Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) has signed partnership with FiveCurrents to curate spectacular live content and entertainment for destination Dubai through world class events and productions. The MoU was signed at DWTC by Khalid Al Hammadi, VP – Live Events & Experience, DWTC, and Scott Givens, President and CEO, FiveCurrents in the presence of His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority. The partnership allows DWTC to continue to strengthen its commitment to being at the forefront of producing cutting-edge and immersive live experiences. This is also in line with the entity’s strategy of delivering ‘Destination Dubai’ with the aim of attracting tourism to the city by providing world-class events paired with integrated end-to-end services.

Etihad Airways has renewed its partnership with Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links Golf Club for another three years, reinforcing the airline’s continued commitment to golf in the nation’s capital and to establishing it as a major global sporting destination. Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice President, Destination and Leisure Management; James Ibbetson, Director of Golf, Yas Links and and Ed Edwards, Group General Manager, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, signed the agreement during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, for which Etihad Airways was the official airline partner. Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice President, Destination and Leisure Management, Etihad Airways, said, “Etihad Airways is always proud to promote Abu Dhabi to the world, and this strategic partnership underscores our wider commitment both to the promotion of the capital as a leading global leisure destination, and to the fantastic sporting opportunities that the city has to offer our international visitors. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA is the jewel in the crown of the city’s golfing calendar, and lucky for us all, the excellent golfing facilities are available year-round and we want to showcase the quality of the courses and the clubhouses which are on offer. We look forward to welcoming lovers of golf, both young and old, to Abu Dhabi to experience all it has to offer.” The renewed partnerships highlight the wider efforts being made by Etihad Airways and its partners to build an open, efficient and globally integrated sporting business environment across Abu Dhabi, as they work with key strategic sporting partners including Etihad Airways Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi World …

Dubai South Properties has revealed that preparations are well on track to effectively meet the constantly evolving property and community needs of discerning investors and end-users, who seek to explore the attractive propositions offered in Dubai South. Recognised as the UAE’s flagship urban development, Dubai South builds on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, UAE and Ruler, Dubai and is designed to support the diverse needs of a multitude of businesses, industries, investments current and future residents. Real Estate projects that are currently being developed within Dubai South Residential City including the Pulse – a successful “freehold”, mixed-use community which is set for handover mid 2019 onwards. Featuring townhouses, apartments, shopping destinations and urban design landscape, the Pulse offers a unique lifestyle and is catered to mid-market audience. Mohammed Al Awadhi, CEO, Dubai South Properties, said, “The Emirate of Dubai has always been the number one hub for investors, individuals and families from all over the world, who seek a better life, socially and economically. Besides, Dubai is seen as the number one holiday destination by millions of visitors and tourists. Dubai South aims to be a major contributor to Dubai’s growth and the achievement of its vision by presenting this state-of-the-art development. By creating the most desirable environment for the society, our mission is to deliver a better lifestyle in every sense. We are drawing inspiration from the insights we gained from our experiences in Dubai and worldwide and taking it to the next level, in terms of education, medical care, and offering truly convenient communities, to contribute to the vision of happy cities.” New developments under the hospitality …

OYO Hotels has announced partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. OYO will provide the ministry access to its technology suite, which includes OYO OS and Krypton technologies, to enable them to deliver an enhanced hospitality experience in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. With this initiative, the company has affirmed its commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s vision in 2030 to increase the number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to 30 million annually, and leverage technology to help ensure that thousands of pilgrims have access to quality, affordable accommodations during their visit to the holy shrine. The MoU was signed in the presence of His Excellency Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO, OYO Hotels and Homes. OYO’s signature OS technology suite is an operating system that will assist the ministry in managing inventory, procurement, as well as, provide for express check-ins and check-outs in the accommodations under its purview. The OS further offers apps for housekeeping and audits while introducing solutions for multiple accommodation management aspects like expense management, staff training and engagement along with performance management for the hotel staff. All these facets come together to deliver technology-driven efficiency for living spaces. Krypton is OYO’s mobile audit app that enables the timely audit of properties while assuring an excellent guest experience. Under the MoU, OYO will work with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in enhancing, implementing and auditing the aspirational standards for affordable and quality accommodations in existing buildings in the holy city of Makkah, through the use of technology and proprietary applications. In the process, OYO’s technology …

The maiden Global Investment in Aviation Summit will be officially opened on January 28, 2019 at Intercontinental Festival City Dubai, organised under the patronage of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The summit is expected to host more than 500 delegates, 200 global investors, 200 aviation senior-level attendees, 80 speakers from the region’s airlines and aviation organisations. Aviation industry has become one of the most important revenue earners globally as it creates a network of opportunities to connect the world at large. At a recent media briefing, Omar Bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General, General Civil Aviation Authority stated that this event will be a good networking platform that will connect the leaders in aviation industry. Today, Dubai is en route to become the aviation capital in the world due to many reasons. Shorter flight time, easy connectivity, ease of visa rules, developed world-class infrastructure facilities, etc. provide the perfect setting for the world to meet at the easiest point.

Emirates Skywards celebrated the opening of its new Emirates Skywards Centre in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The centre was inaugurated by Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, Senior Vice President, Emirates Skywards and Nick Moore, Senior Vice President, Passenger Services, Emirates. The Emirates Skywards Centre at DXB will function as a one-stop customer touchpoint for all new and existing members of the Emirates Skywards loyalty programme and will provide assistance across a wide range of services including programme enrolment, profile creation and luggage tag printing. Emirates Skywards staff will also be available onsite to consult with members on all tiers- and miles-related queries including how to earn, purchase, spend miles and make optimum use of expiring miles. Khedher said, “With our new Emirates Skywards Centre, the aim is to be one step closer to our members and to help them maximise their experience and value from the programme. Members can stop by at any time for all their Skywards needs – whether it is getting information on membership tiers, finding out about our latest partners or using their Skywards miles to access special events at their destination,” he added. The Emirates Skywards Centre is now open and located at the Departures Level in Concourse B at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. The Centre is accessible to all current and new Emirates Skywards members departing from and connecting to flights in Terminal 3. In addition to the Emirates Skywards Centre, members can get more information on the loyalty programme and linked offers to earn and spend miles through the Skywards section on the Emirates app, as well as online on the Emirates Skywards website. Members can also use any of …

Orient Travel, one of the leading travel agencies in the UAE, has teamed up with Rail Europe to create an association to meet the experiential needs of the UAE travellers. The partnership aims to provide unparalleled access to a comprehensive array of rail products complementing the itineraries of vacationers from the UAE. It comes at a time when many travel companies are struggling amid fierce competition, sedentary travel losing appeal and cookie cutter package tourism. Analysts, however, say that in the long run, there is room for growth if agencies recognise that people are searching for unique and original travel combinations that will give them unforgettable experiences. Speaking about the association, Asim Arshad, CEO, Orient Travel, said, “This partnership delights us. We are happy it came through as it gives us the opportunity to surf the wave of experiential travel and meet the needs of our clients. We understand that travel in this age is no longer so much about where the client goes, but more about how they want to feel. By introducing Rail Europe as part of our products, we give our customers flexibility and personalisation across a variety of authentic experiences. Now, we can construct each holiday around a client’s needs and preferences; and end up with an imaginative personalised itinerary centered on individual interests.” By partnering with one of the leading global providers of rail products, Orient Travel has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for planning and booking European train travel and sightseeing products. Now, the UAE travellers can book both point-to-point journeys in Europe, and get Eurail, Swiss, Japan, and Korea passes. The company also said it will guarantee easy access to human support, after-sale …

IHG has signed a management agreement with Bougary Holding to develop Crowne Plaza® Makkah Beban. Scheduled to open in December 2019, the new hotel comprising 1200 rooms will be world’s largest Crowne Plaza and a landmark hotel for IHG. Located in close proximity to the Holy Mosque, the hotel will join the existing InterContinental® and Holiday Inn® in the city and cater to the influx of pilgrim visits expected as part of Vision 2030. IHG is the largest international hotel group in Saudi Arabia, both by number of hotels and number of rooms, and the latest signing is aligned with the company’s strategy to expand its footprint in the kingdom. Crowne Plaza® Makkah Beban boasts a host of facilities including two restaurants and a coffee shop, a business centre and three meeting rooms (3323 sqm in total) to cater to a range of meetings and events. Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said, “Saudi Arabia offers great opportunities both in terms of domestic and inbound tourism and is central to our expansion strategy in the Middle East. We have a strong legacy in the Kingdom and are proud to collaborate with Bougary Holding, represented by Mr Loay Bougary, CEO, Bougary Holding, to bring the world’s largest Crowne Plaza to the country. This is a milestone signing for us in the Middle East and is testament to our commitment to the market. Crowne Plaza® brand is loved by travellers across the globe and is known to offer world-class amenities and excellent service to the guest; we are confident Crowne Plaza® Makkah Beban will be a popular choice amongst travellers visiting the holy city.” Loay Bougary, CEO, Bougary …

Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series announces the 2019 Silver Cup Tournament Fixture at a Live Draw at the Habtoor Palace Hotel. UAE Polo (Patron: Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum) and Ghantoot Polo (Patron: HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan) among the participating teams.The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open), an 18-goal handicap competition celebrating its 10th year anniversary under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler, Dubai, launched its 2019 season on January 21, 2019 where the organising committee conducted a live draw for the Silver Cup 2019 fixture at the Habtoor Ballroom, Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Five tournaments fall under the umbrella of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series: the Silver Cup (18 goal handicap), which will run from January 25 to February 8; the Polo Masters Cup (10 goal handicap) from February 10 to 15 ; the Julius Baer Gold Cup (18 goal handicap) from February 18 to March 8; the Dubai Challenge Cup (18 goal handicap) from March 15 to 30 and the Dubai Cup (6-8 goal handicap) from April 2 to 12, 2019. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series held in the UAE, is one of only five tournaments in the world played in the WPT Championship Cup category, on a par with world-class events held in Argentina, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa lit the sky up with an enigmatic and enthralling light show focusing the spotlight on the upcoming edition of the Sharjah Light Festival 2019, from Friday January 18, 2019). The exciting display of lights and images is a show of support to the efforts of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) and an opportunity to promote the coming Festival—drawing visitors to this year’s edition of Sharjah’s popular and awe-inspiring event, which uses light to showcase the artistic, cultural, heritage and aesthetics unique to the architectural landmark buildings of the emirate, reflecting the splendour of Arab and Islamic civilisation. The Sharjah Light Festival 2019 will be held for the 9th consecutive year, from February 6 to 16, within a unique family and cultural atmosphere. The famous Sharjah Light Festival puts Sharjah’s landmark buildings in the spotlight, with spectacular images projected onto their façades using innovative light technology and accompanied by specially composed music. During its 11-day run, the Festival will attract over a million visitors including families to more than a dozen locations across the emirate, reaching as far as the east coast. Free shows are held from 6 pm to 11 pm and go on until midnight on weekends. In addition, a water carnival along the Khalid Lagoon takes place around 9 pm every evening, to delight visitors and residents.