Tag Archives: Abu Dhabi

Leading travel trade agents in Abu Dhabi attended the first ever roadshow from St.Petersburg recently with partners from DMCs, hoteliers, cruise/shipping companies and medical tourism specialists. The roadshow was divided into three main parts, the first was the one on one B2B sessions where the travel trade could spend time and get to know the destination, followed by detailed presentations by the partners. The final part of the event was the grand dinner with authentic St.Petersburg entertainment, which included a ballet performance as well. Ksenia Narvatkina, Chief Specialist of the development department from St. Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau and Committee for tourism development of Saint Petersburg, opened the presentation sharing, “we would like to share with you the tourism potential of St.Petersburg and hope that today’s presentation will allow you to know more about our unique city and its many offerings. In 2018, committee for tourism development of St.Petersburg and city tourism bureau organised a roadshow to the cities of the United Arab Emirates. The presentation of tourism development was held with great success and the event aroused great interest among people of the United Arab Emirates.” Mahesh Perera – Travel Consultant – BCD Travels Abu Dhabi shared, “After the pandemic during the past two and half years we did have on and off a few events but this was the first in Abu Dhabi and this was a very well organised roadshow. It was interesting to meet many partners including cruise partners this evening at the St.Petersburg roadshow. For agents like us in Abu Dhabi it was really a very productive and interactive event which enabled us to meet many partners.” Kumar Jiandani Business Development Manager Over Seas …

Etihad Airways has been named the official Airline Sponsor of Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2022. The national carrier for Abu Dhabi will be the exclusive sponsor of the anticipated 18,000 attendee event. The airline will also support one of the key panel discussions: Making Aviation Green: Sustainability in the Aviation Ecosystem. The Abu Dhabi Air Expo supports development of Abu Dhabi as an aviation hub for general, business and commercial aviation. The conference will bring together insight and knowledge from local and international stakeholders to deliver engaging content, inspire new thinking and encourage aerospace development by attracting new players to the region. “As the ‘Environmental Airline of the Year’ we are proud to add our voice to the sustainability panel and this critical discussion around the decarbonisation of the aviation industry. We hope to influence others – from industry to individuals – to encourage everyone to play their part in protecting our planet,” said Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group. As the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad operates to more than 70 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with the backbone of the fleet being the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Earlier this year, Etihad also introduced the fuel-efficient Airbus A350-1000 to connect with New York, Chicago and London. In the first half of 2022, Etihad carried 4.02 million passengers, over 3 million more than the same time last year . ‘This has been an excellent year for Etihad with record-breaking results for the first half of the year. With this positive outlook, we’re looking forward to welcoming the aviation industry …

St. Petersburg City Tourist Information Bureau and Committee for tourism development of Saint Petersburg organize the roadshow: presentation of St. Petersburg tourist programs and hospitality industry services in the cities of the UAE on 20-21 September 2022. Dubai’s roadshow will take place on 20th September at Park Hyatt Dubai and the one in Abu Dhabi on 21st September at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche. St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful megalopolises in the world, which travelers from all over the world come to see. The list of attractions of St. Petersburg is so impressive that it is almost impossible to describe all of them in detail. According to statistics, in pre-pandemic times, the number of tourists in St. Petersburg reached 10 million people. And even more than 10 million! The goals of the event are to promote the potential of St. Petersburg as a world tourist center and to develop partnerships between St. Petersburg tourism enterprises and representatives of tour operators and travel agencies in the cities of the UAE. Presentation will feature new tourist and excursion programmes, standard and off-beat tourist sites, museums, historical and cultural monuments, events. Participants from St. Petersburg includes St. Petersburg tour operators, DMC, representatives of St. Petersburg hotels and representatives of cultural institutions and other tourist infrastructure of St. Petersburg.The program includes presentation of St. Petersburg’s tourism potential, B2B workshop and dinner with cultural program and raffle of prizes from St. Petersburg participants. To attend the “Visit Saint Petersburg!” roadshow, please register by this link: https://petersburg-roadshow.com Contact us: info@petersburg-roadshow.com +7 929 519-08-82 – Karina Rink; +7 903 665-12-52 – Julia Chibireva Contact in UAE: Jinki@gulfreps.com +971 47036333 – Jinkie Perez Official tourist portal …

Abu Dhabi holiday home operators are being reminded to register their properties in the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s (DCT Abu Dhabi) online system ahead of the final deadline of 1st August, to comply with regulations established to safely manage holiday homes in the local community. Individuals interested in renting out a holiday home should follow a simple online application procedure, which includes providing several documents, including a Licence application form, a photocopy of the passport or Emirates ID of the owner, the unit’s certificate of insurance, the unit’s deed, and any additional documentation requested by DCT Abu Dhabi. Hamad Mohammed Saeed Alsudain, Licensing & Regulatory Compliance Director at DCT Abu Dhabi said: “In line with international best practices, we are reminding  holiday home operators that the deadline to obtain their licence and lawfully take part in the temporary home letting business is 1st August. Our aim is for residents and visitors alike to feel comfortable and safe at holiday homes across the emirate, making Abu Dhabi an even more attractive destination for business and leisure travellers. We thank all operators and members of the community for their cooperation and understanding.” The requirements for operating holiday home rentals in the emirate came into effect last year following a decision by the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The regulations ensure that private accommodation operators maintain a standard of excellence whilst providing a wide variety of safe and secure options. The system also serves to support the increased demand for alternatives to established hotels and hotel apartments. With this, DCT Abu Dhabi is safeguarding high-quality holiday homes by supporting residential communities. Existing holiday homeowners in the …

With FIFA 2022 a few months away, Dubai and Abu Dhabi seems the perfect hub to connect the fans to Doha. As airlines work on their special charter flights, hotels and agents from across the GCC are sorting out the bookings as they start rolling in. Nuran Kilani, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Tower Plaza Hotel, “Dubai being a cosmopolitan city, and we are blessed by being in a prime location with proximity to city touristic attractions and shopping spree so we are getting bookings from pretty much all countries like Brazil, Argentine, uk, Germany, france, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Israel, Egypt and many more. According to Qatar Tourism, there are just under 30,000 hotel rooms in Qatar. They has revealed that 80% of these rooms are already booked for FIFA players, referees, media and other official guests. A flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Doha takes a litter over one hour. About 1.5 million visitors are expected for the month-long tournament.” Jeannette Smit, Complex Director of Sales & Marketing, W Dubai – Mina Seyahi, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, shared “We’re seeing the most uptake from European countries such as UK, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands being the most popular, while Serbia, South America, Brasil and Argentina are showing interest and we only expect this to increase over the coming months. We have three properties within our complex so we’re only taking reservations for W Dubai – Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark. However with these three unique products we can …

Etihad Airways will resume direct passenger flights between Abu Dhabi and Beijing from 29 June 2022, becoming the first regular direct international passenger flight to recommence for Beijing, under the latest mandate of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council. The airline will operate a weekly flight on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the world.   Inaugural flight schedule (all times local):   Flight  Departure  Time  Arrival  Time  Aircraft  Date  EY 888 (Inaugural flight) Abu Dhabi 18:00 Beijing 05:25+1 Boeing 787-9 Wednesday 29 June EY 889 (Inaugural flight) Beijing 02:10 Abu Dhabi 07:10 Boeing 787-9 Friday 1 July   Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted about the resumption of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Beijing, our second service to resume to China. China has always been an important strategic market for Etihad and the resumption of direct flights between the two capital cities will further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the United Arab Emirates.” Etihad Airways scheduled service from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai resumed in July 2020 to meet the huge demand of passengers travelling between the UAE and China. Those wishing to book are advised to visit Etihad.com to view their options, and to remain informed on the relevant entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666 (UAE) or +86 400 8822 050 (Mainland China), or through a local or online travel agency. Important information: All passengers travelling on Etihad between Abu Dhabi and China must …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced the launch of an enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives 2.0 programme at IMEX Frankfurt, the key industry-leading exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. The announcement made today unveiled the latest part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s strategy to further stimulate the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) sector in the emirate post-pandemic. With global destinations increasingly bidding and attracting corporate groups, the enhanced programme builds on the existing Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives programme, which was launched in 2019, to provide additional value-adds and benefits to meetings and incentives organisers looking to host events in the capital, in order to remain competitive as the MICE industry continues to reopen. The programme encourages organisers to ‘Get The Advantage’, leveraging the UAE capital’s reputation as delivering unrivalled hospitality in the world’s safest city, a place which offers extensive support alongside strategic initiatives, and a destination with a packed calendar of thrilling events. The revamped programme forms part of a wider, ongoing strategy to increase Abu Dhabi’s MICE market share and further establish the emirate as one of the world’s leading business events destinations. It follows the launch of several new initiatives, including a recent collaboration with Etihad Airways to offer benefits to corporate groups looking to hold business events in the capital, such as discounted air-tickets, group booking discounts, complimentary flights and special flight rates for inspection trips to Abu Dhabi. Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are delighted to launch our enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives programme which will enable us …

Qatar Airways announces increase in flights from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, operating triple daily flights from the Emirate to Doha, commencing 10 July 2022. The additional flights will provide passengers with more flexibility and better connectivity to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network. With this increase in its services, the airline will operate 21 weekly flights from Abu Dhabi, and a total of 56 flights from Qatar Airways’ three gateways in UAE; Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are pleased to offer seven additional weekly flights to Abu Dhabi, providing passengers from UAE with more connectivity and convenience. By offering these additional flights between Doha and Abu Dhabi, passengers can enjoy more of our extensive network, and increased flexibility in making their travel plans via the best airport in the world, Hamad International.” Passengers from Abu Dhabi can benefit from Qatar Airways’ expanded network in USA, Europe, Asia and Africa. They can also enjoy the airline’s newly integrated rewards currency – Avios, providing passengers even greater opportunities to accumulate points and leverage exciting innovations in redeeming and spending their rewards. In addition, Qatar Airways loyalty programme members will retain their well-earned rewards balance and will be able to continue enjoying the redemption opportunities they currently have. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the …

In celebration of Abu Dhabi hosting the inaugural Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards on 7 February, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the launch of 50 Best Week Abu Dhabi — a culinary festival featuring experiential dining experiences, cooking masterclasses and unique collaboration dinners. Taking place from 4 to 11 February 2022, the eight-day culinary festival will showcase the city’s vibrant gastronomic experiences and some of its finest restaurants. Ideal for food-lovers looking to explore Abu Dhabi’s diverse culinary scene, the event will be filled with mouth-watering moments to enjoy, with renowned international chefs coming to the UAE’s capital city to display their skills, and homegrown Emirati talent showcasing their own stellar abilities. Culinary leaders will provide insights into their food philosophy inspiring food lovers of their dishes, ingredients, stories and experiences. The esteemed restaurant awards and gala dinner will recognise 50 outstanding restaurants from across the region highlighting their culinary excellence and dining experiences. Fatima Saeed Al Baloushi, Acting Director of DCT’s Abu Dhabi Events Bureau, said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating culinary excellence across Abu Dhabi, catering to residents and visitors, and both seasoned food lovers and more casual diners offering them a taste of our diverse food, and to experience great dishes by some of the world’s leading chefs who are heading to our multi-cultural capital city next month.” The events include three interactive Masterclasses taking place on Friday 4 February, where acclaimed chefs from around the world will showcase their skills while preparing signature dishes in front of a live audience. The chefs – Tim Raue of Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin; innovative …

Yas Island Abu Dhabi looks forward to welcoming back travellers from Saudi Arabia to the award-winning destination following the announcement of relaxed quarantine measures for fully vaccinated travellers to the UAE. With improved health measures, Yas Island Abu Dhabi is a destination where visitors of all ages can enjoy unforgettable experiences in a safe environment. Since the start of the pandemic, Yas Island has been reassuring visitors of their safety and well-being during their time at the destination. 95% of eligible team members across the destination have been vaccinated, including attractions, experiences, hotels, restaurants, and retailers in support of Abu Dhabi’s vaccination program. In addition, Yas Island’s theme parks and attractions were awarded the ‘Go Safe’ certification by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB Abu Dhabi earlier in the year, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Mall, as well as W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island – the first hotel in the UAE to receive the accreditation – and all Yas Plaza hotels. The certification is one of 25 health and safety accreditations received by the destination, including the coveted WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council in August 2020 – the first destination in Abu Dhabi to receive the international honour. During the summer months, Yas Island introduced its popular ‘Kids Go Free’ packages across the destination for the ultimate summer break, and has now extended the package to holidaymakers from Saudi Arabia. Until 30 September 2021, children below the age of 12 will be able to stay and play for free – one child for every one paying …