According to the Jeddah Communique a joint statement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was shared after the visit of US President Joseph R. Biden conducted an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. It states that following the meeting with King Salman, President Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held an official meeting, attended by senior officials from both sides. The two sides reviewed in detail the many shared priorities that contribute to the partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States. At the end of this meeting, the two sides issued this communique outlining the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States over the coming decades with the aim of advancing their mutual interests and advancing a common vision for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East. The two sides noted the historic ties between the peoples of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Stated. They welcomed, in this regard, extending the validity of business and tourism visas to 10 years to facilitate closer people-to-people ties and economic cooperation. The U.S. side commended the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, and welcomed Saudi Arabia’s participation at the recent Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, joining of the Global Methane Pledge, its status as a founding member of the Net-Zero Producers Forum, and the Kingdom’s announcement to meet fifty percent of its electricity generation from renewables by 2030. The two sides welcomed the finalization of a Partnership Framework for Advancing …

Dubai retained its top rank worldwide for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into tourism in 2021. With AED6.4 billion ($1.7 billion) in FDI across 30 FDI projects during the year, Dubai ranked number one in FDI capital, projects, and job creation in the tourism sector in 2021, according to The Financial Times’ fDi Markets data, a leading global data source on crossborder greenfield FDI investments. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, credited the exceptional leadership and visionary policies of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for Dubai’s remarkable achievements and its status as the world’s leading tourism FDI destination in a challenging year for the sector globally. HH expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s farsighted vision for creating a resilient financial, economic, and social ecosystem that has set a template for others to emulate. Dubai has emerged as a key global economic hub and the world’s leading investment destination. Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai’s rank as the top FDI destination for tourism reaffirms the sector’s role as a key economic driver that offers international investors confidence and an exceptional opportunity for stable and sustainable returns. HH noted that Dubai’s enabling infrastructure, business-friendly policies, and flexible regulatory environment that kept pace with the needs of global investors would keep it at the forefront of the world’s FDI destinations. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said Dubai’s world-class infrastructure and exceptional services to investors reinforce its strategy to become the world’s best city to live in, work, and …

Air Arabia announced the addition of fourteen shuttle flights daily from Sharjah International Airport to Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar starting from November 21, 2022 until December 18, 2022. The shuttle flights are only eligible for ticket holders of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and will operate alongside Air Arabia’s three daily scheduled flights to Doha. Passengers on board the shuttle flights will be entitled to 10Kg of hand baggage each. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ticket holders must register for a Hayya card through their official website in order to be able to enter Qatar, access the stadiums as well as get free transportation to and from the stadiums using the Doha metro directly from Hamad International Airport. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, commented: “We are pleased to announce Air Arabia’s shuttle flights between Sharjah and Doha during the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will provide fans with easy, reliable, and timely access in and out of Doha to enjoy the matches and return right after.” Air Arabia urges all travelers to plan their trips cautiously, taking into account arriving in Doha at least four hours before the match, and departing four hours after. FIFA World Cup ticket holders can now book the high-frequency November shuttle flights between Sharjah and Doha by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Other customers can continue to benefit from the current and ongoing three daily flights between Sharjah and Doha.  

A city for all seasons, Dubai offers its residents and visitors reasons and resources to stay mentally and physically active all year long. This summer is no different, and one can have a quintessential Dubai experience come rain or sunshine. The fourth in a series of interactive #DubaiDestinations summer guides, titled ‘Find Your Summer Hobby’, was issued by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office. ‘Find Your Summer Hobby’ provides a handy list of Dubai hotspots offering a range of activities that can push your physical and creative boundaries, including gyms, padel academies, surfing and diving centres, performing arts studios, photography schools, and cultural centres. Entertaining, engaging, and educating – there’s an exciting roster of Dubai summer hobbies to be pursued by children and adults, families and individuals, men and women, residents and tourists, businesspersons and sports enthusiasts. The guide is part of the latest phase of the #DubaiDestinations campaign. It invites local and international audiences to enjoy an epic summer in Dubai, making it the best city to live in and visit. Running until the end of August, the campaign encourages residents and visitors to discover Dubai’s diverse leisure, dining, adventure and family-friendly activities that make the city a one-of-a-kind summer destination. Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, said: “The ‘Find Your Summer Hobby’ guide, our fourth interactive summer guide that is part of the latest #DubaiDestinations campaign, is designed to help residents and visitors creatively channel their passion into rewarding pastimes during the summer. The guide lists hotspots that residents and visitors seeking to enjoy a recreational break in Dubai can join during the summer to explore a new passion or get …

flydubai to launch of flights to Samarkand in Uzbekistan from 20 September with a twice-weekly service. With the addition of flights to Samarkand, flydubai grows its operations in the market to two points including the capital, Tashkent. Flights to Samarkand International Airport (SKD) will operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai International (DXB) on Tuesdays and Fridays. With the launch of operations to Samarkand, flydubai grows its network to 102 destinations served by a fleet of 65 Boeing 737 aircraft, giving passengers from the UAE and the region more reliable and convenient options for travel. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we started our operations to Uzbekistan in 2019 and we were pleased to see the market grow as the demand for travel returned. With a combined frequency of eight flights a week to Samarkand and Tashkent, we look forward to further supporting the trade and cultural links with the UAE and encouraging more people to visit this beautiful country steeped in history and tradition.” As one of the most ancient cities in the world, Samarkand is believed to be as old as Rome and Athens and an important centre of human civilisation. This culturally rich city was an important crossroad on the Silk Road and is now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Samarkand is home to many unique monuments including the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg’s Observatory. Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “Central Asia is an important and growing market for flydubai. flydubai’s new service will provide our customers from Samarkand …

Rotana announced the signing of the management agreement for the Luxor Rotana. This luxury five-star resort in Egypt’s historic city is set to open in Q4 2023 catering to business and leisure travellers. Located in the heart of the “world’s greatest open-air museum”, this stunning new property will be in close proximity to the city’s ancient ruins including monuments, tombs and temples, set on the beautiful Nile offering stunning river views and more than 18,000 sqm of lush gardens. Integrating modern architecture with authentic designs, the luxury resort will boast 319 spacious rooms, including 48 suites and one exquisitely designed presidential suite offering unobstructed views of the cityscape. Guests will enjoy a wide selection of food and beverage options from four outlets including a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, a sophisticated bar, and Kamoon, a popular Rotana developed restaurant with spectacular views over the gardens and Nile river. Commenting on the announcement, Guy Hutchinson, President and CEO of Rotana said: “As we build on our expansion plans in the region, the signing of Luxor Rotana delivers on our strategic goal to further grow our portfolio in North Africa. Egypt is a key market for us with significant potential and we look forward to further building our brand presence in the country. Adding to our luxury portfolio, we look forward to delivering an unparalleled experience by providing our guests with “Treasured Time” in this timeless city of Luxor.” Luxor Rotana will offer a range of services and amenities including a luxurious state-of-the-art spa and treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, steam and sauna, and a dedicated kids club. Fitness enthusiasts will also enjoy two …

The President of Emirates Airline and the CEO of Heathrow Airport held a constructive meeting where Emirates agreed the airline was ready and willing to work with the airport to remediate the situation over the next 2 weeks, to keep demand and capacity in balance and provide passengers with a smooth and reliable journey through Heathrow this summer. Emirates has capped further sales on its flights out of Heathrow until mid-August to assist Heathrow in its resource ramp up, and is working to adjust capacity. In the meantime, Emirates flights from Heathrow operate as scheduled and ticketed passengers may travel as booked.

Limousine and e-hail sectors in Dubai have shown 85% growth rates in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. As Limousine and e-hailing vehicles have made 6.3 million journeys in the first six months of 2022 compared to 3.4 million journeys made in the same period last year. Equally, the number of vehicles used to run this service has grown steadily from 6059 vehicles in the first half of 2021 to 6100 vehicles in the same period this year. “RTA attaches paramount importance to the role of the limousine sector in supporting tourism in Dubai. It offers top-class services to tourists, visitors and business leaders descending on Dubai from all over the world to benefit from the business and investment opportunities in exhibitions and activities hosted by the emirate. The limousine and e-hail sectors in Dubai have shown significant growth in the first half of this year, which is an important indicator of the growing demand for this private transport sector. The sharp growth was assisted by using sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence, channelling orders through smart apps, and forging partnerships with leading companies in the industry,” said Adel Shakeri, Director of Planning and Business Development, Public Transport Agency, RTA. It is noteworthy that commuting in limousines saves a lot of time, especially for attending events at specific times. The limo operators are very strict on the timing and oblige clients to do so considering the importance of time companies and clients alike.

Cathay Pacific will resume non-stop flights between Dubai and Hong Kong from 2 October, enabling passengers to rediscover the people, places, and experiences that matter the most. The airline will operate three flights per week on Monday, Friday and Saturday, providing travellers with direct access to Hong Kong in addition to seamless connections to onward destinations including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. All flights will depart from Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport and can be booked on the Cathay Pacific website. Cathay Pacific Area Manager Middle East Vishnu Rajendran said: “Reactivating our link from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to Hong Kong is extremely important to us as the market remains a priority. We’re confident our offerings like the ease of connections, warm Asian hospitality, diverse in-flight entertainment options and customer-centric initiatives such as our health document verification tool, Fly Ready, make us one of the world’s greatest service brands. “Aside from the stream of those visiting friends and relatives and business travellers who we welcome on board from around the region, travellers from the GCC are also searching for cultural experiences abroad. Hong Kong and the various destinations that are easily accessible from our home hub, such as Japan and South Korea, offer these in abundance. Moreover, our much-anticipated thrice-weekly passenger flights will also support our cargo freighters, of which we have eight per week flying from the Emirate.” Cathay Pacific will deploy its Boeing 777-300 on its Dubai–Hong Kong route, catering to the increased cargo demand as well as passenger traffic. Moreover, the aircraft comes equipped with a three-class cabin configuration, featuring the airline’s forward-facing lie-flat seats in Business, spacious seats in Premium Economy as …

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) celebrates the opening of its eighth property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with the launch of Citadines Abha, in partnership with Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Co. The 140-unit apart’hotel marks the sixth regional opening for the group this year, as it forges ahead with its tenacious expansion plans for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. Citadines Abha takes Ascott’s operational footprint to 1,062 keys in KSA, and 2,391 across the region. Nestled 7,450 feet above sea level in the mountainous district of Abha, the property overlooks the majestic Asir Mountains and provides residents and visitors with the perfect recluse from bustling city-life. It offers easy access to Abha’s vibrant leisure excursions, including shopping malls, restaurants, and entertainment hubs in close proximity, and is located just 6 kms away from the Abha Regional Airport. Aesthetically designed to optimise living spaces, Citadines Abha encapsulates the ideal adventurous and relaxing experience. With subtle hues of mustard yellow and inspiring modern Arabesque patterns, each apartment is equipped with spacious living spaces, stylish dining areas, sophisticated kitchenettes and scenic floor-to-ceiling windows. Featuring a variety of elegant apartments which cater to the needs of every traveller, the stellar property offers chic studio apartments for the adventure seekers and solo explorers; while business travellers can book their stay in the premium one-bedroom apartments; parallelly, family and friends can relax and unwind during their stay in the lavish two-bedroom apartments. The urban property is also home to world-class amenities, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, resident’s lounge, restaurant, meeting rooms and a business centre. Mr. Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, says: “Saudi Arabia continues to …