Tag Archives: Dubai

With the reopening of the city to international tourists and the gradual return to normal life, UAE residents and visitors are once again spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying the diversity of Dubai’s offerings, whether it is high octane thrills from skydiving, zip lining to jet skiing or a range of entertainment for families at shopping malls and theme parks. While the city is ready to cater to all tastes and age groups, a growing number of holidaymakers are taking a diversion from the city buzz by heading to the desert to enjoy a variety of unique experiences. As a modern city that provides a limitless number of action-centric and family-oriented activities, a totally different package of adventures await residents and tourists in the desert. Apart from taking in breathtaking views of the desert landscapes, Dubai’s famous desert safari allows one to take part in various sports like dune bashing, quad biking, sand boarding, and more, as well as cultural and entertainment activities including the opportunity to take a camel ride or get close to falcons while enjoying authentic Emirati hospitality at a delicious barbeque dinner under the stars. Adventure-seekers are also able go on a safari in the summer, as the desert gets cooler than the city in the late afternoons and evenings, making it an exciting experience to stay up late, eat outdoors with friends and family and enjoy various activities. The growing demand for adventure travel experiences is reflected in the Annual Visitor Report 2019 published by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), which shows an increase in desert safaris among all visitor demographics, with the activity being enjoyed by 41 percent …

The beat is back in Dubai’s events sector with an array of regional and international artists heralding the restart of an industry that is a key pillar of the city’s tourism destination proposition and a growing contributor to its economy.The restart of Dubai’s events sector has been made possible by the decisive citywide management of the global pandemic leading to a phased resumption of events and entertainment activities, starting with a line-up of events hosted under the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) programme. Ahmed Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) commented, “The successful management of the pandemic has allowed us to come out of this unprecedented situation to once again leverage the events and entertainment sectors, as part of efforts to accelerate growth in the tourism industry.” “Dubai has a long history of hosting leisure events featuring A-list musicians and performers, who have made the city a part of their world tours over the years. We are now excited to see the events environment regaining its vibrancy with the return of live events, paving the way for international and regional stars to take centre stage, showcasing Dubai as a safe destination and further enhancing its position as a leading global events hub. Dubai Tourism will continue working with its stakeholders and partners to keep up the momentum in the events sector, as we prepare to cater to the diverse and evolving needs of visitors ahead of the full reopening of the tourism industry,”said Khaja. Commenting on the overwhelming response he received in the UAE, an elated Jimmy Carr said, “My three sold-out shows with Dubai Summer Surprises were fantastic. Dubai is well and truly open and …

Dubai has maintained its top position as the leading Arab destination for medical travellers for the second year in a row, based on the Global Medical Tourism Index, which was recently released by the International Healthcare Research Center (IHRC). Worldwide, the emirate, one of the globe’s most preferred tourist hubs, ranked sixth on the list of 46 unique destinations, reflecting anew its competitiveness in providing advanced healthcare services to foreign health travellers and success in building advanced medical infrastructures and facilities. Commenting on this, Dr. Marwan Al Mulla, CEO – Health Regulation Sector, Dubai Health Authority, said, “This achievement is the result of our response to the directives of our wise leadership to enhance the regulatory framework within our medical system and build a world-class healthcare infrastructure and capabilities that meet the needs of healthier and happier communities in the country. Dubai positions itself as a destination where medical and wellness tourists from all over the world can avail of safe, reliable, and innovative services that will help improve their health and, consequently, the quality of their life. We have placed all the necessary precautionary measures recommended by local and global health authorities to ensure the safety of our local and international patients.” Mohamed Al Mehri, Director, Health Tourism Department, said, “Many of our DXH Group member healthcare facilities are providing second medical opinions and tele consultations. We encourage health tourists to start planning their treatments that have been put on hold because of the current situation. Amid the COVID-19, Dubai continues to offer its remarkable healthcare services. Thanks to its efforts to safeguard the health of all patients, medical personnel and the members of the wider local community, Dubai …

Dubai is seen as the safest location to host international exhibitions and conferences in the coming months, while trade fairs will play a critical role in a post-COVID ‘restart’, according to new research. GRS Research conducted a recent market survey of more than 4,000 professionals from 130 countries explored the impact of COVID-19 on the global exhibitions industry, delving into key areas such as travel, budgets, and the importance of trade fairs in a post-pandemic world. “As with many business sectors, the trade fair industry felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Dubai, which has a thriving exhibition sector at the Dubai World Trade Centre,” said Simon Mellor, Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s CEO. “The purpose of the ‘Exhibitions post COVID-19’ study was to investigate how this global virus affected businesses of MFME stakeholders, and how we can address their concerns collaboratively with our peers. We will continue to run the survey over the course of the year and look to engage more parties as it evolves over time.” Mellor added, “The good news for the exhibitions industry is it’s still a critical component for business success, as this research has indicated. Clearly there is an appetite for the events sector to pick up in Dubai, with this evident during the AI Everything conference at DWTC, which marked the return of physical events in Dubai. “Globally, Messe Frankfurt has ‘restarted’ exhibitions with the opening of Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics on 15 July 2020 in China, and we’re on track to deliver two of our most important shows in Dubai. These will take place with stringent health and safety measures to help keep our attendees safe,” Mellor concluded.

According to the latest Sojern report; there will undoubtedly be a continued increase in demand for inbound travel over the coming weeks as more restrictions have been lifted in UAE, Saudi Arabia, & Egypt. The reopening of recreational activities, summer camps, spas and massage centres, indoor theme parks, and sports facilities; and with a wealth of activities available to locals, residents, and tourists, and the country now being branded as ‘open’ will facilitate more tourists in the coming months. Saudi Arabia has recently announced Hajj health measures for pilgrims (domestic only), and travel to Abu Dhabi is still restricted, with proof of a negative COVID-19 test required to enter the Emirate. That said, global flight bookings to key MEA markets remain down year-over-year. However, we are beginning to see steady growth for Saudi bookings, and improvement in travel confidence to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt. Commercial flights are set to resume from Kuwait International Airport from 1st August. Over the coming weeks and months, this will likely have a considerable impact on intent and confidence to travel to the country, as well as on outbound travel. It is important to note that although searches are increasing for trips in August, they are still down 39% on searches made at the same time last year. Locals are taking advantage of hotel facilities, and turning their 2020 trips into staycations. Domestic searches have risen by 32 points when indexed to 12th April – a low point in search and booking levels to the region. Domestic bookings have also grown considerably since this period. Unsurprisingly, international searches for UAE hotels continue to decline, but bookings have risen above the levels experienced …

Dubai has launched its third stimulus package to ease the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on businesses. Worth AED1.5 billion, the new package raises the value of business incentives introduced by the emirate’s government in the past few months to AED6.3 billion; under the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The first stimulus package announced by the Dubai government was worth AED1.5 billion while the second was worth AED3.3 billion. Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasised the Government of Dubai’s commitment to continue supporting all economic sectors in overcoming the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our economy is strong, has a stable foundation and has shown high resilience to crises, all of which enable us to effectively navigate any global challenge. We stand together with the private sector to overcome the impact of the pandemic. We are keen to help businesses renew their growth momentum as soon as possible,” HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said. “SMEs constitute a highly strategic sector and are a major contributor to the emirate’s GDP. Supporting this sector in tiding over the current challenges is vital to accelerate our progress towards a diversified knowledge-based economy,” HH Sheikh Hamdan added.

As Dubai reopened the city to international tourists on July 7, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) marked the moment by launching its latest digital activation #Ready When You Are. The short video is the third in a series of global digital campaigns launched by Dubai Tourism amid the pandemic to ensure that the city continues to stay front of mind among travellers and to encourage them to make Dubai their must-visit destination. The first campaign was titled #Till We Meet Again, followed by the #We Will See You Soon digital activation. In the wee hours of July 7, Dubai gave a warm welcome to the first international visitors to arrive in the city after a lull in inbound travel. Wearing masks and adhering to social distancing measures, the passengers including families from different nationalities were greeted on arrival by Dubai International Airport staff, who gave them welcome kits containing mementoes provided by Dubai Tourism as a token of appreciation for choosing Dubai as their safe destination of choice. Dubai has deployed strong precautionary measures across various sectors throughout the city, as part of its ‘Tourism Readiness’ strategy to reassure travellers and ensure the safety of visitors at every touchpoint of their journey from arrival to departure from the city. The reopening of the city to tourists follows the successful management of the pandemic, guided by the vision and wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and based on the follow up by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council …

As Dubai prepares to welcome tourists on July 7, families and residents from across the UAE are busy experiencing the diverse attractions and experiences that have reopened in Dubai following a temporary closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The top family attractions that have been reactivated join the list of tourism, retail and recreational facilities and amenities that have reopened in Dubai including public and hotel beaches, shopping malls, restaurants, swimming pools and golf courses, as well as the resumption of popular activities like water sports and camping. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said, “As Dubai has reopened, we will reinforce our commitment to not only provide residents and visitors a well-rounded destination experience but also ensure their health and safety remains our key priority. With the initial focus being on reviving demand for domestic tourism, Dubai’s travel and hospitality sectors are now eagerly waiting to welcome visitors from the wider international market. Dubai Tourism is also continuing to work closely with the city’s network of stakeholders across the public and private sectors, and its partners overseas to provide people from around the world the opportunity to enjoy the wide diversity of offerings in one of the world’s safest destinations.” In addition to the standard requirements of social distancing and wearing a face mask at all times, the family entertainment destinations, from those providing indoor excitement to outdoor adventures, have also deployed a wide range of other precautionary and preventive measures to safeguard the health of visitors across all customer facing touch-points in their respective facilities and surrounding environments. The attractions have advised visitors to book or buy their tickets online to facilitate …

All international airports in Sri Lanka will be closed for passengers arriving into Sri Lanka from Dubai with effect from 04:00 hrs on March 19, 2020 until 23:59 hrs on March 25, 2020 (local time in Sri Lanka), according to the instructions from civil aviation of Sri Lanka. During the above mentioned period Dubai to Colombo flight operation will be suspended. Based on the above deadline, given by the civil aviation authority Sri Lankan airlines states that they will be compelled to deny passengers disembarking in Colombo on UL226 on March 18, 2020. All passengers who are booked on this flight and the restricted period can reschedule their tickets for future available flights.  

With 2020 setting in and Expo on the cards for the last quarter of the year, Dubai reveals the rest of the year activities. Some of the official events include live entertainment, arts, culture, sport, comedy and lifestyle events through its website and app, along with safe and secure purchasing options. Musical Entertainment – Chart topping star Robbie Williams is set to inspire fans with an energising performance at The Pointe on January 24, while Prateek Kuhad is set to perform his Hindi and English indie rock tunes at the Rotunda, Caesars Palace Bluewaters Island on the same day. The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) Closing Celebrations will feature two nights of magical concerts as international artists hit the stage at Coca Cola Arena. On January 31, the international musical superstar, John Legend, will perform some of his legendary hits including ‘All Of Me’ and ‘Ordinary’, with Syrian singer Faia opening the show. The annual RedFestDXB returns for its seventh edition in 2020, bringing a line-up of global music icons at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from February 6-7. Dubai Opera’s stellar line-up of live music to start 2020 includes a performance of as the mesmerising story of Le Petite Prince comes to life with stunning sets, jaw dropping acrobatics and video mapping on January 23-25. For a trip down memory lane, Abba fans can enjoy a live tribute by the energetic Swedish group Bjorn Again on February 7. The venue is also set to host Norwegian trio A-ha as they bring back their much loved 80s hits as part of their Hunting High and Low tour on February 10-11. Marathon runners and aspiring amateurs are welcome to take on the …