One of the year’s most anticipated hotel openings, Address Grand Creek Harbour, has arrived offering a luxury guest experience unrivalled in one of Dubai’s most picturesque locations. Sitting on the beautiful shores of the Dubai Creek, the magnificently appointed 223-room hotel offers a range of rooms and suites to make any stay an experience to remember. The first five-star luxury hotel in Dubai Creek Harbour is a sophisticated waterfront destination, where guests can look forward to relaxed decadence, unrivalled amenities, fabulous flavours, and a stay which soothes and invigorates the soul. Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality at Emaar Hospitality Group said: “This is another momentous occasion for Address Hotels + Resorts in Dubai. The new Address Grand Creek Harbour is a masterpiece of a property, bringing five-star luxury to the stunning surroundings of Dubai Creek Harbour. “Dubai Creek Harbour is expanding at an incredible pace and will be a cornerstone of the city’s skyline for years to come – we are delighted to be part of a new community full of excitement and charm. This hotel, with its design, ambiance, luxury, and amenities is a stunning addition to the city – right in the heart of a character-filled and visually spectacular location like Dubai Creek Harbour.” Rooms are beautifully appointed with the very best in design and comfort complimenting your stay. Showpiece suites include Executive, Skyline and Panoramic Suite options with balconies, as well as the three-bedroom Presidential Suite, all of which offer magnificent views of the city and creek, along with a spacious comfort ideal for family and friends. The hotel is the ultimate destination for couples and families alike with the intimacy of a boutique offering, combined with …

The latest development project in the emirate of Fujairah is to develop the “Qidfa ” area aiming to attract 100,000 tourists annually by developing the tourism potential and introducing the distinctive capabilities that the region enjoys through the media to enhance its location as a tourist destination. The plan also works to launch 50 development projects for the region’s youth, in addition to training 200 youth and young women in various fields and sectors, in cooperation with a large group of strategic partners from the public and private sectors. In the government of Fujairah website, it further states that according to Emirates news the development paths of the “Qidfa” development plan attach great importance to youth by providing them with all means of support and enabling them to unleash their energies and raise their participation in various development paths. This path includes the establishment of commercial spaces and a local market for farmers and the development of innovative ways to market agricultural products to the people of the region in all emirates of the country. and its cities. The path of developing development projects is based on the construction of new pedestrian roads and bicycle paths between farms and linking them with the waterfront, in addition to developing the streets leading to the waterfront, and constructing car parks. In the course of village coordination, a tourist entrance will be built and guiding boards will be placed in all areas, in addition to renovating and unifying the side walls to create an attractive appearance and a tourist identity that reflects the unique natural capabilities of the region and highlights it as a tourist center. The path includes the development of the …

Dubai has welcomed over 107,082 passengers on the New Year’s Eve, with 95,445 travelers arriving through Dubai Airports, 6,527 arriving via Hatta Border Crossing, and 5,010 arriving via marine ports. This marks an 89% increase in passenger traffic in 2022 compared to the previous year, with a total of 23,672,468 incoming passengers arriving through all ports. Of these, 21,817,022 arrived through airports, 1,612,746 crossed Hatta Border Crossing, and 242,700 passengers used sea ports. In 2021, the emirate received 12,025,468 passengers through airports, 399,083 through Hatta Border Crossing, and 83,700 through marine ports. According to a new report by the UK-based market research firm Euromonitor, Dubai Airports have established themselves as one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking second globally in the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2022 for speed of service and procedure completion for passengers. Dubai Airports were also ranked first regionally and internationally in the Airports Council International (ACI) report 2022 and maintained their leading position in the global competition indices, ranking first by the Legatum Prosperity Index in tolerance towards foreigners. The UAE passport was ranked the strongest in the world according to the Global Passport Power Rank. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, stated that the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things has allowed Dubai Airports to deliver exceptional digital services and a superior travel experience to all visitors, solidifying Dubai’s reputation as a top destination for tourism, business, and lifestyle.

‎In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club and IndusInd Bank,  announced their partnership, to introduce the unique multi-branded credit card, with two leading international airlines powered by Visa. The multi-branded credit card is slated to be launched and made available to consumers in the first quarter of the financial year 2023 – 2024. Through this proposition, members will soon be able to collect Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, by signing up and choosing their preferred loyalty programme. This credit card will be available in the Infinite variant of Visa, and will offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to elevate the travel experience of customers. Stacked with multiple attractive benefits suiting the requirements of frequent travellers, at the time of application, this credit card will give customers the flexibility to choose their preferred airline loyalty programme and select their preferred travel destination to collect maximum Avios and enjoy a host of other benefits. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: “Today Qatar Airways Privilege Club takes another step forward in providing our members with the best offerings in the industry, introducing a first-of-its-kind Visa multi-branded credit card, in India with IndusInd Bank. “When adopting Avios as our rewards currency, we promised members that new and exciting opportunities would come, this collaboration with oneworld® partner British Airways is another manifestation of this. We look forward to seeing our members in India availing the extensive benefits of this new partnership, which is designed to enhance their future travels.” Oliver Currell, Head of Financial Partnerships, IAG Loyalty, said: “We are delighted to launch the new British Airways and Qatar Airways …

Riyadh Airports Company, which manages and operates King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has launched an updated version of the interactive chat service via “WhatsApp” and Twitter. The new version is cutting-edge technology, empowered with artificial intelligence technology. The latest version includes new features to provide a unique and innovative experience, such as replacing long text messages and lists with a set of options and drop-down menus, which allow the user to click on the menu and choose the service to get the service rapidly and effortlessly. Another big milestone is providing flight notifications in sign language for the deaf and dumb, as well as information on the airport’s services, making KKIA the first airport in the world to provide such a feature. In this context, Eng. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, CEO of Riyadh Airports, said: “By launching the updated version of the interactive service, we aim to enhance passengers’ experiences through King Khalid International Airport. As we apply artificial intelligence to create an engaging experience through social channels, as well as providing an unparalleled travel experience for people with disabilities.” Travelers and airport visitors will be able to easily inquire about flights, service rates, and other information using the new feature, which is available for “IOS” and “Android” users. This service will also contribute to the diversification of communication channels and the achievement of new levels of passenger satisfaction. It’s worth mentioning that Riyadh Airports unveiled several initiatives recently as part of its strategic digital transformation plan, including the newly introduced advanced digital platform “OFOQ” to manage operations at KKIA.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a Travel Behaviour Survey – Screening Questionnaire of individuals and families residing or working in Dubai, as well as companies based in the Emirate. This step is part of RTA’s efforts to revamp its strategic roads and transport plans, enhance roads and public transport networks and services to provide a smooth and safe transportation experience for the public and keep up with the urbanisation of the Emirate in line with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040. The survey, which runs from January to June 2023, covers more than 7,000 samples of the population of Dubai and the neighbouring emirates. It covers 5,000 families (citizens and residents), 1,500 individuals visiting or working in Dubai, and 500 cargo transport companies operating in Dubai. “Over the next few days, RTA would launch a survey to measure the mobility trends and behaviours of residents and visitors of Dubai. Communication channels with the public would include home questionnaires, field visits, personal interviews, and online interviews including smart apps. The process involves the use of artificial intelligence technologies to reach the largest possible number of individuals,” said Muna Al Osaimi, Director of Transportation Strategic Planning, Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector, RTA. “The results of the survey will be collected, analysed, and studied in a professional and transparent manner to conclude the best findings. Such deliverables will assist RTA in updating its strategic and operational plans for the road network and mass transport systems, including the Dubai Metro and Tram, public buses, marine transit means as well as individual and soft mobility means. “The public is a major partner in our efforts to improve transport services in the Emirate. Therefore, we …

Hilton Skanes Monastir Beach Resort will mark Hilton’s debut in Tunisia by summer this year, offering breath-taking views of the Mediterranean and a pristine white-sand beach surrounded by private lounging areas. Guests can indulge in ultimate resort-relaxation with five spectacular outdoor and indoor swimming pools to choose from alongside a thalassotherapy spa & wellness centre. With 346 stylish rooms and suites, the hotel is perfect for foodies, family travellers and fitness enthusiasts alike, complete with seven restaurants, a variety of fitness facilities and a kid’s club. The resort is also a perfect destination for retreats and business meetings, with a meeting space including a spacious ballroom and three meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

The first Emirates A380 to be completely refurbished under the airline’s US$ 2 billion retrofit program has been deployed on the Dubai-London Heathrow service, operating as EK003. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Customers will notice the difference the moment they step onboard – the spacious A380 will look and feel even more impressive and comfortable. With our latest interiors and products, this newly refurbished aircraft elevates our inflight experience in all classes of travel, and enables us to offer more Premium Economy seats to meet customer demand. I’m particularly proud that this refurbishment work was designed, conducted and completed inhouse at our facilities in Dubai, to the highest standards of quality and safety. It reflects the world-class aviation capabilities and infrastructure that exists within Emirates, and here in the UAE.” The fully refreshed A380 features Emirates’ latest products and interiors across all cabins, including 56 Premium Economy class seats on the main deck, and new colour palettes evident in the carpeting and wall panels. On the upper deck, First and Business Class seats sport Emirates’ latest cream-coloured leather upholstery and lighter-toned wood finishing, similar to the airline’s ‘game changer’ product. Emirates’ signature ghaf tree motif also features prominently throughout the interiors, including hand-stencilled panels in the First Class Shower Spa. The next Emirates A380 aircraft lined up for its make-over is A6-EUW, and work is expected to be completed by the end of this month. As the program progresses, engineers will work simultaneously on 2 aircraft. This means that one aircraft in the fleet will be withdrawn from service every eight days and transferred to Emirates Engineering facilities. By 2024, all 67 A380s assigned for refurbishment will have …

Cathay Pacific welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s latest measures to facilitate quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, as well as the lifting of transit restrictions, effective 8 January 2023. In light of today’s announcement, Cathay Pacific will more than double its flights into the Chinese Mainland, operating 61 return flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 Mainland cities from 14 January 2023. This compares to the 27 flights per week from Hong Kong to the Mainland, and 50 flights per week from the Mainland to Hong Kong that the airline is currently operating. Cathay Pacific is working actively to resume and add more flights progressively between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in the coming weeks, with the aim of operating over 100 return flights per week by March 2023. Vishnu Rajendran, Area Manager, Middle East for Cathay Pacific said, “The new year has welcomed us with positive developments. We have always had strong connections into the Chinese Mainland and are delighted to more than double our frequency. With the Chinese Mainland lifting its quarantine and transit requirements, we anticipate the demand to travel further grow particularly with the upcoming Chinese New Year. The increase in operations will provide travellers, particularly from the business and trade segment with more options and accessibility to travel.” From 8 January 2023, Cathay Pacific will increase its flights between Hong Kong and Beijing to 10 pairs per week, and between Hong Kong and Shanghai (Pudong) to 21 pairs per week. The airline is also resuming flights to Guangzhou with five return flights per week. Meanwhile, from 14 January 2023 the airline will increase its flights between Hong Kong and …

Etihad Airways is boosting its flights to Bangkok, Thailand by doubling its frequency. From 26 March 2023, the airline will fly twice a day on the Abu Dhabi – Bangkok route, providing a total of 14 weekly nonstop services to Bangkok Airport (BKK). The flights will offer Etihad’s award-winning service and comfort across both Business and Economy Class cabins. Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “With our convenient morning departure from Abu Dhabi, our second Bangkok flight has optimised timings for those UAE residents wishing to have a break in Thailand. Moreover, the return departure from Bangkok allows for those Thai residents to arrive in Abu Dhabi in the morning to have a head-start in exploring what the city has to offer in terms of business and pleasure. It further reaffirms our commitment to bringing more guests to enjoy Abu Dhabi.” Bangkok is a world-renowned destination in its own right as well as being the gateway to travel throughout Thailand and further across South East Asia for millions of visitors every year. The new frequency will make it even more convenient for people connecting to flights to and from Thailand through Etihad’s growing global route network. Etihad Airways has just been rated third in the list of Top 20 Safest Airlines 2023 compiled by AirlineRatings, the highest placed carrier in the Middle East. Flight schedule for Abu Dhabi – Bangkok service, effective 26 March 2023: Flt Desg Dept Arp Dept Time Arvl Arp Arrv Time Freq   EY  402 AUH 22:50 BKK 08:20 Daily   EY  403 BKK 20:15 AUH 23:30 Daily   EY  404 AUH 10:30 BKK 20:00 Daily   EY  405 BKK 02:25 AUH 06:00 Daily …