His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, has asserted that the Dubai Accessible Tourism International Summit (DATIS) is a qualitative addition to the international efforts aimed at making the world better and more accessible to tourists from within the ranks of People of Determination. He indicated that the first edition of the summit has managed to attract international officials and experts who highlighted the rights of millions of People of Determination in travel and tourism domains and the challenges they face moving from one city to another. His Highness made the statements on the occasion of the announcement about the second edition of the Summit which will take place from November 10-11, 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The second edition of Summit will have a number of speakers, including decision-makers, senior officials of concerned international organisations and experts from within the ranks of People of Determination, who will discuss very vital issues, including strategies and policies; the importance of global design of cities and how to transform them into cities accessible to all. “We have taken the initiative and taken important steps on the way to achieving our goal of making Dubai one of the most prominent leading tourist destinations preferred by People of Determination. However, we will not rest on our laurels, but will rather move forward, in coordination with government and private entities and international organisations, to enhance the UAE’s competitiveness in this field,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, Patron of the Summit.  

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the 10th edition of Sharjah Light Festival concluded its series of impressive light and interactive shows, which illuminated the city’s landmarks with a combination of music and special effects to celebrate the heritage, culture and architectural wonders of Sharjah. The festival attracted a strong turnout of 1.3 million visitors for 11 consecutive nights across 19 locations. The closing ceremony was organised by SCTDA at Al Majaz Waterfront. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, extended his sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his patronage and support of the festival and to H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council of Sharjah, for his continued support in promoting Sharjah’s profile on the global tourism stage.  “For the last 11 days, Sharjah Light Festival 2020 lit up 19 distinct locations across the emirate, and this year’s edition highlighted the spirit of innovation and knowledge transfer by  encouraging student initiatives, and the implementation of several interactive shows using ground-breaking technologies, such as augmented reality, 3D video mapping and numerous light and sound effects. It was also remarkable in terms of national enterprise participation, this year’s six new locations and the execution of enthralling firework and folklore performances. Most importantly, this year’s edition of the festival attracted 1,3 million visitors, recording an 8.3 per cent growth in the number of visitors compared to last year, with a wide coverage of local and …

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Al Hilal Bank signed an agreement with Etihad Holidays, which will provide customers of both banks an easy payment plan when booking an Etihad Holiday.  The signing ceremony took place at the Etihad Aviation Group headquarters in Abu Dhabi, between Mr. Hareb Almuhairy, Senior Vice President Destination and Leisure Management at Etihad Airways and Omran Taimour, Regional Head – Branch Banking from ADCB in the presence of senior officials from ADCB and Etihad Airways. Deepak Rochlani, Head – Retail Banking at ADCB, said, “The collaboration between ADCB and Etihad Holidays to introduce an easy payment plan for ADCB credit cardholders echoes our commitment to provide our customers with the most rewarding travel experiences.” Ian Hodges, Head – Personal Banking at Al Hilal Bank, said, “At Al Hilal Bank, the customer need is always first and with this new proposition we hope that we are inspiring and enabling people to travel more and explore the world while enjoying rewards and benefits that go beyond their expectations.” Hareb Almuhairy, Senior Vice President Destination and Leisure Management at Etihad Airways, said, “Etihad Holidays offers our guests the ability to enjoy rich travel experiences, and we strive to make this as accessible as possible for everyone. We are pleased to extend our partnership with ADCB and Al Hilal Bank to offer convenient payment solutions.”

Prominent landmarks and the iconic architecture of Sharjah’s East Coast, namely Dibba al Hisn, Khorfakkan, Kalba; Al Dhaid; and Al Hamriya are illuminated with a kaleidoscope of creative lights and colours this year, with the return of the much-talked-about Sharjah Light Festival, the emirate’s exciting annual light and sound spectacular. The marvellous light show continues until February 15, 2020, with daily performances held from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm on weekdays (Saturday to Wednesday) and from 6:00 pm to 12:00 midnight on weekends (Thursday and Friday). The recognisable and beloved edifices lit up in the East Coast this year includes Masjid Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi – Dibba Al Hisn; the House of Justice – Khorfakkan; the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, & Maritime Transport – Khorfakkan; and the University of Sharjah – Kalba. Crafted by visual artist Bijoy Kaaliyadan, video mapping is activated at Masjid Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi in Dibba Al Hisn in a show aimed to showcase Islamic patterns, oriental designs, and Sharjah’s heritage and culture, with a special touch delineating the architectural details of the building.  The astonishing light shows are widespread and can be seen in various locations around the emirate. The façades of both the House of Justice in Khorfakkan and the University of Sharjah in Kalba, both of which feature 3D video mapping shows accompanied by music, also continue to astound and inspire spectators. Crafted by Prunelle Chappert, a French artist, graphic and motion designer, the show at the House of Justice – Khorfakkan, highlights traditional and modern styles as well as Sharjah’s rich culture.

The Bicester Village Shopping Collection GCC roadshow conducted by Gulf Reps was held from February 11-13, 2020 in Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi with over 150 niche travel agents from the GCC. Each roadshow consisted of many opportunities for the travel agents to directly speak with the partners from the shopping villages, tourism boards and hotels in the heart of Europe. Travel agents were happy to put a face in the names they had been dealing with over email in the past as in most cases they were familiar with the villages but having all in one platform was an icing on the cake to ensure great partnerships. From the side of the partners that were present, they reiterated the importance of this specific market and stated that there had been some confirmed bookings for summer. Another important factor was that Emirates partnership with the roadshow to ensure that there are many other extra incentives for the travel agents with additional discounts with their partners and also an opportunity for the travel agents that sell the most number of shopping experiences to have their own “bespoke” shopping experience in the European destinations.

Abu Dhabi Ports has announced a long-term agreement with MSC Cruises, giving them berthing rights at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach. The deal, signed by Director of Cruise Business at Abu Dhabi Ports, Noura Rashid Al Dhaheri and MSC Cruise CEO, Gianni Onorato, at MSC’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a premier destination on the international cruise map. Most importantly, the deal will bring 1.3 million visitors to the capital over the tenure of the agreement. Abu Dhabi’s Cruise Terminal has reported significant growth over the last 12 months, posting a 47 per cent rise in passenger numbers and a 45 per cent rise in vessel calls. The terminal’s bumper year was due in part to MSC Cruises’ commitment earlier this season to include 17 new calls at Zayed Port. Noura Rashid Al Dhaheri, Director – Cruise Business, Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “Our success in substantially boosting passenger volumes year-on-year demonstrates our commitment to develop a world-class cruise destination. With investment in infrastructure, and enhanced operations and services to serve the cruise liners arriving in Abu Dhabi, we have cemented our position as the leading destination in the Gulf region.” Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, added, “Abu Dhabi is a very important embarkation port and popular destination for ashore visits during winter cruises and we are currently serving the city and Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach with both MSC Bellissima, the most modern and one of the most environmentally-advanced cruise ships to sail in the Arabian Gulf, and MSC Lirica.” Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu …

Etihad Airways announced a partnership with Braathens IT to develop TravelPass, an innovative travel solution initially aimed at corporate and frequent travellers which will be launched later this year. The new TravelPass technology provides a subscription-based travel solution, allowing Etihad to offer its frequent guests complete flexibility and ease with their regular and recurring travel arrangements. Customers can purchase a TravelPass for a set number of trips or a particular travel period instead of purchasing flights one by one. Subscription-based travel is good news for the aviation industry as it provides customers with the choice between prepaid trips and pay-as-you-fly options, meeting the demands of flexibility, ease of booking and cost-efficient travel management. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “The innovative TravelPass technology offers a revolutionary booking experience for corporate and frequent clients who will also be enrolled into our award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme. By simplifying the travel process to just a few clicks, our guests have a seamless transaction through a platform that holds all your details in one place, gives you the flexibility to make changes to your bookings without fees and gives you the choice to pay later. We know our corporate clients are time-poor and believe this innovative addition to our digital offering will improve the travel journey for subscribers.” Svein Therkelsen, Chief Executive Officer, Braathens IT, said, “Etihad is going to take sophisticated digital personalisation very far, everything from ease of use to customisation. They are an innovative player and they will continue in that direction to improve their customers’ digital experience using TravelPass.”

Accenture opened Dubai Tourism Innovation Hub, the company’s first innovation hub in the Middle East & North Africa region. Located in Dubai Media City, the Dubai Tourism Innovation Hub is an immersive environment that showcases Accenture’s capabilities across a variety of innovative technologies, including extended reality, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and more. Through industry-focused demos, co-creation sessions, prototyping, and a startup showcase, the Dubai Tourism Innovation Hub provides a platform for clients and partners to tap into Accenture’s global industry knowledge to ideate and develop smart and scalable innovative solutions that help them transform their businesses in the tourism sector. “With tourism development a priority on national agendas across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, we’re excited to launch our very first Tourism Innovation Hub in Dubai,” said Norberto Cibien, Managing Director and Accenture Products industry group lead in the Middle East. “Millions of people will visit Expo 2020 Dubai, and with 70 per cent expected to come from abroad, it’s critical to develop a seamless travel experience, which requires bridging disconnected ecosystem players and catering to unique and evolving customer needs.” Xavier Anglada, Managing Director and Accenture Digital lead in the Middle East, added, “Accenture is proud to harness innovative technologies to support the government and private-sector stakeholders in bringing tailored and new concepts and features to the region. Through the Dubai Tourism Innovation Hub, we will create sustainable and valuable opportunities for business transformation in the tourism sector here in the UAE and across the wider region.”

The Standard Chartered Gold Cup 2020, held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, is scheduled to kick off on February 16, 2020 with the participation of eight of the region’s renowned polo teams. The tournament’s live draw was held on February 10, 2020 at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, home ground of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC) Series. Growing in parallel with the city of Dubai, the Gold Cup (Dubai Open) is one of the five – mid to high-goal tournaments that fall under the umbrella of the DPGC Series. Along with the Silver Cup and Dubai Challenge Cup, also part of the DPGC Series, the Gold Cup is certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT). As part of the WPT Championship Cup, the Dubai Open is considered to be one of the highest competitions in terms of points, on par with just four global tournaments held in Argentina, Spain, UK and US. The tournament is played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), as per strict HPA rules and umpire supervision. Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman & CEO of Al Habtoor Group, Founder of the DPGC Series and Patron of Habtoor Polo team, said, “As we begin another exciting season of the Dubai Open, I look forward to a thrilling tournament with the eight teams gracing our fields over the next days.” Ali Hammad, Market Head, Private Banking, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) said, “Standard Chartered Private Bank has been a long-standing advocate of various sporting events and teams around the globe, including a 10-year sponsorship of the leading English football …

Turkish Airlines continues to expand its flight network, by starting its operations to Malabo on February 7, making the capital of Equatorial Guinea its 319th destination. As the 60th destination of the global carrier in the continent of Africa, flights to Malabo will be operated on Istanbul – Port Harcourt – Malabo – Istanbul route with Boeing 737-900 type aircrafts. Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, is the second largest city of the country. Apart from being an oil-rich city, it is also at the forefront with tourism activities. With its natural wonders, rich world cuisine and historical architecture, Malabo is one of the most prominent destinations in Africa. Travellers who wish experience the exotic atmosphere of Malabo, the oldest city of Equatorial Guinea, will be able to fly to this great destination with Turkish Airlines privilege at special introductory prices starting at 789 USD. On the new route, M. İlker Aycı, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines, stated, “Our new and improved operation hub offers us an unparalleled performance advantage when it comes enhancing our flight network. Today, in line with our continuing growth strategy, we are happy to announce the addition of Malabo to the ever-expanding flight network of Turkish Airlines. From this day forth, passengers traveling to Malabo will be able to enjoy the Turkish Airlines comfort and hospitality. We firmly believe that our new route will further enhance the relations between Turkey and Equatorial Guinea in all areas.”