UN Tourism has recognized the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi (DCT-Abu Dhabi) for its excellence in destination management. Abu Dhabi becomes the sixth Destination Management Organization (DMO) in the world and the first in the Middle East region to receive the UN Tourism QUEST certification, testament to its ongoing dedication to excellence in governance and commitment to sustainability. DCT-Abu Dhabi scored exceptionally high in the three areas of assessment of the certification after receiving 120 hours of capacity building sessions delivered by UN Tourism Academy, which included courses on: Sustainable Tourism; Governance for Sustainable Tourism; Quality and Competitiveness; and Sustainable Tourism Practices for Destination Management. These courses were complemented with eight one-to-one training sessions for DCT–Abu Dhabi officials to advance their understanding of UN Tourism QUEST assessment criteria and indicators. The QUEST certification is an example of UN Tourism’s leading work in the field of tourism standards to improve destination management and governance and highlights the importance and success of public-private-community partnerships, as well as horizontal and vertical cooperation in institutional governance. The Certification is valid for four years with the possibility of renewal.

Dubai Municipality announced that the night-swimming beaches in Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3, and Umm Suqeim 1 have welcomed approximately 1.5 million visitors within 18 months of their opening. Covering a total distance of 800 metres, these beaches reflect the Municipality’s commitment to enhancing the appeal of public beaches by providing services and facilities that prioritise comfort, luxury, and a high quality of life for both tourists and residents. This initiative aligns with the comprehensive plan for the development of public beaches in Dubai. Ibrahim Juma, Director of the Public Beaches and Water Canals Department at Dubai Municipality, emphasised that the high turnout at the night-swimming beaches reflects the success of a project designed to offer a unique tourism and entertainment experience. “The initiative allows residents and tourists to enjoy the beauty of Dubai’s beaches at night, ensuring the highest levels of comfort, luxury, and quality of life,” said Juma. “It aligns with Dubai’s integrated efforts to establish itself as a global leader in quality of life and as one of the top international tourist destinations.” Juma added: ” Dubai Municipality has equipped the night-swimming beaches to be accessible and welcoming for people of determination and senior citizens. Floating chairs for swimming, trained rescue teams to cater to their needs, and a fully equipped rest area specifically designed for them comply with the ‘Dubai Universal Design Code.’ Additionally, technical features have been enhanced to ensure the highest levels of safety and security for all visitors.” Dubai Municipality has implemented various measures to ensure integrated services at the night-swimming beaches. Electronic screens display educational and public-awareness content, while advanced lighting systems allow for safe 24/7 swimming. A qualified team of rescuers is stationed on …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announced the resumption of its non-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Beirut, Lebanon. The resumption of the flights underscores Air Arabia’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible and seamless travel options for its passengers. Starting 9 January  2025, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi will operate four weekly non-stop flights between Zayed International Airport and Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. The flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, offering passengers greater flexibility and convenience. Schedule to Beirut, effective January 9, 2025 (all times local): Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency 3L 450 Abu Dhabi 08:25 Beirut 11:00 A320 Monday/Wednesday/Saturday/Sunday 3L 451 Beirut 11:40 Abu Dhabi 17:20 A320 Monday/Wednesday/Saturday/Sunday Air Arabia operates a modern fleet of 79 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. Offering passengers, a value-added onboard experience, the aircraft is equipped with ‘SkyTime’, a free in-flight streaming, and ‘SkyCafe’ an onboard catering service at affordable prices. In addition, Air Arabia offers ‘Air Rewards’ an innovative and generous loyalty program through which passengers can earn, transfer, and spend points. Customers can book their flights to Beirut by visiting Air Arabia’s website, contacting our call center, or through travel agencies.

With the holiday season approaching, 97% of UAE Consumers plan to travel during the upcoming winter and spring holidays and plan to spend an average of AED 7,7641. Key motivations for travelling include for leisure (61%), exploring new destinations (56%), and visiting family and friends (48%). While on their trip, travelers are willing to spend more for personalized experiences (78%), private transportation (74%), and first-class/luxury accommodations (66%). American Express Middle East has unveiled the results of its Trendex Survey*, painting a vivid picture of the travel, shopping and entertainment trends for the upcoming winter and spring holidays in the UAE. The survey reveals that there is a strong demand for luxury and personalized travel experiences amongst majority of UAE consumers, with experiential gifting also highly popular. Saud Swar, American Express Middle East’s Chief Business Officer, shared his insights on the findings, “Our Trendex Survey reveals a strong interest among UAE Consumers for high-end travel during the upcoming winter and spring holidays, with respondents willing to spend more on leisure, premium services, exploring new destinations, and visiting family and friends. Physical gifts are popular, but we are also seeing a strong interest in experiential gifts, particularly in entertainment and travel. American Express Middle East is following these trends to offer benefits and services that align with our customers’ expectations and aspirations. Whether it’s everyday purchases or a luxury holiday, our Card Members can rely on American Express for world-class benefits and customer service.” Key Findings: • Holiday Travel: Luxury and Personalized Experiences prioritized With the holiday season approaching, 97% of UAE Consumers plan to travel during the upcoming winter and spring holidays and plan to spend an average of AED 7,7641. …

flynas launched three weekly direct flights between Prince Muhammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and Sphinx Airport in Cairo, adding one more route to its flight network connecting the two countries, within flynas growth and expansion plan and in parallel with the national goals in the aviation sector. Three weekly flights will be operated on the new route on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday to expand further the flynas flight network served from its newest operations base at Madinah Airport, in line with flynas expansion strategy, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 150 million tourists yearly by 2030, and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques. flynas connects the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with more than 120 weekly direct flights from 5 Saudi cities, namely Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah, and Al-Ula, to Cairo, Sohag, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and El Alamein. The Egyptian capital of Cairo is connected to the Kingdom with flynas direct flights to both Cairo International Airport and Sphinx International Airport, which is now served with direct flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Madinah. flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, in line with the objectives of the Vision 2030. The inaugural flight ceremony at …

Cruise Saudi announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Prince Mugrin (UPM) in Madinah. The MoU, which was formally signed on 15th December at Cruise Saudi’s office in Jeddah, aims to enhance the development of specialized training programs, curricula and internships aligned with the needs of the rapidly growing cruise industry in Saudi. As part of the agreement, Cruise Saudi will provide vital industry insights and inputs to guide the development of training programs and curricula at the University of Prince Mugrin. This partnership will ensure that these educational initiatives are specifically tailored to meet the evolving demands of the cruise industry. The University of Prince Mugrin will leverage its educational resources and expertise to create high-quality training programs aimed at equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge for a career in cruise tourism. This partnership will also include the creation of internship opportunities for students, providing practical experience and fostering connections between academia and industry, and creating job opportunities. This MoU is the fruit of continuous collaboration between Cruise Saudi and The University of Prince Mugrin. In 2021, the first MoU was signed, with the University playing a key role in the success of Cruise Saudi’s “Ambassadors Program”. 56 Saudi Hospitality and Tourism department students participated in training onboard MSC Cruises, enabling the students to gain practical skills through onboard training from industry experts with decades of experience. Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, commented: “This collaboration with the University of Prince Mugrin is a significant step towards shaping the future workforce for the cruise industry in Saudi. This partnership will help create valuable opportunities for Saudis and contribute to the success of …

Miral unveiled its comprehensive Sustainability Strategy across the group, a milestone in Miral’s ongoing environmental and social commitment. It outlines Miral’s ambitions to become a regional benchmark for sustainable leisure, entertainment, and tourism (LET) experiences by 2030. Building on years of experience in sustainable business practices, Miral will place a strong emphasis on its responsibility to provide a brighter future for generations to come. The long-term strategy underscores Miral’s commitment to positioning its destinations and attractions as regional references for sustainable practices. Commenting on the strategy, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Miral’s Group CEO, said: “Miral is pursuing a major milestone in its advancement by putting sustainability at the core of everything we do. Our Sustainability Strategy will guide this evolution, ensuring responsible growth and innovation while delivering lasting value for our stakeholders and the community. It also demonstrates our commitment to contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy to address climate change, while driving sustainable tourism in Abu Dhabi.” Miral’s Sustainability Strategy is the result of a comprehensive assessment of its current operations and future vision, identifying key areas of focus with ambitious targets and timelines. Set to impact current and upcoming attractions across Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, Miral’s commitment to sustainability is driven by three key objectives: • Develop the most sustainable LET experiences in the region. • Operate LET experiences in the most sustainable way in the region. • Position its destinations as the most sustainable in the region. Rooted in the belief that sustainability is a catalyst for positive change, the strategy relies on four pillars: • Experiences for a better world: Miral aims to foster cultural enlightenment through attractions like Qasr al Watan and …

Cruise Saudi announced the soft launch of Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya – Cruise Saudi’s newly developed private island for cruising in the heart of the Red Sea. Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya welcomed the first cruise passengers on 21 December 2024 as part of a soft launch that offers guests an exclusive first experience of the private island. The soft launch of Saba Beach marks a significant milestone for Cruise Saudi, and the development of the private island is a natural progression in Cruise Saudi’s mission to position Saudi as a prominent destination for cruising. Just a short sail from Jeddah, roughly 220 Nautical miles, Jabal AlSabaya will be exclusively accessible to all cruise line passengers, offering an unparalleled Red Sea experience that combines luxury, local culture, and the natural beauty of Saudi’s coastline. Upon completion of the first phase, facilities will include a floating park, full-service restaurant, retail shops, a VIP beach and VVIP beachfront villas. Visitors can also treat themselves to a spa experience, a shisha lounge and a range of land and water activities that cater to all kinds of travelers. Guests can relax on beachside cabanas at Saba Beach or explore the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea with a snorkeling excursion. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the natural environment, the island’s development represents the best of Saudi culture, with influences from the Aseer and Hijaz regions, coastal Roshan designs, and patterns inspired by Sadu and AlKhous. The project’s development began in 2024 – from the start the island’s facilities were also built with sustainability at the forefront. Construction was undertaken with minimal impact, using local materials and craftsmanship along with off-site prefabrication, whilst measures …

Moscow and London top destinations for UAE travellers this festive season, according to Wego. They revealed the most popular European destinations during Christmas and New Year’s Eve for UAE travellers, along with suggestions on the best things to do this time of year. Top on the list of searches from UAE, Moscow retains its position as the most-searched European destination during the festive season. Moscow winter is best enjoyed in its festivals and the brightly decorated streets. The most popular event celebrating the season may be the citywide event Journey to Christmas, where shows, concerts, and fun workshops are held at different points of the city. Don’t miss out on Christmas markets popping up in the Red Square to hunt for gifts and souvenirs. Keep warm by making spins on ice skating rinks that are set up around the city. You may also want to sit down for special opera or ballet performances at halls across Moscow. “The Nutcrackers” is usually the city’s favorite show this season. The city is a perennial favorite, showing up annually on the list of most-searched year-end destinations from the UAE. Christmas in London means a lot of things, including Christmas markets, ice skating, theatre shows, and musical concerts. Wander through Leicester Square or Covent Garden Christmas markets for luscious dishes and charming treats. Or enjoy classical concerts at St Mary Le Strand, which showcases Vivaldi’s iconic masterpiece, The Four Seasons. During New Year’s Eve, watch the iconic fireworks on the Thames or enjoy dinner cruises offering spectacular views. “Cold Hands, Warm Hearts” is an annual Baku winter event, which enchants the visitors with a variety of stalls providing books, craftworks, delectable foods, and so …

The Grand Hyatt brand continues its expansion in the Middle East with Grand Hyatt The Red Sea (expected to open in Q4 2025). It will be the first Grand Hyatt property on Shaura Island, serving as the hub of the ambitious Red Sea Project on Saudi Arabia’s west coast and offering 430 guestrooms, along with state-of-the-art meeting and event venues in a stunning seaside setting. Welcoming guests with dramatic architecture, bold design, expansive lobbies, well-appointed guestrooms and luxurious event spaces, the Grand Hyatt brand will reach more travelers with new hotels in exciting destinations across the globe. The new openings will continue the growth momentum following the April 2024 opening of Grand Hyatt Barcelona, which marked the brand’s first hotel in Spain, offering 465 meticulously curated guestrooms and world-class wellbeing and meeting facilities, as well as the December 2023 opening of Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences, which extends luxurious touches throughout the 33-floor residential offering, minutes away from all that the vibrant Sabah Al Salem area offers.