Tag Archives: Dubai

Emirates is celebrating 30 years of operations to Muscat, Oman. Since the inaugural flight in 1993, Emirates has carried 4.8 million passengers to and from the Sultanate on more than 37,200 flights, connecting travelers to and from 140 global destinations. Emirates first began operations to Oman with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with a four weekly services.  In 2019, Emirates launched the world’s shortest scheduled A380 flight, flying a distance of 340 kilometers each way from Dubai to Muscat, offering travelers the chance to experience Emirates’ iconic products and services, defined by comfort, luxury and flexibility. Over the years, Emirates SkyCargo has served as a facilitator for global trade, transporting over 155,000 tonnes of cargo to international markets. Emirates SkyCargo is supporting Omani businesses by exporting key local goods such as threads for garments to Amman, Nairobi and Pakistan as well as fresh produce such as fish, beans and vegetables to various destinations across Europe and US, in addition to the seasonal fresh beans to Japan. Creating further career opportunities within Oman, the Emirates Group employs over 40 Omanis, in multiple roles including cabin crew, pilots and other parts of the business such as Emirates Engineering, Emirates Airport Services and Airport Operations. Half of these employees have been with the Emirates Group for over 10 years, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a wide range of development prospects enabling employees to gain world-class expertise. Fahad Al Hassawi, Country Manager Oman at Emirates said: “Oman has been an important market for Emirates since the beginning of operations, providing flexible connections through Dubai to the wider world, for both passengers and air freight. Over the last three decades, we are …

Rentals for business travellers are becoming popular in Dubai, Stella Stays launched two branded residences in Al Barari Dubai recently. Mohannad Zikra, CEO and Co-Founder of Stella Stays expressed great excitement: “The launch of Stella Stays Al Barari is a significant milestone in our journey of becoming the unrivaled leader in flexible living, both in the UAE and globally. We aim to deliver an extraordinary level of comfort, convenience, and a uniquely personalized rental experience, distinctively setting Stella Stays brand apart.” Stella Stays, the renowned proptech start-up disrupting the rental landscape with its pioneering flexible living solutions and technology-integrated branded residences, announces the launch of two iconic residences in the prestigious Al Barari, Dubai this July. This highly anticipated launch represents a significant milestone in Stella Stays’ journey to reshape rental experiences. Stella Stays Al Barari residences, composed of 90 state-of-the-art units, showcases the brand’s distinctive “Show Up and Start Living” concept. The meticulously designed, fully-equipped apartments offer an unparalleled level of comfort, convenience, and elegance, ensuring a sophisticated living environment and personalized rental experience for residents. Nestled in the heart of Al Barari’s lush green landscape, Stella Stays residences seamlessly blend with premier recreational, commercial, and community amenities. Residents can immerse themselves in the peaceful exclusivity that Al Barari is renowned for, while also enjoying access to high-end facilities and amenities such as indoor and outdoor sporting venues, swimming pools, botanical gardens, cycling and walking pathways, restaurants, and supermarkets. The harmonious fusion of natural beauty, wellness and modern amenities creates an unrivaled living experience in Dubai. At Stella Stays Al Barari, residents and guests will embark on a tech-enabled seamless journey from effortless booking and stay management to smart …

This weekend the GenZ across the region will be at the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF), organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE). Taking place on 24-25 June on the main stage in the Gaming Theatre in association with VOX Cinemas, this extraordinary tournament brings together top influencers from around the world, showcasing the exhilarating and entertaining world of esports. Play Beyond is not the average gaming competition; it is a clash of titans, where the best influencers will battle it out across multiple genres. Witness mind-blowing gameplay, awe-inspiring skills, and epic moments as these gaming legends go head-to-head for the coveted Play Beyond Trophy. The competition will feature both a Regional Team, composed of four influential gamers from the Middle East, and an International Team, consisting of four renowned influencers from different corners of the world. These gaming superstars have been battling it out across the globe while playing games including Fall Guys, Fortnite, Rocket League, FIFA 23, Overcooked, Street Fighter 6 and Call of Duty, and will come together for the final to engage in intense matches that will keep visitors on the edge of their seat. This two days tournament will be held on the main stage, and promises surprises, mid-game challenges, and stoppage time, ensuring a thrilling and unforgettable experience. On the International Team, the presence of MiniMinter (Instagram: @miniminter), a beloved influencer with a massive following, adds an extra layer of excitement to the event, and fans can look forward to a special Meet & Greet opportunity with him. Grant is also on board (Instagram: @granthinds), whose engaging content and expert analysis have captivated audiences worldwide. The pair will be joined by gaming …

Dhows were ditched and abras abandoned this morning as the Dubai Creek skyline was dominated by an enigmatic, eye-catching, emoji. Visitors to the heart of Old Dubai today found themselves gaping in curiosity as a 15-metre floating emoji with winking eye could be spotted sailing down the emirate’s historic waterway, sparking mystery and leaving sightseers’ tongues wagging. Emblazoned with a bold message to #UnleashTheExtraInYou, the ball was launched from 8 June at 6am, watched on by wondering wanderers. But only now can we reveal what the supersized sphere signifies: The winking emoji with protruding tongue is the signature trademark of GLITCH, the Emirates’ newest family entertainment centre. GLITCH will open its doors on June 19, promising non-stop excitement and endless fun for the whole family. Spanning 40,000 square-metres, it is situated on Level Two of Deira’s Al Ghurair Centre and features more than 30 attractions, all carefully curated to cater to ages 3 and up. From engaging in friendly competition at a state-of-the-art 10-pin bowling alley to conquering a Ninja warrior assault course, diving into a variety of mind-bending virtual reality experiences to zipping around the ceiling on an indoor roller glider, GLITCH is set to become the ultimate destination for seekers of adrenaline-fuelled fun. GLITCH will be open Sunday to Thursday from 10am-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am-midnight. For ticket prices and further information, follow GLITCH on social media @glitcharabia or visit www.glitcharabia.com. Get ready to dive into the GLITCH universe at Al Ghurair Centre and #UnleashTheExtraInYou.

In line with Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s objective of solidifying the emirate’s position as one of the top three global cities for business and travel, business tourism accelerated its role in fostering economic growth during 2022. Continuing to drive Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector growth in Dubai in a post-pandemic new market, the largest operator across the wider region, Dubai World Trade Centre’s (DWTC) event calendar remained an economic catalyst for the nation – generating sustainably high returns for adjacent industries connected to the MICE ecosystem. The latest 2022 Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) Annual Report estimates DWTC’s total economic output across 63 large-scale events at AED 13Bn, of which a substantive AED 7.4Bn was retained within the local economy. These business events hosted, organised and delivered at the venue, welcomed nearly 1.2MM attendees with 40% being international – an impressive 49% YOY increase in foreign participation, emphasising Dubai’s leadership as a global mega-event hub. The study further observed that direct investments in an event at DWTC generated 7.4x in impact across the wider economy, meaning that every AED 1MM spent at these MICE events, drove circa AED 7.4MM of economic output for Dubai across other interlinked sectors. “Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the recently launched Dubai Economic Agenda D33, DWTC remains committed to furthering its contribution to the targets of doubling GDP over the next decade, particularly in consolidating its position as a top three global city,” said His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, in his capacity as Director General, DWTC Authority. “The MICE sector has long been an integral pillar of …

The Hajj Committee at Dubai Airports convened recently to discuss comprehensive preparations to facilitate the smooth and seamless travel of Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year. The committee, which comprises key service partners including Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai Customs, Dubai Health Authority, flydubai, Emirates, Saudi Airlines, and flynas, among others, aims to deliver an exceptional airport experience for the pilgrims across all terminals at DXB. Mohammad Al Marzouqi, Head of the Hajj Committee, emphasised on the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders and service partners as the key to maintaining service quality especially during annual peak travel seasons. Dubai Airports is committed to providing world-class passenger facilities and services, to ensure the comfort, convenience, and safety of all guests arriving at and departing from DXB.

Dubai Business Events (DBE) has kicked off its participation at IMEX Frankfurt 2023, bringing its largest ever delegation of co-exhibitors from across the city and engaging in a full schedule of engagements and interactions with buyers, industry partners and stakeholders, with over 1,000 meetings expected over the course of three days (23-25 May). The strong presence at IMEX is underlining the contribution business events are set to make towards achieving the goals of the ambitious Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The city’s official convention bureau, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, is once again highly visible at the major industry trade show, which is being attended by over 4,000 meeting planners from around the world. DBE has been joined by 35 co-exhibitors from across the city’s business events ecosystem, including hotels, venues, attractions, destination management companies and airlines. Among them are Dubai World Trade Centre, Emirates, Expo City Dubai and various hotels groups. Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai this January, D33 aims to double Dubai’s economy over the next decade and consolidate its position among the top three global cities Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Dubai’s business events ecosystem continues to be an important driver of not only increased visitation to the city and tourism-related GDP, but also the development of key sectors and the growth of the wider knowledge economy. The city’s robust presence at IMEX presents a strong message to the global industry that Dubai can provide them with a comprehensive platform for sharing knowledge, professional development and networking. From association congresses and corporate meetings …

Dubai Municipality has further expanded its beach tourism offering with the opening of three new beaches for night swimming in Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1. The 800-metre-long night-swimming beaches feature lighting systems, which enable residents and tourists to swim around the clock, and electronic screens that display content aimed at increasing safety awareness among beachgoers. His Excellency Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality said: “The new night-swimming beaches are part of Dubai Municipality’s efforts to contribute to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the emirate the world’s best place to live and visit. The initiative also forms part of the Municipality’s beach development plan aimed at providing distinctive experiences. The new facilities will further raise Dubai’s status as a beach tourism destination. Dubai Municipality will continue to develop the emirate’s picturesque beaches into some of the city’s most compelling outdoor attractions.” The emirate’s wide diversity of beaches, each with its own unique charm, provide people the opportunity to enjoy vibrant seaside dining and diverse activities. The beaches are key attractions that form part of Dubai’s unique tourism, lifestyle and leisure proposition for residents and visitors. In collaboration with its partners, Dubai Municipality has developed unique new facilities to improve the experience of beachgoers including lighting systems and electronic screens that allow them to swim securely 24/7. The beaches have qualified lifeguards outfitted with state-of-the-art rescue and emergency instruments to ensure the highest safety benchmarks. Night swimming timelines at the beaches will be from sunset to sunrise, the Municipality said. To enhance safety, Dubai Municipality recommends that …

Dubai welcomed 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022. This marks a 17 % YoY growth and the city’s best Q1 performance since the pandemic, placing it firmly on track to becoming the most visited international destination, according to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The growth, which sets the city on course to full tourism recovery, contributes to the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai this January, to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top three cities. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: “The remarkable growth in international visitation achieved by Dubai in the first quarter of 2023 demonstrates the city’s emergence as one of the key destinations leading the way in the rebound of the global tourism sector. This achievement has been made possible by the far-reaching vision of the leadership to transform Dubai into one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises and the globe’s pre-eminent hub for travel, talent, entrepreneurship and investment. The Dubai Economic Agenda recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, charts an ambitious new path for Dubai to enhance its contributions to shaping the future of the global economy. The tourism sector is not only the strongest pillars of our economy but also a key enabler …

In keeping with their stance to return to normalcy after the challenging years, Korean Air announced the resumption of daily flights from Dubai to Seoul/Incheon from 20th April. This shows the solidarity between the two destinations and that the travellers are keen on discovering from both sides of the world. Kyung Seon Park – Regional Manager Middle East, Korean Air reiterated, “Korean Air’s Dubai route has served as a gateway that connects South Korea and the Middle East countries. In order to provide a more convenient schedule for business travelers related to Korean companies’ projects in the Middle East and travelers interested in traveling to the Korea & Middle east, the frequency of Korean Air flights has been increased to the same daily as before COVID-19. Passengers can taste bibimbap, Korea’s unique food (vegetable mixed rice), as an in-flight meal, and receive the best service on board. We truly provide excellence in flight.” The past few years witnessed a great increase of travellers opting to visit Korea especially due to the K -Pop music culture which became a great crowd puller towards the destination. In the UAE, concerts were held pulling massive crowds of both local and expat communities enjoying the music of this great nation. Business travellers on the other hand can enjoy the daily flights as they can frequent their travel once again just as it was prior to the pandemic. Korean Air has been serving the Middle East clientele for a long period of time. The flight timings are quite convenient for travellers whether business or leisure to visit Korea, as it departs Dubai in the evening and arrives in Incheon the next day. In terms of …