Tag Archives: Dubai

Dubai Harbour welcomed the iconic ‘Resilient Lady’ from Virgin Voyages on its maiden call to the Arabian Gulf. The call is one of a number of international cruise liners set to arrive at Dubai Harbour during this year’s cruise season, with 300,000 passengers and 49 ship calls. Resilient Lady is the newest “Lady Ship” to join the Virgin Voyages fleet that previously included Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Celebrating Virgin’s longstanding British heritage, Resilient Lady launched on 14th May 2023 from her summer homeport in Athens, Greece. Inspired by superyacht design and bringing modern glamour to the seas, the latest ship from Richard Branson’s cruise travel brand arrived in style at Dubai Harbour, rekindling people’s connection to the sea and charting a course for newer ways to explore maritime lifestyles. This past summer, the award-winning brand offered two, seven-night itineraries around the Greek Isles and Adriatic Sea departing out of Athens. These included “Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems” and “Greek Island Glow.” Resilient Lady, along with its sister ships, was designed by world-renowned architects and designers including Tom Dixon and Concrete Amsterdam, with menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs. On-board, Sailors are spoiled with a daily line-up of immersive entertainment and live music performances, paired with incredible food from 20+ eateries and stunning spaces to recharge and relax. From unlimited group fitness classes to a mermaid-inspired spa and thermal suite, Virgin Voyages emphasizes relaxation while on a mission to curate the best week at sea for its Sailors. Michelle Bentubo, Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Voyages said, “As Resilient Lady embarks on her journey from Greece to Australia, we wanted to offer our Sailors the opportunity of a lifetime to explore …

Flights to Dubai from Almaty will increase from seven to twelve per week, and from Astana from six to ten per week. There will also be charter flights from both Almaty and Astana to Doha in Qatar once a week. Air Astana switched to a Winter Schedule on 29th October 2023, with the resumption of services from Almaty and Astana on seasonal routes and increases in frequencies to popular destinations in the Gulf and Asia. During the Winter Schedule , Air Astana will operate five flights per week on the Almaty-Maldives route, as well as four charter flights per week on the Almaty-Sri Lanka route. Flights from Almaty to Bangkok will increase from three to seven per week, whilst flights from Almaty to Phuket will increase from four to eleven per week. Kazakhstan citizens can travel to Thailand visa free until the end of February 2024. On the Almaty-Delhi route, the number of flights will increase to eleven per week and on the Almaty-Jeddah route, three per week.

Amadeus announced the opening of its new office in Dubai. This strategic move aims to further strengthen Amadeus’ commitment to the UAE and particularly to the burgeoning travel sector in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, expressed his enthusiasm and said, “We are excited to mark the inauguration of our new Amadeus Gulf Office and are eager to enhance the level of service we provide from this new, dynamic location. Dubai is a lighthouse to attract tourism and the new office is a state-of-the-art space for clients and visitors who support this growth for this city.” Next month marks the 21st anniversary of Amadeus Gulf’s presence in the UAE, initially opening its doors in Abu Dhabi. Recognizing the UAE as a hub for some of the busiest airports, Amadeus is committed to complementing Dubai’s rapid growth in the travel sector. The global achievement of Amadeus supports the regional growth including partners working with the Dubai office. Amadeus continues to be a leading R&D investor, and recently formed a groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft using Azure cloud technology to revolutionize software development cycles and data capabilities. Customers will be able to develop truly engaging solutions on top of the Amadeus Technologies. Amadeus in Dubai is also working on the environmental efficiency of its operations and sup-ports customers in their sustainability journey with the aim of reaching the industry’s goal of being Net Zero 2050. “At Amadeus, we acknowledge our responsibility to contribute to the fight against climate change. The company has invested in climate-tech companies like Chooose and CAPHENIA and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025’ and locally in Dubai we get involved in …

Ennismore and Banyan Tree Group and part of the Accor Group, have inked a landmark deal with Dubai Holding, to open Banyan Tree Dubai in November 2023. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Accor, signed the agreement with Amit Kaushal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding. Banyan Tree Dubai will replace the existing Caesars Palace Dubai and following a phased stage of brand related upscaling improvements, the repositioned resort will feature 179 rooms, including 30 suites and a brand-new four-bedroom villa with its own private entrance, pool and beach. A key focal point of the resort will be its wellness offering with the signature Banyan Tree Spa featuring its own reception, relaxation area, gym, indoor and outdoor yoga spaces, dedicated F&B space, private mini rainforests, hydrotherapy pools and treatment rooms. The resort will have five restaurants and bars, each carefully curated through a collaboration between Ennismore’s in-house F&B concept studio, Carte Blanched, and Banyan Tree Group, to offer guests a diverse culinary experience. Banyan Tree Dubai will also include 96 private residences comprising one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units with a dedicated lobby, outdoor swimming pool and access to the hotel’s facilities. As part of a long-term strategic partnership agreement between Accor and Banyan Tree Group signed in 2016, Banyan Tree Dubai will be co-operated by Banyan Tree Group and Ennismore, following a similar operational model applied in Banyan Tree La Cigale Doha, Qatar and Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Accor, said: “We are thrilled to be at the beginning of a promising development partnership between Accor and Dubai Holding, and the announcement of the opening of a stunning Banyan Tree …

Dubai World Trade Centre will be hosting over 100 events business and consumer events in the last quarter. It will include recognised meetings, exhibitions and conferences, as it gears up for what is anticipated to be one of the city’s busiest events seasons, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for business tourism with over 100 business and consumer events spanning vital sectors including technology, sustainability, food and beverage, healthcare, green economy, among others over the last quarter. Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, said: “DWTC plays a crucial role in furthering the emirate’s position as the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital. We are witnessing substantial growth of flagship events like GITEX Global, ArabLab+, Big 5 Global, World Radiocommunication Conference among others and are equally excited to host new events at the venue. The upcoming events season will offer an unrivalled opportunity for exhibiting companies, participants, and the business communities at large to network and collaborate, provide access to global markets, while facilitating foreign investments into the emirate and contributing to the ongoing growth of Dubai as a business tourism destination in line with Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33)”. September opens with Plastics Recycling Show ME, Sleep Expo, ME Foam & Polyurethane Expo, Adhesives Sealants, and Bonding Expo ME from (5 – 7 September), followed by Gulf Bride Show (13 – 17 September), Frozen Musical Celebrations (16 September), Sign and Graphic Imaging ME Exhibition, Connecting Trade Worldwide (18 – 20 September), the Annual Dermatology Conference and Exhibition MEIDAM (22 – 24 September) and the Forex Exhibition (26 – 27 September). The leading platform for the laboratory and analytical industry ArabLab+ will take place between (19-21 September) …

My Second Home, the world’s largest indoor dog park and Dubai’s first and largest luxury pet resort, is gearing up to launch a new daycare and boarding facility exclusively for small dogs as part of its US$10 million expansion plan. Schedule to open in time for the festive season, the 46,000 sq ft pet destination will be the third resort-style venue for My Second Home, which launched its first luxury home-from-home dog care brand in Dubai Investments Park in 2015, followed by a sister venue in Al Quoz in 2021. Located at DIP 2, the new facility will feature indoor pools , relaxation areas and extensive play space. Its launch comes in response to customer demand for a dedicated venue for small dogs – such as toy breeds and small spaniels – after extensive research and input from hundreds of My Second Home’s 4,000 members.  As with My Second Home’s existing destinations, pet pick and up and drop off services will also be available. Sean Parker, General Manager at My Second Home, said: “All of our dogs are allocated a daycare group to suit their size and temperament, but the reality is that our first two facilities were originally built on the premise that one size would fit all. In our new, small dog venue, every feature – from the pool depth to the low-rise chill-out ledges – will be designed with the smaller breeds in mind. “The upsurge in pet ownership during the pandemic – particularly of smaller dog breeds and cats – has created huge demand – which we met by building more boarding suites. Across the DIP and Al Quoz facilities, boarding capacity has now reached 250 …

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of Dubai has announced a new entry permit for residents of GCC countries travelling to Dubai. The service is available for travellers who have a valid residency of any of the GCC states for at least a year, have no travel restrictions from entering the country, and their work and residency cards need to include the profession. “This service has been activated to issue a prior online entry permit for travellers residing in the GCC countries in order to ensure a smooth entry process into the UAE and streamline procedures,” said a GDRFA notification. The process to apply on GDRFA website are: * Log in to the smart services through (UAE Pass or username), * Select the service. * Fill in the application. * Attach documents * Pay the fees (AED250 plus Vat of 5%)   The documents required are: * The original passport, * Upon arrival, presenting the original residence permit issued by a GCC country. * A civil or labour card. The entry permits are likely to be issued within 48 hours, said the GDRFA website.    

Colife is expanding into the UAE market with a focus on comfort, community and convenience, the company is revolutionizing the way people experience stylish apartments. The company has grown by 11% in the last 1,5 months, as the demand of residents for apartments in Dubai with all services is constantly increasing. Colife offers affordable, fully furnished apartments with modern Scandinavian design and 24/7 concierge assistance. Each apartment is ready to move in, with high-speed WiFi included, so tenants can stay connected and productive at work. Prices start at AED 6900 for an apartment with all amenities. Colife is not just about providing a place to live; it’s about building a friendly community of creative and talented individuals. The company believes in nurturing relationships and helping tenants achieve their goals, hosting free weekly events that inspire and motivate residents. Key features of Colife’s rental service: – 24/7 service, with DEWA, chiller, and maintenance included, ensuring a hassle-free living experience. – Apartments located in neighbourhoods with well-developed infrastructure and excellent transport accessibility. – A close-knit community of tenants, offering networking opportunities and engaging in leisure activities together. Colife works closely with landlords, taking over existing apartments, fully renovating them, and then renting them to tenants at a markup, benefiting both landlords and tenants with improved living spaces. Ilnara Muzafiarova, CEO Colife “The plans are to take into operation 250 apartments in Dubai. Now they are slightly less than half, but doubling the number of apartments is quite an ambitious task. We also consider Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah among other emirates. We are confident that the UAE housing rental market will grow in the next decade. We also consider regions further …

IHG Hotels and Resorts announced the signing of franchise agreements with subsidiaries of Aqarat, Kuwait’s real estate company in relation to two new Vignette Collection hotels which will launch IHG’s new collection brand to the Middle East later this summer. The hotels will be managed by United Hospitality Management. The Palm Dubai Beach Resort, Vignette Collection in UAE (162 rooms), and Vignette Collection in Kuwait City (194 rooms) join Vignette Collection’s family of distinctive, elegant, and intriguing luxury and lifestyle hotels. Each Vignette Collection property is unique yet connected by a shared vision to make positive change for people, place and planet. Created for the next generation of luxury & lifestyle traveler, each property is distinguished in its character and design, always with the discerning eye of the thoughtful venturer in mind. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to announce the signing of two remarkable Vignette Collection hotels in Dubai and Kuwait as we continue to expand our luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the region. The partnership with Aqarat and the opening of these hotels marks an important milestone for IHG Hotels & Resorts, as we cater to the growing number of guests who seek luxury experiences that differ from conventional hotel and resort offerings.” Vignette Collection is IHG Hotels & Resorts first collection brand and the latest addition to its fast-growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio which is now one of the world’s largest with more than 450 open hotels and over 100,000 rooms. It joins IHG’s exceptional portfolio of luxury and lifestyle brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, …

“Dubai further consolidated its status as the world’s leading tourist destination in the first half of 2023. We welcomed more than 8.5 million international visitors in the first six months of the year while Dubai Financial Market (DFM)-listed companies recorded a total market value of AED652 billion. Dubai also strengthened its status as one of the world’s top three hubs for wealth owners, and one of the fastest-recovering cities since the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far this year, and the confidence that we have inspired in the global community,” His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, said Dubai continues to reinforce its position as a major global economic hub, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.