Summer cruises are often popular in the Middle Eastern region, this year especially after almost two and half years, travellers have once again picked up their confidence and started to not just travel, but to add cruises in their bucket lists.  According to Nasir Jamal Khan – CEO – Al Naboodah Travel there is an increase in terms of cruise bookings this summer and Europe has become the top most or popular destination for GCC travelers. Khan shared, “there is an increase in Cruise bookings, travelers are eager to visit Europe during summer. Predicted rise in travel is recorded despite a 57 per cent rise in the average cost of flights in the region due to rising fuel costs and an increased demand for travel. Tourist from UAE are expected to spend more time than usual at the destination. As experts say there is pent-up demand among travelers keen to make up for lost time due to two years of Covid-19 travel restrictions.” As traveller appetite has increased, they are also looking at visa free or easy visa destinations. Khan reiterates, “destinations with visa free entry and short haul, with economical flight cost along with COVID free regulations seem to be some of the preferences. Travellers are looking for flexibility to change and packages with value for money. Switzerland, Ireland, Georgia, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain, U.S.A., Thailand and Indonesia are few names of the destinations which are more in demand and corporates as well as individual leisure travellers are inquiring at present.” He further mentioned, “Travelers are eager to resume large bucket trips with their friends and family after a two-year pause caused by the …

As the countdown starts for the greatest football event of the year in the region, FIFA 2022 to be held from November to December this year, the accommodation in Qatar has already been reserved. The last quarter of the year will definitely see an increase of bookings in the GCC region alone. It was stated by professionals in the travel fraternity that Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi will be looking at some increased bookings and revenue in terms of accommodation. Shantanu S. Mehta, General Manager, Orient Tours CWT M&E, UAE, Sultanate of Oman and State of Qatar reiterated, “Our partners in Doha have informed us that 80% of the accommodation inventory has been blocked by the FIFA supreme committee and the remaining 20% can be released to the general public only after every individual booking receives their approval. In order to get this approval, local travel entities need to submit the complete itinerary for every applicant including a copy of the match ticket and arrival/departure flight information. After receiving approval from the FIFA supreme committee, visitors need to apply online for a special permit called the Hayya Card which will be granted to visitors who have a confirmed match ticket and accommodation. Apparently, during the FIFA World Cup tournament only visitors with a Hayya card can enter Qatar. Both Fly Dubai/Emirates and Etihad have announced multiple daily flights between their respective hubs and Doha. Whereas Fly Dubai launched a ‘AED 975 onwards’ promotion recently, Etihad is believed to be selling at AED 3,500 plus. Etihad senior members have verbally advised that a 45-minute quick departure process from check-in to boarding is being planned for passengers without check-in luggage. Many luxury hotels in …

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.