide the necessary support for the success of the upcoming cruise season. Qatar Tourism will provide Mowasalat Karwa with data and statistics related to the tourism sector to facilitate their cooperation, and will send advance notice of the arrival times of ships and cruise ships, enabling effective planning of transport services. The MoU was signed by H.E. Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, and Mr. Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, CEO of Mowasalat Karwa. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Cruise tourism is a key pillar in supporting Qatar’s national tourism strategy and contributing to Qatar’s position on the global tourism map. Qatar Tourism is working continuously with its key partners to ensure an exceptional tourism experience for visitors to Qatar. Transportation plays an important role in enhancing this experience, and we are confident that our partnership with Mowasalat will contribute to the success of the current cruise season.” Mr. Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, CEO of Karwa, said: “We believe in the importance of transportation for visitors and its impact on the competitiveness of tourist destinations. Tour operators in Qatar market …

Cozmo Travel clinched ‘Most Trusted Travel Partner in the Middle East’ Award at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. Gallery of Legends 2016 and CEO of Cozmo Travel, Jamal Abdulnazar shares, “Participating in the Arabian Travel Awards year after year is truly an enriching experience, fostering industry connections and celebrating excellence in travel. Grateful for the recognition! Being recognized as Most Trusted Travel Partner is an immense honor. It’s a testament to our commitment to excellent travel services and a source of pride for our dedicated team. This award fuels our determination to elevate our standards and clients’ expectations even higher in 2024. The recognition inspires us to innovate and deliver unparalleled travel experiences. Thank you for the encouragement!”

Al Naboodah Travel clinched Best GSA  and Best Corporate Travel Agency at the sixth edition of the prestigious Arabian Travel Awards. Speaking on the continued win, Nasir Jamal Khan, the CEO of Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies shared, “Al Naboodah Travel Marks 50 Years of GSA Partnership In 1973, Al Naboodah Travel embarked on a journey that has spanned half a century, starting with its ground-breaking GSA collaboration with Air France. We are proud in the company’s recognition at the Arabian Travel Awards 2023, winning the Best GSA award for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting its consistent dedication to serving UAE airlines. The travel and tourism industry’s excellence takes center stage as Arabian Travel Awards recognizes Al Naboodah Travel as the Best Corporate Travel Agency. We extend heartfelt thanks to the entire Al Naboodah Travel team, dedicating the award to their collective efforts. Gratitude is also expressed to Arabian Travel Awards for consistently organizing this impactful event. This accolade serves as a motivating force for Al Naboodah Travel to sustain and surpass current standards, meeting the expectations of valued clients and customers.”

The industry-defining Dubai Association Centre Conference is set to return for its fourth edition, 27-28 February 2024, with the theme ‘Value Amplified: Associations Empowering Change’ and hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Reflecting Dubai’s continued growth as a global association hub, the conference will once again provide a powerful platform for sector leaders and experts from around the world to come together and consolidate the pivotal role associations play in not only serving the needs and aspirations of their members, but also as agents of positive change within their communities and wider societies. Organised by the Dubai Association Centre and taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, the 2024 edition will explore innovative strategies, best practices, and collaborative approaches to create tangible and lasting value for communities and societies. Targeted at association executives and stakeholders who play a crucial role in leadership and management, including government officials and strategic partners, the conference aims to contribute to the immediate civic, economic and social development of the region. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said: “Through the Dubai Association Centre Conference, the city has consistently demonstrated a commitment to not only developing a vibrant association community here, but also offering a platform to navigate change and forge new paths for the sector globally. As Dubai’s own economy continues to evolve to meet the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda – D33 – the city will provide an ideal setting to explore the theme around empowering change, and we look forward …

Emirates joins UAE based research consortium for renewable and advanced aviation fuels. In the UAE Year of Sustainability, and at the 3rd ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) was held in Dubai, eight founding entities announced the launch of the “Air-CRAFT” initiative – a UAE based research consortium focused on developing, producing, and scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies. Air-CRAFT, or the UAE Centre for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation, is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring together entities across the value chain – industrial policy makers, aviation regulators, fuel producers, academia and researchers, aircraft and powerplant manufacturers, and airline operators. While based in the UAE, the consortium will also engage with, and welcome the participation of relevant international entities as it progresses. The new initiative was announced on the sidelines of CAAF/3 today and ahead of COP28. Air-CRAFT is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. “The aviation sector holds great importance as a key contributor to the GDP and as a target sector for our robust decarbonization drive,” said His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “The UAE has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, and this goal can only be achieved by slashing the emissions across the board. Air-CRAFT will go a long way in supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector, helping to make it resilient and sustainable well into the future.”   His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the UAE and Chairman of the GCAA said: Introducing ‘Air-CRAFT’ at CAAF3 in Dubai emphasizes the UAE’s commitment to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, uniting government, private sector, and academia …

Emirates has become the world’s first airline to operate an A380 demonstration flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Today’s flight, proudly commanded by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Philippe Lombet, took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB) with one of four engines powered on 100% SAF, helping demonstrate its potential as a drop-in replacement that matches jet fuel’s technical and chemical requirements, while being a more sustainable alternative. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85%* over the fuel’s life cycle when compared to conventional jet fuel. Demonstration flights like the one conducted today pave the way for future standardisation, qualification and adoption for 100% SAF flying, as governments adopt broader strategies to support the production and scale up of SAF. The A380 demonstration flight underlines the performance and compatibility of SAF, making it a safe and reliable fuel source, and contributes to the growing body of research carried out by the industry to evaluate the beneficial effects of 100% SAF on aircraft performance. SAF is currently capped at a 50% blend limit in engines for commercial flights. The Emirates A380 demonstration flight comes as the aviation industry, international organisations, regulatory bodies and high-level officials driving policy-related decisions converge in Dubai for the Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3). Dedicated collaborators from Airbus, Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney, Neste, Virent and ENOC have been working on the testing, technical assessments and data analysis for today’s flight. The 100% drop-in SAF used on today’s flight includes renewable aromatics and closely mimics the characteristics of conventional jet fuel. This is the first time that drop-in SAF has been used on an A380 aircraft, …

On the sidelines of Qatar Travel Mart, Cozmo Travel signed an MoU with SAUDIA in order to boost tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cozmo Travel has been instrumental in carrying out various marketing campaigns to promote the kingdom across the GCC. This partnership will be enhancing the efforts put forward by Cozmo Travel.

Air Arabia announced the commencement of its first non-stop flight from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE to Kozhikode in Kerala, India. Prior to the inaugural flight, which departed today, an inaugural ceremony took place at RAK International Airport in attendance of key dignitaries, including H.E. Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah; Mr. Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India to Dubai and the Northern Emirates; Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive of Air Arabia; trade partners and other esteemed guests. H.E. Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, board member of General Civil Aviation Authority & RAK Executive Council, said: “The introduction of this new route underscores Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to advancing its aviation sector and enhancing connectivity. Air Arabia’s new service aligns with our vision of developing Ras Al Khaimah’s regional and international air travel which contributes significantly to the growth of our tourism sector. By providing convenient and affordable travel options for both a flourishing Indian resident community in Ras Al Khaimah as well as a thriving tourist market, we aim to attract more visitors to experience the unique offerings of Ras Al Khaimah”. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “We are glad to begin our new service between Ras Al Khaimah and Kozhikode, further expanding our reach and providing affordable travel options to our valued passengers. This new route not only strengthens our commitment to offering convenient and value-driven travel options between both cities but also reflects the strong tourism and trade ties between both nations”. The new direct flight …

HE Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), unveiled the latest triumphs in the tourism, development, hospitality, and investment projects undertaken by the authority in Kalba. Al Qaseer provided a comprehensive overview of the 3 noteworthy projects, each a testament to Shurooq’s dedication to realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, in elevating the eastern region into a premier investment and tourism destination. These projects include Kalba Beach, Kingfisher Retreat, and Nomad. In discussions surrounding Kalba beach, the CEO of Shurooq underscored the project’s commitment to preserving the natural ecosystem of Kalba at every stage of development. The project’s construction processes will exclusively involve environmentally friendly materials, with work set to commence in the First quarter of 2024 and handed over in the third quarter of 2025. Spanning an impressive 9.5 km, the beach is situated in the eastern region of the Emirate of Sharjah. HE further highlighted the project’s aspiration to become a premier tourist destination in the eastern region, boasting an array of restaurants, cafes, kiosks, and a diverse range of service and entertainment facilities for beachgoers. Notably, a dedicated play area for children will also be featured. Kalba Beach is steadfast in adhering to the rigorous standards of the Blue Flag global programme, ensuring services meet stringent safety criteria. Moreover, Al Qaseer highlighted that the expansion works of the “Kingfisher Retreat” project will be concluded in the upcoming month, December 2023. The retreat serves as an entrance to environmental reserves and is situated approximately 30 metres from the beach in Kalba City. Twenty luxury tents have been added to the project, …

Participating for the first time Air Astana won the title of ‘Best Airline Central Asia’ at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. Sudhip Valiyara – Marketing and Sales Manager, UAE – Air Astana shared, “The Arabian Travel Awards celebrated excellence in the travel and hospitality industry with high attendance, fostering networking in a vibrant, fun and energetic atmosphere. Winning the award for Best Airline – Central Asia was an exhilarating honor, validating dedication and commitment in the industry. The recognition bestowed a profound sense of achievement, affirming the hard work and passion invested. The accolade from the Arabian Travel Awards serves as a catalyst, inspiring greater dedication and innovation in 2024, driving me to surpass previous accomplishments and set new benchmarks.”