The Embassy of Malaysia in the United Arab Emirates hosted a reception to promote an exhibition entitled “To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia: highlights from the AFK Collection” at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi. This six month long exhibition underscores Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening its cultural and artistic presence in the UAE. The opening reception was attended by Their Excellencies ambassadors accredited to the UAE, prominent business leaders, members of the Malaysian community residing in the country, as well as cultural and media figures, including Emirati journalist Dr. Jamal Al Majaida. In his remarks, the Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE H.E. Tengku Sirajuzzaman Bin Tengku Mohamed Ariffin stated: “Art and culture serve as a vital window into Malaysia’s history and diverse heritage, which blends Asian and Islamic civilizations. We are delighted to present these elements in Abu Dhabi, a global cultural hub. The relations between Malaysia and the UAE are not limited to political and economic cooperation, but extend deeply into the cultural sphere. This exhibition opens new horizons for cultural exchange and greater understanding between our peoples.” The exhibition featured a rare selection of artworks and cultural pieces from the AFK Collection, a distinguished private collection that showcases Malaysia’s vibrant artistic traditions, from classical and Islamic-inspired works to contemporary cultural expressions. The collection has been internationally recognized for its role in promoting Malaysian heritage on the global stage. Guests expressed their admiration for the quality and uniqueness of the displays, emphasizing the role of such events in building bridges of cultural exchange and understanding. At the conclusion of the evening, members of the Malaysian community voiced their pride in seeing their culture represented in the heart …

As it marks the 25th anniversary of its first Italian Designer Outlet in Serravalle near Milan, the Group celebrates its journey of growth, international vision, and a deep connection to surrounding territories. With record results, new openings, and an established luxury experience, McArthurGlen confirms its position as a benchmark in the sector. The Italian side to the McArthurGlen story began in September 2000 with the opening of the Serravalle Designer Outlet, a pioneering project that transformed Italy’s shopping experience connecting the fashion capital of Milan with the surrounding territories. The centre has been hugely successful as a place where the Milanese come to shop their luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Versace, which then reaffirms the centre’s credentials as a fashion must when connected to the city of Fashion itself, Milan. Since then, the Group has expanded by launching additional outlets in Italy of Castel Romano in Rome (2003), Noventa di Piave near Venice (2008), and La Reggia (2010) near Naples now celebrating its 15th anniversary. The latest addiction in McArthurGlen’s portfolio include Malaga in Spain and Paris -Giverny successfully opened in 2023. The strength of McArthurGlen’s model is confirmed by the performance of the Italian market, which has always been one of the group’s pillars. Here, steady growth had continued and was further bolstered by highly positive projections for 2025. The first half of the year has already shown an increase of around 5% compared to the same period in 2024. Serravalle continues to be a favourite of GCC visitors, one of its strongest source markets fuelling growth. Tourism from the region has driven a 12% rise in tax-free sales, building on the +23% growth recorded in 2024 with GCC …

As part of its growing economic and industry partnerships with India, one of the organisation’s priority growth markets, Visit Qatar held two high-level dialogue sessions in Mumbai, engaging the country’s leading tour operators and wedding planners as the two nations look to deepen tourism and industry ties. During the interactive sessions, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Qatar, spoke alongside a number of representatives who highlighted key upcoming initiatives and potential opportunities for further collaboration between the two countries and attract more travellers and event organisers to Qatar. Through presentations, interactive Q&A sessions, recognition ceremonies, and networking, the events showcased Qatar’s world-class hospitality, seamless connectivity, and diverse offerings, reinforcing its position as the luxury destination of choice for Indian travellers and wedding celebrations.

This strategic agreement defines the operational and commercial framework through which Kuwait Airways will procure, deploy, and manage IT solutions offered by Impulse. By leveraging this streamlined procurement pathway, Kuwait Airways will be able to adopt scalable cloud infrastructure, advanced data and analytics capabilities, and application modernization tools aligned with the best global practices. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan, stated during the signing ceremony, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to sign this significant agreement with Impulse as we aim to enhance our digital and technological capabilities across all levels. This initiative is part of the national carrier’s digital transformation journey, that aligns with Kuwait’s Vision 2035.” Al-Fagaan pointed out that the agreement with Impulse ensures the national carrier of the State of Kuwait’s ability to adopt the latest cloud computing technologies efficiently, and securely, in line with the company’s strategic goals to enhance customer experience and increase operational agility. In a significant step towards enhancing its digital transformation journey, Kuwait Airways signed a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with Impulse International for Telecommunications, laying the foundation for adopting the latest IT services and applications within Kuwait Airways’ digital transformation initiative. The signing ceremony was attended by Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan, and Impulse Vice Chairman and CEO, Eng. Izzat Abou Amarah, along with various officials representing both companies. Al-Fagaan stated that Impulse is an authorized distributor under the Alliance Framework Agreement (AFA) signed with Google Cloud, making it a key enabler in Kuwait’s cloud computing ecosystem. He explained that the company will provide end-to-end support to Kuwait Airways throughout its cloud journey, starting with solution design and setup, through continuous improvements, to achieving optimization and compliance with standards. Al-Fagaan concluded his …

Located on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, the beachfront residences feature 141 units. Ras Al Khaimah economy is on track to grow by an average of 4 per cent annually from 2024 to 2027*, paving the way for some of the biggest names in hospitality and real estate. The projected growth of Al Marjan Island continues to be an immense draw for buyers and investors not only with a residential market boom but also a surge in tourism and hospitality.  The agreement was signed in the presence of dignitaries of Marjan and Marriott, including Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan, who joined ATARA leadership to commemorate the milestone. This flagship project is the cornerstone of ATARA Development’s expanding portfolio, underscoring the company’s strategic shift towards primary development. With a robust pipeline of over 1 million square feet planned in the next two years, it represents a major step in ATARA’s growth. Building on a strong track record of sold-out projects in Dubai’s most prestigious locations such as Pearl Jumeirah Island, La Mer South Island, and Dubai Islands, this collaboration with Marriott International sets a new benchmark in luxury living and reinforces ATARA´s position as a lead developer. “We are delighted to welcome ATARA Development and The Residences at Sheraton Al Marjan Island Resort to our vibrant community,” said Arch. Abdullah Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan. “Located on the prime shores of Al Marjan Island, this project reflects the caliber of world-class developments we envision for our destination. By combining ATARA’s expertise in luxury residences with Sheraton’s legacy of hospitality excellence, it offers a distinctive proposition for both residents and investors — further strengthening Al Marjan Island’s position as …

Jamaica, as a holiday destination for travellers from the GCC, proposes something new and unexplored. As holidaymakers are increasingly prioritizing space, privacy, and personalized service, the island grows as an ideal Caribbean escape for family vacations, couples’ retreats, and group holidays. Jamaica offers the versatility to cater to a range of visitor segments, and one area where it doesn’t fall short is luxury. Its selection of the finest private and luxurious villas sprawled on its lush hillsides and along its sun-kissed coastlines delivers seclusion, comfort, and island living at its best. Choose to unwind in the coveted Tryall Club in Montego Bay, is set on a 2,200-acre estate boasting 92 elegantly designed villas complete with a championship golf course. The Club sits on a gated community of rolling hills and oceanfront, with an impressive 18th century Georgian Great House. Enjoy its world-class amenities plus a wide range of water sports across the luscious estate. Travelling with the whole clan? Jamaica is home to exclusive villa rentals that appeal to big groups or multi-generational travelers. Consider booking a stay at the stunning Flower Hill Villa which can accommodate up to 17 people, or the architecturally striking Bougainvilla which also give its guests full membership access to the Half Moon Hotel and Golf Course. Villa Rosa vintage architectural bones with modern amenities and refined interiors, is also ideal for groups of up to 8 people. It is worth considering a few nights’ stay in Ocho Rios, where many of Jamaica’s top attractions are located. After a day filled with sightseeing and adventure, Jamaica Inn’s old-school charm can be the perfect place for solace. Imagine a place where waves of nostalgia meet timeless, …

MSC Cruises will be repositioning MSC Euribia for Winter 2025/2026 season and MSC World Europa for Winter 2026/2027, to homeport in Dubai. MSC Cruises seven-night Gulf itinerary offers a rich tapestry of experiences across iconic ports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Doha, Qatar.  A highlight of the Gulf itinerary is access to Sir Bani Yas Island. Guests can relax on MSC Cruises’ private beach with full-service catering, or explore the island’s Arabian Wildlife Park on a guided safari, a one-of-a-kind experience managed in partnership with local organisations.

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah has once again reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability by partnering with Dr. Linen Sustainable Ventures FZCO for the second time, handling over 700 kilograms of end-of-life linens and uniforms. This initiative reflects the ongoing commitment to responsible resource management, ensuring that the textiles at the end of their operation lifespan are repurposed into sustainable products. Dr. Linen Sustainable Ventures FZCO will reprocess and blend the old linens and uniforms with virgin fibers to create new, usable commodities, giving the materials a second life instead of sending them to landfills. This effort reflects the hotel’s proactive approach to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices, particularly in responsible waste management and carbon footprint reduction. “Our partnership with Dr. Linen Sustainable Ventures FZCO demonstrates that even small steps like responsibly managing end-of-life linens can lead to a significant positive impact. Sustainability is a journey, and we are proud to continue leading by example,” said Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah. This initiative adds to Coral Beach Resort Sharjah’s broader sustainability journey, which includes projects accomplished such as Onsite Water Bottling Plant that eliminate the single-use plastic bottles and the composting machine which convert food waste into natural compost.

Collaboration expands visibility and recognition of both Riyadh Air and The Red Sea’s luxury resorts. The agreement will see the companies supporting one another on brand and marketing activations leading to greater visibility and recognition for each, showcasing The Red Sea as a premier global destination for sustainable luxury, while positioning the Riyadh Air as the preferred choice for travelers coming to the Kingdom and from global destinations around the world. The agreement also paves the way for future cooperation, including improved connectivity to RSG’s world-class destinations. As part of this partnership, Riyadh Air guests will enjoy exclusive offers and packages at The Red Sea resorts. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two travel and tourism powerhouses was signed during a ceremony at Red Sea International Airport (RSI), attended by John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global, and Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air. “This collaboration with Riyadh Air is first and foremost about storytelling, combining our brands to amplify Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a renowned destination on the world stage. By sharing compelling content and campaigns, we’re not only increasing visibility but creating deeper emotional connections with global audiences. This is just the beginning. Today we welcomed Riyadh Air’s aircraft named Jamila. In the future we look forward to receiving a regular schedule of Riyadh Air flights to our destinations,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said: “We’re thrilled to be putting ink to our partnership with Red Sea Global, where the two Saudi brands are creating impact in the travel sector. We’re elevating awareness of both Riyadh Air and The Red Sea and over time, this foundation opens …

flyadeal will launch daily non-stop scheduled flights to Syria, effective 1 October 2025. There will be three flights a week from Jeddah to the Syrian capital, Damascus, followed by 2 October launch of four services each week from Riyadh. Tickets are now on sale, bookable via flyadeal’s Mobile App, website www.flyadeal.com and through travel agents. Announcement of the new daily flights split between Saudi Arabia’s two biggest cities, follows the recent lifting of western sanctions on a country impacted by years of civil war. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “With the removal of sanctions on Syria, flyadeal joins many airlines in planning to restore air access to and from a country affected by years of hardship. “We are therefore delighted to announce our new daily Syrian flights will begin in a few weeks’ time on October 1, contributing to the long-term recovery of Syria, the country’s rebuilding efforts and, importantly, the need to reunite friends and families.” flyadeal currently operates domestic and international flights from its three bases in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to over 30 year-round and seasonal destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and South Asia. By 2030, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, flyadeal expects to triple its network to over 100 destinations and more than 100 aircraft. flyadeal operates a fleet of 40 Airbus A320 aircraft, each configured with 186 all-Economy Class seats.