Category Archives: Govt

Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, and the Saudi-headquartered Arab National Bank (ANB) have partnered to launch an ANB Etihad Guest Signature Visa card in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ANB Etihad Guest Signature Visa card holders will receive an annual fee waiver for the first year and additional benefits including a welcome bonus of 17,000 Etihad Guest Miles. Members will earn two Etihad Guest Miles for every SAR 15 spent on domestic purchases and four Guest Miles for every SAR 20 spent on international purchases. Successful applicants will receive fast track entry to Etihad Guest Silver Membership and receive free Wi-Fi vouchers to take advantage of the Wi-Fi service available on-board Etihad Airways flights. With a strong commitment to creating a personalised travel experience for Arab-speaking Etihad Guest members, Etihad Guest launched an Arabic website. This new platform will deliver an improved experience for ANB customers, further cementing the partnership and the airline’s commitment to guests in the Saudi market. Yasser Al Yousuf, Vice President Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Airways, said, “At Etihad Guest, we make every effort to cooperate with prestigious companies to offer a pioneering travel experience.‎ Our clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are now able to get rewards, privileges and exclusive offers using the ANB Etihad Guest Signature card.” Asad Alsada, Head of Consumer Banking services at ANB, said, “The new card is the result of joint efforts and close cooperation with our partners with the aim of offering an innovative credit card that has various advantages.” Ali Bayloun, Visa’s General Manager in Saudi Arabia, said, “The card has a design that aims to enrich the travel experiences of clients through special rewards …

Dubai’s annual entertainment calendar ushers in world-class international musical events and festivals – from unmissable concerts to stunning stage shows and legendary live performances, all weaving together a cultural tapestry that is unique to the city. The city’s buzzing music scene will once again come to life with non-stop entertainment and thrilling live acts this April. With Dubai Calendar’s top picks of musical entertainment, one can discover new sounds from across the Middle East, South Africa, and more this month. Dubai is set to host Wasla, the largest platform dedicated to Middle Eastern and North African musicians during its third edition this April. The music festival, derived from an Arab word used to describe a link or connection, is bringing its eclectic line-up to the city on April 5 with a specially curated set list of Arab artists including Massar Egbari, El Morabba3, Cairokee, 47Soul and Mashrou’ Leila. With an aim to bring together emerging talent from around the region to share a soulful stage, celebrating diversity, culture and alternative Arabism, Wasla is set to feature diverse cultural and artistic elements, with an array of great live entertainment and an immersive outdoor experience. Dubai is also warming up to host the Irish boy band, Boyzone, for the last time during a historical performance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on April 12. The band is set to rock the audience with tunes from their final album ‘Thank You & Goodnight’ as they celebrate 25 years of the band’s journey to fame. Additionally, singer-songwriter Ard Matthews of ‘Just Jinjer’ will share the stage with rock band Watershed at Dubai Opera on April 18, bringing the contemporary rock landscape to life …

A project aimed at boosting travel to Great Britain has completed a successful first year and is predicting growth from Gulf travellers. ‘Horse Racing – Sport of Kings’ (a Discover England funded project supported by VisitBritain), launched during the Dubai World Cup on March 31, 2018, offers luxury travel itineraries for those who enjoy the fashion, glamour and thrills of horse racing. Sport of Kings’ includes VIP tours of racehorse stud-farms and training stables (such as Ascot or Newmarket), as well as visits to world-class heritage and sporting venues including Castle Howard and Manchester United’s Old Trafford. “Over the past year, we have been working hard with VisitBritain/Visit England and our partners to develop the project and the types of luxury itineraries that Gulf travellers will enjoy. The travel packages are already proving very popular, and we are expecting the launch of our bespoke booking platform through our in-market partner Travel Counsellors to increase the number of people booking and travelling to Great Britain to watch horse racing,” said Megan Pollexfen, Discover Newmarket. “England’s racecourses have come together for the first time, to create these experiences around horseracing, to enhance a traveller’s itinerary to Britain. We are now able to offer, behind the scenes experiences that were once, nearly impossible to book,” said Tricia Warwick, Director, Asia Pacific, Middle East Africa for VisitBritain. The ‘Horse Racing — Sport of Kings’ project’s year-long efforts have included establishing an informative website and now, a dedicated travel platform hosted by UAE-based tour experts Travel Counsellors.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, launched ‘Sharjah Sustainable City’, the first urban mixed-use project in the emirate, which meets the highest standards of green economy and environmental sustainability. It is the outcome of a strategic partnership between Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers.  The AED 2 billion project is spread across 7.2 million sq ft, and is strategically located in Sharjah near Al Rahmaniya area, easily accessible from the Sharjah International Airport and Sharjah University City. Upon completion, it will feature 1,120 eco-friendly and energy-efficient villas with a modern-meets-oriental design in harmony with the unique architectural aesthetic Sharjah is known for. During the official launch ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah learnt about the features of the residential units and other facilities through a 3D city model displayed at the event. He also received details about the eco-friendly technologies the city will be built on, and the key environmental and health benefits they will offer to the city’s future residents. The project will include a sustainable school, which will promote the concepts of sustainability through school curricula. It will also feature a ‘Sustainability Experience Centre’ – a platform to host meetings and forums by government and academic entities, NGOs, as well as school and university students, centered around promoting awareness about environmental issues and sustainable living. Sharjah Sustainability City is poised to be a landmark contribution by Sharjah to the global movement towards reducing carbon footprint, slowing global warming and decreasing the harsh impacts of climate change.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Vice President of International Publishers Association (IPA), and Head of Advisory Committee of Sharjah World Book Capital (SWBC), said the prestigious UNESCO title is a global acknowledgement of Sharjah’s longstanding cultural achievements. It is also a reward for pursuing an approach of knowledge-based human development in Sharjah through the use of books, reading, and strong intercultural dialogue. Sheikha Bodour’s statement came during a meeting with Her Excellency Dr. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, at the UN agency’s headquarters in Paris.  She also met with other UN officials and shed light on the historical ties of friendship and cooperation shared by Sharjah and UNESCO. Sheikha Bodour introduced the programme of events set for SWBC, “Sharjah is rolling out a year-long programme based on six principals that reflect our vision of engaging all segments of the UAE community. Our aim is to ease access to books and education; in doing so, we believe that we can promote cross-cultural dialogue and harmony, as well as build a future generation that is capable of furthering our nation’s vision.” Dr Azoulay highlighted the ambitious programme prepared by Sharjah and its tremendous potential to grow further and to foster a culture of reading in the United Arab Emirates and beyond.  At the end of the meeting, Sheikha Bodour invited Dr Audrey Azoulay to attend the official inauguration of the SWBC 2019 cultural programme on April 23, 2019. Sharjah has been selected as World Book Capital City for the year 2019 and the programme (which runs from April 2019 until April 2020) has been created in collaboration with all committee members.    

As summer approaches, more travellers from the Middle East will be on the look-out for new destinations to discover. This year Philippine tourism board representatives will host two road shows in Kuwait and Riyadh. The first road show will take place in Kuwait on March 24 at JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait from 6 to 10 pm and expects many leading agents to be there. The next road show will take place in Riyadh on March 26, 2019, at Faisalaih hotel from 6 to 10 pm.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, recently led the opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan — the nation’s newest cultural landmark housed within the Presidential Palace compound in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stressed that the United Arab Emirates’ cultural legacy is a precious asset that must be treasured by both present and future generations, and is driving the leadership’s aspirations for a nation built upon the values of tolerance and coexistence. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reaffirmed the leadership’s dedication to preserving the nation’s cultural and intellectual legacy, underscoring its ability to empower and inspire future generations by instilling a deep sense of national pride. His Highness emphasised the importance of continuing the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who sought to preserve the heritage of the UAE while encouraging cultural dialogue and openness. Their Highnesses toured Qasr Al Watan and its iconic wings, and were introduced to exhibits that reflect the country’s governing values and traditions, in addition to highlighting Arab contributions to various fields of knowledge. The tour concluded with the ‘Palace in Motion’ – a remarkable light and sound show projected onto the façade of the iconic building.  

Amid an ever-growing number of Russian visitors to Sharjah, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is further boosting its presence in Russia’s tourism sector following the surge in tourist arrivals to the emirate which reached 392,691 in 2018. SCTDA is promoting the emirate’s leading attractions through its 20th year of participation at the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT) 2019, taking place from March 12 to 14, 2019 at Expo Centre Fairground. MITT 2019 marks the 26th anniversary of the event with 1,799 companies taking part in the exhibitions and the number of visitors from around the world expected to exceed 25,000. H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “MITT will once again provide SCTDA with a global platform to showcase the emirate’s promotional plans to enhance its position as a leading family tourist destination and attract 10 million tourists by 2021 based on the objective of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. We look forward to strengthening our relations with our Russian travel and tourism partners and agencies to enable us to gain wider access to the country and key European markets.” This year, SCTDA is focusing on eco-tourism products, outdoor activities and branded hotels operating in the emirate to promote Sharjah as an ideal regional and global family-friendly destination. Sharjah’s delegation at the exhibition includes Sharjah International Airport; Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA); Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA); Air Arabia; Sharjah Collection; Coral Beach Resort; Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah; Radisson Blu Resort; Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort; Copthorne Hotel Sharjah; Red Castle Hotel; Tulip Inn; Al Khalidiah Tourism LLC.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) will highlight its new milestones and achievements in promoting Sharjah’s tourism industry at ITB Berlin 2019 to be held from March 6-10. SCTDA oversaw unprecedented success in 2018, recording a growth of 23 per cent, and focused on the heritage and culture of Sharjah and the UAE as it welcomed 575,876 European guests throughout the year. SCTDA will strongly emphasise on promoting local culture and distinct leisure activities that the emirate has to offer at ITB Berlin 2019 as they aim to build on this figure. Commenting on the participation, H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “Our latest participation in ITB Berlin represents a new opportunity for us to highlight the most elegant aspects of the Sharjah’s heritage, historic sites, adventures, architecture, culture and other offerings. We hope our focus on the emirate’s ecotourism, outdoor activities and branded hotels will attract more tourists and investors from Germany, a major source market, and other participating nations. The event will also enhance our efforts to meet our target of attracting 10 million visitors by 2021.” “Through our participation in the exhibition, we look forward to strengthen our cooperation with airlines, airports, hospitality and travel facilities. We anticipate new partnerships that will promote the growth of passenger and cargo traffic through Sharjah Airport, which has now become of the leading global networks for many countries. Our presence also seeks to introduce the latest and most important services, innovations and facilities provided by Sharjah Airport as well as present expansion projects currently underway and how they can contribute to tourism growth in the coming years,” he further said. Participating entities under the umbrella of SCTDA include Sharjah …

The Higher Organising Committee of IWAS World Games Sharjah 2019 confirmed that 1,462 participants from 50 countries are set to compete in the world’s largest wheelchair and amputee sports championship in Sharjah from February 10-16. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member Ruler of Sharjah, the IWAS World Games has returned to the emirate for the second time after its successful debut in the city in 2011. The eighth edition of the world championship brings together seven games including archery, athletics, badminton, swimming, shooting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. New details of the upcoming biennial sports championship were revealed at a press conference held recently at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa. Global athletes landing in Sharjah over the next few days are set to represent 50 competing nations confirmed by the Higher Organising Committee which include the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Kenya, Russia, China, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, Poland, Pakistan, Norway, Kenya, Latvia, Macau, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Serbia, France, Georgia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Greece, Czech Republic, Austria, Belarus and Comoros.