China is an important source market to the UAE, already the travel between UAE and China has been on the rise especially business travel. At a recent interview with Marcus Lee Chief Executive Officer China Travel Online shared, “I think UAE has a very clear advantage, one of the ten factors that Chinese look into number one is covid safety and vaccination rate. I believe the UAE tops the rank and this could be one of the first destinations that Chinese will prefer to travel.” At the press conference held on 27th December 2022 by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin it was revealed that, “following the latest decision to manage COVID-19 with measures against Class-B infectious diseases, relevant departments under the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism have, after full assessment, formulated provisional measures on cross-border travel. I will now briefly go over these measures.” Addressing international media Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated, “First, inbound travelers will need to show a negative nucleic acid test taken within 48 hours prior to departure. The test result will need to be noted in the customs health declaration form. Inbound travelers no longer need to apply for a health code from Chinese embassies or consulates. Those who test positive need to postpone their travel until they have a negative test result. Second, nucleic acid tests will no longer be conducted on inbound travelers upon arrival. Those with no issues to report in their health declaration who have been given regular customs inspection and quarantine clearance can enter China without being subject to quarantine. Those with issues to report in their health declaration or symptoms such as fever shall receive antigen …

Etihad Airways is set to strengthen air connectivity between the UAE and China next year, starting with an additional weekly frequency on its Abu Dhabi – Shanghai route. Subject to regulatory approval, from February 2023, the airline will fly to Pudong International Airport (PVG) two times per week using modern Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. Combined with a weekly service to Beijing and a twice-weekly service to Guangzhou, this will provide travellers with five weekly nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and China. Martin Drew, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to add a second weekly passenger service to Shanghai following the further relaxation of Covid-related travel measures. “China is a market of primary importance to Etihad, and as one of the country’s largest financial and economic centres, Shanghai plays a crucial role in our network. “Etihad is committed to developing our operation to China, and we look forward to welcoming more travellers on board in the new year to experience our award-winning hospitality.” Today’s announcement follows the launch of nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Guangzhou in October 2022, when Etihad Airways became the first international airline to operate long-haul passenger flights to the top three Chinese gateways since the start of the pandemic. The airline marked another milestone in China earlier this year when it operated the first regular international passenger flight to recommence to Beijing when the capital reopened for international direct travel in June 2022.

Dubai International (DXB) will remain exceptionally busy over the remainder of the holiday season and well into the New Year, prompting Dubai Airports to issue a travel alert. The operator is urging passengers to plan their trips to and through the airport and follow simple travel tips to ensure a smooth airport experience. DXB’s average daily passenger numbers have risen almost back to pre-pandemic levels on the back of strong recovery throughout 2022, making this latest seasonal peak one of busiest since 2019. Over the next eight days starting December 27, nearly 2 million passengers are expected to pass through DXB, with average daily traffic reaching as many as 245,000 passengers. January 2 is expected to be the busiest day with traffic exceeding 257,000 passengers. December has been exceptionally busy for DXB due to a combination of factors including the seasonal influx of visitors, the recently concluded World Cup football event in Doha, and the strength of Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Dubai Airports is working closely with airlines, control authorities, and commercial and service partners to ensure a smooth airport experience for arriving and departing passengers. The operator has urged travellers to follow a few simple tips to beat the holiday rush: For those travelling with families, children over the age of 12 can use Smart Gates to speed up the passport control process. The roads to the airport could get busy during peak times. It’s best to plan some extra time to get to and through the airport. If you are flying out of Terminal 1, arrive at the airport no earlier than 3 hours before your departure. Use online and self-service …

The Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs has mandated VFS Global to provide visa services on their behalf to the residents of the United Arab Emirates. The contract was signed on 05 December 2022 by Mr. Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Chris Dix, Head – Business Development, VFS Global. The Estonia Visa Application Centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which opened their doors to applicants on 19 December 2022, will accept short stay visa applications to Estonia for tourism, business, visiting family and friends, and applications by family members of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, who exercise the Right of Free Movement. Sherif Shazly, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & North Africa, VFS Global, said, “We are excited to be bringing Estonia visa services closer to home for UAE residents through our centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We have been associated with the Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs for since 2015, and appreciate their continued faith in us.” Applicants can also choose from a range of conveniences when applying for their visa to Estonia, including completing the visa application process from home by opting for VFS Global’s Visa At Your Doorstep service, or from a plush lounge ambience at the Platinum Lounge at the centres in both Emirates. There is also a range of additional services to choose from such as Prime Time service to submit applications outside business hours, courier return of processed documents, form filling assistance, among others. VFS Global currently offers Estonia visa services in 13 countries through a network of 100+ Visa Application Centres.

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has announced the launch of the annual Dubai Tourism Summit, a first-of-its-kind travel forum in the region which will lay the foundation for a home-grown world-class thought leadership programme to boost the city’s resurgent tourism industry and support regional and global tourism. The Dubai Tourism Summit will provide a networking platform for industry stakeholders to share their vision, ideas, strategies and best practices, as well as insights on leveraging the latest innovations and trends to create a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for global tourism. His Excellency Helal Al Marri reiterated, “We are grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for his visionary leadership, inspiration and guidance that has led to several milestones in 2022. Dubai has always been an international icon of innovation and excellence. The Dubai Tourism Summit will see us working even more closely with our domestic and global stakeholders and partners as we focus on pushing the boundaries further to highlight Dubai’s position as the top international destination and the best city in the world to live in, work and invest. With the Dubai Tourism Summit, we will elevate our blueprint for sustainable growth, contributing towards our industry’s continued success and supporting the recovery of regional and global tourism.” HE Al Marri further added: “Our performance in the first ten months of 2022 indicates that we are on target to achieving our tourism goals, which dovetail with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to attract AED100 billion as additional tourism investments and 40 million …

Kenya Airways (KQ) has made its maiden non-stop flight to Dubai International Airport from Mombasa, Kenya.  The flight from Moi International Airport marked the second hub, other than its Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, that the carrier connects passengers directly to the UAE. Operated by a Boeing 737-800 with registration number KQ306 aircraft, the flight carrying 145 passengers was flagged off by His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya in the presence of Hon. Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Works, Hon. Penina Malonza – Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Wildlife and Heritage, H.E. Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir – Governor of Mombasa County, Mr Alex Gitari – Managing Director – Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), John Chirchir – Ag. CEO, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) among other key stakeholders. “Kenya’s air transport has what it takes to drive the economy. From exports of cargo to our renown agricultural produce, to our magnificent touristic attractions. The launch of this flight marks yet another dynamic that will go a long way to sustain millions of jobs from the tourism sector in the Coast region. By connecting the Kenyan Coast to Middle East directly, the travel time is effectively reduced thereby making Kenya the most attractive destination for the Middle East holiday seekers,” said the Deputy President as he lauded Kenya Airways and flagged off the flight to Dubai. Speaking at the same event, Hon. Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Works said, “We acknowledge the important role that the aviation industry plays in the growth of our economy and the tourism sector. As a Ministry, we are keen to rally all stakeholders towards unlocking …

Wego and CzechTourism partner together in a move to provide travelers with the best travel experiences this winter. The Czech Republic is a beautiful and diverse country with many things to see and do. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or just having a good time, there is something for everyone in the Czech Republic. CzechTourism will benefit from Wego’s large user base in the MENA region, and the data and insights it provides on the users’ behavior as well as the personalized travel experience it offers. Both parties will work on a series of campaigns and marketing activities to promote this marvelous winter destination. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “We are excited to start our partnership with CzechTourism to promote travel to the country. We are committed to provide our users with more choices and bring the best destinations to explore. This time of the year in the Czech Republic can be magical, with the country’s stunning landscape transformed by snow and ice. It is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a range of winter activities and we expect to see an increased demand from the region to the country in the coming weeks.” The country is a great destination for winter holidays. Travelers can hit the slopes, explore an array of winter activities in store for every type of traveler, or relax at a spa. Marek Kroutil, international marketing manager for Middle East, CzechTourism said: “Czech Republic and especially Prague is a well-known destination amongst the GCC travelers and thanks to many regular or seasonal flights they can get from the main source markets to our …

Germany recorded a 180 per cent increase in overnight stays from Gulf nationals in the first three quarters of this year compared to the same period of 2021, according to new data from the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). During the first nine months of 2022, GCC nationals accounted for more than 872,000 overnight stays, making the Gulf region Germany’s top Asian source market. In 2021, the number of GCC nationals visiting the country was 311,000, demonstrating strong growth. Yet when compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019, it still represents a decrease of 34.5 per cent, showing not only substantial space for future growth, but also the logic behind the tourism board expecting the gap to close further next year. “We continue to see strong traction from the GCC region, with visitors looking to fulfil cultural experiences,” said Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office, the regional office of GNTB. “Our goal at the moment is to continue to attract visitors from the region and aim to reach the numbers we welcomed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen a striking performance this year when compared to 2021, demonstrating that our diverse campaigns and offerings are attractive, and effectively reaching the audience.” The aggregate of Asian source markets recorded more than 2.9 million overnight stays between Jan-Sep 2022, indicating a 283 per cent increase on the same period in 2021. This upsurge indicates travellers are determined to travel even more than usual. To further drive visitors – particularly those from within the GCC – the GNTB introduced three diverse campaigns this year that offer a wholistic tourism offering throughout the country. Aligning with …

Emirates, the world’s largest passenger airline, has completed its latest IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) with zero findings – the equivalent of a perfect score, and a rare occurrence in the industry given the complexity of airline operations. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Safety is one of Emirates’ core values, and since day one, we’ve continually invested to ensure that our operations meet the most rigorous safety standards. To complete the IOSA audit with zero findings is a notable achievement especially in the context of our rapid operational upscaling post-pandemic, and the global nature of Emirates’ network. It’s a credit to our internal teams and external partners who contribute to Emirates’ safe transport of thousands of people and tonnes of goods around the globe each day. We’ll continue to work hard and contribute to ensuring a safe and sustainable aviation industry.” Over 1,000 standards and recommended practices were assessed by an International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited audit organisation over five days, to determine how well the Emirates operational management system complies with the IOSA Standard and Recommended Practices (ISARP). With this strong audit report, Emirates has demonstrated the rigor of its systems and processes to ensure safe operational practices and the airworthiness of its modern fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s. Emirates promotes a strong safety culture across the organisation at all levels. The airline’s operational safety policies are consistently reviewed and amended to the highest standards whenever regulations are revised or new aircraft are introduced. The Emirates Compliance Monitoring team continuously audits the airline’s systems and practices throughout its network against IOSA standards to identify and manage non-conformities. Emirates’ senior executives are also briefed in …

Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has inked an agreement with Omantel, a leading telecom operator, to provide passengers flying to Oman with Tourist SIM Cards on board their flight. The one-year partnership aims to offer guests a hassle-free and efficient digital solution that enriches their travel experience, as well as attracting more tourists to come to Oman. Abdul Rahman Nasser, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air, said, “We are delighted to once again join hands with Omantel, and we will all benefit from the spillover effect of this great buzz happening around the region. I am confident that our year-long partnership will be a success, and it will bring convenience to our passengers and save them time and effort upon arrival.” Eng. Aladdin Baitfadhil, Chief Commercial Officer at Omantel, said, “We are thrilled about our partnership with Omar Air, and we are all set to provide passengers flying to the Sultanate of Oman with seamless and hassle-free connectivity even before landing, while we increase our customer base.” The two companies also have another partnership involving their respective loyalty programmes, enabling Omantel’s customers to convert their Makasib points to Sindbad Miles. With a growing number of partners, Oman Air continues to find new and innovative ways to elevate its guest experience and build on its reputation as an award-winning airline, while promoting Oman as a must-visit destination.