Dubai consolidated its standing as a top choice for prominent international conferences, congresses, corporate meetings and incentives in 2024, with the city securing the opportunity to host a record 437 events from a range of sectors and professions. Driven by Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, this marked a 20% year-on-year increase in the number of successful bids, further elevating Dubai’s status as a globally competitive events hub, powered by innovation, infrastructure development, and rising global economic influence. The events captured in 2024 are set to attract an estimated 210,731 delegates to Dubai over the coming years, making a direct impact on the city’s events, travel and tourism ecosystems, and bringing talent and expertise from around the world to enjoy the platform Dubai provides for knowledge sharing, professional development and networking. The city’s success, driven by collaborative efforts across the public and private sectors, underlines Dubai’s unrelenting draw as a go-to, accessible, safe and welcoming global MICE destination, in turn feeding into Dubai’s wider economic growth by attracting more visitors, positioning Dubai in the global business events arena, and shedding light on its thriving knowledge economy. Furthermore, it cements the important role business events are playing in achieving the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Guided by the vision of our city’s leadership, business events continue to play a vital role in bolstering tourism to Dubai and supporting its wider economic priorities. The healthy increase in successful bids in 2024 is further …

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Hyve has launched a strategic partnership to launch Shoptalk Luxe, marking the first luxury-focused retail event in the Shoptalk series, with Abu Dhabi as the event’s Host City Partner. Set to take place in January 2026 at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Shoptalk Luxe is poised to be the world’s most senior gathering of decision-makers shaping the luxury and premium retail sectors. The global Shoptalk event series is the most important and innovative in the retail industry. Currently held in Las Vegas, Barcelona and Chicago, these events unite leading experts and entrepreneurs from the retail and ecommerce sector to build the future of retail. Shoptalk Luxe represents an important addition to the Shoptalk event portfolio, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s status as a premier destination for luxury retail. Building on the emirate’s position as a culture, tourism and investment hub, this event will showcase an exclusive segment of the global retail industry, focusing on a new era of exceptional, immersive customer experiences. ADIO is collaborating with leading luxury retailers and technology firms to enhance the emirate’s retail landscape and capitalise on the expansive growth potential of its luxury retail market, harnessing advanced technologies to deliver innovative, curated consumer experiences. Shoptalk Luxe is set to attract leading players from the US$1.5 trillion global luxury market, which is projected to grow by more than 10 per cent annually. The Shoptalk team has already confirmed Chalhoub Group, the leading partner of luxury experiences in the Middle East, as a Launch Partner of the event, with more global partners to be announced soon. The three-day event will feature over 180 speakers from the leading brands in luxury retail, premium customer …

VFS Global launched its new user-friendly and efficient online platform to make Indonesia’s Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application process seamless for travellers, promote inbound tourism, and enhance overall customer experience. The platform is in line with Indonesian government’s ongoing efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and services to welcome 14 million visitors in 2025. VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform, is available for nationals of all the 97 countries eligible for e-VoA, including UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. Travellers can now enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey through VFS Global by completing the entire process online and receiving a pre-approved e-VoA before departure. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Business Development, VFS Global, said, “As a company, we are constantly working towards innovations which provide a seamless visa application submission experience to our customers. The launch of this innovative, secure, and user-friendly digital e-Visa on Arrival platform for Indonesia will undoubtedly streamline the visa application process, making it faster, easier, and more convenient. With Indonesia being a globally sought-after destination, we are honoured to assist visitors from 97 countries by facilitating their entry into this incredible country through this platform.” Here are the four simple steps to apply for Indonesia e-VoA: 1) Visit https://indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id/ 2) Submit all the required documents 3) Pay the necessary fees 4) Receive a pre-approved e-VoA on email before departure With the payment having been made online, travellers can enjoy a smoother and faster entry experience through E-gates or immigration counters. VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform will ensure all the documents applicants submit are complete and error-free. It also offers OCR technology which will enable applicant details to be auto populated, thereby …

Travelport won ‘Best travel technology provider’ at the seventh Arabian Travel Awards 2024. ‘Winning this award is incredibly important to us, as it reflects the voice of our customers. It is an honor to be recognized for our technology innovation work and dedication to supporting agencies, especially in the rapidly advancing Middle East travel sector. This achievement motivates us to continue advancing our Travelport+ platform to empower our agency customers to excel as modern travel retailers.’ Kathryn Wallington, Head of MEA, UK&IE, Central & Eastern EU, Travelport

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed an agreement with ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative to promote responsible consumption across the tourism and hospitality sectors, reflecting its commitment to supporting sustainability across the emirate’s tourism, hospitality and events sectors. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, and Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of the ne’ma National Steering Committee. The national food loss and waste initiative is at the core of the UAE’s efforts to ensure food security and address climate change, and this collaboration aims to drive transformative change in the travel and hospitality sectors, contributing to the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, aiming to reduce food loss and waste in the UAE by 50 percent by 2030. His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, said: “As Abu Dhabi continues to grow as a leading global destination, it is essential that we advance our commitment to sustainable development, establishing our emirate as a responsible hub for tourism and events. The partnership with ne’ma sets out a roadmap for meaningful action to reduce food loss and waste while creating awareness among travellers and stakeholders about responsible consumption.” As part of the agreement, DCT Abu Dhabi will encourage restaurants, hotels, and tourism establishments, to adopt sustainable practices such as portion control, menu optimisation, and creative use of surplus food; and develop educational campaigns for tourists and residents to highlight the environmental impact of food waste and the importance of responsible consumption. Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, said: …

Following Emirates’ successful launch to Madagascar in September 2024, the airline will introduce additional flights to the island nation, boosting its schedule from four to six-weekly services, starting 2 April 2025. The move reinforces the airline’s commitment to support Madagascar’s tourism ambitions to accommodate more leisure visitors and promote the island destination to global audiences. The boost in operations, in response to strong demand for its passenger services between the capital city and Dubai, was announced at a press conference held by Madagascar’s Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Tourism, and Emirates in Antananarivo. Since flights commenced last year, Emirates has witnessed tremendous demand for its passenger services, both inbound and outbound, between Antananarivo and Dubai. With the current four weekly flights operating at near full capacity, the significant uplift to the number of seats offered on the route will support Madagascar’s efforts to increase visitor arrivals into the country, while also providing more choice and convenience for travellers to plan trips to and from the popular Indian Ocean destination. Announcing the expansion of Emirates’ services to the island at the press conference, Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for West Asia and Indian Ocean said: “We are pleased to boost our services to Madagascar by offering two additional flights per week in line with soaring demand for travel since the start of operations. Our growing flight schedule to the island means better connectivity, more choice and convenient options for travellers. Enhancing services will also strengthen the economic ties between Madagascar and the UAE, by supporting more inbound and outbound leisure and business travel to the island and bolstering trade lanes with additional cargo capacity. As tourism to …

Riyadh Air has officially selected Catrion to provide in-flight catering and related services for its domestic and international flights. These services will be provided at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the contract will span five years, with an estimated value of SAR 2.3 billion. This move is part of Riyadh Air’s efforts to ensure an unrivalled guest experience as it prepares to launch operations in 2025. The signing ceremony, held on 8 January 2025 at Riyadh Air’s headquarters, was attended by key executives from both companies. Riyadh Air’s selection of Catrion follows a rigorous and competitive bidding process, in line with the airline’s commitment to providing high-quality services and maintaining a focus on enriching local content. The airline is committed to a strong focus on Vision 2030’s drive for greater non-oil contribution to GDP by supporting Saudi suppliers across the country with Catrion playing a pivotal role in curating world-class menus that reflect traditional flavors from Riyadh and offering unique culinary experiences for guests. Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, commented: Our food and beverage offering, both in the air and on the ground, is hugely important for our guests and we aim to set a high benchmark for everyone who travels with Riyadh Air. By selecting Catrion, a company that shares our passion for quality and excellence, it strengthens our commitment to delivering an unparalleled travel experience for our passengers. Wajdy Al-Ghabban, CEO of Catrion, also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: We are honored to be selected as Riyadh Air’s catering partner. This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to showcase the richness of Saudi Arabia’s culinary heritage while offering a world-class dining experience to travelers. we look …

Tourism Malaysia won ‘Best destination marketing initiatives’ award at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Thanks to the organisers of DDP Group and the jury for this prestigious award, it is a great responsibility as now we need to work to ensure that we maintain and excel even further. Tourism Malaysia Dubai has actively participated in travel conferences and exhibitions, destinations seminar presentation with airlines and agents and familiarisation trips for agents and media.” Azhar Musyabri Abdul Mutallib, Deputy Director, Tourism Malaysia, Dubai Office.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reported its strongest year ever, welcoming a record-high 1.28 million overnight arrivals in 2024, marking 12% growth in tourism revenues and a notable 15% rise in MICE visitors. This success is a testament to the Emirate’s strategic and sustainable growth vision to attract over 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030. Commenting on the Emirate’s achievements, Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “2024 was a milestone year for Ras Al Khaimah, showcasing our commitment to sustainability, enhanced connectivity, and diverse experiences tailored to every traveller. Looking ahead, our vision extends beyond attracting more visitors; we aim to position Ras Al Khaimah as a destination of the future. With significant investments, world-class events, and groundbreaking developments on the horizon, 2025 is set to be another remarkable year. Several factors contributed to this robust performance in 2024, including the opening new hotels and resorts, a growing calendar of international events, increased connectivity to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, best-in-class marketing campaigns and over 2,200 international activities and market engagements across 70 cities.  

Travelport unveiled its 2025 State of Modern Retailing Report and one of the key findings was transparency where modern retailing requires honesty at every stage of the customer journey.  This report, combining new proprietary research and cross-industry insights, outlines critical trends reshaping the travel industry in 2025, including heightened demand for transparency, the emergence of new subscription models, and AI-driven advancements in the travel retail experience. “Consumers are clear about what they want from the travel industry: simplicity, transparency, and trust,” said Jen Catto, Chief Marketing Officer at Travelport. “Our latest research shows that travel has reached a tipping point. Modern retailers who embrace radical transparency, adopt AI responsibly, and deliver streamlined experiences will thrive in this evolving landscape.” Five Key Trends to Watch in 2025: 1. Consumer-washing ends; Radical transparency begins Travel companies face growing criticism for “consumer washing,” a practice where businesses advertise deceptively low prices, hiding fees or conditions until checkout. Nearly half (44%) of surveyed consumers ranked airlines, hotels, and travel companies as major offenders, second only to credit card companies (45%). Modern retailing requires honesty at every stage of the customer journey. Brands that eliminate hidden fees and agencies that present clear, comparable options across suppliers will earn customer loyalty. Radical transparency is not just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage. 2. Disruptors Delivering Simplicity Will Outpace the Laggards Fintech disruptors have reshaped banking, with 47% of consumers agreeing they’ve made personal finances easier to manage. However, the travel industry lags behind. Over half of consumers (56%) report that airline offers have become more confusing over the past decade. To match fintech’s success, travel brands must embrace agile, API-led technology that enables seamless integration of new …