Qatar Tourism has launched the Hayya Platform in a new form, inviting tourists who currently need a visa to Qatar to enjoy the country’s famously warm Arabian hospitality and diverse touristic offering. Taking place with immediate effect, the launch of the well-known Hayya Platform – which allowed the entry of over a million visitors during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM tournament – and its application via smart phones, will become the single portal for all tourist and business visas to Qatar. This will unify visa processes for tourists, GCC residents and companions traveling with GCC citizens (whom are issued an ‘Authorisation Electronic Travel’ permit). The latest development reflects Qatar’s keenness to continue its investment in the tourism sector, which forms an important pillar to the economy, and reflects the longer-term strategic vision to position the country as the leading tourism destination in the region. Tourists who require a visa to enter Qatar can apply through the Hayya Platform at www.hayya.qa, or through the application on their smartphones, and visit Doha, the Arab Tourism Capital of 2023. In addition, Hayya holders will enjoy seamless travel and connectivity into Qatar as Hayya will be enabled for e-gate entry at Hamad International Airport. For those entering Qatar via land at the Abu Samra border, the Hayya Platform will provide a pre-registration option for faster entry for vehicles, making the start of a weekend getaway or longer stay in Qatar even smoother and more enjoyable. For GCC nationals, the Platform provides an option to apply for an entry permit for companions. The Hayya Platform also provides further services that help round out a visitor’s stay, including maps, transportation options, offers and current events. …

Surrounded by awe-inspiring human and natural heritage, The Chedi Hegra will be the first hotel to welcome guests to a uniquely authentic luxury experience deep in the ancient Nabataean site in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU has selected luxury hotel management company GHM to operate the hotel as The Chedi Hegra. Situated within Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and opening by Q4 2023, The Chedi Hegra will offer 35 bespoke guest rooms, each with its own distinct connection to the Hegra landscape, a breathtaking testimony of human expression within the natural environment. RCU is building the hotel directly into several existing structures, including an old railway station and surrounding buildings, Hegra Fort, and others. Structural and exterior walls, some with historical mud-brick construction, are being preserved and integrated with modern architecture. The vast majority of the UNESCO World Heritage Site will remain untouched by construction and carefully preserved by RCU to maintain the integrity of Hegra’s incredible human and natural heritage. RCU has also ensured all design and construction efforts align with the Sustainability Charter for AlUla, including a light-touch tourism approach, imaginative infrastructure, planting of native flora, and an all-electric mobility system. Where possible, the project will use local construction materials and work with local businesses and labour, and the hotel is expected to create at least 120 jobs once fully operational. The property will feature three fine-dining restaurants, a café, and a full-service spa and pool, with many of the buildings connected by an overhead art canopy focused on wind movement and natural light. The on-site restaurants will each offer unique experiences for hotel guests and others visiting Hegra. One of the restaurants inside the old railway …

Emirates will be expanding its schedule this week to offer 38 additional flights across six cities in the GCC and Middle East to meet significant demand for Eid Al Fitr holiday travel. This year, more than 110,000 travellers are expected to board Emirates flights during Eid Al Fitr across the region, with additional flights planned for Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Kuwait and Beirut. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emirates will be adding four extra flights between 19-29 April to and from Riyadh to cater to Saudi travelers looking to venture to Dubai and beyond.  In Jeddah, the airline will be operating three daily A380s, and will additionally layer on six flights operated by its Boeing 777 to serve the peak travel holiday period from the city between 20-25 April. Emirates will boost its flights to Dammam from 18 to 21 weekly, starting from 20 April until 31 May with additional flights scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to connect travelers to their favorite holiday getaways.  Travelers from Medina will have the choice of an additional 16 flights in the month of April to accommodate those travelling inbound for Umrah, as well as travelers looking to start their holidays earlier. This year, Emirates customers in KSA will be venturing to Dubai for their Eid Al Fitr celebrations, in addition to the Maldives, London, Phuket, Mauritius, Manila and Paris. In Kuwait, Emirates will operate an additional eight flights for Eid with its Boeing 777 from 20-27 April.  Popular destinations for Kuwaiti travelers this year include Dubai, Maldives, Phuket, Bangkok, London, Mauritius and Milan. Emirates will offer an additional flight on 23 April on the airline’s existing Beirut schedule to accommodate for …

Qatar Airways flights to Casablanca and Marrakesh will resume on 30 June 2023, operating four times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays. The flight will be operated with the Boeing 787-8 with 254 seats: 22 Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats. With the addition of Casablanca and Marrakesh, passengers can now enjoy connectivity to over 160 destinations across the airline’s extensive global network via the world-class Hamad International Airport (HIA). The award winning airline remains committed to Morocco with the resumption of both cities’ routes, bolstering global connectivity, customer excellence and cultural connections. In summer 2023, Qatar Airways will operate four weekly flights to and from two airports in Morocco. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The Qatar Airways’ flights to Casablanca and Marrakesh solidify our commitment to the Moroccan market and meet a strong demand for connectivity to these two beautiful and historic cities. The FIFA World Cup 2022TM brought Qatar and Morocco together through football and bolstered our cultural and economic cohesion. Connecting through our Hamad International Airport offers passengers an unparalleled 5-star travel experience to over 160 destinations and continues to grow and expand our network.” Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, is known for its beauty and modern elegance juxtaposing timeless architectural character, attracting people all over the world to visit this truly classic city. Marrakesh, on the other hand, holds a more traditional aesthetic with phenomenal scenery, thriving souqs and a rich history. Qatar Airways flight QR1397, will depart from Hamad International Airport at 09:15 arriving at Casablanca at 15:10, and finally departing from Casablanca at 16:30, making its way to its final destination, Marrakesh, at …

As part of Kuwait Airways’ relentless efforts to provide the best services to its valued customers, the company announced the addition of complimentary limousine service to its Business Class passengers, making the service available to all Premium Classes (Royal, First and Business classes), flying to and from Terminal 4, Kuwait as of 1 May 2023. Kuwait Airways announced that the company is keen to provide this exclusive and exceptional service to its customers of Premium Classes (Royal, First and Business). The company had initially launched free limousine services, to and from Terminal 4, in February for the passengers of Royal and First Class.  This service has been further expanded, now making it available for the passengers of Business Class, in view of the tremendous response and requirement received from Kuwait Airways’ valued passengers for the service. Moreover, passengers of Premium Classes can avail this service by booking through the Kuwait Airways’ website or application and enter their flight details 48 hours before their travel so that transportation can be provided to the passengers before their flight timings. Kuwait Airways is committed to its efforts to provide distinguished and comfortable services to its valued customers, from their entry at Terminal 4, completing their travel procedures, boarding the aircraft, and experiencing an enjoyable journey during their flight.

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 …

Bringing together government leaders, hotel investors, owners, developers and operators at what is set to be the biggest Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) to date, FHS Saudi Arabia will take place from 7-9 May at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. Launched in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s G20 Secretariat in 2020, FHS Saudi Arabia is the most influential hospitality investment conference for industry leaders and senior decision-makers in the hospitality industry of Saudi Arabia and beyond. This will be the sixth industry conference organised by The Bench for the Saudi market. “We are thrilled to be back in Riyadh in May following the overwhelming success of our sold-out 2022 edition, and we’re delighted to be in a new and larger venue this year thanks to our host sponsors Al Khozama Investment Company and Al Faisaliah Hotel,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. “The demand for our hospitality events in Saudi Arabia continues to grow and with the Kingdom named as the fastest expanding tourism industry within the G20 countries in the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, there will be so much to share about tourism and hospitality investment and development at FHS Saudi Arabia this year.” This year’s conference theme, ‘Invest in Change’, highlights the importance of the positive change that can be brought forward through the investment in time, intellect and expertise in the hospitality industry to keep up with changing times and trends to better shape the future of the industry. The action-packed three-day conference agenda will include tracks from the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will have a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, start-ups and human capital development. “Delegates will have over 50 opportunities to network, learn and …

As part of its Journey Through Time master plan, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) will further expand the accommodation offering in AlUla with Dar Tantora by The House Hotel, an immersive and authentic hospitality experience in AlUla Old Town. Dar Tantora will also house a pool and spa as well as a restaurant and café. RCU is developing the 30-room landmark property by restoring several historical mud-brick buildings using contemporary engineering methods and time-honoured techniques. The development will showcase the Old Town village as a vibrant cultural hub. The rooms will be adorned with traditional décor, furniture and artistic accents, incorporating storytelling elements that capture the area’s intangible heritage. Local artisans received specialised training to participate in the restoration endeavours. The project reflects RCU’s comprehensive efforts to revive AlUla Old Town with tourism as the engine of development and job creation. RCU is driven by an ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability in its comprehensive regeneration efforts, including the Sustainability Charter that governs each project’s economic, social and environmental impacts. For delivering on this vision, AlUla Old Town was recognised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation as a “Best Tourism Village” in 2022 John Northen, Vice President- Head of Hotels and Resorts, Royal Commission for AlUla, said, “Dar Tantora by The House Hotel will allow guests to live the rich heritage of the AlUla Old Town historical village. Steeped in the past yet embracing progress, this hotel encapsulates RCU’s vision for a diverse range of accommodations as we continue to deliver on our plans for more than 5,000 keys by 2030.” “We take immense pride in operating Dar Tantora by The House Hotel, a location that seamlessly weaves …

Qatar Tourism (QT) led a delegation of government and private agencies at the 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s annual cruise industry gathering. In addition to QT, Qatar’s pavilion included Mwani, Doha Bus, Al Tawfeeq Travel, and Qatar International Tours. The 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global took place in Fort Lauderdale from March 27-30, 2023, at the Broward County Convention Center. It gathered more than 70 industry speakers who discussed key industry trends from sustainability to technology, and over 500 exhibitors including ports and destinations, ship equipment and shipbuilding, entertainment, environment and health, hospitality, information technology, and more. During the event, Qatar Tourism participated in a panel discussion where it showcased the unique offerings of Doha as a premier cruise destination, highlighting Qatar’s rich culture and history, modern infrastructure, and family-friendly entertainment. In addition, Qatar Tourism met with several major global cruise lines on the side-lines of the event, including Ponant, Silversea, TUI, Costa, AIDA, Windstar, MSC, Swan Hellenic and NCL. Qatar Tourism also attended the ‘Meet the Itinerary Planners’ event to promote Qatar as a top cruise destination and develop partnerships that will bring more cruise passengers to the country. Maryam Saoud, Head of Tourism Product Support Section at Qatar Tourism, said: “Events of global significance like the Seatrade Cruise Global present a valuable opportunity for tourism stakeholders to engage in meetings and share knowledge with prominent industry influencers and senior cruise executives. Such gatherings also offer an excellent platform to stay informed about the latest developments within the cruise industry and allow major international cruise operators to discover Qatar’s world-class tourism infrastructure and the unique features that make it an appealing addition to their cruise programs.” With a goal …

In support of the UAE Government’s NAFIS Programme and its empowerment of Emiratis in the private sector, Dubai Airports signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Enova, a joint venture between Majid Al Futtaim and Veolia, to boost Emiratisation in Enova’s provision of Facilities Management Services. The agreement aligns with the UAE Cabinet’s goal of increasing Emiratisation by two per cent annually and underwrites Dubai Airport’s commitment to meeting – and exceeding – national Emiratisation targets from 2023 to 2026, and beyond through its strategic private sector partnerships. The agreement was recently signed by Meshari Al Bannai, Executive Vice President of Human Resources Development, Dubai Airports and Renaud Capris, Chief Executive Officer, Enova, in the presence of several senior leaders – including Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer, and Omar Binadai, EVP Infrastructure of Dubai Airports, respectively, as well as Khalifa Bin Braik Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management Business and Fatima Alloghani, Emiratisation Director, Majid Al Futtaim. The partnership will see Enova’s proposed Emiratisation Plan – which aims to increase Emiratisation by 15 per cent by 2025 onwards – activated over the course of the contract. Enova’s dedication to targeting 15 per cent Emiratisation during the next three years underpins Majid Al Futtaim’s initiative and the UAE Government’s NAFIS Programme and is actively contributing to the nation’s economic growth and development journey. To meet the targets outlined in the MoU, Dubai Airports and Enova will allocate positions to graduate trainees, fresh graduates, and experienced professionals alike, with technical, administrative, and supervisory roles serving as key areas of professional development. The recruitment plan will roll out in phases, ensuring that UAE nationals receive high-quality, on-the-job training necessary to …