The past few weeks saw a hike in airfares especially in the UAE. As an expat populated destination, the short breaks are always popular, and this continues year on year. Hitherto known destinations, have become the best escapes for the UAE travellers over the past few years. Georgia started off this campaign offering visa on arrival for residents of the UAE. Following them, other destinations too wanted a piece of the business, hence employed similar tactics to attract this huge expat market by ensuring they provide either visa on arrival or visa free for any nationality with a resident visa from the UAE. However, connectivity is a concern with the rise of the air ticket pricing, yet the number of travellers hasn’t really reduced, especially in the case of the Asian sectors. When it comes to holiday destinations such as Turkey which is a key outbound getaway for UAE travellers the pricing went up to almost 6k return, and Asian destinations, especially India was at a staggering 3k plus. Many travellers opting to spend time with their families back in India over the Eid holidays, are seen to be taking smarter ways by checking in from Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah. No matter the price, travellers in the UAE would always take a chance to travel. Some travellers have also become smart in the sense that they pre-plan their travel dates almost six months prior so that they can partake in some of the best deals. What are the criteria for all this drama? What becomes of the families who wish to travel? Is there a balance between supply and demand? Well, we spoke with some of the key agents who …

Dubai Festivals & Retail Establishment, in association with Majid Al Futtaim Malls, announced the return of the Dubai Summer Surprises exclusive 12 Hour Sale. One of the most anticipated shopping events of the season, the sale will take place on 29 June, from 10am to 10pm, with incredible offers of up to 90 per cent off over 100 participating brands and outlets across a number of iconic Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls across the city.  Dubai Summer Surprises is an annual festival that brings joy and cheer to many, during this unique season in the city. Immerse yourself in summer fun with upbeat concerts, exciting raffles and all sorts of entertainment, dining and shopping offers for all ages. Shoppers can plan ahead and make the most out of this deal taking place within the stores at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, City Centre Me‘aisem and City Center Al Shindagha. What’s more, customers spending AED 300 and above can also enter into a draw to get the chance to win 1 Million SHARE points and become the 12 Hour Sale SHARE Millionaire. To participate, Majid Al Futtaim SHARE rewards members can use the SHARE application to scan their shopping receipts for a minimum of AED 300 in a single or cumulative purchase. This will automatically earn an entry into the lucky draw, taking place on 6 July. Get ready for the ultimate summer extravaganza filled with incredible surprises, unmissable retail offers, diverse culinary delights and endless entertainment this Dubai Summer Surprises, running from 29 June to 3 September. For more information, visit @CelebrateDubai and @StyledByDubai on social media channels, and mydss.ae. Dubai Summer Surprises is supported …

Saudi Arabia commits to sustainable tourism by launching for the first time in Hajj, self-driving vehicles to transport pilgrims. The Transport General Authority, for the first time, is launching the trial of self-driving electric buses to serve the pilgrims this Hajj season. It aims to provide innovative modern technologies for sustainable and environment-friendly transportation. The initiative is part of the authority’s efforts to offer multiple transportation options, making it easier for the pilgrims. The self-driving buses utilize artificial intelligence, cameras, and surrounding sensors to operate without human intervention along a predefined route. They gather information during movement and analyze it to make necessary decisions, aiming to enhance passenger experience and ensure safety. Each bus has 11 seats, operates for 6 hours per charge, and can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h. The service aims to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims and assess the feasibility of using these technologies during Hajj. It also aims to establish the necessary requirements for their commercial operation in coming years. This falls within the role of the authority in providing different and diverse transportation options, as well as adopting modern technologies and smart mobility solutions to assess their suitability and contribution to providing a unique transportation experience for Hajj pilgrims. It aims to ensure smooth and comfortable transportation and enable pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind. — SPA

Abu Dhabi’s unique culture is central to plans to increase overall visitation to more than 24 million, from 18 million in 2022. DCT Abu Dhabi’s research reveals that culture was the primary reason for travel for almost half (47 per cent) of international tourists. With the rise of the culture-seeker segment, about 4 million visitors are expected at DCT Abu Dhabi’s cultural sites this year – more than one million additional visitors compared with the previous year. His Excellency Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the plans to promote and protect the emirate follow a strong 2022 performance that demonstrated innovation, resilience and integration of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. His Excellency Al Hosani said: “With culture at the heart of everything we do, we have set bold and ambitious targets for 2023 as we promote, protect and progress Abu Dhabi and share it with the world. We are proud to share some of our 2022 results, which powerfully demonstrate how we re-ignited the engine of growth through resilient culture and tourism sectors, with visionary leadership and key partnerships across the different creative industries. “We are progressing Abu Dhabi by creating new job and career opportunities and enabling growth across the culture sector throughout the culture and creative industries (CCI) while enabling business and leisure tourism to thrive. Our purpose is to share Abu Dhabi with the world and enrich lives.” With the promotion and protection of culture central to its mandate, DCT Abu Dhabi is building on the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, to strengthen national identity, nurture talent, create better awareness of Emirati heritage and …

SalamAir  continues expanding its reach with the addition of a new destination to its network. Starting July 12th 2023, SalamAir will be offering weekly flights to Fujairah, UAE, with four flights a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Fujairah is the latest addition to SalamAir’s growing list of destinations, offering travelers an exciting new opportunity to experience the unique culture, history, and natural beauty of the United Arab Emirates. The launch of this new destination comes in response to the rising demand for economical and practical air travel options among both leisure and business travelers. With the latest addition of Fujairah, SalamAir now serves a total of 39 destinations across 13 countries, making it one of the region’s fastest-growing value-for-money airlines. Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, expressed his excitement about the new route to the airline’s network, stating, “The introduction of Fujairah to our destination network is part of our strategic plan to expand our reach within the regional routes we offer. We are certain that this new route will be a popular choice for all travelers, especially given the convenient connections from Fujairah to some of our most sought-after destinations on the network, and we look forward to welcoming our guests on board our flights to and from Fujairah.” Passengers can book their flights to Fujairah starting today through SalamAir’s website, call center, or their preferred travel agency. Visit www.salamair.com to book your next trip. You can also contact our customer service 24/7 at +968 2427 2222. With the addition of Fujairah, SalamAir continues its commitment to providing travelers with a range of affordable and convenient travel options while maintaining its focus on safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. Now, …

Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first flights to the city of Athens, Greece with two flights per week on Fridays and Mondays, commencing from 16 June 2023. The Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Airways, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first scheduled commercial flights to the city of Athens in the Republic of Greece as part of the implementation of its objectives to launch new and permanent destinations that was announced earlier.” Razouqi added, “The city of Athens is an excellent summer destination, both for travel and tourism. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cites in the world, famous for its history, rich culture and ancient heritage dating back to centuries. Taking this into account, Kuwait Airways launched this destination to suit the preferences of our valued customers, as well as to meet their requirements to diversify the network of routes and expand around the world by including new and diverse destinations.” Razouqi indicated that choosing the destination of Athens came after comprehensive research to meet the growing demands for destinations such as these and to different markets for our customers. Moreover, Kuwait Airways is diligently striving to provide customers with the opportunity to select what suits them the most, especially with recovery of the summer travel season and the diversity of destinations. Razouqi concluded that passengers travelling on the national carrier can enjoy a unique experience on board with advanced technology, as well as comfortable and distinguished services provided by the cabin crew who are ready to assist them with their requirements. On his part, the Ambassador of Greece to the State of Kuwait, H.E. Konstantinos Piperigos stated, “The …

In an historic first, the world’s two leading Travel & Tourism organisations representing the global public and private sectors agreed to work together across a number of key objectives. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations (UNWTO) at the G20 Ministerial meeting (Goa, India), focused on advancing public-private sector cooperation at the global level whilst promoting job creation, talent development and business opportunities around the world. Together, WTTC and UNWTO will promote tourism in the global and national agendas while working to progress skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient Travel & Tourism sector. The two parties will also foster community empowerment and inclusion, and collaborate around crisis preparedness, management, and recovery, building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said “Through the signing of an historic new MOU, WTTC and UNWTO embark on a new chapter of collaboration together, uniting our expertise to pave the way for a prosperous future for the Travel & Tourism sector. Together, we can create a powerful synergy that will shape the global landscape, opening doors to endless opportunities and benefiting travelers, businesses, and destinations alike.” Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General, underscored that “We are only stronger if we work together to respond to the interconnected challenges facing our sector. Strong public-private partnerships are the foundation to transform tourism and build resilience, and consolidating our partnership with WTTC will achieve exactly what we need – joining efforts to build a better future through tourism.” The MOU was signed by WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson and …

Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, Amaala and The Red Sea, announced on Thursday the signing of a sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli Football Club. The agreement was signed in Jeddah in the presence of Eng. Ahmed Ghazi Darwish, Chief Administrative Officer and official spokesperson for Red Sea Global, and Mr. Tariq Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Ahli FC Investment Company. A number of senior executives from Red Sea Global as well as members of the club’s board of directors were also in attendance. Red Sea Global becomes the Platinum Sponsor of the club’s first team. The agreement means Red Sea Global’s logo will be displayed on the players’ jerseys during all local and global competitions, in addition to other commercial and marketing advantages and privileges. “This sponsorship stems from the sense of social responsibility adopted by RSG, and our interest in promoting various initiatives in relation to sports. It runs in parallel with our commitment to people and planet, which directly and positively reflects on the quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and contributes to creating and building a healthy society,” said Engineer Ahmed Darwish. Engineer Darwish noted that RSG will be an active partner in shaping the present and future of Saudi Arabia, by contributing to enhancing the sustainability of the sports sector. Al-Ahli Football Club represents a long history in Saudi sports and has a great fan base that will be a key element in the success of this partnership. Mr. Tariq Khalifa expressed his delight in associating the name of Saudi Al-Ahli FC with Red Sea Global, the company in charge of developing …

A new chapter in travel has arrived on the global stage with the world class, digitally-led airline Riyadh Air, making its international debut at the 54th bi-annual Paris Air Show. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner adorned with Riyadh Air’s unique livery touched down after a remarkable fly-over the city of Riyadh for its first official reveal on Monday 12th June. The disruptive new airline from Saudi Arabia will fly to more than 100 destinations, and reach 100 million visitors by 2030, making Riyadh City a hub for global travel and encouraging visits to the Kingdom for business and leisure. The airline will bring a new level of attention to detail to guest experience and has technology that will raise the bar for the industry. The brand identity captures the heritage of the Kingdom whilst being modern and forward thinking with the global campaign launched in early June was featured with the tagline of ‘The Future Takes Flight’. The aircraft is on static display at the air show, allowing visitors to view the unique indigo aircraft livery up close being one of two aircraft liveries that Riyadh Air will introduce to the world. The main brand lavender color is symbolic of the welcoming and hospitable nature of the people in the Kingdom, as well as being a natural plant that carpets Saudi Arabia during spring, while the rear of the aircraft design captures the movement of canopy tents in the desert. Riyadh City is rapidly becoming a major player in global business and the rapid Saudi economic growth, which is targeted to be in the top 10 globally by 2030, is outperforming other major economies. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has many developing tourist sites, such …

Dubai Festival City Mall, part of Al-Futtaim Malls, is proud to announce the upcoming opening of its latest entertainment attraction, a cutting-edge multiplex operated by VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim. Film enthusiasts can enjoy the latest blockbusters at VOX Cinemas at Dubai Festival City Mall, which boasts modern auditoriums with cutting-edge audio-visual technology. To complement the moviegoing experience, VOX Cinemas has a dedicated Candy Corner serving its delicious signature popcorn, which is available in seven unique flavours, a selection of candy bars, along with other mouth-watering treats like burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and nachos. VOX Cinemas at Dubai Festival City will introduce its signature concepts later in the year including GOLD, a luxury experience which seamlessly blends gourmet dining with film. Commenting on the announcement, Hayssam Hajjar, General Manager of Al-Futtaim Malls – UAE, said: “We are delighted to join forces with the Middle East’s top cinema exhibitor, VOX Cinemas, in launching this state-of-the-art multiplex at Dubai Festival City Mall. This achievement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to our visitors while reinforcing our position as a leading shopping, dining and entertainment destination in the region.” Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Head – UAE and Oman, Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment added, “The mall is no longer just a shopping destination. It is a social hub for family and friends, and today’s consumers expect a strong leisure and entertainment offering that they can’t get at home. VOX Cinemas is proud to partner with Al-Futtaim Malls to offer guests an innovative and customer-focused cinema experience, which features the latest cinematic technology and a range of signature concepts to appeal to our diverse audiences.” With over 600 …