The latest project implemented by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA) under the Federal Authority for identity and citizenship is the seamless passenger experience with the aid of biometrics via Emirates airline. Major Ghalib Abdulla Hassan Al Majed Al Marri – Director Business Management Department Smart Services, stated, “Our latest project from GDRFA is the passenger journey incorporation with Emirates airline. Three days prior to the passenger starting the journey, details about the passenger will be sent form the airline to the GDRFA for confirmation. Hence when the passenger arrives on the day of departure, all he or she should do is walk through the smart tunnel with no boarding pass, biometrics prior will obtain access not only through the gates but also to the lounge and the flight so that the customer has a much better passenger experience.” According to Major Al Marri, this will be introduced very soon for all the classes – Economy, Business and First Class. You will not need the boarding pass anymore to access the lounge or even the flight. Biometrics will be updated 72 hours prior to the departure of the traveller, which will enable the traveller to pass through or walk through a biometric tunnel with no documents in hand. Facial recognition will be the way forward, passing through customs, stay at the lounge; if you are not travelling in Business Class you can still enjoy the lounge by paying a nominal fee, at this point you can actually do so with no papers. 

Smartworld, the UAE’s leading semi-government technology service provider, is showcasing the latest Cisco engineered technology solutions ranging from cyber security, blockchain, analytics to anti-drones system and detection at the ongoing Gitex Technology Week 2019 in Dubai. The technology service provider is also showcasing its success stories with Dubai Airports infrastructure projects, Etisalat in-building solutions projects, and the current engagement with Cisco and Expo 2020. On its participation in the 39th edition of Gitex at Cisco stand, Abdulqader Ali, CEO of Smartworld, said the purpose is to throw the spotlight on its latest end-to-end solutions offerings. Smartworld offers organisations opportunities to achieve formerly impossible efficiencies and innovations by delivering value that previously required too many people or too much time with the help of AI. Streamlining routine and non-routine tasks frees employees to work on other problems and parts of the business. Smartworld also offers a wide range of AI-based video analytics that support organisations to drive digital business transformation and to deliver the scale and value needed to achieve business ambitions — and data and analytics capabilities lie at the heart of any such platform. The company will offer drone applications that can be used for inspection, research and multiple business purposes, as well as display and track its anti-drone system, protecting the interests of stakeholders against intrusions, surveillance or illegal actions. Smartworld is demonstrating its blockchain solution for the education sector, which issues and verifies blockchain-based records for academic credentials and professional certifications, ensuring the longevity and interoperability of the digital records.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) invited a group of 113 Chinese professionals from the key Chinese seaport of Dalian in Liaoning province to visit the UAE capital this week, to experience some of the Emirate’s unique cultural offerings. The group experienced two full days of sightseeing, taking in key attractions such as Qasr al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the many offerings on Yas Island. “Hosting the Dalian delegation for two days in Abu Dhabi gave us the opportunity to showcase the very best of what the UAE capital has to offer to our number one overseas market, especially the experience of the Emirati majlis, which is one of the inscribed elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, where Emiratis open up their homes to welcome their guests from everywhere in the world,” said Saeed Al Saeed, Destination Marketing Director at DCT Abu Dhabi.  “It was a great pleasure to welcome the delegation from China, and to have the chance to introduce them to some of the heritage and deep-rooted history of the Emirate through a traditional majlis,” said Aaesha AlShehyari, one of the founders of Visit Makan. The latest official report on visitation to the UAE capital released by DCT Abu Dhabi shows that hotel guest numbers for the Chinese market posted double-digit year-on-year growth in June 2019, with guests from China rising by 21.8 per cent compared to the corresponding month in 2018. China is the largest overseas market for the UAE capital, and in 2018, more than 400,000 Chinese travellers visited Abu Dhabi, an increase of 8 per cent when compared to the previous year.

This picturesque oasis is first of its kind in the UAE with a unique design inspired by traditional Emirati heritage. It is the ultimate desert experience nestled in Al Badayer desert’s burnt orange dunes, which are famously known to be ‘made for adventure’. Al Badayer is one of the most popular tourist areas in Sharjah and the UAE, favoured by dune bashers, camping enthusiasts and international tourists flying in to savour authentic Emirati experiences. In 2017, Shurooq began an ambitious AED130 million project to raise Sharjah’s profile as a destination for luxury ecotourism and its vast natural diversity through the ‘Sharjah Collection’. With Al Badayer Oasis now on the tourism market, all three of the Sharjah Collection’s high-end boutique destinations – the Kingfisher Lodge in Kalba, Al Faya Lodge close to the Fossil Rock area in Mleiha and Al Badayer Oasis in Al Badayer Desert – have met Shurooq’s projected two-year completion timeline. HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq, said, “Through this eco-oasis, Shurooq aims to advance responsible tourism practices and wildlife conservation in the UAE and Sharjah, and to support the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s (SCTDA) Sharjah Vision 2021, which is to attract 10 million tourists into the emirate”.  Simon Coombs, President & CEO of Shaza Hotels, stated, “We are delighted to expand our presence in the UAE with a unique property like Al Badayer Oasis, another successful project with Shurooq. We are thrilled for this partnership and look forward to delivering unparalleled experiences to Sharjah.”

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has reported a stellar incline in tourism volumes from Nigeria, Africa’s largest source market for inbound traffic to Dubai, welcoming 113,000 overnight visitors in the first seven months of 2019. With impressive double-digit growth, inbound traffic from Nigeria to Dubai grew by 28 per cent year-on-year, cementing its position as the emirate’s 17th largest source market. Dubai’s diverse portfolio of attractions has experienced sustained interest amongst Nigerian travellers through ongoing strategic trade partnerships, bespoke integrated marketing campaigns, and always-on social media activations. Building on ongoing efforts to provide a platform to broadcast Dubai’s multifaceted comprehensive offerings to African tourists, Dubai Tourism, led by the CEO, Issam Kazim, showcased its support at the Akwaaba African Travel Market for the fourth consecutive year with a strong delegation of 21 Dubai-based partners, which included a team from Expo 2020 Dubai. Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said, “The immense hospitality and genuine welcome we received during our time in Nigeria paved the way for a hugely successful Akwaaba Travel Market 2019. Our continued presence at industry events such as these is testament to our globally diversified market strategy to engage with key strategic partners, cementing our positive relationship with the African travel trade ecosystem.”

In line with its efforts to further strengthen the Kingdom’s position as an ideal destination for weddings and celebrations, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) organised a familiarisation trip for 10 Indian wedding planning agencies, from September 21-24. The delegation included companies and agencies from several Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur, targeting locations with High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and distinguished families. On September 22 and 23, BTEA arranged for meetings between Indian wedding planners and a number of Bahraini vendors and organisations, which included leading 5 and 4-star hotels, Bahraini wedding planners and organisers, travel and tourism service providers, destination management companies and other accommodation venues. A representative from BTEA’s office in India also attended the meetings along with the delegation. In addition, a tour of the Kingdom was also organised for the Indian delegation which featured a visit to some of Bahrain’s tourist attractions such as Go Karting, the Hindu Temple in Manama and Bahrain International Circuit. “Through organising regular meetings with Indian wedding planners and agencies, we aim to increase the number of wedding ceremonies being held in the Kingdom, further positioning Bahrain as an ideal destination for weddings and celebrations,” said Dr. Ali Follad, Tourism Advisor at BTEA.

Qasr Al Watan will observe a change in opening hours on Monday, October 7, 2019, and Wednesday, October 9, 2019. During both days, the Presidential Palace will open to the public on October 7 from 12 pm to 7:15 pm and on October 9 from 1 pm to 7:15 pm. Further, Qasr Al Watan will be temporarily closed for the duration of a week. Qasr Al Watan is still a working palace and as a result will be temporarily closed to the public for the following duration from Friday, October 11 – until Thursday, October 17, 2019. Qasr Al Watan will reopen to the public on Friday, October 18, 2019.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a Management Agreement with Al Rawabi Regional Company for Hotels Resorts and Tourism Ltd., to open InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh next year. The converted property will reside on 154,000 sqm of lush green oasis, offering a refuge of relaxation. The urban resort will feature 152 well-appointed rooms and 10 private chalets, offer an array of facilities including five dining options, a kids’ club and miniature golf. Guests focused on wellness and rejuvenation can take advantage of the outdoor and indoor pool, a gym, a tennis court and a spa. Additionally, the hotel will feature a business centre, seven meeting rooms and a banquet room to cater to the demands of the MiCE and corporate segments. Speaking on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said, “IHG has a strong foothold and reputation in the luxury segment through our flagship brand, InterContinental, which has enjoyed great success in Saudi Arabia over the last four decades. We look forward to continuing this legacy with the opening of InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh.” Waleed J Tawfik, CEO of Al Rawabi Regional Company for Hotels Resorts and Tourism Ltd., added, “We are delighted to sign this agreement with IHG, which is a trusted and pioneering name in the Saudi hospitality sector, given its long legacy. We believe that InterContinental is the ideal choice to cater to the needs of both business and leisure guests.”

The Royal Commission for AlUla announced that Seera Group, the region’s leading provider of travel and tourism services, has been appointed as the key Destination Management Company (DMC) for the second season of ‘Winter at Tantora’, a timeless festival in AlUla, a cultural and historical destination that is home to Saudia Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. Set in the natural beauty of AlUla, last year’s inaugural Winter at Tantora was a success, welcoming high-profile guests from around the world and hosting 37,000 visitors from 72 countries. The second edition of the festival will be held from December 19, 2019, to March 7, 2020, offering additional weekends for visitors to enjoy cultural programming, equine events and celebrity performances by some of the world’s greatest musicians. Seera Group will highlight the destination through its dedicated campaign to promote Winter at Tantora, which is expected to welcome over 40,000 people through the weekend programmes. The Royal Commission for AlUla aims to attract two million visitors to AlUla by 2035. Amr AlMadani, Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said, “This partnership will provide an opportunity for us to share AlUla’s spectacular treasures, including Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO heritage site, Hegra, with guests from around the world.” Abdullah Aldawood, CEO of Seera Group, said, “Choosing us as a DMC for the event underlines our competencies in offering tailored solutions for international and Saudi-based visitors – covering all aspects of their journey. In addition to working with our global offices and affiliates, we will promote Winter at Tantora through our outlets at all key airports in the Kingdom.”

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau (ADCB), in collaboration with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), hosted the fourth edition of the Middle East International Forum at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas on Saadiyat Island. The opening of the forum saw a welcome speech from Mubarak Al Shamsi, ADCB Director and ICCA Middle East Chapter Chair, where he welcomed the opportunity to host some of the region’s key players to showcase the importance of collaboration, sustainable development and best practices.  “Meetings and exhibitions have contributed tremendously to the growth and development of Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the region as a whole,” said Al Shamsi. “This year’s edition has seen discussion from different perspectives and we are now exploring developments and benefits as a result of hosting these conventions. We are also exploring the role bureaus are currently playing for event organisers and local communities, in addition to changes in the market and the constant need for venues to adapt in order to be successful.”  Mahir Julfar, ICCA Board Member and SVP Venues Manager at the Dubai World Trade Center, added, “At the ICCA we have an incredibly active and knowledgeable community. Our members are strong advocates for the development of the meetings industry in the region. We work together with a unified passion to further develop our destinations through the expertise, skills and knowledge exchange opportunities offered by international association meetings. Currently, the ICCA Middle East Chapter has over 50 members from seven countries and four Association Relations Partners, accounting for an 80 per cent growth over the past three years.” This year’s forum has seen an active participation from the United Networks of International Corporate Event …