The 2022 edition of the Tourism Youth Summer Camp, an initiative led by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is now open for registration. Designed to empower Emirati youth and to encourage their participation in the tourism sector, the two-week immersive programme offers both formal training and work experience, including a five-day placement at one of Abu Dhabi’s leading hotels. Running from 25 July to 5 August 2022, the programme offers 50 participants the opportunity to refine their teamwork and leadership skills and to develop an understanding of the broad components that make up the hospitality and tourism industries through access to workshops, tutorials, field trips and expert speakers. Viewing the destination with visitor experience in mind, the participants will learn about the attributes of Abu Dhabi as a leading tourism and cultural destination and the role and responsibility of DCT Abu Dhabi in achieving the emirate’s strategic ambitions. This Emiratisation initiative by DCT Abu Dhabi aims to educate participants on the role tourism and hospitality play in the growth and transformation of the emirate’s economy. The placement will offer participants the opportunity to gain hands-on, tourist-facing experience and improve their competence and explore potential career paths in tourism. The programme is exclusively open to UAE nationals aged between 17 and 21 years of age with no fee involved. To be eligible to register, applicants must be proficient in English, comfortable working with tourists in multi-cultural environments and interested in the tourism sector, regardless of their selected educational major subject. Once registration is complete, including submission of a participation NOC letter from the head of the family, applicants will be shortlisted before taking part …

Meridian Grooming for men expands its product portfolio and launches its stylish Travel Case to ensure you always trim in style. The Travel case is a carriable hardcover with a water-resistant polycarbonate outer case material that is sustainable, and matte finished. Its inner nylon fabric is anti-mold and anti-bacterial coated that stores Meridian trimmers and accessories. Priced at approximately AED 73 with 3 colour variations of Onyx, Sage and Ocean, its shock proof to protect trimmers and easy to clean. Dylan Chou, the General Manager of Meridian said, “Meridian customers have expressed interest in a travel case developed by Meridian. We created the Travel water resistant hard cover case specially to store Meridian trimmers, guides, and other accessories. This offers our customers convenience, and the case can be used for both traveling or just organizing.” Meridian’s Travel Case is available on Meridian Grooming website as an easy add on or add to package product along with other hero trimmer products.

As travellers begin flying for the summer holidays, Etihad Airways is expanding its quick self-service bag drop facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The service provides a faster check-in experience and can accommodate a greater number of guests who will then be able to skip the queues. Once checked-in online, the self-service facilities allow travellers to seamlessly retrieve their booking, print the bag-tag and process their bags in less than two minutes. John Wright, VP Network, Airports & Cargo Operations, Etihad Airways, said: “With the removal of many travel restrictions, Etihad is expecting the number of travellers to soar for the summer holidays. To make the airport experience seamless for our guests, Etihad is offering more self-service options at Abu Dhabi International Airport where they can skip the longer queues by first checking-in online and completing the extremely popular verified-to-fly process.” Covid related travel restrictions have been completely removed for travellers flying to Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Oman, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK. The airline is preparing to welcome large volumes of passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport between 30 June and 15 July 2022 advising travellers to follow the below tips. Etihad Airways travel tips   Get Verified to Fly and check-in online: For destinations with travel restrictions, travellers should visit ‘Manage my booking’ on etihad.com to upload their Covid travel documents. Approval will be shared by email giving passengers confidence that all required documents are in place. Approved passengers can check-in online and obtain their boarding card, then use fast-track ‘Verified to Fly’ desks at the airport, or the self-service facilities. Early check-in at Skypark: Effective from 30 June till 31 July, guests will …

Al-Hashar Tourism and Travels LLC selected  Amadeus technology to offer its customers a range of new technology-driven solutions. The multi-year partnership with Amadeus will deliver increased productivity, optimized customer service, and time-saving reporting solutions. Muslim Mahmood Mohammad Ahmed, General Manager of Al-Hashar Travel, said: “Our customers deserve and expect outstanding services from Al-Hashar. This new partnership with Amadeus will propel the company firmly into a brighter, technologically advanced future of enhanced productivity and customer service, ensuring we remain the leading travel provider in the Sultanate, while improving our efficiency and profitability.” Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, adds: “Today, the overall travel dynamic has evolved due to the pandemic. We must adapt to the emerging needs of the travel industry as we seek to renew travel and build it back better than it was before. Sitting at the heart of the travel ecosystem, Amadeus is committed to supporting forward-thinking customers such as Al-Hashar Travel to reconnect with travelers and bring back the joy of travel. By working together, we can get the world traveling again.” “Al Hashar’s trust in Amadeus is another milestone in our growth and further evidence of our strong commitment towards all the travel agencies in the sultanate,” he added. The solutions being adopted by the Muscat-headquartered firm include the cloud-based Amadeus Selling Platform Connect, a powerful and customizable online booking and fulfillment platform designed to meet Al-Hashar’s specific needs. Implementing Selling Platform Connect enables Al-Hashar’s travel counselors to service travelers around the clock, via any web-connected device. Additionally, Amadeus Master Pricer, a powerful search tool, will assist Al-Hashar staff in sourcing the lowest fares online, while Amadeus Dynamic Travel Documents conveniently collates a traveler’s complete …

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flights between Baku and Dubai are receiving a full revamp. Due to an increase in passenger travel demand between Dubai and Baku, and to satisfy high level service needs, Azerbaijan Airlines has opted to operate their advanced fleet for the booming route. The Baku based airline operates daily flights to Dubai, which will now be serviced by their more advanced wide body Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and Boeing 767-300/300ER aircraft; resulting in a significant upgrade in both seating numbers and inflight services compared to the narrow body aircraft which was previously operating the route. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has a capacity of approximately 210 passengers in three cabin classes, and the Boeing 767-300/300ER has a capacity of 198 passengers. Daily flights from Dubai to Baku will depart at 13:10 and arrive at 16:10 in Baku. Daily flights from Baku to Dubai will depart at 09:00 and arrive at 11:55 in Dubai. Dubai is one of the most popular destinations in the Azerbaijan Airlines route network, with thousands of tourists from Azerbaijan visiting Dubai and the UAE annually. The use of these wide body aircrafts in this market is due to the emerging importance of the Dubai and UAE market for Azerbaijan not only as a holiday destination, but also as a transit route for tourists from around the Gulf States using Dubai as a transit hub to then visit Azerbaijan, as well as Baku as a transit hub for traveling to Europe and the countries of the region. UAE residents enjoy a one-month visa on arrival when visiting Azerbaijan, which has been a major factor in attracting an increasing number of visitors from the UAE. “The demand for …

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.

Sabre Corporation  and Wingie Enuygun Group announced a renewal of their multiyear GDS agreement to help drive international growth. Wingie Enuygun has been working with Sabre for more than seven years, delivering on its vision to help today’s traveler to save time and money. Under the renewal agreement, Wingie Enuygun will be using Sabre Red 360 to deliver highly personalized offers for its customers, by deploying intelligent and consultative services and features on the wingie.com, wingie.ae, sa.wingie.com and enuygun.com domains. “We are excited to extend our longstanding relationship with Wingie Enuygun,” said Altug Bekdemir, General Manager, Sabre Turkey. “The online sector is at the forefront of travel’s recovery, so there is a huge opportunity for Wingie Enuygun to position itself for growth.  Wingie Enuygun’s decision to extend its partnership with Sabre will enable the company to tap into increased traveler demand through this time of ‘ revenge travel’ and beyond.” MENA’s leading travel marketplace Wingie Enuygun will use Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car rental and cruise providers, to sell customized travel packages from suppliers around the world. “We have a great relationship with Sabre, based on many years of mutual trust. By renewing our contract with Sabre and updating our performance through Sabre’s advanced technologies, we aim to provide the seamless, quality service that our millions of users seek, thereby improving their travel experience,” said Wingie Enuygun CEO and founder, Çağlar Erol.

As part of its efforts in redefining the leisure and travel landscape of Sharjah and the region with an exciting expansion of portfolio offerings, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has revealed details of its upcoming integrated large-scale development project in the Eastern enclave of Khorfakkan comprising a 5-star hotel, the first waterpark in the Eastern region, and more than 200 residential units. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the luxury 5-star hospitality project, operating under the Autograph Collection by Marriott International and built on 38,000 sqm opposite the Khorfakkan port, will feature 75 deluxe units, pools, restaurants, and a ballroom for special occasions. The proposed rooms include 62 single rooms, 5 double rooms, and 8 luxury suites offering stunning views of the Arabian Sea and offers unparalleled luxury for visitors to the tranquil eastern enclave. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), revealed details of the project currently under development, during a phone call to (Al Khat Al Mubasher) radio show on Wednesday (June 22). The expansive project will also see the development of the first waterpark in the Eastern region of the emirate and caters to the ever-growing demand for tourism and leisure experiences in the East Coast. Ahmed Al Qaseer pointed out that the project would also include more than 200 residential units which will be serviced by retail stores, restaurants and a host of other outlets on the ground level, adding that off-plan sales would commence with the announcement of a detailed overview of the project in the third quarter of the current year. The Acting CEO noted that the project will be completed in 2024. Shurooq’s new project …

dnata Travel reveals that Thailand is the most popular destination for UAE travellers for summer holidays in 2022. Experts at the UAE-based travel brand are recording a 185% increase in the total number of travel bookings made for summer 2022 so far compared to the same time period in 2021. A total 64% of hotel bookings are for international properties, while 34% represent UAE staycations across the country. The top ten destinations for UAE travellers to book a holiday package, including flights and hotels, with dnata Travel at the time of publishing, are: Thailand, Maldives, Turkey, Mauritius, UK, Indonesia, Italy, USA, Spain and France, respectively. Flight-only leisure travel bookings are also proving popular to visit friends and relatives, with top destinations including India, Egypt, Philippines, Turkey, and the UK, most concentrated during the time of the anticipated Eid al-Adha break in July. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “The top five holiday destinations for UAE travellers in 2022 have typically made up our top locations for international travel bookings pre-pandemic. With more locations opening up to travellers this year and with eased restrictions, we have witnessed our 2021 summer holiday hotspots the Maldives and Turkey joined once again by ever-popular destinations Thailand, Mauritius and the UK. “Thailand has risen quickly to become the top-choice international holiday destination for UAE travellers in summer 2022 since it reopened for tourism. Alongside the world-class resorts, experiences, food and abundance of natural attractions that the country has to offer, cost-effective holiday offers across its cities and islands are extremely popular.” The top locations of choice for UAE travellers to Thailand this summer with dnata Travel are Bangkok, Phuket …

Dubai Airports has issued a passenger advisory alerting travellers about Dubai International (DXB) getting exceptionally busy over the next two weeks as a result of schools breaking for summer and the Eid Al Adha holidays. According to the operator, some 2.4 million passengers are expected to pass through DXB between June 24 and July 4, with average daily traffic reaching 214,000 passengers. July 2nd is expected to be the busiest day with daily traffic exceeding 235,000 passengers. Similar passenger numbers are anticipated at the airport over the Eid Al Adha weekend of July 8 and 9. While Dubai Airports is working closely with airlines, control authorities, and commercial and service partners to ensure a smooth airport experience for passengers from kerb to boarding gates, the operator has urged travellers to follow a few simple tips to beat the holiday rush. Be aware of the latest travel regulations for the destination you are travelling to and ensure that you have all the necessary documents with the required validity before reaching the airport. For those travelling with families, children over the age of 12 can use Smart Gates to speed up the passport control process. If you are flying out of Terminal 1, arrive at the airport no earlier than 3 hours before your departure. Use online check in wherever available to save time. Those travelling from Terminal 3 can use Emirate’s convenient early and self-service check-in facilities. Weighing luggage at home, checking documents in advance, and being prepared for security checks can save a lot of time at the airport. Use Dubai Metro to get to and from the airport. Metro operating times are extended during Eid holidays. Friends and families …