Tag Archives: Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveils a host of exciting and safe spring break activities for children and families, already underway at across four family-friendly destinations in Sharjah. Keeping the health and safety of the children paramount, and in adherence to all precautionary COVID-19 protocols enforced in the UAE, Shurooq has designed a range of creative activities, both paid and free-to-attend sessions, to keep kids engaged throughout the annual spring break. Until April 10, four of Shurooq’s leisure and entertainment destinations including Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Khorfakkan Beach and Al Montazah Parks, will welcome children and families with an exciting range of workshops and fun activities that stimulate the imagination and nurture creativity. Announcing the launch of the spring campaign across four destinations, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO of Shurooq, said: “In line with its commitment to delivering quality experiences for all visitors, tourists, and residents in Sharjah and across the UAE, Shurooq is launching a series of spring break activities for children and families in strictly safe and secure environments. We are keenly monitoring the pandemic situation, and to ensure the health and safety of everyone on our premises, all activities will be held in full adherence to the health and safety protocols followed in the UAE.” He added, “To maintain healthy environments to reduce risk of COVID-19, sanitisation measures implemented at each of the venues will be of the highest hygiene standards. A dedicated team will work round-the-clock to ensure that safety measures are implemented across the venues efficiently. In addition, all children’s facilities and play areas will be sanitised on an hourly and daily basis.”

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced the opening of two new parks in the Al Rahmaniyah neighbourhood in Sharjah including a female-only park. Managed by Shurooq under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the adjoining Kshisha and Shaghrafa parks feature social, entertainment, sports, and educational facilities, and have a combined built area of 147,700 sqm.  Dedicated to families, the Kshisha Park hosts football and volleyball courts, a library, amphitheater, fitness hub, jogging, and cycling tracks, playgrounds, skateboard range, and specially designed halls for holding workshops. Moreover, it houses an artificial pond with a duck feeding station with clear feeding instructions for visitors. Designed exclusively for females, Shaghrafa Park contains dedicated halls for conducting workshops, and features play areas, a theatre, jogging track, gym, and basket and volleyball courts. Visitors can bring their own food into the parks, although on-site barbeques are prohibited. Shurooq is currently working on adding designated barbeque spots at both parks. Visitors to Kshisha Park can pre-book the football field for AED 250 per hour or AED 450 for two hours at specific time slots, the volleyball court will be charged at AED 150 for an hour and 250 for two hours. At Shaghrafa, visitors will have free access to both the basketball and volleyball courts. Booing sports field in both parks are via a dedicated WhatsApp number The park’s facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday. Visiting hours extend until 11 p.m. on Thursday – Saturday and official holidays, and from 12 p.m. until 11 p.m. during the Holy month of Ramadan. However, the jogging tracks …

XQuarry Off-Road & Adventure Park located around Al Faya Mountain in Mleiha desert in Sharjah opened on February 5, 2021 offering off-roading thrill, obstacle races, hikes and remote- control cars, guaranteeing unbeatable fun, action and adventure. XQuarry Adventure Park, UAE’s first Off-Road and Adventure Park caters to off-roaders and adventure -seekers with almost 15km of tracks, 20 custom- build off-roading obstacles, a dedicated obstacle running course, mountain bike trails, a remote-control car area as well as hiking trails. Spread across approximately a million square metres of an old cement quarry, XQuarry offers a range of adventurous and fun activities for people of all ages and fitness levels, featuring Off -Roading, Obstacle Running, Mountain Biking, Hiking and Remote-Controlled Cars. XQuarry Adventure Park provides the opportunity for all to escape the ordinary, explore thrilling and challenging activities and immerse themselves in a fun-filled day amidst magnificent desert scenario. The focus of the park is to provide outdoor training and education for people to learn and master their skills to act safe and responsible in the outdoors. The XQuarry Off-Road and Adventure Park has been created in close co-operation and strategic partnership with Mleiha and Sharjah Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq (Sharjah Government). Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said, “The new adventure park, being first of its kind in the UAE, will provide a set of completely different experiences for off-roading enthusiasts and adventure lovers and will give more reasons to explore Sharjah’s central region.” Saoud Al Kaabi, Director and Partner, XQuarry Off-Road and Adventure Park said, “I love the silence and tranquility of the desert and mountains especially after busy days on film …

The second session of the TravTalk ME virtual conclave had three speakers in 3 different areas in the hospitality industry. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer Shurooq; Alexander Suski, Associate Vice President Sales & Marketing Millennium Hotels & Resorts Middle East, Africa; and Turkeyand Philip Wooller – Area Director-Middle East & Africa, STR. In his opening remarks Al Qaseer stated that Sharjah Collection hotels saw an increase of customers once the ban was eased and they were enjoying a very good occupancy level. Suski and Philip stated that they have seen an increase in terms of numbers of residents making use of their staycation opportunities that provided them with good deals. The speakers stated that they have been closely working with the tourism boards Dubai and Sharjah and compliant with all their requests so that they can ensure the guests of their confidence. Al Qaseer opined that since Sharjah collection has more boutique properties that ensure social distancing and more outdoor spaces, this helped them to gain the trust of the visitors. Suski stated that MICE and weddings will be the ones that may take a little longer to start. Philip stated that UK is an important source market for the UAE and likewise UK travellers enjoy the summer in the UAE and this year too once restrictions are lifted they will see a growth of these travellers. The speakers concluded the session stating that hotels should start selling now or even yesterday the ones that stayed operational even during the time of the pandemic, it will be easier for them to get on track. It was their opinion that price wise there will not much as to changes …

In just a few hours the first digital conclave – ‘Reselling Tourism’ with experts from the travel trade and hospitality sector will begin, organised by TravTalk ME today from 10am to 12.15pm (UAE time). For any query please contact Crisna de Guzman at crisna.deguzman@ddppl.com or call +971505074618, +971554704200. The event will be moderated by San Jeet, Managing Director-DDP Group. This will be a perfect opportunity to learn about the middle east, the current situation, what is expected, how to recover, what will be the new trends to look out for etc. So pose all your questions and make the most of this platform to learn more about the sectors. Complimentary Registration for both sessions Tourism 2.0 the restart strategy and the new league of hotels. *Session one: 10am to 11am* *Tourism 2.0 – The new restart strategy* https://event.webinarjam.com/register/139/wy0z2blm *Session two: 11:15am to 12:15pm.* *The New league of Hotels* https://event.webinarjam.com/register/140/rymlob90 The perfect platform to engage with experts from the Middle East about the travel and hospitality industry with the new offerings post COVID era, how to cope with the pandemic and be safe whilst opening the UAE. The first session titled Tourism 2.0 restart strategy will focus on the key elements necessary to get back on track and the second will be focusing on the hospitality sector and its challenges and way forward. You can pose your questions as you enter to the expert panelists Jamal Abdulnazar CEO Cozmo Travel, Nasir Jamal Khan CEO Al Naboodah Travel, Tarique Khatri EVP Centre of Excellence, Seera Group for the first session and Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer Chief Operating Officer Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Alexander Suski Associate Vice President Sales & Marketing …

As UAE opens up gradually for residents to return and then for overseas visitors to enjoy the destination from July 7, 2020, Travtalk Middle East will host their maiden Digital conclave on June 30, 2020 at 10am UAE time, themed ‘Re-selling tourism’ this will be a discussion with some of the thought leaders in the industry speaking about the new changes in the travel and hospitality sector. The first session is dedicated to the travel industry is themed as ‘Tourism 2.0; the new restart strategy’ moderated by SanJeet with Jamal Abdulnazar CEO Cozmo Travel, Nasir Jamal Khan CEO Al Naboodah travel and Tarique Khatri EVP Center of Excellence Seera Group. They will discuss challenges during the pandemic, how to prepare for the new normal and the time frame for bounce back in the industry. After that the second session will begin with the hospitality sector leaders under the theme, ‘new league of hotels’. There will be 3 different focus areas for this session one will be the investment aspect as Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer COO of Shurooq will discuss with their strategies for the boutique properties. Alexander Suski, Associate Vice President Sales and Marketing Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA and Turkey will share his views on the new age of hospitality and their stand on how to move ahead amidst the challenges. Speaking about the trends and how the levels of the industry has been will be Philip Wooller – Area Director Middle East & Africa – STR.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is going the extra mile to ensure that all its hospitality, ecotourism and leisure destinations, which are scheduled to open in a phased manner, will strictly adhere to the UAE government’s health and safety protocols to ensure the highest levels of protection of all their visitors, residents and staff. Shurooq has announced the completion of a sterilisation and disinfection drive across its properties, and has opened its doors to their popular leisure and entertainment destinations, Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Noor Island, The Flag Island, Heart of Sharjah, Mleiha Archaeological & Ecotourism Project, Khorfakkan Beach, Maraya Art Centre and 1971-Design Space In addition, its state-of-the-art City Sightseeing Sharjah (CSS) buses have begun to ply, transporting guests to tourist sites across the emirate. Shurooq’s hospitality offerings including The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah and all three Sharjah Collection properties – Al Badayer Retreat, Al Faya Retreat and Kingfisher Retreat – are offering attractive staycation packages for individuals, couples and families, and will be offering these hotel stays in line with the UAE’s precautionary health instructions and guidelines aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19. According to Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO of Shurooq, “We are therefore working closely with the government authorities to ensure that the highest standards of hygiene are maintained, and that all recommended precautionary and preventive measures are in place for our guests to enjoy a well-rounded destination experience. Shurooq has a single-minded approach in enforcing these protocols and expect our guests to fully cooperate and take individual responsibility for their own safety and well-being while visiting all our destinations. We look forward to welcoming them again.”

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) showcased a selection of its eight luxurious boutique-style projects and eco-destinations and share the latest updates on Sharjah’s booming tourism sector at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2019, to be held from November 4 – 6, in London, UK. The ‘Sharjah Collection’ brand, operated and managed by Mysk by Shaza, will be one of Shurooq’s key highlights for WTM 2019 visitors and industry experts visiting the Sharjah Pavilion led by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). All three destinations under the brand are now fully operational, and WTM London is an opportunity for global travel buyers and hospitality professionals to take a closer look at each one’s unique offerings. The boutique hotels and eco-retreats promoted under the ‘Sharjah Collection’ brand includes Kingfisher Lodge, a 5-star nature retreat and fully-equipped tented lodge that opens out to the pristine mangrove ecosystem at Al Qurm Nature Reserve in Kalba; Al Faya Lodge, a luxury stay built using sustainable and robust materials, set amidst the dramatic desert landscape of Mleiha; and Al Badayer Oasis, a castle-style desert resort featuring luxurious rooms and traditional tents overlooking the sweeping sand dunes of central Sharjah.  Through these three projects, Shurooq seeks to showcase its vision for developing ecotourism projects that are inspired by the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage and designed in a contemporary, stylish setting. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer, Shurooq, said, “At WTM 2019 in London, Shurooq aims to highlight its emphasis on sustainable tourism development, promote responsible tourism, and underscore the potential of ecotourism in the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. By focusing on sustainable tourism projects, we are doubling our efforts …

The third edition of Arabian Travel Awards takes place at Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina tonight with Mr. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) gracing the occasion as Chief Guest. The prestigious award ceremony includes a silver service dinner and an opportunity for the hotels to showcase their best to the travel fraternity. Tolga Lacin, General Manager, Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina states, “We are very excited with this new partnership and believe that we will go long way in creating an impact in the industry. Arabian Travel Awards are extremely important as they appreciate and showcase those behind the success of the travel and hospitality industry sector and reward their continued hard work.“ “We are looking forward to an exciting evening at Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, Travelport, our hospitality partner, and our technology partner for the third consecutive year for coming onboard.” stated Nikhil Jeet, Director, Arabian Travel Awards. Kathryn Wallington, Travelport’s Country Manager for the UAE, commented, “We are delighted to partner with Arabian Travel Awards 2019 for the third consecutive year as the technology partner. We will continue to innovate and build technologies that power the regional and global travel industry.” The awards will be divided into four categories- Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards, and Partner Awards. They will include awards for the 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.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveiled three new luxury hospitality projects worth AED 130 million at ATM 2019, which are nearing completion and slated for an official launch in the second half (H2) of  2019. Situated in three distinct historical and natural sites across the emirate of Sharjah, the three projects are Al Faya Lodge at Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism, Kingfisher Lodge at Kalba, and finally, the Al Badayer Oasis being developed in the Al Badayer desert. The projects are poised as world-class additions to Shurooq’s growing portfolio of leading cultural and eco-tourism projects in Sharjah. They make up the ‘Sharjah Collection’ brand, developed and launched by Shurooq and managed by Mysk by Shaza Hotels. Designed to provide guests with comfort, privacy and amazing views overlooking the Indian Ocean and a forest of mangrove trees surrounding its natural location, Kingfisher Lodge is one of Sharjah’s leading eco-friendly hospitality projects. Nestled in central Sharjah, the Al Faya Lodge and Al Badayer Oasis are located in Sharjah’s Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism destination, and the Al Badayer desert, respectively. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said,  “Shurooq is highlighting its stellar portfolio of hospitality and eco-tourism projects such as Al Bait Hotel, Al Faya Lodge, Kingfisher Lodge, Al Badayer Oasis, Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism project, Al Noor Island and many more at ATM 2019, to educate visitors and investors about the emirate’s tourism sector and lucrative investment opportunities it offers”. Shurooq is participating in ATM 2019 as part of the Sharjah Pavilion under the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s (SCTDA) in Hall 4 at DWTC.