Tag Archives: Abu Dhabi

The Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Abu Dhabi launched a new Visa Application Centre in Abu Dhabi enhance accessibility and greater convenience to residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who plan to travel to The Netherlands. Applicants can visit the centre in Abu Dhabi, managed by VFS Global, to submit visa applications and enroll for biometrics in a comfortable and efficient environment. The new center, formally inaugurated by H.E. Frank J. M. Mollen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, offers applicants streamlined and quicker visa application services managed by the center’s well-trained and specialised staff. Abu Dhabi is the second city in the UAE, after Dubai, from where applicants can apply for a visa to The Netherlands. The center is centrally located at Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Adjacent to Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. VFS Global serves a total of 22 client governments in Abu Dhabi, and has operated visa processing services in the city since 2004.

Major tourism hotspots in the GCC are experiencing a surge in Indian visitors. In both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, India was the top performing source market in 2016. In Dubai, 1.8 million nationals arrived last year compared to 1.6 million in 2015 and in Abu Dhabi, which welcomed a record-breaking 4.4 million visitors in total in 2016, 323,388 were Indian. According to the figures from Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, this marks an increase of 15 per cent on 2015. In Oman, three million tourists visited the Sultanate in 2016, of which 299,568 were Indian. Historically, numbers increased 17 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014 and, over the last five years, Oman has seen a 60 per cent increase in the total number of arrivals from India. Earlier this year, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister of Interior, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the topic of visas on arrival for Indian nationals. When the new regulations are introduced, the transit market is also set to benefit, bringing even higher numbers into Qatar and building on the 182,920 who visited in the first half of 2016. “UNWTO (United Nations World Travel Organisation) data shows that 62 million Indians have passports, yet many do not travel. However, the demographic patterns we see currently – an increasing younger population and a growing middle class – provide strong indications that the country is about to see a steep rise in the number of nationals travelling abroad, as well as the number of foreign visitors it welcomes.” India has been named the largest growing outbound tourism market in percentage terms, with …

More than 20 industry experts are set to speak in Abu Dhabi this year at the GCC Patient Experience Summit. The two-day event, which will be held on 18-19 September, is the region’s only forum dedicated to patient experience that will feature CEOs, Patient Experience Directors and Chief Quality Officers from organizations such as HAAD, DHA, Cleveland Clinic, Hamad Medical Corporation, King Fahad Medical City and many others.  The summit aims to offer access to a unique learning opportunity that sets the tone for establishing excellence benchmarks, effective communication and leadership strategies in customized care delivery. “To be successful in the new era of challenging and promising healthcare, organizations will have to take engagement to a new level and consider patients central to the care team. Strategic focus on patient feedback all along the care continuum will be essential to continually improve the health of populations. Wellness and prevention are key. We are moving from an era of treating disease to engaging patients in healthy behaviours that maintain their highest quality of life,” Samer Ellahham, Chairman of the Summit and Chief Quality Officer at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said while stressing out the importance of patient-centred care. The UAE healthcare market is estimated to reach Dh71.56 billion by 2020, achieving an annual average growth of 12.7 per cent, marginally higher than the GCC growth average, propelled by medical tourism and a higher than ever demand for new facilities & technologies. With its vision to develop world-class healthcare infrastructure, expertise, and services, the UAE government is extensively expanding and upgrading its healthcare systems to match international standards by developing the best care and wellness for exceptional patient experience. Patient experience elevation …

In the wake of recent US & UK ban on certain types of electronics, Etihad Airways has released a statement to make travelling at the concerned airports convenient. The statement from the airline said, “To avoid inconvenience, guests are encouraged to power down and pack prohibited items in their checked baggage at their airport of origin. Any such electronic devices will otherwise need to be surrendered and placed in padded envelopes at Abu Dhabi, and securely placed in the baggage hold for collection on arrival in the US. All of our flights have mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity so people can use compliant cellphones on board, and there is also free Wi-Fi at our hub in Abu Dhabi to cater for passenger requirements, when they are waiting for their connecting flight.”

Travelport announced a new, multi-year agreement with Bin Ham Travel Group. The Bin Ham Travel Group will leverage Travelport’s innovative technology through the Travel Commerce Platform to gain access to the fares and ancillaries of approximately 400 of the world’s leading airlines. Also, through Travelport Smartpoint, travel agents have the capability to upsell more hotel rooms and car rentals with access to over 650,000 unique hotel properties and 36,000 car rental locations all through their preferred work flows. Established in 1979, Bin Ham Travel Group comprises three leading travel management companies: Al Amaan Travel and Holidays, Al Ain Express Travel and Bin Ham Travel. His Highness Sheikh Mubarak Bin Ham, CEO at Bin Ham Travel Group, remarked: “We are delighted to have signed this new partnership with Travelport. We have invested in their unique travel technology and wide range of tailor made solutions to strengthen our online presence and provide our travellers with the most travel options and the best traveller booking experience available.  Having superior travel booking technology and content is an important part of our growth strategy across the region.” Matthew Powell, Managing Director, Middle East & South Asia at Travelport, commented: “This new partnership with Bin Ham Travel Group, a celebrated travel industry leader in the UAE, is a great testimony to how our industry-leading Travel Commerce Platform, which offers unrivalled technology and travel content, is supporting the needs of our customers across the region as they target growth in their businesses.  We look forward to partnering with the Bin Ham Travel Group and helping them do exactly this.”

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) hosted a 50-strong delegation of senior travel industry experts from the United States on a tour of the emirate’s key attractions as it bids to strengthen ties with one of its key global markets. The high-profile attendees on the trip were all travel agency owners who are members of BCD Travel’s affiliate programme. BCD Travel is the third largest travel management company in the world representing $27 billion in 96 countries with 15,000 employees worldwide. Senior leaders from BCD Travel will also be in attendance. HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “Last year was a record one for the number of visitors we received and we aim to capitalise on this momentum. The total number of hotel guests showed an increase of 8 per cent in 2016, hitting over 4.4 million. These results demonstrate the emirate’s growing international appeal, as well as our ongoing successes in positioning Abu Dhabi as a distinctive global destination built on rich experiences, our cultural heritage as well as unlimited opportunities for family leisure and MICE events. The U.S. is one of our key markets, last year we welcomed 136,000 guest arrivals into the emirate generating more than half a million guest nights.. Our hosting of this influential delegation will demonstrate a world-class destination with first-class hotels, and a rich diversity of cultures and attractions.”

Careem, the Middle East’s ride-hailing app, has confirmed that its “Ride Now” booking service will be available again in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Careem users will be able to book on-demand rides through the app, with a new service called “Careem Limo”. This service offering will be operated under the regulations for limo services in Abu Dhabi, making Careem the only ride-hailing app service in the city, said a statement from the company. On launching the new Careem Limo service, Aura Lunde, general manager of Careem UAE, said: “Abu Dhabi is a special market for Careem- being home to many of our team members as well as being the second ever city launched when we first started out in 2012. Our mission is to simplify and improve the lives of people. We are fully committed to offering a great service for people in the UAE capital, as well as supporting our captains who are the lifeblood of our business. “We will continue to work in close partnership with the local authorities to enhance the transportation network for all residents and visitors to Abu Dhabi and hope to introduce new services in the near future,” Lunde said. – TradeArabia News Service

Etihad Airways is launching a third daily flight on the Abu Dhabi – Bengaluru route, effective 26 March 2017. The triple daily schedule will provide greater choice to local passengers travelling between the two cities, and improved connectivity to destinations across the GCC, North America and Europe via the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub. The capacity increase underscores the airline’s commitment to offer guests more travel options between Abu Dhabi and key destinations across its network. With a new daily late night departure from Abu Dhabi, and early morning service from Bengaluru operated with a two-class Airbus 321, the schedule provides additional online connectivity to and from a number of destinations, including Doha, Jeddah, London, Dublin, New York and Dallas. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our expanded services between Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru are in line with Etihad Airways’ strategy to offer greater travel options when aircraft availability and market conditions permit. The extra flights to Bengaluru will cater to the strong demand between both cities, and bring closer our global network to and from Bengaluru over our Abu Dhabi hub.” Etihad Airways launched flights to Bengaluru, capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, in January 2011 with four services a week, rising to daily two months later. It has steadily grown capacity with additional frequencies and aircraft upgrades to its current double daily operation. More than 700,000 guests have been flown on the route over the past six years.

Lapita Hotel officially opened its doors to receive its first guests. A part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, the region’s largest integrated theme park destination, Lapita is an exotic Polynesian themed resort hotel with 504 rooms, including 60 suites and 3 private villas. Room tariff may range from AED 1400 to AED 4500. Drawing its inspiration from the exotic Polynesian tropical landscapes, the hotel features colourful flowers, lagoon style pools, luxurious guest rooms and themed children’s activities. It is centrally located and easily accessible from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and only 63km from Dubai International Airport, 69km from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 23km from Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport. Within walking distance, hotel guests can have access to three department stores, family attractions, international dining and over 125 brands.

Abu Dhabi is set to host 15 of the world’s leading cruise line executives and representatives who join an impressive line-up of industry speakers for this year’s Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). The Cruise Forum, scheduled for December 13 and 14, 2016, at the Four Season Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, includes a number of dynamic talks focusing on current trends, topics and talking-points confronting the region. Delivered by an outstanding line-up of cruise industry leaders, each session promises to feature frank, lively and honest debate. 15 cruise line representations will join the discussions from: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises; MSC Cruises; Cruise & Maritime Voyages; Crystal Cruises; MSC Cruises; Carnival Australia; Thomson Cruises; TUI Cruises GmbH; Silversea Cruises; Carnival Corporation & plc; and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.