The 10th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM 2020), will highlight the changing global investment landscape and the need to develop work mechanisms and innovative investment strategies that help facilitate FDI flows into global economies, to promote sustainable economic growth, particularly in light of the global FDI decline under the growing global economic risks, rising protectionist trends and trade tensions. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, AIM 2020, the world’s leading investment platform, will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from March 24-26, 2020. The three-day event, themed ‘Investing for the Future: Shaping the Global Investment Strategies’, aims to chart a roadmap towards a more flexible and advanced global economy, by linking FDI opportunities to emerging economies, to ensuring sustainable economic growth and further achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Commenting on the global FDI landscape, H.E Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry, said, “This is an issue of high importance, particularly in light of the FDI decline according to the UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2019, which shows that global FDI flows slipped by 13 per cent in 2018 to $103 trillion from $105 trillion in 2017, for the third consecutive annual decline. Nevertheless, the weak underlying FDI trend indicates that a rise in FDI may be relatively modest and may be further reined in by other factors, such as geopolitical risk, escalating trade tensions and a global shift towards more protectionist policies.” “Relaxing foreign ownership rules is a further measure to liberalise and strengthen the investment environment and will be a critical …

The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTS) – Sharjah Branch participates in the fifth edition of Breakbulk Middle East 2020, which is held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the Chairman of Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime from February 25-26, 2020 at Dubai World Trade Center. The Academy aims to present to visitors, students and all government and private entities, its advanced capabilities in the field of maritime education and training. In this regard, Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Faraj, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, highlighted, “This event will create more awareness about the benefits that we provide to students who are looking for highly competitive new educational opportunities in the maritime sector as there has been a strong demand for qualified local cadres, especially in this part of the world.” Faraj added, “The UAE is an advanced global shipping hub with over AED 280 billion in maritime businesses. It hosts dozens of international maritime companies and boasts 19 ports, some of which are ranked first globally. That’s why; the maritime sector needs a lot of support from maritime academic institutions, especially to supply the market with qualified young emirati professionals, and to test renewal of the maritime passports for seafarers.”

Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis, in the Middle East. Located at Dubai Digital Park, Dubai’s first ever smart city project built with the latest AI and IoT technologies, the hotel brings RED’s forward-thinking style to the desert. The brand presents a playful twist on conventional hotel stays with a culinary hangout with a casual feel and a buzzing social scene. Using integrated technology and bold design personality, Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis comprises of 104 contemporary designed rooms, eight suites and 59 apartments created with millennials in mind. Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East and Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Radisson RED is a completely new and different hotel concept. It is bold and alive, and provides an experience like no other, created today for tomorrow’s biggest travellers, in one of the fastest growing sectors of the market: lifestyle select.” Stuart Birkwood, Enigmatic Curator, Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis, commented, “We love our location in Dubai’s first smart city, and we look forward to Silicon Park growing around us into the epicentre of the UAE’s advancing technology. Radisson RED brings innovation, fun and a fresh approach to the city’s social scene – with artwork created by local talents and integrated technology such as our digital social streaming content wall.”

Millennium Central Kuwait Downtown partners with Rotana to host their musicians and production teams participating in Hala February concerts. Providing a blend of culture, shopping and entertainment experience, Hala February features 11 singers from around the Arab world to perform a month-long festival of mega concerts. The 11 singers participating in these concerts are – Mohammad Abdo, Abdullah Al-Ruwaished, Rashid Al-Majid, Nawal Al-Kuwaitiyah, Asalah Nasri, Angham, Nabeel Shuail, Majid Al-Mohandes, Hussein Al-Jasmi, Balqees Fatahi, and Motref Al-Motref. To show their love and support for the Arabian music culture and to celebrate the liberation of Kuwait, Millennium Central Kuwait Downtown has collaborated with Rotana. Through this alliance, the hotel will not only host the musicians, but they also serve as a substitute rehearsal venue to practice and gear up for their respective performances. The shows are taking place at The Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre (JACC), known as the Kuwait Opera House. Alaa Selim, General Manager at Millennium Central Kuwait Downtown, said, “We are extremely proud to support in this mega festival by hosting a huge share of the rehearsals for the Hala February. It’s the most joyful time in the country, and we as a leading hospitality provider are always keen to facilitate public occasions as well as celebrate with our guests their special moments.”

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is set to open a skatepark at Saqr Park in Ras Al Khaimah, with a fun-filled family event from February 27-29, 2020. A free public event that’s open to all, skatepark at Saqr Park will come to life from 3 pm to 10 pm each day in an alfresco festival of food, shopping and skating action. Its official opening will be celebrated on February 28 with special performances from renowned international skateboarders – 15-year-old Isabelly Avila, her father Garcia Rodriguez and 13-year-old Virginia Fortes Aguas. They will also lead workshops where visitors will have the opportunity to skate with the pros and pick up key techniques, skills and tricks. There will also be games, entertainment, music and an array of delicious food options to choose from throughout the three-day event as well as an outdoor market of goods from local artisans and retailers for those looking to do some shopping. Its opening aligns with RAKTDA’s mandate to cater to the array of interests of visitors to the emirate as well as the local community. It offers a well-equipped outdoor space spanning 620 sqm for the UAE’s growing skating community and guests to face off against a series of obstacles, including a bowl, pyramids, ledges, banks and round rails. The park will enhance Saqr Park’s standing as a one-of-a-kind leisure venue and is set to become a hotspot for the emirate’s avid skateboarders, rollerbladers and BMX bike riders. 

Turkish Airlines will be operating 98 flights every week from 26 international destinations to Turkey’s favourite tourism spots such as Antalya, İzmir, Dalaman and Bodum during the Summer 2020. Turkish Airlines which contributed greatly to the record number of tourists coming to Turkey during 2019 will increase its support during 2020 as well. In line with this support and direct tourism endeavor, the weekly frequency of direct flights from international destinations to Turkey’s tourism centres will be increased by 18 per cent this year compared to 2019. Commenting on the ‘Direct Tourism Endeavor’ protocol that was signed between Turkish Airlines and Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism back in 2018, M. İlker Aycı, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines stated; “The direct tourism protocol we signed with our Ministry of Culture and Tourism two years ago opened new ways for our international guests to discover these wonders as well. We carry our guests to heavenly holiday spots in a few hours especially if they are coming from Europe or Middle East. The demand for these flights has been steadily increasing over the course of last two years. With the contributions of our new strategy, our country hosted a record number of tourists last year.” Turkish Airlines will be operating 74 weekly flights from 20 destinations to Antalya. The 7 weekly flights from Moscow to Antalya during 2019 will be increased by 100 per cent to 14 weekly flights following market research and increase in demand. Another important change will be for Dalaman. Last year, there was only a single flight per week to Dalaman from Amman. This year flag carrier will operate direct flights from 4 …

Accor is set to introduce Novotel in Oman. It entered a new strategic partnership with Sundus Investments, to manage the 215-key Novotel Muscat Airport. The two-year-old property will undergo a modest revamp including décor and signage alterations to reflect Novotel’s signature contemporary-led brand experience, with further modifications including a reimagined lobby planned in the future. With some of the capital’s most ambitious mixed-use developments on the property’s doorstep and the new world-class Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) also nearby, the hotel will meet growing local and international demand for high-quality midscale accommodation. “Partnering with Sundus Investments to raise Accor’s first Novotel flag in Oman marks another significant step in our regional expansion strategy as we look to collaborate with leading developers in strategic locations where we can leverage our portfolio of dynamic brands, with Oman a priority market. Following this agreement we can showcase our takeover expertise and demonstrate the potential of our flagship midscale concept in a fast-growing destination, paving the way for more joint hospitality projects across the Sultanate,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Accor Middle East & Africa. Ahmed Al Ardhi, Chairman of Sundus Investments, said, “Our investment and development strategy is aligned to the Sultanate’s economic diversification plans as set out in Vision 2020 and Vision 2040, with tourism identified as a key growth sector, and as we consolidate our portfolio and embark on our next growth phase, we are partnering with leading international hotel operators such as Accor to ensure our hospitality projects set world-class standards.”

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi has enhanced its already extensive offerings by investing AED 5 million in upgrades to its meetings, events and room facilities. Ideal for business travellers, the 527-key deluxe hotel is located a short drive from Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center, the Eastern mangroves, Corniche, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, embassies and the business district. Alongside a dedicated club lounge floor, the property offers award-winning dining and recreational facilities, and intuitively curated M!CE spaces. With the recent investment and upgrades, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi now offers cutting-edge audio visual technology in all guest rooms, meeting and conference rooms, and also in its 700-capacity Onyx Ballroom, which spans 785 sqm and is divisible into three separate rooms. Desmond Hatton, General Manager Dusit Thani, Abu Dhabi, states “In resonating with the vision of ‘2020: Towards the next 50’, we aim to poise ourselves as industry leaders offering avant-garde innovative M!CE and hi- tech in-room services, ensuring every visit to our hotel is convenient and everyone is always connected. With this 5 million dirhams investment we seek to position ourselves as a preferred partner for corporate travellers, planners and agents across the globe.”

Jannah Hotels and Resorts was invited to attend a 4-day Belgrade Fair held from February 20-23, 2020. The event marked the gathering of leading brands of travel and tourism, hotel and catering service provider. Desert Adventures brings in the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Jannah Hotels & Resorts with their exclusive partner Wayout to take part in the trade fair. Representing the hotel brand, Ossama Charrouf will be meeting clients from Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Croatia to reach the emerging markets in Dubai and set an agreement for their remaining winter and summer plans. “Representing the Jannah Hotels & Resorts brand in the Belgrade Travel Fair 2020 is an honour and pleasure as I will be meeting new connections and taking brand new deals with me coming back to the UAE,” Ossama Charrouf, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Jannah Hotels & Resorts concluded.

Pullman Hotel Sharjah officially opened last week, the inaugration was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and in the presence of His Excellency Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourist Development Authority; Hassan and Abdul Mohsen Al Hammadi, CEO of Manazil Real Estate Group, the owner of Pullman Hotel Sharjah, Mark Willis, CEO Middle East & Africa, of Accor, and many other VIPs, businessmen, guests and media representatives. In this regard, HE. Khaled Jassim Al Midfa asserted the vital role of the hotel and hospitality sector as a main pillar in fostering the development of tourism in Sharjah. His Excellency also touched upon the strong presence of Sharjah on the global tourism map and the achievements and projects that added to the thriving tourism sector, with the support and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Commenting on the opening, Eng. Abdul Mohsen Al Hammadi, CEO of Manazil Real Estate Group, the owner of Pullman Hotel Sharjah, said, “Pullman Hotel Sharjah is an extension of our hotels portfolio, managed in collaboration with Accor, the fastest growing in hotels management and hospitality industry in the region. It adds more value to the Group’s extraordinary achievements in the hospitality sector in line with the exceptional continuous growth of the tourism sector in Sharjah which proved itself as a leading tourism destination regionally and internationally.”