The Sri Lankan Pavilion situated in the Opportunity District is set to be a buzz on Saturday, 26 February 2022, where visitors will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the largest single assortment of sapphire masterpieces from The Island of Gems, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, with its vibrant past in the gem and jewellery trade, will for the first time, display an extraordinary selection of its most exclusive sapphires for public viewing, showcasing its rich national wonders and artistry. There are consistent records in history of Sri Lanka’s prominent position as an Island of Gemstones. Already by the first century AD, the western Roman Empire was trading in Sri Lankan gems. References to the gem riches of Sri Lanka – including sapphire, beryl, topaz, amethyst and garnet – are made bythe Greek astronomer Ptolemy in 2nd century, the Italian adventurer Marco Polo in 12th Century, the famous Arab explorer Ibn Battuta in 14th century and English sea captain Robert Knox in the 17th century. “The country’s precious gems and ornate jewellery were amongst the oldest items traded over the years. Renowned for its sapphires, these precious stones have adorned some of the world’s most famous jewellery pieces and have found their way to museums around the world. We are now on a journey to give the Sri Lankan sapphire the prominence it deserves in the global arena with the goal of increasing the appreciation and desirability toward our gems’, commented a spokesperson from the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association. ‘Day of Sapphires’ is set to transport visitors across the ages, through surviving treasures, like one engraved 14th century ring which adorns a sapphire from the 10th …

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the Museum of the Future, as Dubai’s new iconic landmark officially opened its doors to the world with a new message of hope for all humankind. The 77-metre tall architectural marvel will provide the largest platform in the region to study, envision and design the future. It is a novel scientific and intellectual centre where the brightest talents in the fields of science, technology, research and innovation will converge to discover solutions to tomorrow’s world. During the opening ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said: “The Museum of the Future is a message of hope … a global scientific platform … and an integrated institutional framework to shape a better future for all of us.” His Highness continued: “It embodies the active human imagination and the Emirati will that continues to excel the world. The Museum will be a forum for great minds, scientists, thinkers and experts from around the world.” His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Dubai Future Foundation, said: “The Museum of the Future will be an intellectual laboratory for cities of the future and governments of the future … it will play a key role in strengthening Dubai’s future position. The Museum will provide a clear roadmap for Dubai’s vital sectors.” His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, said: “Through the Museum of the Future, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum aims to instutionalise future …

Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines Berhad announced a new chapter in their long-standing relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The new agreement will further facilitate a strategic cooperation that will see both airlines working closely together across multiple areas of the business to offer an unrivalled and range of value-added services to passengers. With the enhanced partnership, both airlines will leverage each other’s network strengths and provide more access for passengers to travel to new destinations beyond their individual networks while offering new and exclusive product to their customers soon. Qatar Airways’ passengers will gain better access to the wider domestic Malaysia market and key destinations in Asia such as Penang, Langkawi and Medan, Indonesia. Operated by Malaysia Airlines via its hub, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Passengers will enjoy seamless connectivity to popular destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas with Qatar Airways’ extensive network via Doha. Building on the close links between Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines’ networks and rapid expansion of codeshare flights, the two oneworld partners have also agreed to maximise synergies in other areas of the business such as air cargo, operations or commercial services, that will create a game-changing innovative synergy for both carriers in leading the new travel demand ahead. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “This is a significant moment for us as we have just celebrated 20 years of serving Malaysia, and this new strategic cooperation with our oneworld partner, Malaysia Airlines, further cements our commitment to the country. This partnership will serve to link both our networks and allow us to work together across different aspects of the business …

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of Crowne Plaza West Cairo- Arkan – its first hotel in Egypt. Located in the west of the Egyptian capital, Crowne Plaza West Cairo-Arkan is the first premium hotel in the heart of Sheikh Zayed and is in a prime position for locals and those travelling to Cairo for business, leisure or a combination of the two. Designed to meet the needs of the modern business traveller, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts deeply understands work/life blend and this is brought to life at the brand’s hotels worldwide through a modern, distinct and purposeful design featuring multi-functional zones, great food and drinks, and a warm and engaging approach to guest service. Engineer Amr Badreldine Chairman of El Badr Commercial Developments, commented: “Arkan Plaza is pleased to welcome its newest addition an IHG hotel, the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Egypt, one of the fastest growing hotel brands globally. Perfectly located within Arkan, Crowne Plaza – West Cairo will provide an exemplary experience. Arkan’s strategic location and wide range of facility services & offerings will meet every guest’s needs creating an exceptional experience at Crowne Plaza – West Cairo Arkan.” Haitham Mattar, Managing Director IMEA at IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “We are excited to open our first Crowne Plaza hotel – Crowne Plaza West Cairo-Arkan, in Egypt, and expand our brand portfolio to offer world-class hospitality options to travellers with diverse needs. Crowne Plaza is known to be an international premium hotel brand which is loved by business travellers across the globe. We are confident that this new addition to our portfolio in the region will be a popular choice with both domestic and …

The ninth edition of the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), the region’s leading aviation and tourism industry event, has announced the participation of a top-notch panel of global experts, which will take place from February 28 to March 2nd at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Following the overwhelming success of the eighth edition, which was also the first in-person aviation industry event held after the pandemic in the region, this year’s summit focuses on the theme, ‘The Roadmap to Recovery.’ With the global aviation and tourism sector gaining traction, the high-level event will underline the opportunities and challenges in ramping up the sector’s growth, with a particular focus on the Middle East region. Ahead of the Summit on March 1, extensive workshops will be held to discuss the regional trends in aviation and tourism. Referred to as the ‘voice of the industry’, this initiative will also bring the largest assembly of Arab media together and top executives from the aviation and tourism sector. The Summit will also reiterate the strong linkages between tourism, aviation and hospitality, three core growth sectors, which have a dominant role in post-pandemic recovery for local economies. Experts will discuss global best practices, and measures taken to build the resilience of the aviation and the tourism sector. A white paper, based on deliberations of participants, will be created post the Summit as a data bank on the insights shared during the event. The keynote speakers, with several more coming on board, include CEOs, Presidents, global aviation & tourism experts, distinguished airline officials, policy makers and representatives. They include: Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation; Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice …

Qatar Airways announced that it will be adopting Avios as the reward currency for all members worldwide from late March 2022. All Privilege Club members will experience a seamless transition into the loyalty programme’s new reward currency, Avios, with their existing Qmiles balances changing automatically to Avios on a 1:1 ratio basis. Privilege Club members will be provided even greater opportunities to accumulate rewards and leverage exciting new innovations in managing and spending with the change to Avios. In addition, members will retain their well-earned rewards balance and will be able to continue enjoying the redemption opportunities they currently have. Further details are available on www.qatarairways.com/Avios and more will be announced by Qatar Airways Privilege Club next month. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, stated: “The transition from Qmiles to Avios marks a ground-breaking new era for Privilege Club, enabling our loyal members to participate in the most compelling loyalty network and the largest portfolio of partners in the industry. “As the World’s Best Airline, Qatar Airways continues to redefine loyalty through the adoption of exciting digital innovations to create unique world-class experiences for our members. We look forward to revealing more details of this exciting change over the coming weeks, as we explore even more ways to reward our valued members both on and off the ground.” IAG Loyalty owns and manages the Avios currency. CEO of IAG Loyalty, Mr. Adam Daniels, said: “Qatar Airways have recognised the power of Avios. By adopting Avios they will be able to offer their customers a wider range of benefits and support their business development ambitions. It’s an exciting step for IAG Loyalty as we extend our …

C Central Resort the Palm will continue to attract families, groups of friends, couples, and honeymooners in the year 2022. The 5-star property recorded a peak in the number of leisure and group segments, with guests from the UK, France, Germany, and CIS countries topping the list, comprising 70% of its total guests since opening in September 2019. Guests reportedly booked an average of four nights stay and are particularly interested in the various beach and water activities, the magnificent surroundings, multiple dining options, excellent facilities, friendly and warm service, and the stunning location. “We look forward to an amazing start to the year. We have seen an increase in the number of guests from our key target markets, and we hope this trend will continue until the first half of the year. The coming months will be hectic for the property as we have planned some exciting promotions for Mother’s Day, Ramadan, Eid, and leading up to summer. It will be an exciting season as Dubai strengthens its position as the destination of choice for international travelers,” Hussein Gamaleldin, Group Director of Sales and Marketing. The 203-key beachfront hotel and resort feature rooms and suites that command breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and The Palm. The Premium Rooms, the Skyline Suites, and Palm Suites have private balconies where guests can watch the city’s spectacular sunset and the glittering Dubai skyline in the evening. The guest rooms feature contemporary and modern decor, dramatic wall art, and in-room amenities for complete comfort and relaxation. With several dining venues to choose from and plenty of money-saving promotions, C Central Hotel The Palm is the ideal dining destination. Whether staying at the …

Dubai International (DXB) continues to be the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year after clocking 29.1 million in annual traffic in 2021.  DXB’s annual traffic exceeded forecasts for the year by more than half a million passengers, on the back of a strong last quarter. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, described an eventful year which, despite the uncertainties of the global pandemic, contained many milestones that demonstrate several bold steps taken by Dubai and its aviation sector to lead the recovery of global air travel, including  the successful hosting of the Dubai Airshow 2021, the world’s first major airshow since the start of the pandemic, the return of DXB to 100% operational capacity with the reopening of Terminal 1-Concourse D and Concourse A, and the opening of the world’s largest in-house airport laboratory for fast-track processing Covid-19 PCR test samples for Dubai’s visitors. The airport also welcomed a record number of new airlines connecting Dubai to new destinations and joined the rest of the city in creating a warm welcome for millions of visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai. Describing DXB’s performance in 2021 as nothing short of impressive, Griffiths said, “Despite unprecedented turmoil affecting millions of people all over the world, we overcame many serious obstacles to the operation of the world’s largest international hub and provided smooth, comfortable and safe travel for millions of people travelling through DXB. This incredible performance by all of our staff and stakeholders was achieved in the face of abruptly changing travel regulations and concerns about new waves of infection. Despite these serious challenges to our ongoing success, we managed to exceed our own forecasts and continue …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has concluded the 11th edition of the Sharjah Light Festival 2022, which ran from February 9-20. Organised under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, this year’s edition of the festival took place under the tagline ‘Echoes of the Future.’ For the past 12 nights, Sharjah Light Festival has illuminated key areas of Sharjah with dazzling displays highlighting the ancient Islamic heritage that characterises its major buildings and landmarks, while the artistic performances that formed part of its programme celebrated the emirate’s progress and presented stories of its fascinating past, its vibrant present, and its promising future. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, affirmed that Sharjah Light Festival 2022 was a spectacular success, with the event enhancing Sharjah’s position on the global tourism map as a leading destination for international events. He stated that, as with each of its preceding editions,  the 11th festival attracted thousands of visitors from around the world who followed its special shows and activities in the emirate’s various regions, with the event effectively contributing to boosting the emirate’s tourism sector by highlighting the aesthetics and architectural splendor of its landmarks. His Excellency noted that the Authority is keen to advance tourism in Sharjah, in line with the directives of the leadership represented by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and his continuous support for the emirate’s tourism sector. H.E. Al Midfa said that the emirate continuously strives to provide the very best events and services that surpass the expectations of all categories of visitors, thereby enhancing the …

Following the success of the “Cloud 7 Residences Ayla Aqaba” which has been operating since July 2020, “Ayla ” and Kerten Hospitality agreed to manage another one-of-a-kind Hospitality Hub to further diversify the hospitality offering and continue to increase the footfall. “The Pulse”, a Cloud 7 Boutique Hotel, consists of 75 rooms located at the Marina Village, the heart of Ayla – a real estate leisure hub with the potential to be a second home destination. It is a tailored destination seeking to attract wanderlusters and exploration lovers and seeking to become an attractive Business Hub suited for short and extended stays that will constantly evolve throughout the seasons, attracting a diverse audience for a variety of immersive experiences along with dedicated workspaces for ‘bleisure’ travelers, guests, music and art lovers. Ayla’s Managing Director, Sahl Dudin, said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with “Kerten Hospitality” following their great success in managing the ” Cloud 7 Residences” and we entrust the Group with the management of “The Pulse Hotel” whilst seeking to expand our hotel accommodation and entertainment offerings in Jordan in addition to the real estate development projects. Since its launch, Ayla has taken the initiative to work on promoting and diversifying the tourism offers in Aqaba. Our commitment to grow the hospitality and real estate facilities would not have been possible without the right partners.” Marloes Knippenberg CEO of Kerten Hospitality said: “Our vision and efforts have always been exerted to create local collaborations and bring projects to life with depth and purpose that allow to bring communities together. Our relationship with Ayla has developed where we share and motivate new ideas for development; we are truly …