Tag Archives: Abu Dhabi

Jumeirah Group has opened the group’s first luxury “eco-conscious” resort, Jumeirah at Saadiyat, nestled on the pristine shores of Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. The resort provides a luxurious and environmentally-sensitive holiday, perfect for honeymooners and families looking for an island escape. The beautifully-designed modern, sunlit rooms overlook the Arabian Gulf and the panoramic suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies. Besides, it offers three outdoor infinity pools, a kids’ pool and Bodyism Wellness Centre. The 2,700 square metre haven of tranquillity and quiet sophistication features a grand Moroccan hammam, 15 treatment rooms with male and female facilities, saunas, hydrotherapy pools, steam rooms, salt rooms, experience showers and a traditional Arabic rasul room – a cleansing ritual which promises to leave spa lovers feeling relaxed with beautifully exfoliated skin. Linda Griffin, General Manager, Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort, said, “This Resort is a place like no other. Located next to one of the most spectacular beaches in the Arabian Gulf, every aspect of the resort’s design has been influenced by the beauty of this location.” A ten-minute drive from Abu Dhabi city centre, guests can explore the island’s 9 kms of mesmerising white beach and the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Gulf which provide a feeling of relaxation and harmony. Golf aficionados can enjoy the close proximity to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the Arabian Gulf’s first beachfront course.

As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated the 47th National Day, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “The early years will reflect on the reason for the important artistic and cultural role that this institution has played in the community. The Cultural Foundation was a gathering place, a home for exchange and debate and a beacon for intellectual inspiration. Many of our UAE artists had their firsts there – their first introduction to art, first exhibition, first sale of an artwork. With its reopening, the Cultural Foundation is now a modern heritage building that will once again celebrate all forms of culture and regain its status as the cultural heart of Abu Dhabi.” Expressing his happiness on the reopening of the Cultural Foundation, His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “We are incredibly excited that the Cultural Foundation is reopening its doors to once again become a platform for the UAE creative scene. With this inaugural exhibition, we celebrate this beloved institution that has launched many nascent careers. With the December 7 reopening, we are once again able to widen the horizons for cultural exchange, as the Cultural Foundation’s programmes, grants and public engagement will give voice to a new generation of artists and innovators.”

Etihad Airways has launched its first-ever scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi to Barcelona. The inaugural flight recently departed Abu Dhabi with a special delegation including dignitaries, media representatives and senior members of the airline’s management team. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “There could not have been a better time to arrive here than the month when Etihad celebrates its 15th anniversary. Commercial and cultural links between the UAE and the Catalonia region are flourishing and Etihad is honoured to play a pivotal role in facilitating and enhancing the growth of trade and the strong demand for tourism. This is a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world, with something to offer the most discerning of travellers, and now for the first time, Abu Dhabi is accessible from Barcelona with regular non-stop flights. On behalf of the Etihad Aviation Group, I extend our sincere thanks to the Barcelona Air Route Development Committee for their invaluable support with the new service.” The number of visitors from the UAE to Spain has been rising rapidly, thanks in part to a successful Schengen visa waiver programme introduced for UAE nationals in 2015. The new route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from March 31, 2019.

The Czech Tourist Authority- CzechTourism – along with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Abu Dhabi, said that the second highest number of travellers from the GCC after Saudi Arabia to the Central European country was from the UAE. A statement from the CzechTourism and the Embassy said travel from the UAE to the Czech Republic grew by over 18% in the first half of the year, faster than the previous corresponding period, and it is expected that 2018 will end with significant rise in the number of outbound travellers. Commenting on the increasing travel from the UAE, HE Alexandr Sporýš, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the UAE, said:,“For both expatriates and the citizens, the Czech Republic is an exquisite geographically close destination. The country offers a diversity of experience within a five-hour flight distance making it possible for even weekend sojourners to visit the Czech Republic.” The overall number of travellers from the UAE to the Czech Republic in the last three year stood at close to 100,000 with an average growth rate of over 28 per cent during the period. The average length of stay of the UAE travellers to the Czech Republic was in the range of 3.4 to 4.3 days. Monika Palatková, Managing director, Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism, said, “The Czech Republic is one of the closest European destinations to the UAE which is being increasingly favoured by family tourists as well. Our aim is to reach out to the potential UAE travellers and to present them the eclectic experiences the Czech Republic can offer across the spectrum of heritage to modernity complemented by the country’s diversity of natural landscape and culture.” She …

Gulf Air and Etihad are set to explore deeper cooperation following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Bahrain International Airshow. The wide-ranging MOU covers scope to introduce joint codeshare operations between Abu Dhabi and Manama, as well as on the global flight networks beyond the two carriers’ GCC hubs. The MOU also contains plans for greater commercial cooperation in the fields of cargo, engineering, guest experience and the optimisation of pilot training facilities. It was signed by Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group and Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air on the first day of the ongoing show at the Sakhir Airbase. Krešimir Kučko said, “The relationship between Bahrain and the UAE is strong in many fields, including aviation and with the signing of this MOU, we enrich the relationship by cooperating with Etihad Airways. This is an example of how two airlines can work hand-in-hand for greater mutual benefits. We are happy to work with our friends and colleagues in Etihad and support each other to achieve bigger goals.” According to Tony Douglas, “The deep ties between Abu Dhabi and Manama are well-known in the aviation world and date back nearly 70 years. Therefore, the natural way to build upon those ties is to examine ways in which the two flag carriers can work more closely together to improve business operations and enhance the experience for our guests. We look forward to the Etihad and Gulf Air teams coming together during the next few months to look at how we can put that in place, whether it is in codeshare, engineering, cargo, or through our frequent flyer programmes.”

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is set to host a series of leading international events in its venues in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain during November 2018, covering key economic sectors like oil & gas, real-estate, investment and healthcare. The exhibitions and congresses to be held this month are significant to Abu Dhabi as these focus on key economic sectors identified in the Abu Dhabi Plan and its Economic Vision 2030, which falls in line with ADNEC’s strategy to enhance the emirate’s position as the region’s capital for business tourism. Currently, ADNEC is hosting the 10th edition of the International Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS) running from November 1 to 3. It provides a platform to local and regional real estate companies to showcase their latest projects and offer the best investment opportunities by gathering investors, stakeholders and visitors under one roof. Exhibitors from Egypt, Spain, Morocco, Pakistan, Cyprus, the United Kingdom and the United States have their presence at the show, seeing more than 100 real estate companies showcasing over 300 projects. The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) will be held from November 12 to 15 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President, the UAE. At the event, world’s leading industry experts, policy makers and specialists will discuss the prospects of the energy sector in the country, the region and the world. Over 2,200 exhibitors from different countries will network, exchange experiences and best practices and showcase the leading technologies and business opportunities in this sector. The exhibition is supported by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber, and …

DCT Abu Dhabi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) to host the MTA’s annual World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress for the first time in Abu Dhabi . The event brings together experts and organisations from over 100 countries and attracts more than 10,000 visitors, approximately 200 exhibitors and sponsors and up to 100 hosted VIP buyers. The MoU agreement, signed by HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary, DCT Abu Dhabi and Jonathan Edelheit, CEO, Medical Tourism Association and Chairman & Co-Founder, Global Healthcare Resources, opens a pathway for the two entities to further build a medical tourism proposition for consumer markets in key areas, including Russia, China, India and across the GCC. The agreement also includes the opening of a new MTA office in Abu Dhabi as well as the production of a new Abu Dhabi Destination Guide, which will be used to further promote the destination for the targeted regions. HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “This agreement is in line with our mandate to promote Abu Dhabi on the world stage and to support Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030, designed to guide our emirate’s growth and development. The experience and knowledge shared under this MoU will greatly enhance the emirate’s ability to appeal to our intended markets as we look to increase the contribution of medical tourism to the UAE’s economy.” Jonathan Edelheit, Chairman & CEO, Medical Tourism Association, said, “The partnership between the MTA and DCT Abu Dhabi will boost the medical travel industry. It is our goal to establish Abu Dhabi as the most trusted medical tourism destination, initiating joint trade missions into the GCC, China and …

Effective December 15, 2018 to January 13, 2019, Etihad Airways will increase its frequency from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow, from three to four daily services, to meet peak demand in the festive season. The flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 787-9 featuring 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart seats. James Harrison, General Manager for Etihad Airways in the United Kingdom and Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to announce more flights to London over the festive period. This is a busy time for local guests travelling between both capitals and the extra service will allow more choice and flexibility in their travel.” In addition to the seasonal increase of service to London, Etihad Airways has also recently announced seasonal frequency increases and aircraft upgrades on a number of key routes to meet increased demand over the peak winter period. This includes additional capacity to Bahrain, Belgrade, Cairo, Istanbul, Medina and Kuwait.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and in partnership with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), Louvre Abu Dhabi hosts ‘Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia’, the second international exhibition in the museum’s new cultural season. The exhibition will explore the rich history of the Arabian Peninsula through archaeological and cultural artefacts, including a selection of rare pieces from the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the most renowned Saudi exhibitions on a global scale, introducing Arabia’s cultural and historical heritage to over five million visitors worldwide. The exhibition has presented 14 acclaimed editions throughout Europe, the USA and Asia, sharing the story of this unique region with audiences around the world. “The United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have always been connected by a common heritage and history,” says H E Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism–Abu Dhabi. “This year’s edition of the exhibition will be a reflection of the rich, shared cultural heritage and deep-rooted history between the two nations,” he said. ‘Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia’ explores five chapters in the history of the Arabian Peninsula, spanning early prehistoric settlements; maritime exploration; caravan trading routes that linked the region with Asia, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean; routes of holy pilgrimage emerging in the 7th century CE; and the social and economic developments between the 14th and 16th centuries that set the stage for the modern day region.

Etihad Airways has unveiled its series of activities to celebrate the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia on the 88th National Day of the Kingdom. To mark the occasion on September 23, the airline’s flagship Year of Zayed-branded A380 will be deployed on EY311 and EY312, between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah. Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Senior Vice President Government & International Affairs said, “In recognition of the special bond between two countries and the increasing importance of the Saudi market to the airline, we are delighted to host this exciting programme. Over the coming months, Etihad will continue to strengthen this relationship and announce new partnerships with key Saudi Arabian organisations that will add greater value to our guests.” Etihad recently announced sponsorship of Riyadh-based Al Nassr FC, and players from the football club have recorded a special video which will be broadcast on the National Day. The airline commissioned Emirati poet, Ahmed Al Zarounei, to write a unique prose to symbolise the friendship and bond between the two countries. The 380-word Arabic poem, inspired by the A380, was transcribed on digital screens at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The gesture was captured on film and will be broadcast across Etihad’s social media channels. Guests travelling between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia will receive themed chocolates and greeting cards on the National Day. All guests visiting Etihad’s lounge in Abu Dhabi will be treated to a selection of Saudi Arabian themed cuisine. The airline is also offering special fares from Saudi Arabia during the National Day celebration period.