Category Archives: Associations

The Emirates Tourism Council – which met under the chairmanship of H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises – reviewed the national plans to develop a tourism data system in accordance with global best practices and promote tourism in foreign markets to increase the footfall of visitors in the UAE. The first Council meeting in 2022 – which was attended by the membership of heads, directors of all local tourism departments and entities in the UAE – also reviewed the performance of the tourism sector and hotel establishments in the country in 2021 and the growth rates achieved in several tourism indicators. Al Falasi asserted that the tourism sector in the UAE continues to achieve outstanding results due to the vision and directives of the wise leadership and the concerted national efforts to develop the country’s tourism environment by providing integrated tourism products and services that enhance UAE’s position as a preferred and sustainable tourist destination for tourists from within the country and around the world. According to the data, hotel establishments in the country hosted 19 million guests in 2021, with a growth of more than 29 per cent compared to the number of guests in 2020. Domestic tourism accounted for 58 per cent of the total number of guests last year in the UAE. Hotel establishments last year generated revenues of AED 28 billion, witnessing a growth of up to 70 per cent compared to 2020. Over the past year, more than 75 million hotel nights have been booked, up 42 per cent compared to 2020, while the hotel occupancy rate reached 67 per cent, which is the highest …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has honoured members of the Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme – including healthcare professionals, scientists, industry experts, academics, business leaders and government officials – who have spearheaded successful bids to bring global business events to Dubai. Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and a division of DET, presented awards to 20 member organisations at the Programme’s annual appreciation ceremony, held on 3 March at Dubai Exhibition Centre, within the Expo 2020 Dubai site. With Dubai continuing to lead the global recovery of the business events sector, the bid wins driven by the Ambassadors are contributing to the growth of the pipeline of conferences, congresses and meetings which will take place in the city over the coming years and provide platforms for the sharing of knowledge, professional development and networking. As the city continued to present a compelling proposition for international associations, societies and other entities for their major events, the Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme last year supported in securing 26 conferences and congresses to be hosted in Dubai over the coming years, set to attract over 35,000 industry-specific professionals and experts from around the world. Among the events won in 2021 thanks to the contributions of Ambassadors were: 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (2025), IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (2024), World Science and Technology Education Conference (2023) and Congress of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (2024). Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “In recognition of their commitment and vital contributions towards Dubai’s growing status as an international business events hub, we congratulate and express gratitude …

The ninth edition of the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), the region’s leading aviation and tourism industry event, has announced the participation of a top-notch panel of global experts, which will take place from February 28 to March 2nd at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Following the overwhelming success of the eighth edition, which was also the first in-person aviation industry event held after the pandemic in the region, this year’s summit focuses on the theme, ‘The Roadmap to Recovery.’ With the global aviation and tourism sector gaining traction, the high-level event will underline the opportunities and challenges in ramping up the sector’s growth, with a particular focus on the Middle East region. Ahead of the Summit on March 1, extensive workshops will be held to discuss the regional trends in aviation and tourism. Referred to as the ‘voice of the industry’, this initiative will also bring the largest assembly of Arab media together and top executives from the aviation and tourism sector. The Summit will also reiterate the strong linkages between tourism, aviation and hospitality, three core growth sectors, which have a dominant role in post-pandemic recovery for local economies. Experts will discuss global best practices, and measures taken to build the resilience of the aviation and the tourism sector. A white paper, based on deliberations of participants, will be created post the Summit as a data bank on the insights shared during the event. The keynote speakers, with several more coming on board, include CEOs, Presidents, global aviation & tourism experts, distinguished airline officials, policy makers and representatives. They include: Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation; Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice …

Association leaders and thought leaders from around the world have gathered in Dubai for the third edition of the Dubai Association Conference, with city leaders urging them to make the most of the opportunity to develop their operations and take advantage of the platform Dubai can provide trade and professional associations for growth and expanded reach. The one-day event took place at Dubai Exhibition Centre, located within the Expo 2020 Dubai site as the final month of the World’s Greatest Show approaches. Under the theme of ‘Associations and The New World: Resilience & Reinvention’, the conference is providing a platform for exploring how associations can adapt amid not just the aftermath and direct impact of the global pandemic, but shifting dynamics among the professions and industries they serve. It was once again organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. The event kicked off with a session featuring the founders of the Dubai Association Centre (DAC): His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chambers. As driving forces behind both DAC and Dubai’s wider economy and business landscape, they provided their perspectives on the roles associations can play in global society and as a driver of positive change. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “The impact of the global pandemic has been felt across almost every industry, profession and field of expertise over the past two years, and associations have experienced this on two fronts: on the one hand supporting and …

As part of efforts to achieve a cashless, contactless payment system across the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PayBy, the innovative financial technology platform. In support of the UAE government’s vision to create a secure financial ecosystem for merchants and consumers and its drive towards digital transformation across all sectors, PayBy’s widely accepted, user-friendly and highly secure platform will now be in use across hotels, malls and other tourism establishments. With the current global concerns around hygiene and safety, the use of PayBy’s system will also play a key role in minimising touch points across the emirate. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Acting Tourism Products Development Director, DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our MOU with PayBy is an important step towards a seamless and innovative financial ecosystem throughout Abu Dhabi in line with the national digital transformation which will clearly benefit consumers, visitors and many other stakeholders. At DCT Abu Dhabi, we are committed to the use of state-of-the-art technology to improve the experience for tourists and residents, so the implementation of PayBy’s innovative platform is another key measure in achieving this objective.” Financial transactions on PayBy are protected by advanced technologies, including an Artificial Intelligence-based fraud management system to detect unauthorised activities, which complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS), the international gold standard in this sector. By offering security to guests’ payments at participating establishments and entities across the emirate, PayBy will support Abu Dhabi’s efforts to be a globally renowned, ‘smart’ tourism destination equipped with leading digital infrastructure. PayBy was launched to offer greater safety, …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and HSBC Bank Middle East have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), paving the way for increased cooperation in further enhancing Dubai’s position as a global liveability destination. The MoU was signed by Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Abdulfattah Sharaf, CEO of HSBC UAE and Head of International, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited. Under the terms of the agreement, DET and HSBC will promote to HSBC customers and employees the unparalleled quality of life in Dubai, its position as a global investment hub and the diverse features of the destination that everyone can enjoy. The MoU also envisages collaboration in marketing activities designed to promote events and experiences across the tourism ecosystem to further amplify the city’s position as a leading international business, leisure and events destination. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “We are pleased to partner with HSBC, a global brand that has played a significant role in the development of Dubai’s business, banking and finance sectors, in showcasing our multi-faceted business and tourism offering. This MoU reflects the trust and confidence reposed in Dubai by multinational corporations and will further enhance our efforts to support the aim of our visionary leadership to make Dubai the most sought-after international city and the most attractive location to live and work in. Our partnership with HSBC is also testament to the continued efforts being made in collaboration with our stakeholders to leverage the city’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure and its position as one of the world’s safest destinations to attract multinationals, entrepreneurs, investors and tourists to Dubai.” Abdulfattah …

VFS Global and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have signed an agreement to incorporate accredited and approved COVID-19 testing laboratories into the IATA Travel Pass. Through the agreement, COVID-19 test credentials issued by partici-pating labs will be securely transmitted to the IATA Travel Pass. The addition of VFS Global’s network of government-approved labs into the IATA Travel Pass will make travel even more hassle-free for travellers in Canada, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, UAE, and the USA, requiring a mandatory pre-departure COVID-19 swab test. As governments, airlines and local authorities require support with implementing COVID-19 testing, the addition of VFS Global’s network into the IATA Travel Pass offers a seamless service by providing trav-ellers, airlines and governments with accurate information on passengers’ COVID-19 health status. By leveraging VFS Global’s extensive network of strategic medical partners and authorised laboratories accredited by Governments, travellers can book their mandatory pre-departure COVID-19 test. Once the test results are ready, using IATA’s Travel Pass solution, travellers can immediately access their test results uploaded on the platform and validate them against travel requirements. The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that helps travellers to store and manage their verified certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. Travellers can show this for verification at the airline check-in counters before board-ing. The solution enables airlines and immigration authorities to digitally validate and verify the authenticity of the COVID-19 test results using a simple QR code scan and matching the health credentials against the destination country’s entry requirements. It is more secure and efficient in verifying an individual’s health status than the current paper processes used to manage health requirements. It is also important given the potentially enormous scale of …

Tourism 365, part of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), are conducting a European business travel trip. The trip, which passes through some of Europe’s largest travel markets, will emphasise how Tourism 365 presents robust travel opportunities for European holidaymakers coming to Abu Dhabi. The promotional tour is taking place in Europe, with nations including Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. The trip will focus on Tourism 365, showcasing how it supports in creating experiential travel opportunities for tourists coming to Abu Dhabi. Tourism 365 consists of Capital Experience, a high-quality destination management company, and Capital Travel, a premium travel operator. The launch of the company earlier this year comes in line with ADNEC’s broader role to support the growth of Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination, increasing leisure visitors, enhancing guest experiences, and extending their stay in the UAE’s capital. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, commented: “Tourism 365 plays an integral role in showcasing Abu Dhabi as one of the Middle East’s leading tourism destinations. Our relationship with European markets will enable the wider growth of the tourism sector in the UAE and wider region, which ADNEC consistently seeks to promote.” Roula Jouny, Executive Director of Tourism 365, commented, “Abu Dhabi is seeing an increased supply of travellers coming to visit its leading tourism attractions. With so many tourists looking to make the most of a post pandemic world and experience all that Abu Dhabi has to offer, this trip cements Tourism 365’s reputation amongst some of Europe’s largest travel markets.” “Tourism 365 is integral in enabling innovation across the tourism sector, increasing the emirate’s attractiveness to international visitors, and showcasing all …

Turespaña together with Manarat Al Saadiyat, part of Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism presents, in the Capital of the United Arab Emirates, an exhibition ‘The Arab legacy in Spain: a journey through the most impressive buildings’. It will take place from July 8 until July 29 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi. The exhibition takes the visitor on a tour through the most impressive buildings of Arab origin in Spain, explaining the strong cultural ties between Spain and the Arab nations. It aims to promote the Arab legacy of Spain in the United Arab Emirates in such a way that one can enjoy these wonders. It’s expected to awaken the curiosity of visitors and make them aware of its existence and generate the desire to travel, and experience the monuments through the 5 senses, enjoying at the same time all that Spain offers. The exhibition consists of 26 visuals showcasing different images of the following monuments: the Giralda, the Torre del Oro, the Real Alcázar of Seville, the Mosque of Cordoba, Medina Azahar, the Alhambra, the Aljaferia de Zaragoza, some fortresses such as those of Málaga, Guadix or Badajoz, the Cristo de la Luz in Toledo or the cisterns of the Palacio de las Veletas in Cáceres. On all panels there is a brief description in English and Arabic, alongside the image. The exhibits include: an introduction to the exhibition, a brief history of Al Andalus and suggested itineraries in Spain to be able to visit all these monuments. All panels have QR codes to access more information. Free entry from 10am to 8pm.

Dubai Association Conference (DAC) will return for its third edition on 21 February 2022, with a series of events in the lead up to maximise its impact and create platforms for associations as they explore the future of the sector. The conference will once again be hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. With the theme ‘Associations and the new world: Resilience & Reinvention’, the conference will take place at the new Dubai Exhibition Centre, within the Expo 2020 Dubai site and in the midst of the six-month global gathering. Ahead of the main conference, a series of three interactive online sessions will take place over the course of the rest of 2021, exploring the key themes of the event and providing an opportunity to ensure the agenda addresses the key concerns and topics delegates may wish to explore. The first of these sessions took place on 15 June. The conference is the flagship event of the Dubai Association Centre (DAC), which was established in 2014 as a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to support and license regional and international associations in setting up an office or chapter in Dubai. DAC opened its state-of-the-art offices in One Central, DWTC in December 2019, providing a collaborative environment for registered associations. Following the conference, delegates will be offered a full-day immersive visit to Expo 2020 Dubai to experience the thematic and national pavilions, attend celebrations and events, and sample cultures and cuisine from around …