At the 5th edition of the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence (GWE) retreat and forum recently where the event provides a platform for representatives from the wedding, lifestyle and events sectors to network, share ideas and exchange best practices it was shared that Dubai is fast emerging as the city of choice for destination weddings, with a growing number of wedding and event planners across the world recommending the city to couples as the perfect venue to celebrate their weddings. The city’s world-class infrastructure, picturesque resorts, luxury hospitality offerings, services, exceptional track record for safety, and diverse tourism attractions have made it the ideal destination for organising memorable social events. People across the world are increasingly choosing Dubai to celebrate not only weddings but also milestone celebrations and personal occasions. With the availability of highly-skilled wedding and event planners, its distinctive locations, eclectic culinary scene, cultural diversity, and unmatched packages for all budgets, Dubai offers a special experience for wedding couples and guests. As part of efforts to showcase Dubai as a hub for destination weddings, the city hosted the 5th edition of the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence (GWE) retreat and forum from January 9-10. The event drew wide participation from industry and destination experts, event and wedding planners and companies specialised in providing wedding facilities and services Laila Suhail, CEO of Strategic Alliances & Partnerships Sector, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “We are proud to highlight Dubai’s world class proposition as the city of choice for destination weddings in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the …

The Emirates Group and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) are set to collaborate in the launch of a training programme for the airline’s Emirati Country Managers. The innovative programme is designed to enhance the diplomatic skills of managers who are stationed around the world, and forms part of the Group’s new Commercial Ambassador Leadership Programme. A ceremony to celebrate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held at the Emirates Group headquarters, attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE, Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, and Member of the Board of Trustees at AGDA, along with senior executives and representatives of both organisations. The MoU was signed by Amira Al Falasi, Emirates Group’s Vice president, Human Resources, Learning and Talent, and Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, AGDA’s Deputy Director General. The AGDA’s 5-day programme will provide Emirati Country Managers with a comprehensive understanding of the diplomatic skills needed to effectively represent the Emirates Group abroad, and to achieve their business and commercial objectives. The series of tailored and practical training courses will also serve as a platform for knowledge exchange to enrich Emirati managers’ capabilities in the aviation sector. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said, “The Emirates Group is a global company based in Dubai. We are proud to represent the UAE’s aviation sector and we work to promote the UAE in all the markets in which we operate. In AGDA we have found a like-minded partner, and we believe our collaboration will further develop and empower our team of …

dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, celebrated the launch of its operations at Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) with its partners Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP, a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialists Egis, and private equity fund manager AIIM (African Infrastructure Investment Managers). The three companies will work closely together to deliver world-class services for airlines and passengers at the newly-built international terminal (T3) of ZNZ. The partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the government’s target of boosting its trade and tourism sectors. The investment of dnata, Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP represents over USD 10 million and, to date, has created some 500 local jobs with the companies. dnata will provide its globally renowned, quality ground, passenger and cargo handling services to airline customers at ZNZ, ensuring safe and timely operations of flights and an excellent travel experience for passengers. In addition, dnata launched meet & greet and lounge services through its airport hospitality brand, marhaba, to help passengers further enhance their experience and enjoy a smooth airport journey from check-in to boarding. Emirates Leisure Retail has partnered with MMI as master concessionaire for all food and beverage, duty free and commercial outlets at T3. In collaboration with Eight Inc, the companies have created an innovative and immersive travel experience, ZOMA, designed to create a sense of place and extend the holiday feeling for passengers. In the ZOMA Zones each store is inspired by the scents, feelings, and flavours of the island. In addition to these outlets, ELR and MMI carefully selected and curated the best retailers from the island to spotlight some of the best that Zanzibar offers. SEGAP …

flynas doubled annual growth in operation and performance during 2022, with increasing passengers by 91% to 8.7 million; flights by 45% to 66,000 and seat capacity by 46%. Additionally, flynas launched 16 new destinations and 30 new routes as the fleet upscaled to 43 aircraft. “The growth rates recorded by flynas during 2022 in performance, operations, and localization programs reflect the company’s commitment to continuing expansion under the slogan ‘We Connect the World to the Kingdom’ and to consolidating its leading position as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East and one of the top 10 airlines in the world of its category,” said Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas. “The annual results confirm the progress in the company’s strategic plan with receiving of 8 new Airbus A320neo and joining 2 Airbus A330 aircraft, which will contribute to serving the pilgrims and Umrah performers as well as expanding to new markets. Moreover, the company’s Board of Directors approved raising the booking orders of 250 aircraft, in line with the goals of the Saudi vision 2030, and the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers, 250 international destinations and 100 million tourists annually,” he added. Almohanna stressed the company’s commitment to the localization of jobs, qualifying young Saudi talent, and the empowerment of women in the aviation sector, as flynas launched the Future Engineers program in 2022 to localize the aircraft engineering and maintenance jobs, and to graduate and employ 150 engineers over the coming years. The program started with 30 Saudi engineers, while 100 Saudi first officer cadet pilots were accepted in the Future Pilots training program. Regarding cultural, sustainable initiatives that impact the community, flynas …

Jazeera Airways announced the launch of a new route to Moscow, Russia, serving an increasing demand for flights to the Middle East region and beyond. Jazeera will be the first airline to operate flights between the two cities. The route will cater to the increasing demand for tourist destinations for Russian travelers. They will be able to connect through Kuwait on to places such as Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh and popular cities in Turkiye. Jazeera Airways Chief Executive Officer, Rohit Ramachandran, said: “We expect high demand for this route from Day One, as our service comes at a time of a scarcity of flights serving Moscow. We are ideally placed in Kuwait to attract connecting leisure passengers from Russia as well as religious pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. We hope to expand the number of flights to our schedule during 2023.” The new route will commence on February 2, 2023 with four flights weekly leaving Kuwait on Mondays, Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights land at Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME), one of the four major Moscow airports, and one of the busiest airports in Russia.  

Jordan is proud to announce that it will be hosting the first-ever UCI GRAN FONDO cycling race in the Dead Sea region. This historic event is part of the UCI GRAN FONDO world series and offers riders the opportunity to qualify for the Gran Fondo World Championship in Glasgow, Scotland in 2023. The race will feature three qualifying stages, where 20% of each age group will have the chance to qualify for the world championship. The race includes an individual time trial and two road stages, with opportunities to compete in the general classification, king/queen of the mountain, and team classifications. The first ITT stage will start north of the Dead Sea from Prince Hussien Park on the service road, covering 20km out and back. The second road stage will begin at the Mövenpick Dead Sea hotel, taking riders through beautiful local climbs to Madaba before heading down the breathtaking Panorama Dead Sea road back to the hotel. The third stage will take riders up the Panorama Dead Sea Road to the historical Mount Nebo and then riders will be served with a stunning downhill road to the Dead Sea. This race is organized by the Jordan Tourism Board, Discovery Circle Tours, Stage2 Bike Shop, and Tareef Cycling Club. Riders from all over the world are expected to participate, making this an exciting and competitive event for both participants and spectators alike. Don’t miss the chance to witness history in the making as Jordan hosts this world-class cycling race for the first time.  

Vistara announced the addition of Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to its international network. The airline will be operating daily non-stop flights between Mumbai and Dammam starting 1 March 2023 using its A320neo aircraft. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents. Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We are excited to expand our presence in Saudi Arabia with the addition of Dammam as the second city in the Kingdom, after Jeddah. Integral to the Saudi Vision 2030, Dammam is a key administrative destination that is home to the largest port in the Gulf and some of the major business headquarters. We are confident that customers from India and Saudi Arabia will appreciate experiencing our award winning product and services on the route as they fly India’s most loved airline.”   Sector Economy Premium Economy Business Mumbai – Dammam – Mumbai INR 26,999 INR 29,999 INR 39,999 Dammam – Mumbai – Dammam SAR 1199 SAR 1299 SAR 1699   SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS TO/FROM DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA EFFECTIVE 1 MARCH 2023 Sector Flight No. Days of Operation Departure Arrival Mumbai – Dammam UK 0237 Daily 21:20 hrs 23:10 hrs Dammam – Mumbai UK 0238 Daily 23:55 hrs 06:15 hrs (+1) * All timings shown are in local time zones *+1 indicates next-day arrival Vistara also announced the resumption of operations between Mumbai and Colombo with daily flights effective 1 March 2023 after a hiatus of nearly 3 years. Bookings for the flights are open on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, OTAs (online travel agencies) and other travel agents. Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements …

Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and Amaala, has awarded a Primary Infrastructure and Utility Contract valued at nearly SAR one billion. The project will be undertaken by AL-AYUNI Investment and Contracting Company to deliver the first phase of development at Amaala, an ultra-luxury tourism destination located along the Kingdom’s north-western coast, across its Triple Bay masterplan. AL-AYUNI, classified as a “First Class” contractor in the Kingdom since 2006, will be responsible for delivering state-of-the-art Primary Utility Infrastructure Systems, while minimizing Triple Bay’s carbon footprint as part of Amaala’s commitment towards net-zero operations. “Today’s infrastructure deal forms a critical part of Red Sea Global’s ambition to pioneer a new relationship between luxury tourism and the natural environment,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of RSG. “The sheer scale of the developments and our relentless pursuit of regenerative tourism require meaningful partnerships that can deliver resilient infrastructure. Together with AL-AYUNI Investment and Contracting Company, we are confident that we can collectively shape the future of developments in the Kingdom and beyond.” AL-AYUNI was selected based on its overall technical and commercial competencies, as well as regional and global credentials. All design and construction methods meet RSG’s stringent criteria for end-to-end sustainable development, including economic, financial, social, and institutional factors. Faheed Al-Ayuni Chairman of AL-AYUNI Investment and Contracting Company said: “Red Sea Global is a future-forward developer that is closely aligned with our legacy of innovating world-class solutions, cementing trusted relationships, and setting new benchmarks. It is an honor for us to contribute to its pioneering destinations and we look forward to unlocking the full breadth of our robust capabilities to …

​Kuwait Airways announced achieving positive results with the operation of approximately 1450 flights to and from the State of Kuwait, carrying almost 205,000 passengers to various destinations operated by the company during the winter period from 22 December 2022 to 7 January 2023. The three major destinations travelled by customers during the winter holiday season included London, Cairo, and Dubai with a punctuality rate of arrival and departure timings reaching approximately 90%. This also follows Kuwait Airways achieving third position in operational excellence, punctuality, and on-time performance in the Middle East and Africa, recording 81.64% of the 25982 flights that arrived on time during the year 2022. In this context, Kuwait Airways CEO, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “We are pleased to have successfully operated 1450 flights during the winter season, carrying approximately 205,000 passengers to various destinations and in meeting the requirements of our valued customers. We have also been ranked third in the Middle East and Africa region for operational excellence, punctuality, and on-time performance for the year 2022. The Board of Directors and the Executive Management spares no effort towards the development of the company’s fleet, as we have recently received new aircraft with the latest technology present in the aviation industry, as well as numerous diverse features and services for the convenience of our valued customers. This ranges from comfortable seats and convenient services provided on board by our highly trained crew, to the speedy completion of travel procedures at Terminal 4, that are according to systematic plans and standards adopted by the company, in addition to the earnest efforts and expertise of national talents working at the company. Moreover, Kuwait Airways closely follows the requirements of …

Kanoo Travel, the largest travel company in the MENA region, has started a new partnership with dcs plus, a global leading travel technology company. This investment will further enhance the technological infrastructure, strengthen Kanoo Travel’s operational activity and upgrade the services towards its impressive portfolio of customers. Kanoo Travel will power their operations with TINA, the travel ERP developed by dcs plus. TINA is one of the world’s most advanced web-based ERP systems for the travel industry and is favored by members of large global TMCs. With an operational footprint that spans over an extensive network of offices the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, Kanoo Travel aims to achieve a greater control and efficiency through digitalization. This new partnership will enable Kanoo Travel to achieve greater control through seamless processes, reducing the operational costs and offering a best-in-class traveler experience at every touchpoint of the customer journey. Furthermore, Kanoo Travel will leverage the state-of-the-art technology from dcs plus to optimize business processes, utilizing smart analytics and data, which will be integrated across different platforms at group level for Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt. Zaeem Gama, Divisional CEO of Kanoo Travel: “Our partnership with dcs plus is a fundamental element of our ambitious roadmap to advance the travel industry through digitalization, further reflecting our commitment to provide the most sophisticated travel solutions on a global level. We believe in establishing key strong partnerships in the region to fully execute our full-scale digitization plan and ambitions, which allows us to become agile and seamless especially in an ever-evolving landscape. dcs plus and Kanoo Travel have a collective vision, and together we will capture untapped opportunities …