Tag Archives: Abu Dhabi

The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), a non-profit entity established by Masdar Institute that is part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, has flown the world’s first commercial flight using locally produced sustainable fuel on an Etihad Airways Boeing 787 powered by GE’s GEnx-1B engines.  The flight from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam marked a major milestone in the development of a clean, alternative aviation fuel to reduce carbon emissions. The initiative also addresses food security in the UAE through the farming of seafood as a core element in the process. The SBRC partners have been working together to prove the concept of a comprehensive value chain that is centered around the Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS). This is a synergistic industrial platform that supports the aviation sector, the oil and gas industry, food production and the creation of a new agricultural alternative in the UAE. His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister, Climate Change and Environment, said, “The UAE’s visionary leadership is strongly committed to positioning the country as a global hub for innovation and sustainability. In this context, productive cross-disciplinary public-private partnerships are crucial to fuelling research and development efforts and creating game-changing innovations that enable a more sustainable future. Deep decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries has a ripple effect on food security and climate action. Clean, alternative aviation fuels are an innovative and sustainable solution to significantly reducing harmful carbon emissions. The UAE is proud to be a pioneer in this domain.” Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mheiri, Minister of State for Food Security, said, “This proof of concept is a ground-breaking development that addresses the challenges of energy, water and food …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that the fourth edition of ‘Mother of the Nation Festival’ (MOTN) is set to return to Abu Dhabi from March 12-23, 2019, in conjunction with the Special Olympics World Games, taking place from March 14-21. More than 7,500 athletes from 192 countries are set to participate in the Games, which are being held in the Middle East and North Africa region for the first time. The festival pays tribute to the living legacy of the original ‘Mother of the Nation’, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and President of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood. It embodies her inspirational values of empowerment, conservation, collaboration and sustainability. MOTN is committed to providing a wide array of entertainment through performances, workshops, dining, retail offers and activities for the entire family to enjoy over the course of 12 days. The festival’s campaign will embody the spirit of the ‘Year of Tolerance’ through a number of activities, which will once again be held along a kilometre of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. It will offer something for everyone to enjoy, from musical and entertainment performances and art exhibits to interactive workshops, in addition to the newly introduced Special Olympics Zone. There will also be an e-sports gaming championship in the Progress Zone, while the Happiness Zone returns with an array of exhilarating activities. HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “This year, we are delighted to host the Special Olympics World Summer Games as part of the fourth edition of the Mother of the Nation Festival. This …

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.