Category Archives: Govt

Oman Arab Bank (OAB) and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) have sealed a strategic partnership to solely finance the upcoming Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Muscat, currently being developed adjoining the Sustainable City – Yiti. This marks the latest landmark project that the bank has financed in the Sultanate of Oman, further supporting the country’s advancement across developmental, economic and sectors. Sulaiman Al Harthi, CEO of Oman Arab Bank, said: “We are proud to partner with OMRAN Group to bolster the nation’s hospitality sector. The bank has a proven track record of handling large-scale, complex projects and catalyzing economic diversification efforts that are aligned with the objectives of Oman’s Vision 2040. Economic diversification is vital to stimulate Oman’s sustainable development at a global level and this project represents another step forward on that journey.” OMRAN Group’s CEO, Hashil Al Mahrouqi, said: “We are excited to be working with Oman Arab Bank to see the Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Muscat project through to its successful completion. This resort is part of our continued endeavor to build on the nation’s position as a preferred global destination for tourists. It is a landmark development widely considered to be one of the most significant additions to Oman’s luxury hospitality sector. It will undoubtedly play a vital role in pushing Oman’s tourism sector to reach its full potential, which aligns with OMRAN Group’s commitment to developing exceptional and sustainable destinations.” Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Muscat will feature 140 hotel rooms and 30 villas with private pools. Facilities will include the beach club, three signature restaurants, three swimming pools, a spa, gym and marina. Founded in 1998, Nikki Beach is a global concept …

Qatar Tourism  announced that Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barshim has been named its new brand ambassador, with Barshim, the only high jumper to recently set a record of five medals at the World Championships, being the new face of Qatar Tourism’s promotional campaigns between now and September 2024. Commenting on the announcement, Sheikha Hessa Al Thani, Head of Marketing and Planning at Qatar Tourism, said: “At its core, the tremendous sporting achievements of our global champion Mutaz Barshim reflect Qatar’s ambitions on the world stage. A name that has become synonymous with victory, dedication to work and the constant pursuit of more glory, this partnership stems from our shared values and commitment to excellence. We are extremely proud to have Barshim as one of Qatar Tourism’s brand ambassadors and to be a true embodiment of Qatar’s limitless capabilities.” Olympic and world champion, Mutaz Barshim, said: “I am very honoured and proud to be a brand ambassador for Qatar Tourism. My country has supported me since the beginning of my career, and this is an opportunity to express my deep gratitude and give it back some favor. This partnership reflects a kind of complementarity between my ambitions and Qatar Tourism’s goals, which promote the rich cultural heritage of our beloved country and highlight leading global events. I am very excited to take on this responsibility and represent my country and very excited to introduce the world to Qatar’s attractions and destinations.” Following the successful conclusion of the ‘Summer in Qatar’ season, which was packed with events and entertainment, which also saw the launch of the Qatar Games Festival, the first of its kind in the country, as well as the …

ADNEC  Group, through its tourism arm Tourism 365, has launched new charter flight services in the UAE, enhancing travel options for international tourists from multiple destinations while propelling the UAE’s hospitality offering and reputation as a premier global destination. This premium new service, available from Europe and central Asia, is poised to increase visitor arrivals to the UAE, while further solidifying ADNEC Group’s position as a key player in the regional tourism sector. The new charter service complements the group’s wider hospitality offering, supporting the travel industry’s role in the nation’s economic growth, a sector expected to represent nearly 10 per cent of the UAE’s total economy in 2023. Charter flights have been launched by Tourism 365 in August from high demand and non-commercially operated international markets. Hundreds of thousands of travellers are expected to experience Tourism 365’s new service this year alone. Emerging source markets boosting arrivals into Abu Dhabi include Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Tajikistan through its tour operator, Easy Booking, in Central Asia. This October, the German market will also benefit from the launch of weekly charter operations to Abu Dhabi from airports including Leipzig, Nuremberg and Cologne through its own tour operator, Capital Holidays. The charter flights will complement the existing direct commercial flight network. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “Our strategic ongoing goal is to boost the UAE tourism sector’s contribution to national economic growth through enhancing the offering and capabilities of the sector. Tourism 365’s ongoing growth and service diversification has the power to further increase tourist arrivals and diversify the source markets, increasing the international footprint of travellers visiting the UAE. ADNEC Group …

The new partnership will drive towards achieving a zero-carbon footprint in the destination; Red Sea Global (RSG), Amaala and The Red Sea, has entered into a 25-year concession agreement with the French multinational electric utility company EDF (Électricité de France) and leading clean energy company Masdar on a multi-utilities infrastructure facility to service the Amaala destination. Like its sister destination, The Red Sea, Amaala will be powered entirely by solar energy, saving the equivalent of nearly half a million tons of CO2 emissions every year. The new facility consists of an optimized off-grid renewable energy system, which generates energy from photovoltaic technology, and a battery energy storage solution that enables 24/7 power, plus a desalination plant and wastewater treatment plant, both powered by renewables. “Sustainability is a cornerstone of Amaala, and our new partnership with EDF and Masdar will drive us towards achieving a zero-carbon footprint once fully operational. The project follows the template for success provided by The Red Sea, where we recently completed the build of five solar farms, procuring a destination-wide utility system that enables us to operate with no connection to the national grid,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. Amaala’s renewable supply system has the capacity to generate up to 410,000 MWh per annum – enough to power 10,000 households for an entire year. The system includes a 700 MWh battery storage facility, which ensures Amaala will be powered by renewables, day and night. There will also be a water desalination plant that uses reverse osmosis technology and has a capacity of 37 million liters of water per day. The contract was procured in the model of an independent public-private partnership (PPP), …

The Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia  announced an extraordinary achievement in the country’s tourism sector. In the first quarter of 2023, Saudi Arabia witnessed a remarkable transformation, transitioning from a deficit of USD 427 million in Q1 2022 to an impressive surplus of USD 6.1 billion during the same period this year. This momentous shift is underpinned by the phenomenal growth in incoming tourism revenues, which have surged by an astounding 225% compared to the first quarter of 2022, reaching a staggering USD 9.8 billion. This data, reported by the Saudi Central Bank, showcases the Ministry of Tourism’s unwavering commitment to not only revitalizing the tourism sector but also harnessing its pivotal role in advancing the national economy. His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, underscored the significance of this accomplishment, stating, “These achievements are a testament to the Kingdom’s dedication to creating a world-class tourism sector. In the past year, Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has witnessed a paradigm shift driven by new regulations, increased connectivity, ease of accessibility, and a greater focus on partnerships. Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a key global destination for tourists and investors, powered by a skilled and ambitious workforce. The Kingdom is shaping the future of tourism, one that is sustainable, full of opportunity, and connects communities, countries, and cultures.” In recent times, Saudi Arabia has achieved several notable milestones in the tourism industry. The country ascended an impressive 16 places in the international tourism revenue index, ranking 11th globally in 2022. This marked a significant leap from its 27th position in 2019. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia continued to excel internationally, welcoming approximately 7.8 million tourists in the first quarter of …

Qatar welcomed more than 2.56 million visitors from January to 25 August 2023, surpassing the total number of visitors for the whole of 2022, marking a 157% increase in the number of international visitors compared to the same period last year. This significant increase in the number of visitors to Qatar reflects the country’s growing position as a leading tourist destination in the world, supported by the success achieved following the successful hosting of the FIFA  World Cup Qatar 2022™, which put Qatar on the international tourism map. The tourism sector has received a boost thanks to the extension of the validity of the Hayya Card to its existing holders and the relaunch of the Haya platform to become a unified visa portal for visitors coming to Qatar, as the country welcomed visitors from all over the world, with visitors from Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, the United States of America, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan topping the list of countries for visitors coming to Qatar. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, President of Qatar Tourism and Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, said: “This growth in international visitors to Qatar is the result of Qatar Tourism’s strategy to capitalise on the tourism momentum that accompanied the hosting of the world’s biggest sporting tournament late last year. Thanks to our focus on priority tourism markets, our multi-pronged approach, our tireless efforts and pioneering initiatives across the pillars of our tourism strategy, we have been able to attract visitors from all over the world and highlight the unique blend that Qatar offers to its visitors, which combines sophistication and modernity on the one hand …

Expo Centre Sharjah has participated in the ICCA Middle East Summit 2023, which took place from August 30-31 at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme “Forging a Collective Path to a Prosperous Future.” During the event, HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Chairman of the Arab Union for Exhibitions, and board member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry engaged in discussions with several CEO attendees, exploring avenues for strengthening strategic cooperation with association members to further the development and sustainability of the sector, initiate collaborative exhibitions and conferences, and broaden the prospects of the industry. HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Chairman of the Arab Union for Exhibitions, and board member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, represented the centre in the summit to boost regional collaboration in the exhibitions and conferences sector and explore future opportunities and developments that solidify the sector’s contribution to economic expansion. Al Midfa also introduced a working paper highlighting the significance of the exhibition and conference sector on both regional and global scales. He emphasized its central role in bolstering economies, augmenting commercial activities, and widening the scope of economic and trade collaborations among individuals, businesses, and nations. He underscored that the global exhibition sector’s valuation, surpassing $151 billion, underscores its relevance to the world economy. Meanwhile, in the Middle East and North Africa, the sector’s worth is projected to escalate from $53.63 billion in 2022 to an impressive $76.67 billion by 2028. His Excellency shed light on the exceptional development and growth seen in the exhibitions and conferences sector within the GCC countries, with the UAE standing out notably. …

The third ICCA Middle East Summit – with TravTalk Middle East as media partner – concluded after two days of great insights, updates, and networking opportunities with industry experts from across the globe. The event was inaugurated by H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, with Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA opening the session with an inspiring speech. Khalid Al Zadjali, ICCA Middle East Chapter Chair, radiated excitement as he took on the role of host for the very first time, setting an electrifying tone for the entire summit. There were many sessions which left both experts and audience inspired by the prospect of hosting more business events in various Middle East destinations. Khalid Al Zedjali, Director of Oman Office of Conference at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, stated, “By organizing this event, we aimed at exploring the various means in which the local associations can further improve their operations, strengthen member services and make a more impactful contribution to their industries and communities by leveraging the valuable insights with best practices for international associations. Further, there were also many key areas where local associations can benefit from the experience and expertise of their international counterparts”. Al Zedjali added that it is important for the local associations to maintain the strong bonds with the international networks, to participate in conferences and events and to search proactively for learning and cooperation opportunities with their international peers. By doing so, local associations can improve their performance and create value addition to their members and stakeholders. The event included three different sessions. The first session “Building Resilient Communities” explored the vital role that ICCA (the …

According to Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Khalid University, University of Tabuk, Batterjee Medical College, Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and several renowned international institutions in tourism education, has launched five specialized educational programs for master’s degrees and applied diplomas in the tourism and hospitality sectors. These programs aim to cater to the market demands for skilled professionals in different regions of the Kingdom. The Tourism Education Initiative, initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, aims to align with the increasing need for qualified personnel in the tourism and hospitality industry within the Kingdom. As part of the National Strategy of Tourism Development and the Saudi Vision 2030, the Ministry of Tourism plans to generate one million jobs in diverse tourism sectors by 2030.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the 17th edition of Al Dhafra Festival is set to take place from 21 October 2023 to 8 February 2024 as part of the camel mazayna season in Abu Dhabi. The event will be held under the organisation of the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi in cooperation with Emirates Heritage Club. The festival comes as a continuation of the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support heritage preservation projects, promote and develop heritage festivals, enable camel owners to sustain the practice of breeding and caring for camels, and support falconry and purebred Arabian horses contests and other heritage competitions. These efforts have transformed Abu Dhabi into a unique model in the field of heritage festivals organisation. The festival highlights the role of camels in the culture and heritage of the UAE and the GCC countries through camel mazayna competitions held in Abu Dhabi for purebred breeds in the categories of Asayel, Majahim, Asayel hybrids and Wadh. The upcoming edition will include Sweihan mazayna, Razeen mazayna, Madinat Zayed mazayna and the concluding festival: Al Dhafra Festival. The 17th edition of Al Dhafra Festival is the largest since its inception in 2008, with organising committee assigning a total of 361 rounds for all the participating camel breeds – an increase of 35 rounds compared to the previous edition. Al Dhafra Festival aims to unify the standards, terms and conditions, and intensify efforts to achieve success in the mazayna competitions, expand participation of camel owners in the competitions, preserve the purebred camel breeds, boost camel trade, contribute to …