Sharing insights to their travel plans and preferences, the majority 43% of respondents expressed the desire to travel to Europe for their next holiday, followed by the Indian Ocean islands (20%). The most popular countries on travellers’ bucket lists include Switzerland, the Maldives and Turkey. A majority 28% of respondents plan to book leisure travel two to six months in advance, compared to a matter of days or weeks in previous years. Travellers are also booking more extensive holiday packages, with 37% of travellers adding ‘all-inclusive’ as part of an ideal travel package in 2023. A majority of respondents plan to travel in July 2023, while other travel peaks expected this year include April, June, August and December. The results of a widescale survey conducted by dnata Travel, the UAE’s longest serving travel provider, revealed Europe as the most desired destination for UAE travellers in 2023. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure at dnata Travel, commented: “We conducted our latest survey at a time of high demand, with every expectation that this will continue to grow. Locations such as Europe are popular for the diverse landscapes on offer, from a modern or historic city break to a beach escape, or an island retreat. Experiences focused on wellness and nature are also trending for travellers in 2023. “Our experts constantly monitor trends to offer the best possible, tailor-made holiday packages to UAE travellers.” Based on the results of the survey and overall booking trends, dnata Travel experts are sourcing a wider range of extensive holiday packages for 2023 working with its partners, worldwide. As an example, Club Med’s premium all-inclusive ‘summer mountain’ offering in Europe will form a focus for the …

Earth Hotels, a thoughtful and design-conscious hotel group for the ‘Earthly’ traveller, will open the first of its GCC-based properties in Q1 of 2025. Earth Shore, Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah will offer state-of-the-art rooms, a sustainable approach to build, and will provide visitors with an escape that inspires the adventurer within. Earth Hotels are designed to be softer on the environments that they inhabit, through careful consideration of construction methods, material selection, and energy conservation. The impressive new project Earth Shore, Marjan Island is being developed to reach an area of 300,000 sq, with 265 keys including resort rooms, GOAT terrace suites, and two-bedroom Sky Villas.  The destination will have direct beachfront access, a 13,000 sq ft social hub “sticky lounge”, and a signature stylish beach club with a dining and event space for up to 500 people. Alan Honein, Founder & Chief Executive Citizen at Earth Hotels, said: “Earth Hotels is set to be recognised for its dedication to sustainability and innovation. We are proud to have secured five individually unique hotels across the GCC and beyond, with an impressive total project value of more than 205 million USD. We hope to deliver our guests a unique set of lifestyle experiences that stand out in a crowded market.” Commenting on the buyer opportunity that the new RAK-based hotel will bring , Rami Moukarzel, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Earth Hotels, said: “We are excited to be offering individuals the dream of owning a slice of a beachfront lifestyle hotel through a unique and inclusive investment plan. This is a rare opportunity in leisure hospitality sector of the UAE, which promises to offer fruitful returns for hotel unit …

Rezlive, Turning Point and TravTalk Middle East will be hosting a networking evening in Dubai on 2nd May for the agents who will be making their way to the Arabian Travel Market this year. As the world meets for the first time after many bumpy years, these three key partners have joined together to ensure that the travel trade could experience excursions such as dune bashing, exotic belly dancing, fire show ending with a gala dinner on the sands of the desert in Dubai.

As part of Kuwait Airways’ continuous efforts to provide various services to its valued passengers, the company launched the “Just Upgrade” travel service through a bidding system, where customers can offer the best price to upgrade the seat, from Economy Class to Business Class, or from Business Class to Royal or First Class. The Director of Network and Planning at Kuwait Airways, Mrs. Shorouk Al-Awadhi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its latest distinguished service which is the “Just Upgrade” service, allowing customers to obtain the best price to upgrade their travel class through bidding.  Here the customer can submit a bid before the departure of their flight through the available electronic payment methods. This is followed by a confirmation email being sent to the customer stating an upgrade in the promotion, for which the customer has offered the highest price to reserve the seat.” Al-Awadhi added, “This will provide the passenger with an upgrade from Economy Class to Business Class, or from Business Class to Royal or First Class and offer several privileges, including priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling, access to premium class lounge, and varied selection of meal choices. Moreover, Kuwait Airways is also keen to design seats to keep pace with the best in the world and believes in the comfort and relaxation of the passenger during the flight and until the passenger reaches their destination, which is one among the company’s important priorities. Kuwait Airways’ on-board experience also includes ample spacious seats, international in-flight entertainment, local and international meal options to suit varied preferences and requirements.” The Director of Corporate Communication, Public Relations, and Marketing at Kuwait Airways, Mr. Khalid Al-Bustan continued by saying, …

More than 100 tourism representatives from Austria, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland will gather in Dubai later this month at the Discover Europe Travel Summit with the aim of strengthening relationships and exploring new opportunities within the Middle East travel market. The two-day networking event will take place at 25Hours Hotel Dubai One Central from April 29-30, the weekend immediately prior to the start of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the region’s largest travel exhibition. Promising an ideal prelude to ATM, Discover Europe is held in partnership with the European Travel Commission and set to draw attendance of at least 110 GCC buyers specialising in the culture and luxury sectors of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Set to feature presentations from the four national tourism boards along with one-to-one meetings and networking events, the summit will bring together buyers and exhibitors holding just under 4,500 meetings. Miguel Gallego, Head of Marketing at the European Travel Commission, said: “As we prepare to kick off the Discover Europe Travel Summit in Dubai, we are thrilled to be a partner at an event that has been collaborating with GCC buyers to strengthen our existing relationships and explore new opportunities. Our goal is to foster long-lasting partnerships and promote Europe’s rich culture, history, and natural beauty to the discerning travellers of the GCC region. We believe that by working together, we can create innovative travel experiences that showcase the best of what Europe has to offer and pave the way for a bright future of travel industry growth and success.” Michael Tauschmann, Head of Markets Middle East & India at the Austrian National Tourist Office, concluded: “It is an absolute privilege …

Advancing its sustainability efforts, Emirates and dnata have joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a voluntary global initiative that promotes responsible business practices and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “In the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, we are pleased to join the United Nations Global Compact, which is another step forward in the Emirates Group’s efforts to embed sustainable and responsible business practices across our operations. “Emirates and dnata have always taken a balanced approach to growth. Reflecting Dubai and the UAE’s long-term vision, we are tireless in our pursuit of excellence and progress, and we embrace the values of tolerance and respect. We will continue to invest in technologies, people, and partnerships to improve our business performance, expand our positive impact on the communities we serve, and reduce our environmental impact,” he added. As participants of the UNGC, Emirates and dnata commit to implementing the Global Compact’s Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and to report on its progress on these efforts annually. The Group will benefit from access to the UNGC’s extensive tools and resources to engage with its employees across the globe and improve their learning and training in Sustainability. The Emirates Group’s ongoing environmental initiatives focus on 3 areas: emissions reduction, responsible consumption and the preservation of wildlife and habitats. In June 2022, dnata pledged US$100 million to be invested over 2 years to enhance environmental efficiency in its operations. In January, Emirates successfully operated a milestone demonstration flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in one engine, supporting collective industry …

The event convened over 200 leading figures from the Dubai-based Chinese business community, underscoring DMCC’s commitment to attract Chinese businesses to Dubai. The event also included a panel discussion titled “Building business success in Dubai and the UAE with experiences from leading Chinese companies”. Speaking on the panel were senior members and representatives from China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Bank of China, China Mobile International Middle East & Africa, Dahua Technology, and Yingke & Shayan Legal Consulting. DMCC the world’s flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, successfully hosted its China Business Day at Almas Tower, celebrating the growing commercial ties between the UAE and China, and how DMCC provides dedicated support to Chinese businesses looking to expand through Dubai. Commenting on the event, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers said: “The UAE represents one of the strongest economies in the region and as a natural partner of the Belt and Road Initiative, it has risen as a prominent global gateway for Chinese businesses, particularly with its unparalleled logistics infrastructure and position along the New Silk Road. China has always been a market of strategic importance to Dubai and the mutual investments between the two countries continue to witness strong growth in various economic and commercial sectors. Through the extensive efforts and support of organisations like DMCC, we look forward to continued collaboration and seeing the relationship between our countries thrive and prosper even more. We look forward, through our international offices, to strengthen the trade ties between Dubai and China and attract foreign direct Investments in line with the objectives and goals of Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).” As a leading …

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed a sponsorship agreement with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai (RTA). According to the agreement, RTA will be the Platinum Sponsor of the World Green Economy Summit (WGES), which is organised by the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), DEWA, and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, for three sessions from 2023 to 2025. This supports the shared vision of DEWA and RTA to support the transition to a green economy and consolidate Dubai’s position as a global platform for sustainability. The agreement was signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and Chairman of the WGEO; and HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. “The World Green Economy Summit, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is part of the UAE’s contributions to the global community’s collective effort to launch sustainable initiatives to help the world transition into a green economy. The Summit plays a fundamental role in supporting the UAE’s outstanding efforts in climate action, as well as supporting its firm commitment to sustainability, unwavering support for energy and climate change issues, and the development of sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. It also reflects the UAE’s effective and influential role in achieving sustainable, low-carbon economic growth and ensuring a better future for humanity. It provides a strategic platform for developing effective and proactive plans to combat climate change, enhance international cooperation and overcome climate change challenges and risks,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of …

In keeping with the overarching theme of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, UAE-headquartered hospitality company TIME Hotels will reaffirm its position as a steadfast advocate of sustainability during the four-day regional exhibition. From the design and production of its exhibition stand, to the eco practices on display, TIME Hotels will demonstrate its impressive environmental credentials at ATM 2023. From a design perspective, the TIME exhibition stand at ATM has been made from recycled materials, with the structure painted with biodegradable paint – a more eco-friendly alternative to toxin-based paints which take longer to break down. LED lighting illuminates the stand, which is more energy efficient and has a longer life span. To minimise the carbon footprint involved in the whole process, materials were delivered to the venue in a single trip. The stand will be reused at future events for the next three years (for the 2024 and 2025 editions of ATM) and materials will be stored in a sustainably run warehouse. Any materials that are not able to be reused will be taken to licensed recycling centres so that their journey can continue elsewhere. CEO of TIME Hotels, Mohamed Awadalla commented: “In the past decade, TIME Hotels has successfully implemented a number of market-leading environmental initiatives. We are delighted that sustainability takes the spotlight at ATM 2023 and look forward to sharing the latest news on our environmental practices. We have thought about every detail for our presence at ATM to ensure the sustainable goals and initiatives of TIME Hotels are met onsite.“ Visitors to the TIME Hotels stand at ATM 2023 will be able to learn about the hydroelectric energy and hydroponic farming initiatives at its properties in …

Experience Abu Dhabi announced its participation in the 30th edition of the Arabian Travel Market 2023 (ATM 2023) at the Dubai World Trade Centre from the 1–4 May. Experience Abu Dhabi’s stand will be over 30% bigger than that of 2022, inspired by stunning natural landscapes such as Al Wathba Fossil Dunes, Al Ain Oasis and Saadiyat Beaches – and will engage guests, event participants and members of the media through immersive stand experiences. Revealing Abu Dhabi’s calendar of events and demonstrating the city’s untapped potential, Experience Abu Dhabi will reveal its latest ground-breaking summer campaign films, alongside new and exciting travel products to benefit visitors throughout the season and beyond. Alongside key stakeholders collectively sharing Abu Dhabi with the world, Experience Abu Dhabi will showcase the diversity of experiences that excite, inspire and restore, and highlight the emirate as a leading year-round destination. Representing Abu Dhabi, major Abu Dhabi stakeholders will present updates on events, experiences and attractions, including the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Etihad Arena and the world-class portfolio hotels and resorts across the emirate. DCT Abu Dhabi is also expected to announce and sign several Memorandums of Understanding and announcements of new developments and strategic partnerships for the year ahead. Arabian Travel Market is the market-leading international travel and tourism event. Assigning an industry-relevant theme each year, ATM 2023 will be presented under ‘Working Towards Net Zero’. Visit Experience Abu Dhabi stand in hall two, stand number ME2410 and ME2450. Opening hours are: 11am – 6pm on Monday, 10am – 6pm Tuesday and Wednesday and 10am – 5pm on Thursday.