Tag Archives: 2023

This year’s Dubai Airshow is set to be the biggest on record, with 1,400+ exhibitors from 95 countries and visitor numbers expected to grow from last time’s edition. The 18th edition of the Airshow presents an opportunity to welcome many new and returning industry stakeholders to the Emirate, and reflect on the recovery and growth of the aviation and wider aerospace sectors in recent years, particularly in the Middle East where passenger numbers continue to rise. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Middle Eastern airlines posted a 27.3 per cent increase in August traffic compared to the previous year, meanwhile globally, traffic now stands at almost 96 per cent of pre-COVID levels . Dubai Airports also announced that it served 41.6 million guests in the first half of 2023, a 49 per cent increase against the same period in 2022, fuelled by a 43 per cent surge in second-quarter passenger traffic. As the aerospace, space and defence industries continue to play a critical role for local, regional and international economies, more than 1,400 exhibitors – including 400 first-time exhibitors and 80+ startups across sectors including commercial aviation, advanced aerial mobility, space, defence and military, business aviation, air traffic management, emerging technology and more will unveil innovations and trailblazing solutions at the industry mega event. An expanded space pavilion, in partnership with the UAE Space Agency, will also be a key feature at this year’s edition. It will see first-time and prominent players including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) and several others demonstrate how the collaboration of the space and aviation industries are shaping the future …

The sixth edition of the most coveted awards, Arabian Travel Awards once again recognised the leaders in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors at Sofitel downtown Dubai amidst an amazing night of glitter, grandeur and glamour. Today, travel, tourism and hospitality have become the key contributors to the GDP from the non-oil sector in the Middle East. HE Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE graced the occasion of Chief Guest presenting the awards to the stars of the night amidst the legends and stalwarts of the industry.     Category Client Name Gallery of the Legends Fahad Kanoo DDP Trailblazer Mohamed Awadalla DDP Gamechanger Saleem Sharif Face of the Future Ashiya Nazar Best Hospitality Leader Samer Homsi Best Hospitality Professional Issam Slaimi Most Promising General Manager Amro Nagah Best Travel Technology Provider Travelport Best NTO – South East Asia Tourism Malaysia – Dubai Office Best Wedding & MICE Hotel Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl Best Travel Booking Platform RezLive.com Best Business Hotel dusitD2 kenz hotel Best Travel Management Company – Middle East Kanoo Travel Best Leisure & Business Hotel The Tower Plaza Hotel Dubai Fastest Growing DMC – Qatar Tawfeeq Holidays Best Family Friendly Hotel Swissôtel Al Ghurair Dubai Best New Travel Booking Platform Al Rostamani Travel & Holidays Best GSA Al Naboodah Travel Best Luxury Halal Hotel Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel Best B2B Travel Portal akbartravels.com Best Corporate TMC Satguru Travel and Tourism Best Luxury Hotel Sofitel Dubai Downtown Most Dynamic International Tourism Board in UAE Spain Tourism Best Airline – South East Asia Philippine Airlines Best 4 Star Hotel Copthorne Hotel Dubai Fastest Growing B2B Travel Portal …

World Travel Market London 2023 has signed up more than 14% new exhibitors, ranging from household names to specialist firms and niche brands. They will make up around 4,000 exhibitors at ExCeL London (6-8th November) to exchange ideas, drive innovation and accelerate their businesses. High-profile names debuting this year this year include Eurostar – the high-speed international rail service connecting the UK with mainland Europe – and ABBA Voyage, a live concert staged in London with virtual ‘Abbatars’. Also exhibiting for the first time is the Bermuda Tourism Authority, which is heading to WTM London to highlight its culture, heritage, cuisine, wellness and sustainability offerings. Other tourism boards making their first appearance at WTM London come from destinations as diverse as Sabah – promoting travel to northern Borneo, in Malaysia – and Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Other new exhibitors from Asia are Ayana Hospitality, which offers luxury resorts and hotels in Indonesia, and Vietnam’s Thien Minh Group, showcasing its wide range of services, such as destination management, hospitality, online solutions and aviation. Rapidly growing global online travel agency Trip.com Group will be attending to target growth within the European market, while UK-based package holiday specialist HolidayBest will promote its worldwide range of destinations and vacation styles. Other new exhibitors will be travelling from Turkey, such as the Turkish travel agency association TURSAB, and Salkantay Trekking will be visiting from Peru, where it is a leading tour operator offering treks and adventure tours to Machu Picchu. Delegates in the technology zone will be able to meet new tech exhibitors such as search marketing agency Vertical Leap, and payments specialist flywire – which exhibited with WTM for the first time …

It’s time again to applaud the stalwarts of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry with the return of the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards to take place on Wednesday 25th October with the Sofitel Downtown Dubai as the hospitality partner (attendance by invitation only). 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. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. San Jeet Director Arabian Travel Awards shares, “Our awards have been evolving over the years to recognize the untiring efforts of the industry experts. This year will be the first time that we can finally say that we are back on track, especially with the UAE recording numbers higher than the pre-pandemic era. In today’s travel, tourism and hospitality landscape there are many changes and new trends that have emerged. As UAE declared this year as the year of sustainability and carrying forward their legacy to become the host nation for COP28, this is indeed a time when responsible travel, tourism and hospitality also steps in to make it a more conscious destination. Applications are still open to vote for those in the industry and who have been in the forefront of promoting and working to go over and beyond …

Second edition of NEOM Beach Games will host over 800 athletes and staff members from around the world for five international sports events, commencing on October 21, 2023. NEOM Beach Games will host Super League Triathlon NEOM, NEOM Beach Soccer Cup, NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger 2023, NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia, and NEOM IFSC Masters. The Games will commence with the Grand Finale of short course Super League Triathlon NEOM on October 21, closely followed by a NEOM Beach Soccer Cup competition. Following that, will be a three-day international NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger basketball competition. The renowned NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia desert mountain bike race will return to the region for the second time on November 14, featuring 230 male and female riders for a four-stage event, covering 80-120 kilometers per stage. The Games will culminate with the introduction of an international sport climbing event, NEOM IFSC Masters, featuring world champions and Olympians from November 22-24. Jan Paterson, Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, added: “We are excited once again to be hosting the NEOM Beach Games, and it is a privilege to work with national federations and international rights-holders as we aspire to be a natural home for global sports events. The inclusion of the International Federation of Sport Climbing in this year’s games is exciting, aligning with our goals to build a high-performance culture and inspire the next generations of athletes across the Kingdom.” This year’s event will see the introduction of the NEOM Beach Games Volunteers Program, with 50 volunteers from the NEOM community helping to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event for all spectators and athletes. The program is open to those aged 18 years …

Wego’s statistics show a substantial surge in bookings from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait to Britain during the campaign, up 25% from January to June, compared to the same period last year. Additionally, passenger numbers traveling to Great Britain through Wego are up 27% during the same timeframe. There was also a 78% rise in Wego’s searches from Riyadh to Newcastle and a 63% increase in searches to Manchester. The multi-media advertising partnership campaign ‘Spilling the Tea on Great Britain’, which ran between January to June 2023, used a play on Britain’s love of tea, inviting visitors to ‘See Things Differently’. The campaign promoted Britain’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking coastlines and landscapes, as well as its dynamic cities and destinations including London, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Manchester. Wego VP of Brand Marketing and social media, Roxana Nicolescu said: “We are absolutely delighted with the campaign growth figures that our partnership with VisitBritain has achieved. This collaboration signifies our joint commitment to showcasing the unparalleled beauty and experiences that Britain has to offer. The impressive growth in engagement and bookings affirms the impact of our collective efforts in igniting wanderlust and facilitating seamless travel experiences.” VisitBritain Head of Partnerships, APMEA, Jennifer Huntley said: “Our partnership with Wego has been instrumental in promoting Britain’s diverse travel experiences across the nations and regions to a global audience. The impressive growth figures from our partnership are also testament to the allure of Britain as a destination and the power of collaboration in driving tourism growth.” In an initiative to facilitate traveling for GCC nationals, the UK Government is set to launch a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme commencing in October, starting with Qatar. …

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 …

The Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority announced its participation in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, which will be held from 02 – 08 September 2023 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), organized by the Emirates Falconers’ Club under the theme “Sustainability and Heritage… A Reborn Aspiration ” The reserve’s participation in the twentieth edition of the Exhibition reflects its interest and focus on supporting environmental, cultural, and heritage values, as well as promoting traditional sports and sustainable hunting. The CEO of the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, Eng. Mohammad Al-Shaalan said: “Our participation in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition will be an opportunity to showcase the experience of the Northern Reserve for Sustainable Hunting as the first sustainable hunting reserve in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to shed light on the development of the pioneering program for sustainable hunting, which allows hunting in limited numbers to avoid harming wildlife and minimizes illegal hunting through providing sustainable alternatives, reducing the impact on wildlife in nature, reviving the traditional hunting heritage through traditional methods, all under the regulations and organized standards.” Eng. Al-Shaalan explained: “The reserve will highlight its efforts to develop the skills of local communities, support entrepreneurship and the handicraft industry, and the development processes in preserving and sustaining environmental resources.” “The Reserve will dedicate a corner in its booth for participants in the beekeeping season to showcase various types of Saudi natural honey, and a performing folklore band will provide cultural performances, including Saudi traditional “Samri” dances.” He added. Throughout its participation, the reserve will showcase its vision to become a global sanctuary and an …

As the aerospace and defence industries continue on their pathways to net zero, this year’s Dubai Airshow will be the ultimate platform for players from across these industries to convene, bringing the latest solutions that will help advance these crucial economic sectors towards a sustainable future. The industries have taken bold steps towards decarbonisation, with innovation accelerating at an exponential rate. As Dubai Airshow leads up to the United Nation’s annual global climate change conference, COP28, which is also taking place in Dubai towards the end of the year, industry stakeholders will take the opportunity to showcase their latest solutions towards net zero emissions, discuss collaborations and gain new insights. The aviation industry contributes approximately 2% to 3% of all global CO2 emissions but with a constant increase in passenger demand, this could rise to 25% to 30% by 2050 if no actions are taken, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan titled ‘Sustainable Technologies in Aviation’, which raises the urgency on manufacturers, airlines and airport operators to undertake sustainability initiatives. Additionally, global production capacity for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) needs to exceed 30 billion litres by 2030 and 450 billion litres by 2050  for airlines to be able to achieve net zero targets. In 2020, SAF production was just 450 million litres, according to IATA, which is less than 0.05% of the global demand of jet fuel. However, several initiatives are already underway in the Middle East region. Recently, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) signed an agreement with Airbus, to support the development and growth of the global SAF market. The agreement will also see the entities collaborate on Green Hydrogen, and Direct Air Capture technologies. …

As Formula 1 prepares to return for the second half of the 2023 season, and with a limited number of experience packages remaining, the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 is set to feature an award-winning line-up of international cuisine and incredible dining experiences for fans to enjoy while the 10 teams race around the Yas Marina Circuit track in November. With a number of new additions for 2023’s event, the 15th edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 weekend sees 15 exciting hospitality experiences placed across the iconic track, including the all-new Deck at Two, a VIP-viewing platform at Turn 2, with exclusive menus from Nobu Dubai, estiatorio Milos and Hakkasan Dubai of Atlantis Dubai. Renowned for its premium sushi and grilled Japanese offerings, Roka also makes a debut this year at Club 58. Bringing its world-renowned Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist, F1 fans will be wowed by the event’s exclusive menu curated by Head Chef Damien Duviau of Nobu Dubai for #AbuDhabiGP weekend. Simultaneously, guests can also choose to indulge in the one Michelin-starred Hakkasan Dubai, featuring a tailored blend of Cantonese recipes as part of an “Only At” collection, designed exclusively for the F1 weekend on Yas Island by Chef Andy Toh. With one of the finest Greek Mediterranean restaurants in the world, estiatorio Milos, the Deck at Two is being touted as the place to be for this year’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023. Motorsport fans looking to enjoy the thrilling high speeds in a luxurious setting can enjoy the party atmosphere at this year’s event from the new Hillside Terrace. With a …