Dubai Airports recently partnered with ICFLIX, a content provider for travellers to enjoy free movies and TV shows. The initiative combines DXB’s free Wi-Fi experience, ‘WOW-Fi’, with ICFLIX’s video-on-demand service, allowing passengers to stream the latest Hollywood, Bollywood and Jazwood (Arabic) content to their smartphones and laptops. Content on ICFLIX is available in three languages- Arabic, English and French. “Dubai Airports is on a mission to engage more directly with our customers and transform the airport experience for millions of travellers each month. Thanks to our partnership with ICFLIX, travellers at DXB can now enjoy a wide range of streamed entertainment completely free of charge before and between flights,” said Eugene Barry, Executive Vice President of Dubai Airports’ Commercial and Communications Group.

Effective from November 1, 2017, Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines signed a codeshare agreement to expand travel opportunities for the passengers of both airlines with daily flights between Bahrain and Istanbul. The signing ceremony took place at Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul headquarters. Gulf Air’s Captain Waleed Abdul Hameed Al Alawi and Turkish Airlines’ Deputy Chairman and CEO, Bilal Ekşi signed the agreement together in the presence of senior officials from both airlines. This new agreement will be applied to the flights operated by both carriers to Manama and Istanbul, broadening the commercial partnership between the two companies and their respective countries while providing passengers with more travel options. Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines has one daily flight each between Bahrain and Istanbul.

Russian guests jumped by 49 per cent from January to August as compared to the same period in 2016. A roadshow to Moscow and St Petersburg led by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism resulted in a surge in visitors into the emirate from Russia. Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director, Tourism Sector, Department of Culture and Tourism, said, “Since visa restrictions were lifted on our Russian visitors at the start of the year into the country visas now granted on arrival, we have witnessed an upsurge into the emirate, both from Russia and from counties within the Commonwealth of Independent States, with both markets together showing significant growth.” Leading Russian tour operators, travel agents and trade partners were representatives from key partners in Abu Dhabi. The delegation included Etihad Airways, Rotana Hotel Group, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Hilton Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace, St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Le Meridien Abu Dhabi, Yas Viceroy, City Season, Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi and Gromaxx Hotel Management.

The Abu Dhabi-Medina Etihad Airways will introduce three additional weekly services during the peak winter period. Effective from February 1, 2018, the current overnight departure from Abu Dhabi will be replaced by a mid-morning flight offering an attractive schedule for travellers flying between the UAE’s capital city and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The schedule will improve connectivity to a number of destinations served by Etihad Airways across the Indian subcontinent. The airline will also increase frequency to 10 flights a week for two months between December 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018 to cater to increasing demands. The additional capacity will be operated with a two-class Airbus A320 featuring 16 seats in Business Class and 120 in Economy. Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial, Etihad Airways, said, “The re-timing of our Medina flights to a daytime operation and introduction of additional services strengthen our business proposition and commitment to the Saudi Arabian market.”

Amway India selected Arabian Adventures, Meetings, Incentives and Events, the region’s leading destination management company, to plan, conceptualise and deliver the largest incentive group from the country to visit the UAE– in excess of 4,000 distributors, in December 2017. The event will comprise a one-day business conference with Amway’s top international management, new product launches and a series of multi-cuisine events, engagements and entertainment held at venues across the city. Aikta Tyagi, Associate Vice President – Special Events and Facilities for Amway India said, “Over the last six months, we’ve worked with Arabian Adventures, Meetings, Incentives and Events to design a unique and exciting itinerary for our distributors, with the MICE team bringing a freshness to the table. It’s been a wonderful journey and we are confident that our event in December will be a great success.” Justine Thomas-Butler, Head of Meetings, Incentives and Events for Arabian Adventures also said of the partnership, “Delivering an incentive on this scale takes a special set of skills. You need to give guests and their families a true insight into this special part of the world – its people, ancient culture and modern wonders, whilst still making it feel intimate, unique and exciting.”

Emirates carried over 3.9 million passengers in its 15 years of service to Japan. In October 2002, Emirates became the first airline to link Japan and the Gulf region with non-stop flights when it introduced its four-times-per-week service to Osaka. The number of passengers carried in Emirates’ first year of operations–roughly 66,000 in 2002—has grown to nearly 530,000 passengers carried between Dubai and Tokyo (Narita and Haneda) and Osaka in 2016. Adapting to demand in terms of both quality and volume, the airline continues to enhance passenger experience in Japan. The opening of the Emirates Lounge at Narita (Tokyo) in 2015 and the introduction of the A380 to Narita in 2017, which increased capacity by more than 135 passengers per flight, are most notable.

Nakheel and Centara Hotels and Resorts, a leading Thai hotel group, reached a key milestone on their 600-room Beachfront Resort and Waterpark at Dubai’s Deira Islands, with the official formation of the joint venture company and the signing of a management agreement. The joint venture, cemented by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah and Centara Chairman of the Board, Suthikiati Chirathivat, at a signing ceremony at Centara’s headquarters in Bangkok, will deliver a family-centric lifestyle destination at Deira Islands, Nakheel’s new, 15.3 sq km waterfront city. The resort will also be managed by Centara, whose portfolio already includes over 14,000 room keys across 67 hotels and resorts in Asia, Indian Ocean and the Middle East. Set to open in 2020, the resort is the first Centara establishment in the UAE and will cover an area of almost 300,000 sq ft. Features will include a waterpark, multiple restaurants including alfresco rooftop dining options, kids’ club, spa and fitness centre, and business facilities. Recent enhancements to the hotel’s design have added 50 rooms to the original plan, bringing the total number of keys to 600. Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said, “This strategic joint venture underlines our commitment to bringing new hospitality concepts to Dubai in line with the government’s tourism vision. Today’s crucial milestone allows us to move forward with the construction and delivery of this exciting new resort, which will undoubtedly be one of Dubai’s most sought-after destinations for travellers the world over.”

Following the commencement of their partnership, Emirates and flydubai have announced that Emirates will expand its network to 29 flydubai destinations across three continents. Passengers can book from October 03 on Emirates.com, through the Emirates Contact Centres or the travel agents network with travel commencing from October 29, 2017. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Group and Chairman of flydubai, said, “This is an exciting first step in unlocking the benefits of the partnership for passengers who will have the opportunity to enjoy the unique advantages each airline offers as well as greater choice and flexibility when connecting via Dubai. This is just the start and as we expand the partner network in the coming months we will open up more opportunities for our passengers to explore the world.” When booked together, as part of the codeshare, Emirates passengers will receive complimentary meals and the Emirates checked baggage allowance on flights operated by flydubai in both Business and Economy Classes. Connecting in Dubai’s aviation hub offers a smooth transfer experience and under the new partnership passengers will benefit from a reduced minimum connection time (MCT) between Emirates’ home in Terminal 3 and flydubai’s in Terminal 2 of 120 minutes. Today’s announcement is an initial phase of the extensive agreement that will, in future phases, see the creation of additional city pair connections as the codeshare agreement is expanded and both airlines’ networks are optimised.

Dubai Gourmet, a Meraas company, announced the opening of its new boutique hotel at Qasr Al Sultan. The Qasr Al Sultan Boutique Hotel combines palatial luxury with a style of architecture and décor inspired by the region’s ancient monarchs, or Sultans. Each of the 12 100 sq.m. Royal Suites will have their own private jacuzzi and garden. Distinctive and traditional, the boutique hotel will be a short walk from the bakhoor-scented majlis, traditional souk, food bazaar, library, playground and the historical Dukan Zaman exhibition that have captivated visitors to Qasr Al Sultan since it opened in February, 2017. The boutique hotel is expected to have a similar impact, while showcasing the culture and heritage of the UAE. Abdin Nasralla, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Gourmet said: “Since we first launched Qasr Al Sultan in February, our guests have been captivated by the experiences we’ve created, ensuring that the destination has become a place full of novelty and intrigue for residents and visitors to the UAE. We’re delighted to be expanding Qasr Al Sultan through the Qasr Al Sultan Boutique Hotel, and the Royal Suites we’ve created will add another layer to our cultural offering, which is inspired by traditions that have not just shaped our customs but also our cuisine, art, attire, and lifestyle.” The Qasr Al Sultan Boutique Hotel features natural elements taken from the Dubai landscape, and an interior style designed to create a comfortable and relaxing ambiance. Privacy is at the forefront of the design, with suites boasting exclusive entrances, parking and a private garden for guests to bask in the sun. Guests will also be able to take advantage of room service and a personal butler that …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has inaugurated its new East Coast office and tourism information center in Khorfakkan, one of the emirate’s attractions for local, regional, and international visitors. The opening, which coincided with the global celebration of World Tourism Day on September 27, was held in the presence of Sheikh Saeed bin Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Chief of Emiri Court in Khorfakkan; His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, SCTDA Chairman, along with various representatives of government departments from the East Coast region, industry leaders and prominent figures. Al Midfa said: “The opening of this new tourism information office falls in line with the SCTDA’s policy to promote Sharjah and its local tourism sector, especially in the efforts to showcase the East Coast as a highly attractive tourist destination of the emirate. Sharjah is a member of the Cruise Arabia Alliance and has positioned itself as a world-class maritime tourism destination that has attracted around 63,000 tourists recorded by six marine transport lines during 2015 to 2016.” The SCTDA has attached great importance to the East Coast area, giving emphasis on its rich natural resources and considerable economic potentials. Part of SCTDA’s efforts is to conduct workshops and partner with important tourism organizations to develop the infrastructure within the area and improve all tourism-related services such as cruise tourism. With the inauguration of the new office coupled with robust public and private partnerships, H.E. Al Midfa is confident that all concerned entities will be able to produce the best solutions to promote the East Coast as one of the country’s most attractive tourism destinations.