Tag Archives: Dubai

Turkish Airlines increased the frequency of its Dubai to Turkey route to three daily flights to its Istanbul hub which connects travelers to over 300 destinations worldwide while maintaining the utmost care for a safe and healthy travel experience.  The new flight will start to operate from the 17th of June and is now available for purchase for holiday planners looking to escape the summer heat. It will depart from Dubai daily at 10:20 and arrive in Istanbul at 14:00 with return flights leaving Istanbul at 20:40 and arriving in Dubai the next morning at 2:00. All times are local times of their departure points. Turkish Airlines launched a promotional campaign that will be available until June 18, 2021 to announce the new flights. Tickets for Economy Class are starting at AED 1595 while Business Class tickets are starting from AED 10775 for the campaign period. The tickets purchased during the campaign are valid for the travel period until February 28, 2022. The flight will be operated with wide body aircrafts. The passengers travelling from UAE will not be required to submit a negative PCR test result if they submit a document issued by the relevant country’s official authorities stating that they have been vaccinated at least 14 days before entry to Turkey and /or have contracted the Covid-19 and were cured within the last 6 months. Passengers may visit Turkish Airlines website to have more details. The airline also launched its Newark route, starting its flights on 22nd May 2021. Newark is the 10th USA destination in the extensive network of the flag carrier. Other new destinations launched include Vancouver, Canada and Turkistan, Kazakhstan.  

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Residency & Foreign Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA-D), said the department was able to continue its work to translate the visions of the wise leadership in developing government services and their service channels in a way that contributes to enhancing the quality of life and achieving happiness for the customer. In his welcome address at the Airport Security Forum at the Dubai Airport Show 2021, Gen Al Marri said, “Recently, we launched a new fast-track passport control service that uses face and iris-recognition technologies.  The new biometric systems deployed at 122 smart gates at arrival and departure terminals in Dubai airports enable passengers to complete passport control procedures between 5 and 9 seconds depending on the movement and steps of the passenger. This system contributed to enhancing travellers’ confidence in the emirate, as such precautionary measures in light of the pandemic formed a safety umbrella for them.” He highlighted the UAE’s efforts in protecting and security of its ports and providing an exceptional experience for the travellers. The UAE has provided a unique model to be emulated in various fields until it becomes the most wanted living, residency, and work destination, in addition to the list of competitive indicators including safety and security index. “Without the determination of the UAE’s wise leadership and its continuous endeavor to establish the country’s leadership in providing happiness and security for all, it would not have been possible. Today’s aviation sector is considered one of the most critical sectors that achieved a quantum leap over the past years, as it is considered a major engine for economic growth in the world. The country’s efforts …

Air Canada announced that it will once again resume its non-stop operations from Dubai to Toronto starting 1st June 2021. There will be three flights weekly connecting the two destinations on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Speaking to TTME, Deepu Cyriac – Country Manager for Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman stated that they will be operating Dreamliner 787-900 to Canadian cities and US cities. “At present Canada has restrictions, therefore Canadian citizens, PR holders, students and immigrants from Dubai and a small category of visit visa holders will be allowed to enter, also if there are any visit visa holders with an immediate relative who is a citizen or PR holder is also able to visit. There is a mandatory three day hotel stay to be complied where the traveller needs to stay in a government approved hotel for three days and 11 days in home quarantine for everyone entering Canada. Students were the most affected during the pandemic and Canada has taken the initiative to open it to them, hence we expect a huge student movement to Canada.” Sharing about the necessity of PCR test to board the aircraft Cyriac reiterated, “it is mandatory to carry a negative PCR taken 72 hours prior to departure and upon arrival in Toronto there will be another PCR test conducted. Air Canada clean care plus programme where “safety first always” slogan;  customers can travel with piece of mind as it provides ease of cancellations etc, however, customers are advise to have their own insurance policy to arrive in Canada.” Ending the conversation Cyriac appreciated all the efforts taken by the travel trade and thanked all travel industry partners for all the support extended …

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will establish an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates within 2021, as part of its strategic efforts to achieve the Japanese government’s goal of welcoming 60 million international visitors to Japan by 2030. It is the first such office by JNTO to open in the Middle East, and will be a focal point for the organization’s promotional efforts in showcasing Japan as a preferred travel destination for residents in the region. JNTO has positioned the Middle East as a priority market and will promote tourism exchange between the Middle East and Japan in order to strengthen the relationship between the two. As part of its promotional efforts for 2021, JNTO will exhibit at the Middle East’s largest tourism exhibition; Arabian Travel Market Hybrid (ATM 2021). ATM will take place in Dubai from 16th to 19th May, and then on a virtual platform from 24th to 26th May, 2021. A key objective for JNTO at these events will be the generation of awareness amongst the Middle East region’s leading travel and media professionals. It will highlight Japan’s unique and diverse tourist attractions, that have been collectively assembled under the promotional banner of “Japan. Endless Discovery”. Satoshi Seino, President, JNTO said, “JNTO is proud to open an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates this year, which will be the first such office to open in the whole Middle East by JNTO. Japan is a country with a long history, abundant nature and a unique culture. We are internationally renowned for our delicious cuisine, beaches, skiing, pop culture, shopping, and historic wooden architecture such as shrines and temples. A trip to Japan will surely be an unforgettable and …

Oman Air announced that it has updated its flight schedule for operations between Muscat (MCT) and Dubai (DXB). The updated flights are now available for booking for travel between 29th April and 30th June 2021, and guests are invited to visit the Oman Air website or contact the Oman Air Call Centre for more details. Flight schedule is as follows: 29th April to 26th June 2021: Thursday and Saturday flights from Muscat will depart at 01:55 and arrive in Dubai at 03:10. Thursday and Saturday flights from Dubai will depart at 06:05 and arrive in Muscat at 07:20. 2nd May to 30th June 2021: Wednesday and Sunday flights from Muscat will depart at 14:25 and arrive in Dubai at 15:40. Wednesday and Sunday flights from Dubai will depart at 17:15 and arrive in Muscat at 18:30 29th April to 26th June 2021: Thursday and Saturday flights from Muscat will depart at 20:15 and arrive in Dubai at 21:25. Thursday and Saturday flights from Dubai will depart at 23:00 and arrive in Muscat at 00:20.

Key industry leaders shared their comments on Dubai opening up the events sector over the past six months which has set an example to the world. It was no easy feat to handle as there are so many different areas both in the public and private sector partnered and followed through the tough times. Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, summarised the city’s handling of the pandemic and the platform is created for a business events restart, “The leadership shown by the Dubai Government in managing the pandemic was outstanding and we maintained a very strong position against the pandemic right from day one. We expect to have a very strong rebound and we’re very grateful for the strength of leadership and collaboration we have seen across the sector that has enabled us to weather the pandemic probably better than any other nation.” Mohammad Al Hashimi, Vice President, Commercial Products Dubai, Emirates Airline, highlighted the dynamic approach the city has taken, “Visionary leadership and strong public-private sector collaboration have driven the successful re-start of travel and tourism operations. From airlines and airports to conference organisers and hoteliers, every partner in the Dubai ecosystem is working together to deliver strong visitor experiences and travel confidence. The results are quite evident in the data and the two recent big events that have taken place in Dubai. We are looking forward to the Arabian Travel Market in May, and a long list of events are set to be held from now to 1 October when we will see Expo 2020 go live.” Mark Willis, CEO Middle East & Africa, Accor, spoke about Dubai’s ability to deliver high levels of safety and exceptional visitor experiences: …

Emirates announced that in line with government directives, passenger services from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to Dubai are temporarily suspended until February 28, 2021.Customers from both Abuja and Lagos will not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date. Passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not allowed entry into the UAE (whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai). Emirates flights from Dubai to Lagos and Abuja will continue to operate as per the normal schedule.   We regret the inconvenience caused. Affected customers should contact their booking agent or contact the Emirates Call Centre for rebooking. In order to receive update notifications, customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting Manage Your Booking. In another announcement by Emirates stated Flights to Sao Paulo: Emirates will resume passenger services from Dubai to Sao Paulo with flight EK 261 on 11 Feb 2021. Customers with Sao Paulo as their destination will be accepted for travel from this date. However, Flights from Sao Paulo: Passenger services from Sao Paulo to Dubai will remain suspended until 28 Feb 2021. Customers from Sao Paulo will not be accepted for travel prior to this date. Emirates regret the inconvenience caused. Affected customers should contact their booking agent or contact the Emirates Call Centre for rebooking.

Emirates announced that all passengers arriving into Dubai from any point of origin (GCC countries included) must hold a negative PCR test certificate, for which the test must be taken no more than 72 hours prior to time of departure. UAE nationals are exempt from the above, but will be required to take a PCR test on arrival at Dubai airport. Passengers arriving into Dubai from certain countries will be required to take another PCR test on arrival at DXB. Passengers transiting through Dubai must ensure that they comply with the entry requirements of their respective destination country. They further request all travellers to check the website before travelling for further updates.

Dubai has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its residents and holidaymakers. Dubai continues to take effective steps under the guidance of the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai to build on the strategic initiative to reopen the city to tourists and facilitate travel while maintaining stringent health and safety protocols. In addition, tourist visas for all nationalities will be extended for one month free of charge. Now is the time for holidaymakers to make the most of their trip and experience even more of Dubai. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), said, “With 2021 on the horizon, we look forward to continuing to welcome first time and repeat visitors to Dubai, with stringent health protocols and precautionary measures firmly in place.  We are pleased to continue to work closely with our strategic partners Emirates, as well as our hospitality partners, allowing holidaymakers to experience the vibrant energy of Dubai and all our iconic attractions, fantastic culinary and shopping experiences, and exciting festivals and events with added reassurance and flexibility.” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said, “Emirates has worked closely with all Dubai stakeholders to gradually restore our network and signature services, with all bio-safety measures in place. Since Dubai re-opened for international visitors, we’ve been seeing an upward trend in enquiries and bookings which reflects the confidence that travellers have in Dubai and in Emirates. Today, Emirates is flying to nearly 100 cities across the world, providing easy access to Dubai for international travellers and offering a …

Dubai has emerged as a leading example of a city that is getting tourism back on track following its successful and gradual reopening of its borders and economy, industry experts said during a recent webinar hosted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The webinar, titled Trust in Tourism 4.0: How Dubai Adapted to Welcome You Back, was organised by Dubai Chamber’s representative offices in Latin America, and joined by over 470 participants, including business leaders from the UAE and several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia, Argentina, and Guatemala. H.E. IssamKazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing outlined several factors that ensured Dubai’s successful reopening, including the government’s proactive approach to ensuring the health and safety of citizens, residents and tourists, which included a comprehensive city-wide sanitation programme, close cooperation with the private sector and wider society. Kazim highlighted the New Dubai Assured Program, an award stamp issued by the government to businesses meeting high safety standards, as an effective tool in this regard, adding that Dubai Tourism maintained communication within key source markets throughout the year, keeping stakeholders informed of new developments as the emirates restarted business events and meetings. For his part, Omar Khan, Director of International Offices, Dubai Chamber noted that Dubai delivered on its promise to welcome international visitors, and offered participants insights on how the business landscape in the emirate has changed in the new normal. He revealed that a number of business and leisure events have already been hosted in Dubai, and said the return of GITEX Technology Week, the region’s largest technology exhibition, is a positive development signalling a recovery on the horizon. Khan pointed out that the …