According to Skyscanner’s latest research, 87% of UAE travellers are planning to get away this anticipated Eid Al Adha holiday. Top 10 Searched Countries from the UAE for Eid Al Adha: UK, Philippines, India, Everywhere – According to Skyscanner’s latest survey, 55% of UAE travellers would like to travel somewhere they have never been before this Eid. (Everywhere search indicates that travellers don’t yet know where to go and are looking for inspiration and/or are being price conscious; this is a Skyscanner filter that orders destinations by cheapest price), Thailand, Italy, Turkey, USA, Indonesia and Maldives. Top 10 Searches (Cities) London, Manila, Bangkok, Colombo, Denpasar (Bali), Male, Istanbul, Rome, Tokyo and Singapore. Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert said:  “In our latest polling, 65% of UAE travellers shared that price is very important factor in determining whether they would go on holiday during Eid al Adha. The good news is that even during busy periods like Eid or summer, which would normally be more expensive times to travel, prices are not rising on all routes, nor at the same rate, which means there are still competitive deals for travellers who remain flexible, are open to discovering new destinations and most importantly, know how to shop around and compare fares using sites like Skyscanner. As we approach Eid Al Adha, most travellers from the UAE are planning to travel with family (74%) and groups of friends (19%) during the public holiday, whilst the three most popular types of trips this Eid are visiting family and friends abroad, outdoor adventure, and relaxing beach getaways.”  

Radisson Hotel Group continues its ambitious growth in the region with the signing of seven new hotels, adding over 1,400 rooms to its MENA portfolio. The new hotels expand the Group’s brands, spanning from upscale to premium luxury lifestyle. The group will be expanding its resort presence in Casablanca and Saidia in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and South Africa along with the Group’s first hotel openings in Reunion Island and Ghana. Elie Younes, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer at Radisson Hotel Group comments: “Thanks to the relevance of our brands and trust of our owners, we have a successful growth momentum in Africa thus far, this year. With the continent remaining a focus market for us, we are committed to further contribute to the African hospitality industry, providing more possibilities to our guests and employment opportunities to the local communities.’’

American Express announced that Kuwait’s low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways, now accepts American Express card payments. American Express Cardmembers now have greater payment choice and are able to use their American Express Cards with Jazeera, which operates a robust network spanning 66 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Central and South Asia as well as Africa. “We are thrilled to be working with Jazeera Airways, increasing our range of accepted payment methods and adding value to our Cardmembers,” said Rasheed Khuzam, Kuwait Country Manager, American Express Middle East. “As our network of airline partners continues to grow, we are committed to offering our members added convenience and accessibility, as well as the very best of travel options and experiences.” With the addition of Jazeera Airways, American Express Cardmembers will be able to use their American Express Card when booking flights on jazeeraairways.com or via the Jazeera app making it easier than ever to explore the world. Jazeera Airways has seen year-on-year growth, serving 3.58 million passengers in 2022 and is expected to reach 10 million by 2028. The airline’s steady expansion of routes has made it a popular choice for travelers seeking value flights and excellent service. Bharathan Ravindran, Vice President – Commercial, Jazeera Airways said “At Jazeera Airways we strive to offer the best customer experience for all our passengers. This includes a large variety of destinations, comfortable flights and great value add services. The Jazeera website and mobile application, ranked the no. 1 travel app in Kuwait, are the most popular and rewarding channels to book our flights. By accepting American Express payments, we aim to provide customers even greater payment choice.” The partnership will offer American Express Cardmembers …

The new national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air flew will make its public debut on June 19th at the 54th Paris Air Show as part of Riyadh Air’s first appearance to global audiences. A new chapter in air travel is taking the skies with the world class, digitally native airline “Riyadh Air”. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted aircraft with the modern and striking livery was revealed in Riyadh at King Khaled International Airport on June 12th marking a national celebration of the new carrier. The historical moment and ceremony were attended by highnesses, excellencies, and official dignitaries. The new airline will elevate the way the world travels with a new level of guest experience and technology that will pioneer the future of the travel industry. The brand identity of Riyadh Air reflects the modern and forward-thinking theme from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is inspired by the warmth and hospitality of the Kingdom and the vibrant lavender colors that carpet the desert in the spring, the beautiful livery is one of a series which will continue to push boundaries in aviation. It has been designed to incorporate visual references to the Kingdom and the city which include the sweeping curves of Arabic script with the global campaign tagline ‘The Future Takes Flight’. Riyadh Air will build connectivity from the capital city to over 100 destinations around the world due to its convenient location with over 60 per cent of the world’s population within eight hours flying time. The airline aims to be significantly innovative in providing travel services in the sector, while being instrumental in delivering the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the …

dusitD2 Kenz Hotel Dubai, a vibrant four-star business hotel in the heart of the city’s thriving Barsha Heights, has solidified its sustainability initiatives while enhancing guest experience in a more environmentally and socially responsible way. “The hotel industry has shown a longstanding commitment to sustainability,” says Bassam Zakaria, Cluster General Manager of dusitD2 Kenz Hotel. “We are one with them as we provide a responsible stay for our employees, guests, communities, and planet”. In line with Dusit International’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), dusitD2 Kenz Hotel’s ongoing and upcoming core priorities are as follows: Responsible consumption As part of the roadmap set by dusitD2 Kenz Hotel on sustainability, the property is becoming more mindful of its consumption–from providing a stellar guest experience to employee involvement. In addition to the current waste management and recycling policies, dusitD2 Kenz employees will be undergoing up-to-date training on proper recycling and waste management that will be useful for them within the hotel and in their own personal ways. Hygiene practices and sanitation is one of the critical priorities of this property, which means cleaning solutions are among its most important consideration when it comes to consumption. With its holistic approach to its high standard of cleanliness, this property has been sourcing out toxic-free cleaning solutions that use advanced technologies such as nano-natural and phytology. These eco-friendly products are not only imperative for a sustainable future, but it is also dependable, safe, and deliver the best hygiene results. Clean Energy  Reducing carbon footprint has always been on top of the property’s list. As the world fast-tracking its Net Zero efforts, dusitD2 Kenz Hotel continues to monitor its energy consumption very often. In day-to-day operations from its front desk …

Emirates and Kenya Airways (KQ) have announced an interline partnership that will allow customers of both airlines access to new destinations on the two airlines’ networks within a single itinerary. The agreement will provide customers with increased travel options as well as seamless baggage check-in to their final destination. Emirates customers will now be able to fly to 28 destinations on the Kenya Airways network using Nairobi as the gateway to destinations such as Nampula, Bangui, Bujumbara, Kigali, Dzaoudzi, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Zanzibar, among many other regional points across Africa. Additionally, as part of a bilateral interline arrangement, Emirates passengers travelling via Dubai can also book a single ticket itinerary from or to Mombasa, one of the most popular leisure destinations in Kenya. Similarly, Kenya Airways passengers travelling from Nairobi and Mombasa will now be able to access the Emirates’ network and seamlessly connect through Dubai to 23 destinations across West and South Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean and Middle East such as Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Ahmedabad, Beirut, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Seoul among others. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates said, “We are pleased to ink our first partnership with Kenya’s flag carrier. Kenya is a strategic gateway in our Africa network, and this new interline agreement will enhance connectivity for Emirates’ customers and provide them more travel choices across the continent. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Kenya Airways, offering greater network opportunities and improving connections for both of our customers.” Speaking on the agreement Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Kenya Airways said, “This partnership will provide the ideal gateway for our customers as we seek to increase our connectivity between Africa …

Oman Air has announced the expansion of its flight services to Bahrain and Doha, offering passengers increased convenience and flexibility. As of this month, the airline is operating 11 flights per week between Muscat and Bahrain, while flights between Muscat and Doha will increase from 21 to 35 a week on 24 June. Part of its summer schedule, the airline is offering a range of convenient timings, from early in the morning to late at night, enabling guests to seamlessly plan business trips, weekend getaways and even daytrips. Connecting Muscat to major cities across the GCC, Oman Air also offers 35 flights a week to Dubai, 21 flights a week to Riyadh and Jeddah, and 14 flights a week to Kuwait. Meanwhile, it continues to cater to the increasing number of Muscat-based travellers who are choosing to holiday in the region. Wherever the destination, the enhanced flight schedule allows travelers to optimise their plans and enjoy a smooth and seamless travel experience.

VFS Global launched its first sign language contact centre for people of determination in the Middle East. This innovative service not only underscores VFS Global’s steadfast commitment to foster an inclusive environment but also highlights the company’s dedication to ensuring that all customers have equal access to their services, as part of our Diversity Equity and Inclusion programme of our Sustainability Strategy. The sign language contact centre is now available for our applicants in nine countries – Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. It provides information for visa services to Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands as part of the first phase of this projects’ implementation plan. How to access the sign language contact centre: Step 1 – Visit www.vfsglobal.com Step 2 – Navigate to the Contact Us page Step 3 – Click on the sign language widget Atul Marwah, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & North Africa, VFS Global, expressed his enthu-siasm for the new service, stating, “We are truly excited to be bringing this solution to applicants, making information on our services and processes more accessible to all. Technology-backed solutions are the cornerstone of our operations, and this innovation, which makes our services and solutions more acces-sible, is amongst our proudest achievements. The service will be extended to provide visa service infor-mation for a further 17 destinations in the second phase, slated to be rolled out later in the year.” By introducing the sign language contact centre, VFS Global aims to bridge the communication gap for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, empowering them to access visa service information more easily and independently. This initiative is a …

Red Sea Global (RSG), The Red Sea and Amaala announced a new partnership with Six Senses to operate a luxury property in Triple Bay, Amaala. Six Senses Amaala will serve as a canvas on which to paint an experience of a lifetime. Integrated into the unique landforms, the beachfront residences, a hillside village, and villas that line the private mangrove bay offer varied accommodation options to suit all guest preferences. They blend the natural raw beauty of the site with the understated purity and elegance of the brand’s sustainable design standards. The 64 rooms, six suites, 30 villas, and 25 branded residences, designed by architects U+A and interiors by Studio Carter, are inspired by the region’s traditional coastal villages, which seamlessly integrate with the naturally occurring topography and use locally sourced materials. They will be located on one of the most dramatic landforms along Amaala’s Triple Bay area, offering panoramic views across the Hijaz Cove to the Red Sea. The meandering streets and paths that crisscross the site lead to enchanting plazas with glimpses of the Pura Cove and its iridescent blue lagoons. “I am delighted to announce this partnership based on shared values with such an iconic brand. The resort is situated within one of the most dramatic landscapes along Triple Bay, with a stunning backdrop of the bay itself and panoramic views of the pristine Red Sea coast,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. Six Senses Amaala will serve as a canvas on which to paint an experience of a lifetime. Integrated into the unique landforms, the beachfront residences, a hillside village, and villas that line the private mangrove bay offer varied accommodation options to suit all guest …

Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has tied up with non-profit United Networks of International Corporate Events Organisers (UNICEO). The partnership will further build awareness of Abu Dhabi as a destination of choice for meetings and incentives through enhanced networking opportunities with UNICEO’s key international decision-makers, and through providing business support and destination awareness opportunities for Abu Dhabi, to UNICEO’s community of corporate events decision-makers. Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, said: “This partnership will enhance our Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) offer and continue to increase awareness of Abu Dhabi as the gateway to the Mena region among its 2,500 members. This strategic partnership will benefit global corporations convening events in Abu Dhabi and help them leverage the diverse offerings of the UAE capital. “Renowned for its world-leading infrastructure, iconic hotels, state-of-the-art event venues and an unrivalled leisure portfolio of rich culture, natural beauty, global entertainment and thrilling attractions, Abu Dhabi is the ideal destination to host business events.” Laurent Fuchs, Executive Director of UNICEO, said: “Abu Dhabi is conducting an ambitious strategy to attract corporate events. We are delighted they decided to support UNICEO and trust their offer will meet our members’ needs.”