Tag Archives: summer travel

flynas announced connecting Trabzon in Turkey, and Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan to Medina with weekly direct flights, within 2025 summer destinations. In collaboration with Taibah Airports Company, starting 4 July, flynas will be operating two weekly flights to the Turkish city of Trabzon, a popular destination for Saudi travelers seeking stunning natural scenery and a temperate climate. A weekly direct flight to the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, will also be launched starting 6 July, reflecting flynas’ commitment to connecting Medina with multiple international destinations and offering diverse, direct travel options to key global tourist destinations. Currently, flynas operates 139 routes to over 70 domestic and international destinations across 30 countries, with more than 2,000 weekly flights. Since its launch in 2007, it has carried over 80 million passengers. The airline aims to reach 165 domestic and international destinations as part of its growth and expansion strategy aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Speaking with TTME Elmira Heshmati – CEO – Elaxiom Travel and Tours UAE shared that this year there has been a slight shift in the summer travel plans as travellers are opting for staycations and outbound trips to southeast Asian destinations. “Travellers are splitting their summer plans between staycations and outbound trips. Demands for wellness retreats within the UAE and across GCC drives a booming domestic market, however, outbound travel remains robust.  It’s hard to ignore the rapid growth of staycations with the influences of the social media connection between local travels and social media which has made people’s strong reliance on their unique features; storytelling, sharing experiences, going live from different locations, receiving feedback through comments, and real-time interactions.

Visit Qatar launches ‘Scoop on the Sea’ event as a new summer experience on the shore of West North Bay to attract visitors. This summer event held daily on the shore of West North Bay from 18 June to 13 August 2025. Based on a concept inspired by the world of ice cream, the event offers a variety of activities suitable for the whole family, including interactive competitions and live sports and entertainment shows. The event includes a busy programme, where the water festival includes kitesurfing and boarding shows, a rowing fashion festival, as well asunique activities such asFoam Family Party , and a virtual reality experience to simulate Formula 1 cars, where visitors can enter a cockpit that simulates Formula 1 racing with virtual reality technology. The ecosports competition allows participants to compete on stationary bikes designed to convert kinetic energy into usable energy. Theair show also includes a series of smoke and flags shows. Daily entertainment programs includecarnival games, air jumping park, photo corner and open sports sessions.Interactive activities include pedestrian shows on long sticks, children’s shows, mime shows, musical performances, family challenge track, sand castle building competitions, trips to Safliya Island, bodyweight movement competitions, volleyball and basketball tournaments. Visitors will also have a variety of food and beverage options available throughout the event. The event will be held from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays, and from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekends (Friday and Saturday). The entrance fee is QAR 35 for adults on weekdays and QAR 50 on weekends, with free entry for children under 12 years old and seniors over 60 years old. Tickets can also be purchased through the event website.

Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and compliance company released new research revealing that 85% of the top online travel sites* in the UAE have adopted Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), a key email security protocol that helps protect users from email fraud. However, only 45% of these sites have implemented it at the highest enforcement level of “reject,” which actively blocks unauthorised emails from reaching inboxes. The findings are based on a DMARC adoption analysis of the top 20 online travel sites in the UAE, and across Europe and the Middle East. DMARC is an email validation protocol designed to protect domain names from being misused by cybercriminals. It authenticates the sender’s identity before allowing a message to reach its intended destination. DMARC has three levels of protection – monitor, quarantine and reject, with reject being the most secure for preventing suspicious emails from reaching the inbox. With travel demand in the UAE continuing to rise, a recent KPMG study found that 77% of UAE travellers use mobile apps or hotel booking services, increasing the volume of digital interactions between consumers and travel brands. But as consumers eagerly plan and book their getaways, this surge in activity – coupled with a high volume of emails and promotional offers from travel companies – creates a perfect storm for cybercriminals, turning dream holidays into costly scams through sophisticated email fraud. Key findings include: • The UAE demonstrates stronger foundational email security adoption compared to its European counterparts, with 85% of the top travel sites publishing a DMARC record, reflecting growing awareness of cybersecurity best practices across the country’s travel sector. • However, there is room for improvement with only 45% …

According to RateHawk, the top 10 outbound destinations for the entire summer include Turkey, Italy, France, Thailand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, and the United States. The average transaction value for accommodation bookings is $1551, with an average stay of five nights. Although Indonesia didn’t enter the top 10 most-booked outbound destinations, it has become one of the fastest-growing travel choices, showing a remarkable two-fold increase in bookings year-over-year, according to RateHawk. Traditionally, over half (53%) of these bookings are located in Bali, particularly in popular areas such as Ubud, Kuta, and Munduk. The visa-free policy and strong air connections with the GCC region, including a newly launched Saudia flight from Jeddah to Bali, continue to boost tourism to this tropical island. European destinations, with top choices in cultural capitals such as London, Paris, Milan, Munich, and Barcelona, remain a traditional favorite among GCC travelers seeking to escape the summer heat. The steady growth of tourism to Europe continues, driven by improved connectivity through the launch of new direct routes to popular destinations, including Saudia’s flight to Venice and Flydubai’s flights to various Greek resorts, such as Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos. Thailand, another favourite Asian destination among GCC travelers, continues to show steady growth of 48% from last year, especially in areas like Bangkok and Phuket. Travelers heading to Asia typically choose longer stays, often up to one week in just one hotel. Serkan Ozbay, Regional Director in the Middle East region, commented: “Summer season in the GCC region traditionally has two spikes in travel demand. The first peak aligns with the Eid Al-Adha holidays, which this year fall between 5 June and 9 June, with Dubai as …

KlasJet has signed an agreement with Air Cairo to provide chartered flights this summer. The agreement sees KlasJet operate charter flights for Air Cairo taking holidaymakers from Milan (Italy) and Sharjah (UAE) to Cairo (Egypt). The partnership between Air Cairo and KlasJet is helping meet an upsurge in tourism, a sector that is vital to Egypt. In the period from July to September last year, tourism revenue hit $4.8 billion, a significant uplift for Africa’s second-largest economy. “We have been able to get alignment on all operational and crew-related topics thanks to the flexible and proactive approach of our team – who flew out to Cairo to ensure everything progressed smoothly – and the strong commitment on both sides to clear communication and a partnership-based approach,” said Vytautas Mikuckas, Head of Wet Lease Department at KlasJet. “We are delighted to be partnering with KlasJet for these charters, and we know they will offer tourists to Egypt an excellent experience that will add to the overall enjoyment of their stay here.” The contract will run until 31st October. Air Cairo was founded in 2003 and is partly owned by EgyptAir, Egypt’s state-owned national airline. The carrier currently operates more than 30 aircraft, mostly A320s, and its main business focus is charter flights from Europe to Egypt’s most popular holiday destinations. KlasJet became the very first ACMI provider based in an EASA-regulated country working with Air Cairo. Despite the differences in procedures and regulations, KlasJet secured a three-day turnaround from signing the agreement to the ferry flight to Cairo on 30th May.  

H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Tourism Authority, has launched the 2025 edition of the “Saudi Summer” program, themed Colour Your Summer, at a workshop gathering over 120 public and private sector partners. Running from May to September, the initiative spans six destinations, from Jeddah’s coastal retreats to the highlands of Taif, Al-Baha, and Aseer. Highlights include the Esports World Cup in Riyadh and seasonal events in Jeddah and Aseer, aimed at boosting tourism and economic growth. H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Tourism Authority, stated, “Bringing together our partners each year through this workshop is a testament to our shared commitment to shaping the future of the Saudi tourism industry. This year, we are encouraged to see the private sector contributing over SAR300 million in preparation for what promises to be an incredible summer season. With its rich culture and breathtaking diversity, Saudi Arabia’s destinations continue to inspire travelers from around the world while fueling a dynamic domestic tourism scene.” The theme ‘Colour Your Summer’ highlights the rich diversity of Saudi Arabia’s tourism offerings, catering to a wide range of visitor preferences. The program features coastal and mountain destinations, global events, exclusive deals, and a broad selection of tourism experiences across the Kingdom.

Qatar Airways will resume operations to Malta with four weekly flights from 2 July 2025. The resumption to Malta will expand Qatar Airways’ network to nearly 50 destinations in Europe. Bookings are now open for travellers from Australia, China, India, Japan, and the Philippines seeking the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Passengers can plan their summer holidays with Qatar Airways to travel through Hamad International Airport, the World’s Best Airport as voted by Skytrax in 2024, to Malta International Airport and visit the capital city of Valletta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Gozo and Comino – the sister islands of Malta. Similarly, travellers from Malta can benefit from Qatar Airways’ extensive network of more than 170 global destinations, including Australia, where it currently operates 42 weekly flights. Qatar Airways’ proposed partnership with Virgin Australia, pending final regulatory approval, will also boost connectivity. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Qatar Airways is delighted to announce the resumption of our flights to Malta, which marks a vibrant addition to our robust European network. Qatar and Malta enjoy staunch economic ties, and our operational relaunch to the country only furthers our relationship.” Engr. Al-Meer continued: “We are proud to continually offer our global community of adventurers and leisure travellers new destinations to discover and explore. From historic and cultural sites and attractions, sun and sea activities, to cities serving as locations for Hollywood movies and TV shows, Malta offers an exciting blend of memorable experiences for travellers – all set against the backdrop of the azure Mediterranean Sea.” The Renaissance city of Valletta – the capital of Malta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – …

Jordan takes number one spot on Skyscanner’s latest report on the top family travel destinations to visit this summer. It is complete with recommendations for the most affordable car rentals with savings of up to 14%*. With the travel season in full swing, families can now plan their perfect vacation without breaking the bank. Skyscanner’s latest research, in association with OnePoll, reveals that out of the 48% of UAE residents who have already booked their summer holidays this year, only 53% have hit the book button on their car hire (in contrast to the 97% who have already booked their flights).** UAE travellers’ advanced planning approach to car rentals are reflected in Skyscanner booking behaviours with 84% of residents booking their car rentals less than 4 weeks before departure and 31% booking on the day before or day of travel. Skyscanner has rounded up five of the cheapest destinations for families seeking adventure, cultural exploration and relaxation. From sun-soaked beaches to rich cultural experiences, these destinations promise unforgettable memories and budget-friendly car rental options. 1. Jordan For families seeking a mix of adventure, culture and history, Jordan offers an array of attractions such as the ancient city of Petra, the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, and the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. Explore affordable car hires starting from an average daily rental price of AED 101, and ensure a hassle-free exploration of this Middle Eastern gem, providing flexibility to discover Jordan’s rich cultural and natural wonders. Flights to Jordan starting from AED 850 return 2. Cyprus Rich in history, culture and it’s alluring crystal clear waters, Cyprus offers a perfect blend of ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, and charming villages. …

As millions of people around the world pack their bags for Europe, Uber unveiled its summer travel products designed to help tourists go anywhere by boat in some of the most popular destinations across the continent. The series of magical nautical experiences setting sail with Uber this summer will include the most luxurious mode of transport ever to launch on its app. Following Uber’s launch in Europe’s party capital last year, Uber Yacht will arrive on the shores of Ibiza in August, giving customers an affordable way to travel in ultimate style. In a world first, this once-in-a-lifetime product will allow holidaymakers to pre-book a private yacht for the day directly via the Uber app. Departing from Ibiza Town Marina every day at 12pm, Uber Yacht will offer groups of up to 8 people the opportunity to sail around the white isle in a luxurious Sunseeker Yacht for just €200 per head*. Each 8-hour trip comes with its own personal skipper, a complimentary bottle of champagne and locally sourced artisan snacks. In Uber style, transfers to and from the yacht are included – from anywhere on the island. From exploring the crystal waters of Formentera to sunsets at the legendary rock of Es Vedra, Uber Yacht will be available to pre-book via Uber Reserve in Ibiza starting on 26 July and a minimum of 24 hours in advance, with the product available during August. Uber Yacht leads a boat-load of new travel products launching across Europe just in time for the summer holidays. Starting in July, Uber will launch a first-of-its-kind water transport service in Italy’s most popular aquatic city, Venice. Customers can use the Uber app to summon a ‘Limo …