Pulse Hotels & Resorts has observed growing trends with GCC travellers in 2023, opting for extended stays at their Maldives resorts – Kandima Maldives, Nova Maldives and The Nautilus Maldives. This trend aligns with the principles of ‘slow travel’, allowing guests to indulge in a longer trip while experiencing a profound connection with the destination. It is anticipated to continue growing in 2024. A global surge in solo travel has also found a particularly strong footing with GCC-based travellers, with the Pulse Hotels & Resorts team witnessing a surge in popularity in 2023. Industry experts predict this trend will continue to dominate the travel landscape, with solo travellers seeking more immersive and authentic experiences in 2024. With an aim to align its latest resort developments to global travel trends, Pulse Hotels & Resorts launched Nova Maldives in 2022 with a modern take on all-inclusive with a vibrant ‘community’ concept, tailored to Millennials and solo travellers. Meanwhile it’s ‘time stands still – anytime, anywhere’ approach to experiences and unscripted dining at ultra-luxury private island resort The Nautilus, and the massive range of activities on offer at mega-resort Kandima, lend themselves to slow travel – with more to explore, at a traveller’s pace. Althaf Mohamed Ali, COO, Pulse Hotels & Resorts, commented: “One of the best things about slow travel is that it allows a guest to have time for all sorts of experiences, that make them feel a part of a destination. As an example of how we are adapting to this trend, we make sure that when a guest arrives at Nova, the new star among resorts in the Maldives, they are introduced to Holhuashi, a local tradition, and get …

Skyscanner data reveals the driving forces behind UAE travellers’ choices in 2023 with Manila claiming its spot as the most popular destination in 2023. Cairo was the second most popular destination for UAE travellers this year. Renowned for the Giza Pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Sphinx, the city seamlessly blends ancient wonders with a vibrant modern atmosphere. The Capital city of Philippines, Manila, offers a blend of rich history, cultural attractions, and modern amenities. From its historical landmarks like the walled city of Intramuros, to it delicious street food options and lively nightlife and shopping scenes, UAE travellers cherished exploring the vibrant city that never rests. This year, more and more UAE travellers opted for alternative, budget-friendly destinations that still deliver on culture and cuisine. According to Skyscanner’s data, the capital city of Türkiye, Ankara, was one of the cheapest flight destinations with return flights costing just AED 491 on average in 2023. Showcasing historical and cultural treasures with panoramic views of the city, Ankara is renowned for its bustling markets, scrumptious Turkish cuisine, and nightlife. As revealed in the infographic, Skyscanner has also identified the cheapest destination to book per month for UAE travellers throughout 2023***, as well as the cheapest three-star hotel stay and city to hire a car in 2023:**** • After analysing prices across thousands of destinations globally, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India is revealed as the cheapest city for a three-star hotel stay, for those travelling from the UAE, costing approximately AED 92. • Bucharest comes out on top as the city with the cheapest car hire offering, with UAE travellers paying only AED 69 …

Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites and Apartments won ‘Best Luxury Suite Hotel’ at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. The award was received by Dariya Bushmakina, Director, Market Strategy & E-commerce, Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights – Hotel Suites and Apartments and Levents Tasbas, General Manager, Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights – Hotel Suites and Apartments. “Mirroring the privacy of a home and offering the conveniences of a hotel, Mercure Dubai Hotel offers a unique hospitality experience for short and long stays. Enjoy diverse dining options, including the Day & Night Restaurant and The Exit Sports Bar.”  

Etihad Airways has kicked off 2024 by introducing two new services. Daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the Kerala region of India commenced on New Year’s Day. These non-stop services to each destination bring the total number of Indian gateways served by Etihad to 10, underscoring the airline’s commitment to providing easy access to its expanding global network for guests travelling to and from the Subcontinent. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad, said: “We have established a fantastic group of non-stop routes between India and Abu Dhabi, providing customers with easier access to our growing network without transiting through one of the main Indian hub airports. “Seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi ensure that our guests can easily access destinations across the GCC, Europe – including our four daily services to London – and North America. Moreover, they have the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.” The introduction of this service enhances accessibility to the picturesque countryside and beaches that Kerala is renowned for, creating increased inbound tourism to the region. Additionally, it streamlines travel for professionals visiting the burgeoning business hubs in the area. In 2023, the airline reintroduced services to Kolkata, a vital Indian gateway connecting Eastern India to global destinations. Furthermore, the airline has increased the frequencies of flights to Mumbai and Delhi, two of its most popular routes, from two per day to an impressive four flights per day. For 2024 Etihad has already announced new flights to Boston, USA starting on 31 March, to Nairobi, Kenya on 01 May, and its exciting summer schedule includes an inaugural non-stop service to Nice, …

Qatar has recorded four million visitors, surpassing the annual number of visitors over the past five years. Qatar Tourism has revealed a significant increase in visitor numbers to Qatar, reflecting the positive momentum of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™, in conjunction with the country’s ongoing efforts and initiatives to advance the tourism sector. Earlier, Qatar announced the continuity of the work of the “Hayya” platform to standardize and tse visa procedures for visitors coming to Qatar. These efforts are complemented by easy travel policies that allow citizens of 95 countries around the world to obtain an instant visa upon arrival in Qatar.Qatar’s events and roadshows throughout the year have contributed significantly to a steady increase in the number of tourists. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Qatar continues to establish itself as a global tourism destination with extended and safe tourism infrastructure in an atmosphere of authentic Arabian hospitality. Qatar’s diverse tourism offerings, with its pristine 500 kilometres of coastline, world-class museums, and cultural and contemporary facilities, complement Qatar’s diverse tourism offerings to provide a unique and distinctive holiday for visitors to Qatar locally, regionally and specifically GCC nationals, as well as internationally. Qatar Tourism is keen to promote family tourism in the State of Qatar and provide something suitable for all family members for an exceptional experience. We continue to work at Qatar Tourism to promote opportunities and further growth in the tourism sector.” Since the beginning of 2023, Saudi Arabia has acquiredAt the top of the ranking in the number of visitors coming to Qatar, where the number of visitors coming from the Kingdom (25. 3% of total international visitors), followed …

It was announced that Marriott International took over operations of Vida Downtown Dubai, Manzil Downtown Dubai and Address Dubai Marina previously operated by Emaar from 1st January 2024. The three properties are owned by Abu Dhabi National Hotels  (ADNH) and this partnership will entail renaming the properties as JW Marriott Hotel Marina (formerly known as The Address Dubai Marina) Hotel Boulevard, Autograph Collection (formerly known as Vida Downtown Dubai Hotel) and The Heritage Hotel, Autograph Collection (formerly known as Manzil Downtown Dubai Hotel). Khalid Anib, CEO of ADNH, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with Marriott International through this deal, which is in line with our overall strategy and the evolving dynamics of our business model. The JW Marriott and Autograph Collection brands are exciting additions to our diverse and prestigious portfolio.” Jerome Briet, chief development officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, added: “The UAE is our largest market in the Middle East and our success in this market stems from our collaborations with world-class owners and developers such as Abu Dhabi National Hotels. “These deals reflect our conversion-friendly strategy, and our teams are committed to efficiently transitioning the three properties. With the addition of these hotels, we are excited to further expand our footprint in Dubai where we currently have a portfolio of more than 50 properties.” As part of the rebranding process, each property will undergo enhancements to ensure that they keep up with the brand guidelines.

Kempinski Hotels is consolidating its presence in Dubai, following a partnership with Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company (ADNH) to rebrand two iconic hotels. On January 1, 2024, the Kempinski flag is hoisted on top of Kempinski Boulevard Dubai and Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai, formerly known as Address Boulevard and Address Dubai Mall, respectively. With the addition of these two iconic hotels to Kempinski’s portfolio, the brand’s presence is significantly strengthened in Dubai, which was one of the top performing destinations worldwide for the luxury hotel group in 2023. René Nejhoff, Chairman of Kempinski SA, said: “This significant milestone represents a huge step forward for Kempinski and reinforces our role as one of the most renowned luxury hotel brands in the Middle East. Kempinski is one of the first luxury hotel companies to take its place in the UAE in the late nineties, earning a reputation for quality and service at unprecedented levels. After a year of great performance, we will continue to grow our investments across the region in 2024 and beyond.” Spread over 72 floors, Kempinski Boulevard Dubai is a beacon of well-being in the middle of Dubai, just steps away from its most famous attractions, including The Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera and Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Located in the heart of the city, the resort features 198 highly equipped rooms and suites, and a range of elegant residences with neutral-coloured furnishings and contemporary décor that reflects the rich vibe of modern Dubai. Every detail comes together to give guests a sophisticated accommodation space that radiates warmth, enhanced by refined furnishings, original paintings and technological innovations that complement the stunning views. The hotel’s restaurant offers an unprecedented …

According to Wego’s data there is a surge in flight bookings 11.37% YoY increase in international flight bookings for the travel period between November 2023 and January 2024, as more MENA travellers are flying this winter compared to last year. Wego also observed that there’s been a steady rise in booking numbers every year since the post-pandemic period of 2021, reflecting a growing appetite for winter travel among MENA travellers. The latest findings included this season witnesses families and travellers gearing up for winter trips, either for leisurely vacations or for expat residents to return home. In time for the holiday, Wego has identified several winter travel trends among MENA travellers. Among the top destinations this winter Cairo stands out as the top destination among MENA residents, followed closely by Jeddah, Dubai, Istanbul, and Kuwait. Major cities in the South and Southeast Asia also feature on the list, with Manila, Lahore, and Delhi in the top 10. Travel interest in these destinations may represent the homecoming trips for the Filipino, Indian, and Pakistani communities in the region. According to Wego’s data, average flight prices for some popular routes are lower this winter compared to last year. Flights to Cairo from several GCC countries notably saw some of the steepest price drops, averaging up to 35% cut compared to last year’s winter period. Moreover, these same Cairo routes are now cheaper than during this year’s summer holiday, between 5 to 43.56% decrease, depending on the departure city. Even compared to pre-pandemic rates, Cairo routes now sport cheaper price tags. For instance, the average ticket price from Riyadh to Cairo in 2023 has dropped by 112.81% compared to the winter period toward the end of …

Spanning 17,000 sqm of gross floor area (GFA), the megaproject is making steady progress, with its reinforced concrete structure fully complete, further to the construction of the artwork spaces. The multi-sensory art experience at Saadiyat Cultural District will house large-scale immersive artwork spaces created by the globally acclaimed and interdisciplinary Tokyo-based art collective teamLab, offering inspirational spaces at the intersection of art and technology, igniting curiosity, imagination, and creativity in all who visit. The architecture of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, conceptualised and designed by teamLab Architects, will play an important role in providing artworks with an environment to evolve freely and organically. The constantly transforming artistic installations created for the experience will also be unique to Abu Dhabi. As part of teamLab’s new concept, Environmental Phenomena, the architecture for teamLab Phenomena has been designed both from the inside out and the outside in, creating a structure that envelops various environments that produce unique phenomena. Jonathan Brown, Chief Portfolio Officer of Miral, said: “Together with our partners, Miral’s vision for developing teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is to provide a captivating cultural journey that brings a new realm of educational exploration and creative discovery to the emirate. The curated, experiential space will add yet another outstanding experience to Miral’s portfolio of world-class experiences and attractions, appealing to visitors from across the globe.” Toshiyuki Inoko, founder of teamLab, said: “A key characteristic of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is the environment and the various phenomena created by it. The environment stabilises the structure of these phenomena, and the stabilised phenomena become the artworks themselves. In other words, unlike stones or man-made creations that can maintain a stable structure on their own, the artworks at …

The Board of Directors of NEOM has announced Norlana situated on the Gulf of Aqaba’s coastline. Norlana boasts a state-of-the-art 120-berth marina that will serve as an international hub for superyachts, with water taxi services available for residents and guests. The superyacht members club will be a place where like-minded yachting enthusiasts can unwind and enjoy exceptional dining experiences and service while taking in stunning waterfront views. An ultra-modern active lifestyle community, as the latest addition to the evolving regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia. Situated on the Gulf of Aqaba’s coastline, Norlana creates a unique environment where an exclusive community of 3,000 residents will enjoy contemporary luxury fused with advanced technology, setting a pioneering standard for sustainable modern living. Within this contemporary community portfolio of 711 residential properties, Norlana offers deluxe mansions, spacious apartments and beach villas integrated with the surrounding dunes, bringing residents closer to serene nature. A spectacular 18-hole golf course is nestled among rugged mountains, with an equestrian and polo center with world-class facilities nearby. Norlana’s amenities also cater to a diverse range of water sports including sailing and diving, for residents and guests to immerse themselves in the breathtaking natural environment. Norlana has been designed to redefine contemporary and active living. With sport, health and well-being at the core of this cutting-edge community, residents and guests will have every opportunity to experience their passions in this magnificent and environmentally sustainable setting. Aligned with NEOM’s commitment to conservation, Norlana will complement its coastal location and be delivered innovatively and sustainably. With a focus on preserving the surrounding land and marine environments, Norlana will offer the pinnacle of ultra-luxury modern living through a harmonious blend of nature …