Tag Archives: Abu Dhabi

Theory 11 Entertainment (T11), the Abu Dhabi-based live music and experiential events organiser, has announced the appointment of Rob Hallett as its new President of Global Music and Festivals, reinforcing the company’s ambition to deliver world-class entertainment experiences across the GCC. A British music executive with more than 40 years’ experience at the highest level of the global live entertainment industry, Hallett is one of the most respected figures in international touring. He founded AEG Live’s UK and international operations in 2005 and went on to deliver landmark projects including Prince’s historic 21-night sold-out residency at London’s O2 Arena and the launch of BST Hyde Park, now one of the UK’s premier annual concert series. Over the course of his career, Hallett has worked with artists spanning generations, genres, and global markets — from Michael Jackson, Prince, and The Rolling Stones to Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, Burna Boy, and Jay-Z — overseeing arena, stadium, and festival tours across Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond. In his new role, Hallett will lead T11’s global music and festival strategy, focusing on artist partnerships, international routing, and the development of large-scale, destination-led music events that support the region’s rapidly growing live entertainment ecosystem. Founded in 2023, T11 has already established a strong presence in the regional music scene, most notably with the inaugural Offlimits Music Festival, headlined by Ed Sheeran and featuring acts including OneRepublic, Kaiser Chiefs, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, and Faithless. The second edition of Offlimits is scheduled for 4 April 2026, with global superstar Shakira headlining a line-up that also includes Jonas Brothers, Biffy Clyro, NE-YO, and more. “Great music shows don’t happen by accident — they are built on deep …

China Visitors Summit, the world’s leading workshop and meeting platform for Chinese outbound travel, returns to Abu Dhabi on 13 and 14 May 2026, hosted at Rotana Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. This year’s Abu Dhabi edition will welcome 100 carefully selected Chinese travel industry buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Delegates include travel agents and tour operators, luxury agencies, MICE managers, corporate and business travel planners, OTA representatives, and specialized resellers focused on adventure, history, culinary tourism, and family travel. China has become the world’s largest source market for global tourism. In 2025, nearly 180 million Chinese travelers journeyed abroad, spending approximately US$230 billion worldwide. With nearly 200 million passport holders and over 21 million first-time passport issuances last year alone, the Chinese outbound market represents one of the most significant growth opportunities for destinations worldwide. Alexander Glos, CEO of China i2i Group, commented: “Abu Dhabi has evolved into one of the most culturally compelling destinations in the region. The CVS provides a structured and commercially focused gateway for Abu Dhabi suppliers to connect directly with qualified Chinese outbound buyers. With Chinese global travel expanding rapidly, those who invest in relationship-building today will benefit from sustained inbound growth in the years ahead.” At the core of the CVS are two intensive workshop days, during which Abu Dhabi-based travel suppliers — including hotels, museums, attractions, retailers, destination management companies, and transportation firms — will meet directly with these Chinese buyers through structured, pre-confirmed appointments. The format allows suppliers to present their products and services while highlighting the unique experiences available across the Emirate. For Abu Dhabi — with its strong positioning in family travel, arts and culture, heritage, and …

Etihad Airways announced the launch of the first-ever nonstop flights between the UAE and Calgary, creating a new strategic air link between the Middle East and Western Canada. Launching on 3 November 2026, the route marks another step in Etihad’s global expansion and supports Abu Dhabi’s long-term ambitions to drive international trade, tourism and investment. The new service directly links two globally recognised centres of energy, innovation and culture, strengthening economic ties while opening new opportunities for business and leisure travellers alike. It connects Abu Dhabi’s fast-growing economy and cultural offer with Calgary’s role as a centre for energy, advanced manufacturing and innovation, creating a direct corridor for corporate travel, trade engagement and sector collaboration. For leisure travellers, the route brings together two highly distinctive destinations. Visitors from Canada gain direct access to Abu Dhabi’s cultural landmarks, unique experiences, coastal resorts and year-round sunshine, while travellers from the UAE and across Etihad’s global network can explore Calgary’s vibrant city life and its position as the gateway to Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, home to some of North America’s most iconic natural landscapes. Calgary becomes Etihad’s latest long-haul addition, following recent route announcements including Luxembourg and Palma. Each new destination reflects the airline’s strategy of opening new markets with clear economic, trade and tourism relevance, while expanding the range of destinations available to travellers from the UAE and across Etihad’s international network. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “The launch of our Abu Dhabi–Calgary service is both a significant and historic step in Etihad’s global expansion. By creating the only nonstop link between the Middle East and Western Canada, we are opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and …

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi announced the homeporting of Celestyal Discovery in the emirate, marking a further milestone in Abu Dhabi’s development as a leading cruise hub and reinforcing its long-term partnership with Celestyal. The announcement builds on the continued growth of Celestyal’s operations in Abu Dhabi and was marked by a maiden call ceremony attended by senior representatives from both organisations. The programme also included a mangrove planting activity at Jubail Mangrove Park, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism development. Haitham Ali Khamis, director of tourism product development at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The homeporting of Celestyal Discovery in Abu Dhabi is a strong vote of confidence in the emirate’s cruise infrastructure and long-term vision. It reflects our focus on building a robust cruise ecosystem that delivers seamless port operations, meaningful visitor experiences and sustainable growth for our partners and the wider destination.” Chris Theophilides, CEO at Celestyal, said: “Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting cruise hubs in the world, and this long-term partnership marks an important milestone in Celestyal’s growth across the region. We are delighted to work with AD Ports Group to support the emirate’s ambitious vision and to deliver exceptional experiences for visitors from across the globe.” The event was attended by Captain Nikos Vasileiou, captain of the vessel; Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal; Captain George Koumpenas, chief operating officer; Alexios Economou, vice president of hotel operations and passenger services; Mohamed Wagdy, vice president of cruise and marina leisure development; and Haitham Ali Khamis, director of tourism product development at DCT Abu Dhabi. As part of its deployment from Abu Dhabi, Celestyal Discovery will operate the cruise …

Fitur 2026 will take place from 21 to 25 January at Madrid’s Éma Centre and will showcase the growth potential of the UAE’s tourism market. In 2024, Spain welcomed more than 200,000 Emirati visitors, an increase of 17% from the previous year, according to the Spanish GCC Tourism Office the average per tourist spent €3,000 per trip, an increase of 6%, according to the Tourism Spending Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Tourism flows from the Arabian Gulf region are expected to continue to rise in 2025, driven by growing interest in Spain as a cultural, shopping and high-end destination, as well as an increase in air transport lines. Flight forecasts between the UAE and Spain for the period from October 2025 to March 2026 indicate an increase of 27.4%, which will increase passenger traffic between the two countries. The total number of travelers traveling between Spain and the UAE annually is estimated to be as high as 140 thousand people in both directions. The UAE will have a particularly prominent presence at Fitur 2026.Abu Dhabi will participate for the first time with an institutional and commercial delegation, the most important of which is Etihad Airways, which is considered one of the most prominent air connectivity engines with Spain, and Dubai will return to participate again after its participation in 2023, reinforcing the position of Fitur as a major platform for tourism promotion to the destinations of the Arabian Gulf. The Emirati delegation includes about 40 companies and institutions, representing the UAE’s strong tourism ecosystem. Some of the most prominent tourism operators are: ODYSSEY DMC ,Travco ,Arabian Adventures ,Masarra DMC ,RezLive.com ,Happy Travel , hotel chains and …

Ethara, the organisers of the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, announced that the 2025 race week broke attendance records with a combined total of 339,000 fans across events. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 featured the three-way title battle between the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, contributing to the record 203,000 attendance at Yas Marina Circuit – a near 6% jump from 192,000 in 2024. In addition to the on-track drama — ending with with Verstappen winning the race and Norris claiming his first drivers’ title — the Yasalam presented by e& entertainment programme drew a record 136,000 fans (an increase of nearly 9% from 2024 attendance of 125,300) across four nights of Emirates NBD After-Race Concerts featuring Benson Boone, Elyanna, Post Malone, Metallica and Katy Perry, and Official After-Parties with Idris Elba, Calvin Harris and Keinemusik. Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO, Ethara, said, “This year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be remembered for decades with the F1 title battle unfolding under the floodlights of Yas Marina Circuit. At Ethara, we’re proud to have delivered the weekend befitting such a historic occasion. We welcomed more fans than ever, underpinned by a world-class entertainment programme and innovations to the fan experience including the introduction of new hospitality concepts, new on-site activations, and enhanced Abu Dhabi-wide ticket inclusions – all contributing to an unforgettable event. Abu Dhabi has once again proven it’s the ultimate destination for the F1 season finale.” Among the new offerings this year was extended track access for the fans, including two public pit lane walks and FAB Track Walks on Thursday. Capped by Benson Boone’s dazzling performance at the After-Race Concert, Thursday became …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched two new e-learning modules for its Experience Abu Dhabi Experts Platform. The Official Abu Dhabi Pass and Ramadan in Abu Dhabi online modules are designed to equip travel trade industry professionals with the insights and tools they need to deliver exceptional travel planning and guest experiences and further reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading year-round destination.  The e-learning platform provides travel trade industry professionals with an extensive range of destination-related information about the emirate and has become one of DCT Abu Dhabi’s most successful trade engagement initiatives. The new Abu Dhabi Pass and Ramadan content has a strong focus on destination insights that ensure agents have the necessary understanding they need to promote the region and what it has to offer. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “These new modules reflect how the Experience Abu Dhabi Experts Platform continues to evolve and how we prioritise providing our partners with practical, hands-on tools that make a real difference to how they sell the destination. Whether it’s helping them package the emirate’s leading attractions through the Abu Dhabi Pass or giving them the cultural insight to guide visitors respectfully during the holy month, this expansion ensures the knowledge they gain translates directly into stronger product design, more memorable experiences, and greater visitor satisfaction.” Issued by DCT Abu Dhabi’s official digital pass for Abu Dhabi offers guests savings of up to 50% across more than 70 of Abu Dhabi’s top attractions, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi. The module provides an overview …

Etihad Airways and Condor announced a strategic partnership alongside the launch of new daily flights connecting Frankfurt and Berlin to Abu Dhabi starting Summer 2026 and an extensive codeshare agreement. From 1 May 2026, Condor will operate daily services between Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi using its Airbus A330 aircraft, followed by the launch of daily Berlin-Abu Dhabi flights from 15 June 2026 operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. The new services will significantly broaden direct access to Abu Dhabi for German travellers, with seamless onward connections to Etihad’s extensive network across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with Condor and welcome their new services to Abu Dhabi. Germany is a vital market for Etihad, and adding Berlin alongside new Frankfurt options meets clear passenger demand – including a direct capital-to-capital link that further strengthens UAE-Germany ties. “Above all, this partnership puts the traveller first: Condor guests will discover Abu Dhabi’s award-winning hub and seamless onward journeys across our extensive network, while our customers will benefit from enhanced connectivity to destinations across Germany and beyond.” “This codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways is the great foundation on which we are building our new services to Abu Dhabi to better connect Germany’s capital Berlin and Europe’s financial hub Frankfurt to the GCC and beyond,” said Jens Boyd, Commercial Director and Member of the Executive Committee of Condor. “As we build and expand connectivity within Europe from our home hub in Frankfurt, this first codeshare in Asia is one more step towards Condor becoming a true global player and partnering with the leading airlines across …

Etihad Airways launched its inaugural flight to Kazan, establishing a direct link between one of Russia’s fastest-growing cities and Abu Dhabi, the gateway to exceptional travel experiences across the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. The new route, operating three times weekly, brings these two dynamic destinations within easy reach, with a flight time of just over five hours. For travellers from Kazan and across Russia, Abu Dhabi offers year-round sunshine, world-class attractions, and seamless connections to Etihad’s extensive global network. Flight EY839 touched down at Kazan International Airport this afternoon, greeted with a ceremonial welcome, marking the start of a new travel corridor for business and leisure travellers. Operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, the service is perfectly timed for weekend escapes or extended holidays. “We’re delighted to welcome guests from Kazan to discover Abu Dhabi, a city that beautifully blends Emirati heritage with contemporary innovation,” said Natalia Goryunova, Country Manager Russia at Etihad Airways. “Through our Abu Dhabi hub, passengers can enjoy seamless connections to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the GCC region, and Australia, opening up exceptional travel opportunities across Etihad’s global network. Whether exploring Abu Dhabi’s cultural landmarks, pristine beaches, and thriving dining scene, or connecting onwards to destinations throughout our network, this flight opens up a world of possibilities for travellers in both directions.” Abu Dhabi welcomes visitors with its stunning cultural attractions including the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi, alongside world-class entertainment at Yas Island’s theme parks and the year-round sunshine that makes the UAE capital an ideal winter escape. The city’s blend of traditional Emirati hospitality and modern luxury creates an unforgettable experience for international guests. For Abu Dhabi residents …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) hosted an exclusive CIS (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia) Marketplace in Al Ain Region on 14 October, connecting over 200 travel trade partners from the region with more than 50 Abu Dhabi-based stakeholders, including hotels, attractions, and destination management companies. The event is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with industry partners from key markets and boost visitor numbers to the emirate. Abu Dhabi has experienced a significant uptick in hotel guests from the CIS region, with Armenia and Ukraine seeing increases of 17.4% and 48.5% respectively (July year-to-date) compared to the same period in 2024. This positive trend is further bolstered by enhanced accessibility, reflected in strong increases in CIS flight capacity, with key markets like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan growing by nearly 17% and 22% respectively. These figures, coupled with high visitor satisfaction rates, paint a clear picture of CIS travellers eager for more of what Abu Dhabi has to offer. The event featured a range of discussions, networking opportunities, and familiarisation activities designed to ignite collaboration and educate CIS travel partners on Abu Dhabi’s extensive offering. From the vibrant capital city to the historic sites of Al Ain Region, the array of diverse experiences makes Abu Dhabi a destination with endless travel possibilities. Attendees will also experience traditional Emirati performances and engage in cultural workshops. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The CIS region is a crucial and fast-growing market for Abu Dhabi, and building strong local partnerships is essential. This marketplace offers a direct way to present Abu Dhabi’s unique attractions and, more importantly, it allows us to listen, collaborate, and …