Category Archives: Govt

The leaders of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) have described Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become one of the top 5 destinations in the world in the next decade as “unparalleled” in the history of tourism and travel. Opening the 22nd edition of the Summit, Arnold Donald, Chair, WTTC & Vice Chair of the Board, Carnival Corporation, welcomed the nearly 3000 participants to what will be the biggest ever meeting of global tourism and travel industry leaders. Praising the goals set by the Kingdom to welcome 100 million international and domestic travelers a year by 2030, Mr. Arnold said: “These are ambitions that are unparalleled in the history of our sector. Over the past three years it has been a great privilege to see the progress made here with our own eyes.” Summit host, Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism, HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb welcomed the leaders of the tourism world to Riyadh said: “We have the power to shape the sector, bridge cultures, and transform communities. We are fortunate to be in the position to effect change. We must not let this opportunity pass by us. Let us ensure that here in Riyadh, we really do deliver a better future for travel.” WTTC CEO Julia Simpson focused on the vital importance of nature to the long-term prosperity and sustainability of the sector. She said: “The WTTC Positive Travel and Tourism Report shows tourism from nature generates over $600 bn which provides opportunities for some of the world’s poorest countries to protect biodiversity and their communities.” In a day packed full of debate, dialogue and the sharing of innovative ideas from around the world, leaders of the global tourism industry participated …

SAUDIA Group and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on promoting the nation’s distinctive culture throughout the world while enriching the cultural experience of the Kingdom’s guests. This agreement is in line with the Group’s commitment to achieving the goals of Vision 2030 to promote the Kingdom’s cultural sector by creating exceptional cultural experiences that touch the senses of guests on board being the first gateway for the traveler to Saudi. This partnership reflects SAUDIA Group’s efforts to create exceptional cultural experiences to more than 60,000 passengers daily. The role of the group is not limited to only creating these cultural experiences, but it also extends through its sponsorship and support for cultural events and festivals such as the first edition of The Red Sea International Film Festival, Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, and the support it has extended to the Ministry of Culture in celebrating the ‘Year of Arabic Calligraphy’ by adorning two of its aircraft with a special livery marking the initiative. And its support to the ‘Year of Saudi Coffee’ initiative. For 77 years, SAUDIA has strived to bring elements of Saudi culture to the destinations it serves. With the establishment of the Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture in 2018, coupled with SAUDIA’s significant network expansion, Saudi Arabia is primed to impart its fascinating customs to a wider audience. This is in line with Vision 2030 which looks to celebrate the nation’s rich and unique dialect, culture, tradition, heritage, and culinary identity as shaped by the diversity of its people.   His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA, said on the occasion of the MoU signing: “We firmly believe …

The day is finally here, as the most coveted awards in the region, Arabian Travel Awards will once again host the industry winners. This year’s edition is special as the focus is on sustainability. Arabian Travel Awards is a platform for the Middle East market to appreciate the efforts of the travel specialists who have contributed to the booming travel and hospitality industry. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting tourism in the region. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news and TravTalk Middle East who are premier media partners for the coverage of the event. The awards will be divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards and Partner Awards. They will include awards for Best Business Hotel, Best Family Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few. San Jeet Director Arabian Travel Awards shares, “Our awards this year is very special as it recognizes the untiring efforts of the industry experts. This year as the borders open, the travel, tourism and hospitality experts were able to restore to levels enjoyed pre-pandemic time. Most had to redefine the way forward in the post covid era, as we can confidently call it. Applications are still open to vote for those in the industry and who has been in the forefront promoting and working to go over and beyond the general norms of the industry. Middle East has always been the most resilient region, especially the UAE and Dubai in …

In collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), Emirates airline is now offering international travellers the opportunity to speed up their airport experience by consenting to the use of biometric data. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA in Dubai, and Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, in the presence of several senior officials from both sides. The first agreement of its kind globally, the strategic partnership between GDRFA and Emirates is a cooperative effort to further improve the innovative and digitally focused travel experience of Dubai visitors. The agreement improves passenger traffic procedures inside Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 and ensures a faster and more efficient airport experience for travellers transferring to connecting flights, as well as those who arrive in Dubai as their final destination. Commenting on how the agreement will develop best-in-class services for travellers, His Excellency Lieutenant-General Mohammed Al-Marri said: “Dubai is one of the world’s most aspirational destinations, and 2022 has already seen more than 8 million tourists arrive to the city. We continue to support our key partners with best-in-class services as we strive for excellence, and innovation in positioning Dubai as the world’s leading business hub and tourism destination’ Highlighting the importance and value of this agreement, Adel Al Redha said: “Emirates continually invests to improve customer experience and we thank the GDFRA for extending the bridges of cooperation, communication and coordination to add value to Emirates’ services and allow our international passengers to Fly Better.” By using biometric recognition technologies and the GDRFA pre-populated biometric database to identify travellers at multiple points in the airport, …

MSC Cruises, the world’s third largest cruise brand, will hosted the Naming Ceremony of its newest flagship MSC World Europa at the brand-new Grand Cruise Terminal in Doha, Qatar. Together with partners Qatar Airways, the celebrations are part of MSC’s overall commitment to Qatar, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the growth of international tourism there as well as the broader Middle East region, where MSC Cruises is brand leader. Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, said: “Just like Qatar, our Group has placed climate change at the forefront of its agenda. We are committed to reaching net zero carbon from our cruise operations by 2050. MSC World Europa is our most innovative vessel. She is the world’s best performing cruise ship in terms of CO2 emissions per guest. Running on LNG, the cleanest fossil fuel and, of course, Qatar’s most renowned export.” Mr Vago continued: “Over the years, we have proven our commitment to supporting Qatar’s economic diversification, which is guided by Qatar National Vision 2030. And of course, to further developing Qatar’s profile as a global tourism destination. Qatar has a wonderful tourism offering to meet a huge variety of interests, and an array of destinations. In 2016, our own MSC Fantasia became the first major cruise ship to call at Doha. We have been reliable partners ever since. And today, we renew our commitment to Qatar by homeporting our most modern and innovative ship in Doha.” His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, commented: “While Qatar Airways is the global aviation gateway to Qatar, the marine industry is very important to tourism and the long term …

Saudi joined Umrah+ Connect, a leading B2B platform dedicated to the Umrah travel market to share Saudi’s Umrah offering with UK and European trade partners. Taking place during the World Travel Market, where Saudi is this year’s Premier Partner, Umrah+ Connect brings together leading DMC’s, airlines, hoteliers, and Umrah companies. Following the success of last year’s first major B2B Umrah event in London, Umrah+ Connect took place in association with Nusuk, Saudi’s first official integrated digital platform that offers pilgrims and visitors an easy-to-use planning gateway for their journeys to Makkah and Madinah, and beyond. This comes off the back of the recent global launch of Nusuk by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Nusuk is an initiative of the Vision 2030 Pilgrim Experience Program which has seen roadshows taking place in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Indonesia. Nusuk will expand the range of choice and enhance the overall experience for Muslims visiting Saudi and enable simpler arrival procedures for visitors to perform Umrah. Nusuk will also offer a new range of services including facilitating visas, permits, booking processes and procedures, along with special packages for Makkah, Madinah and beyond. His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Chairman of the Committee for the Pilgrim Experience Program, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, said, “The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah continues its efforts in cooperation and collaboration with government entities in Saudi Arabia to serve the pilgrims of Makkah and Madinah through Nusuk. We are using the most advanced technology to enrich the spiritual experience of the pilgrim and visitor. Nusuk’s sponsorship of this event is a symbol of our commitment to bringing Nusuk to our partners and to the tens of millions Muslims …

Saudi opens World Travel Market (WTM) London for the second consecutive year as Premier Partner. Hosting its largest pavilion at an international event, Saudi has developed interactive on-stand experiences to immerse and inspire visitors across every touchpoint, on a journey of the country through the senses. Incredible visuals showcase the breadth and depth of Saudi’s extraordinary destination offering, bringing the authentic home of Arabia to life. Visitors will feel for themselves the unparalleled hospitality for which the country is known with an opportunity to experience a rich part of the country’s culture, through a celebration of the Year of Saudi Coffee at the Saudi Café. Event attendees will feel the beat of the Saudi spirit through traditional and modern music and dance and be able to journey through the traditions of Saudi’s diverse regions with unique activations ranging from the flower crowns of Soudah to the sadu weaving from Diriyah. Global partners continue to find untapped opportunity and potential in Saudi and have joined Saudi on its journey to create the world’s most exciting leisure tourism destination. At WTM, Saudi welcomes a record of more than 40 destination partners highlighting a wide range of Saudi tourism products, creating access to experiences, packages, hotels, and cruises for trade partners. On stage, senior leaders from the Saudi delegation will take part in high-profile discussions focused on the future of travel, sustainability and innovation through technology in a global context. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board of Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “In Saudi, we dream big, and we deliver bigger and today, we are creating the newest and most exciting destination on Earth, for tomorrow. This year’s WTM is our biggest …

Opening the press conference at the Sharjah tourism pavilion, H.E Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, “welcome to the Sharjah stand. We are very happy to be back here at World Travel Market, as you know it is very important for us to showcase what is new in the destination and the good news is that we have so many new different products and experiences in Sharjah. Fortunately, during the covid period we were able to develop many new projects, we are announcing some of them today and within the next two years we will be launching more projects. The most important elements today or the additions are adventure and eco- tourism. As you know Sharjah is the cultural hub in the Arab world and have been recognised an awarded many times by UNESCO. In addition, we host many events the popular one the power boat racing event for the past 20 years and the Sharjah national book fair, the largest book fair in the world and the Sharjah Lights festival to name a few. Today, myself and my colleagues from both government and private sector will be sharing a brief about products and experiences that have been introduced to enhance the emirate’s touristic and overall infrastructure, given the fact that the sector is a major contributor to the national economy. We are very happy to have you here, as through yourselves whichever field you work under the general tourism umbrella, we will get the right audience, the right reach, the right exposure so thank you once again for being here.” HE Midfa reiterated, “Ladies and gentlemen there is so much to see when you are in Sharjah, our slogan is smile …

Al Taif Investment, a joint venture between Dubai Investments – the leading diversified investments company listed on the Dubai Financial Market and Fujairah Investment Establishment (FIE), the investment arm of the Fujairah Government, has today announced new business updates of Al Taif Business Center, its flagship project in Fujairah. Al Taif Mall, the retail segment within Al Taif Business Center is almost 50% leased out. The G+2 level shopping mall, nestled between Al Taif Business Center’s 19 floor Hotel & Residential and Office Tower is spread across both the towers and is equipped with 45 retail outlets including supermarkets and other lifestyle stores. The mall is getting ready to open doors for shopping and has signed up with Step-in Group, home to a multitude of leading international and national brands for apparel, fragrances, accessories, cosmetics, footwear, and more commodities, accommodating the needs of the Centre’s diverse visitors. Earlier this year, Al Taif Investment signed a contract with Hilton to open Double Tree by Hilton in Al Taif Business Center with 228 guest rooms, a ballroom counted amongst the biggest in Fujairah along with a wide selection of restaurants and other amenities. The hotel is also gearing up to open doors by the end of this year, providing residents, visitors and tourists a perfect venue for business and leisure. Elie Hadwan, Business Center Manager, Al Taif Investment commented, “The partnerships with the Hilton Group and the Step-in Group, reiterate the commitment to provide access to quality living, lifestyle, shopping and business options. We are expecting the mall to reach the 70% leasing mark by the end of the year. Once operational, Al Taif Business Center will contribute towards alleviating Fujairah’s attractiveness …

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, THE RED SEA and AMAALA, has announced the appointment of Reem Emirates Saudi to construct the façade and roof shell of the Red Sea International (RSI) airport’s landside facilities. “Red Sea International will set new standards in sustainable aviation, and the ongoing construction works are a critical part of building that legacy. This requires experienced partners who share our vision for doing things better,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of RSG. “Not only is the airport sustainably designed, but aesthetically it takes inspiration from the forms of the surrounding desert, the green oasis and the sea. The roof shell, which Reem Emirates Saudi will deliver, typifies this, with dune-like pods radiating out from the center, providing an arresting welcome as guests first arrive to THE RED SEA from above.” The airport is designed to include shaded areas and natural ventilation that minimizes reliance on air conditioning. It will feature five mini-terminals, which allow areas to be closed during slower activity periods, curbing the need to air-condition all sections and waste energy. At the same time, the entire airport will be run by renewable energy, supporting RSG’s ambition to usher in a carbon-neutral, net-zero era for airport designs and operations. Reem Emirates Saudi will adopt innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions throughout the facade design, structural engineering, manufacturing, and installation, aligned with industry-leading Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. Eng. Naser Al Marzooqi, General Manager at Reem Emirates Saudi, said: “Our partnership with RSG marks the start of an exciting chapter in revolutionizing airport offerings, while closely aligning with the strategic goals of Vision 2030. …