For the first time around, Israel is now open to all travellers residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As of 01 March 2022, vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists of all ages are permitted to enter Israel upon presenting a negative PCR test before departure and after arriving in Israel. The Israel Ministry of Tourism made the official announcement at the Expo 2020 Israeli Pavilion on 15 March 2022. The announcement follows a recent agreement between the UAE and Israel extending visa-free entry to all UAE nationals as part of the ongoing strategic partnership between both countries.   Following the announcement, the Israel Ministry of Tourism hosted a B2B workshop for travel partners in the UAE. Dignitaries from the Ministry shared an informative destination presentation showcasing exceptional prospects for post-covid tourism. The workshop attracted over 65 agents from the travel industry, followed by a pavilion tour to the travel trade partners and media. The event concluded with a networking gala serving Israeli delicacies and music that welcomed top travel stakeholders in the market.   Israel’s tourism offering: Israel is a global destination attracting over 4.5 million tourists in 2019 alone. The country provides the perfect conditions to accommodate all UAE visitors, including halal food restaurants. The local Israeli Kosher food is halal-friendly and is liked by many tourists. Additionally, the country offers diverse family-oriented hotels and heritage sites which can be explored with the help of Arabic tour guides.   Speaking at the event, Ksenia Kobiakov, New Markets Development Department Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism, said, “There is a tremendous potential in the UAE to drive incoming tourists to Israel. I hope travellers from the UAE will appreciate Israel’s unique offerings, …

Emirates has confirmed that it will be commencing daily services to Tel Aviv from 23 June 2022. Emirates will operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “We look forward to finally welcoming customers onboard our flights to and from Tel Aviv this summer, and offer them substantial connectivity to and through our Dubai hub as COVID travel restrictions continue to ease around the world and more borders open up. In addition to unlocking tremendous pent-up demand, Emirates’ debut into Israel will mean more choice for travellers as they return to the skies, and more opportunities for businesses to visit Dubai and beyond to our far-reaching network of almost 130 destinations, alongside our signature hospitality and award-winning onboard experience.” He added: “Emirates is committed to creating new opportunities for business and tourism, and strengthening the bilateral ties between the UAE and Israel. We are confident that our new services will have a positive impact on enhancing Israel’s connectivity to a wealth of global destinations, and we thank the UAE and Israeli authorities for their ongoing support in making this service possible.” The first flight taking off on 23 June will operate as EK931, leaving at 15:50hrs, and arriving at Ben Gurion Airport at 18:00hrs local time. The return flight EK 932 will depart Tel Aviv at 19:55hrs, arriving in Dubai at 23:59hrs (local time). Flight schedules have been timed to provide convenient access to Dubai, and optimum connection opportunities to popular holiday destinations like Thailand, India, Philippines, the Maldives, Sri Lanka …

Qatar Airways is to resume flights to London Gatwick Airport from 5 June, 2022. The multi-award winning airline will operate a daily service from Gatwick to Doha using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an environmentally advanced aircraft. It consumes 20 per cent less fuel and its carbon dioxide emissions are 20 per cent lower than other similar aircraft. With the addition of daily flights to London Gatwick, passengers can now enjoy seamless connectivity to almost 150 destinations across the airline’s extensive global network via the best airport in the world, Hamad International Airport, connecting with popular destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. The resumption of the London Gatwick service complements recently launched flights to Doha from Gatwick by Qatar Airways’ Joint Business partner British Airways, meaning the airlines can now jointly offer more options between London and Doha and beyond, earning Avios frequent flyer points as they go. UK customers will now have access to four gateways including five-times daily services from London Heathrow, 18-times weekly from Manchester and four-times weekly from Edinburgh rising to daily from 2 June. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our commitment to the UK market has been unwavering and we operated continuously and reliably throughout the pandemic, so I am pleased we can resume our popular service to London Gatwick. We offer excellent connectivity to and from the UK, providing travellers with more choice and convenience. “This year is very special for us, not least as it is the 25th anniversary of the start of our flights to …

Cruise Saudi is pleased to announce the appointment of Lars Clasen as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. He is a global industry expert with 30+ years of experience in the shipping and cruise industries across Asia, Europe and North America. Prior to joining Cruise Saudi, Clasen held several key roles across leading cruise companies; Managing Director at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Co-founder and Managing Director of Dolce Cruise Management, CEO of A-ROSA River Cruises, President of AIDA Cruises, and is also the founder and owner of Lars Clasen Cruise Consulting.  His deep experience in the world of cruising is ideally suited for Cruise Saudi as it pursues its development of the cruise sector in the Red Sea and elsewhere. Fawaz Farooqui, Managing Director of Cruise Saudi commented: “We are excited to announce that Lars Clasen has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Cruise Saudi. Clasen brings three decades of experience in the global cruising industry, and we look forward to having him as a key member of the team.” Clasen on joining Cruise Saudi said: “As a cruise professional and enthusiast, I’ve been following the tremendous progress Cruise Saudi has made in such a short span of time; from setting up an entirely new industry and welcoming guests on cruise ships for the first time in Saudi Arabia, to garnering a great deal of attention globally as the newest player in the cruise industry. I am honored to be joining a diligent team of professionals and look forward to achieving more milestones together as Cruise Saudi embarks upon a new phase of development in opening not just one gateway, but several new gateways connecting the world to the …

The Malaysian state of Melaka kicked off a week-long campaign to woo foreign investments in maritime, IT, energy, electric vehicles, tourism and other sectors at the Expo 2020 Dubai with an initial target of RM500 million (US$119 million) in projects. The state is also showcasing its latest and ambitious waterfront economic zone, which it says will help transform the once-thriving trading port into a modern metropolis and an important investment hub in Southeast Asia. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Utama Sulaiman Md Ali, who led a high-powered delegation of investors and government officials, said the Expo would also help boost tourism in Melaka, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Melaka, along with George Town, are historic cities of the Straits of Melaka. Both cities have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with rich multicultural heritage. “Our history as a maritime hub and a busy trading centre goes back a long way.  The deep, sheltered harbour on the narrow channel which took our name, the Straits of Melaka, positioned us at the crossroads of one of the busiest sea lanes in the world,” Sulaiman said in his speech at the launch of the Melaka Week. Besides preserving heritage, Melaka is also forging ahead in its drive for a more relevant and sustainable economic future. It is aggressively pushing to develop the economic corridor called the Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone or M-WEZ. Launched just a year ago, state authorities are banking on international investors to help turn the huge 25,000-acre site into a vibrant corridor. A unique aspect of this corridor …

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched two marine transport lines to coincide with the opening of the latest tourist destinations and residential communities in Dubai. The move, which is part of the Marine Transport Master Plan 2020-2030, aims to serve residential communities and development projects with a sea view. The first line shuttles between two tourist and recreational areas namely the Bluewaters Island and the Marina, on all weekdays according to a plan tailored to the pattern of daily riders. The service operates from Monday to Friday from 4:50 pm to 11:25 pm and during the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 4:10 pm to 11:45 pm. The fare is set as 5 dirhams. The second line connects the residential areas at the Dubai Creek Marina: (Creek Harbour Station), with the surrounding attractions at the Dubai Festival City, during weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 4:00 pm to 11:55 pm, with a tariff of just two dirhams. This coordination between the Maritime Transport Department and real estate developers stems from the keenness to continuously improve services to meet customer needs and expectations. It also seeks to measure up to the objectives of Dubai and RTA’s strategic goals to improve the wellbeing of residents. RTA is keen to improve the public and tourist marine transport services and enhance the satisfaction of customers all over the Emirate. The marine transport services consist of the Dubai Ferry, abras, and the water taxi on demand. Coordination is in hand with the developer to link Souk Al Marfa on Deira Island with Dubai Creek through the ferry and traditional abras. The new line is scheduled for operation in the first quarter of this year. For …

The DAMAC Group is excited to announce the official launch of Paramount Hotel Midtown following the success of Paramount Hotel Dubai. Synonymous with entertainment, bold imagination, and, above all, creativity, Paramount Hotel Midtown is steeped in the rich 110-year history perfected by Paramount Pictures. Set in the heart of Business Bay, Dubai, Paramount Hotel Midtown held its soft opening in February offering timeless Hollywood elegance. Perfectly located at a stone’s throw from Sheikh Zayed Road, the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and The Dubai Mall, the hotel is poised to be a haven for the young at heart. Commenting on the second launch, Jean Faivre, Senior Vice President Hospitality, DAMAC Hotels & Resorts, said: “The Paramount proposition is special, with rich history to live up to. We’ve been immensely successful with our first property and we are now looking forward to our second opening, which will without doubt be a unique addition to Dubai’s vibrant hospitality scene.” Paramount Hotel Midtown brings to life contemporary Californian magic with its Hollywood-chic styles and impressive views. Exuding grandeur, the hotel’s gold-dipped lobby is splashed with retro artwork, a perfect grand entrance in true Hollywood star style. Designed for high-life lovers, the hotel offers 281 elegantly decorated contemporary rooms and suites including Scene Rooms, A-List Suites and a Paramount Suite, decked out with balconies overlooking the Dubai coastline or Burj Khalifa. The hotel offers unique gastronomic experiences at its restaurants designed to delight every palette, featuring Paparazzi Tuscan, CineScope and Melrose Bar & Lounge. Raising the bar with panoramic skyline views, Malibu Sky Lounge and Pool Bar are set to be the talk of the town. Pleasure meets business in the …

Tourism Malaysia is participating for the fourth consecutive time at the Gulf Travel Show (GTS) on 22nd and 23rd March 2022 from 10am to 3pm. As a platinum partner, Malaysia is having its own virtual pavilion with 15 booths consisting of tourism boards, tour operators and hotels and resorts such as Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Tourism Malaysia Jeddah, Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism Selangor, Asian Overland Services, Universal Holidays travel and tours, World Express tours Malaysia, Sunway hotels and resorts, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, New World Petaling Jaya hotel, Dash Box Hotels, Lexis hotels and resorts, Berjaya hotels and resorts and Gembox. Following this year’s participation, Mirza Ghalib, Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia, Dubai office says that GTS 2022 is a platform that allows industry players to re-establish the travel trade connections for the Middle East market. “Malaysia has successfully completed the COVID-19 vaccination of more than 97 per cent of its adult population and as a result, the country is all set to welcome back international travellers starting on 1st April 2022,” says Mr Mirza. This announcement was made by the government after almost two years of closure due the COVID-19 related pandemic and it is the beginning on the endemic phase. It will be an opportunity to network with travel agents and tour operator partners from the Middle East. Travel products from across the world have signed up to participate. Find out what is trending in the region with the auditorium special sessions with a host of speakers who will share the latest happenings in the region. Focused on business meetings, the digital event will host buyers from across the region. After the success of the first …

Gulf Air has started its countdown to be the title sponsor of the most important sporting event in the Kingdom – the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022, which will take place between 18-20 March 2022. Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Al Alawi, said: “We have always been extremely proud to be the long title sponsors of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The success of this event is a testament to the commitment and efforts of our leadership and the Bahraini people as a whole. As the world begins to open up again, we are delighted to welcome fans from all over our network and beyond once again to Bahrain as the race continues to prove to be a firm global favourite; garnering our global recognition as a business and tourism destination in the Gulf as well as the home of motorsport in the region.” Gulf Air has been the title sponsor of the Bahrain Grand Prix since it made history in April 2004 as the first Formula 1 Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Since then, the airline has been instrumental in the success of the event and the benefits it has brought to Bahrain’s economy. Gulf Air is a proud ambassador for Bahrain and takes its role in supporting the Kingdom’s diversification in areas such as tourism very seriously.

Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA is expanding the Studio M brand with a new property now open in Al Barsha neighbourhood, in partnership with Jersey Properties LLC. Studio M is a standout lifestyle concept that embraces technology and allows people to socialise and interact, offering a unique place to rest and play. Studio M is one of Millennium’s newest brands providing an alternative lodging experience with a vibrant design and technology integrated into cool spaces to help guests unleash their sense of creativity. Hamid Sidine, Chief Operating Officer of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted to introduce Studio M Al Barsha that comes as part of our continuous efforts to provide innovative lifestyle concepts that address the guests’ changing expectations and contemporary functionality.” “Studio M brand founded in Singapore and Studio Al Barsha is the second hotel in Dubai under this brand after Studio M Arabian Plaza Hotel & Hotel Apartments. Studio M Al Barsha will offer a chic urban concept featuring thoughtful and well-designed spaces with the “cool” factor combined with stylish rooms and fuss-free technology”, he added. Studio M Al Barsha offers 155 rooms and has been thoughtfully designed with vibrant colours, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and premium amenities that will suit the guests’ all needs. The hotel is within two minutes walking distance to the Mall of the Emirates and close to various attractions in Dubai. The nearest metro station is the Mall of the Emirates station. The hotel F&B offering includes Hello Grab N Go which provides an innovative and convenient way to dine in or out with a variety of freshly prepared and pre-packaged foods, Level ONE that offers tasty …