At the eighth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards in Dubai, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island was recognised as the Best Family Friendly Resort in Northern Emirates. Arabian Travel Awards referred to as the Oscars of the industry honour the visionaries, innovators, and leaders who have significantly contributed to the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. It was a night which celebrated excellence, recognised achievements. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting travel, tourism, and hospitality in the region. Fair and unbiased, the Arabian Travel Awards follow a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news, and TravTalk Middle East, premier media partners for the event’s coverage. The awards are divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards, and Partner Awards. They include awards for Best Business Hotel, Best Family Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few.

Rua Al Madinah Holding, a PIF company, and Adeera signed a partnership agreement to operate and manage two buildings comprising 250 hotel rooms and 120 luxury residential units under its brand Alia, within Rua Al Madinah Project, which is being developed near the Prophet’s Mosque. The signing comes as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the hospitality sector and empower national brands within its large-scale development projects. Naif bin Saleh Al Hamdan, Chairman of Rua Al Madinah Holding, stated: “This partnership with Adeera reflects our commitment to empowering national capabilities in the hospitality sector and strengthening their presence within our major development projects. Rua Al Madinah Project represents a continuation of our efforts to realize the objectives of the Public Investment Fund and Saudi Vision 2030, advancing sustainable development that reinforces Madinah’s position as a leading cultural and urban destination.” For his part, Eng. Ahmed Al Juhani, CEO of Rua Al Madinah Holding, emphasized that the collaboration with Adeera marks a promising new beginning for local companies in hotel management within Rua Al Madinah Project, which brings together leading global hospitality brands. He added that this agreement is the first of its kind and expressed his optimism that Adeera will play a key role in enhancing hospitality services, reflecting authentic Saudi identity while maintaining the highest international standards. Stefan Leser, CEO of Adeera Hospitality, stated that “Rua Al Madinah Project represents a distinctive addition to the Kingdom that will serve millions of visitors.” He expressed his delight in partnering with Rua Al Madinah Holding on this ambitious project and affirmed Adeera’s commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s efforts in serving the Guests of the Two Holy Mosques. Leser added …

A landmark transformation unfolds in Dubai Production City as Vintage Grand Hotel joins the prestigious Marriott portfolio, becoming the area’s only five-star hotel and the first Marriott-branded hotel and executive apartments in the community. This milestone marks a bold new chapter in UAE hospitality, blending international standards of opulence, design innovation, and connectivity in one exceptional destination. From 18 November 2025, guests can enjoy all the privileges of Marriott Bonvoy® – Marriott’s award-winning global travel and loyalty program, including exclusive rewards, points, and benefits across more than 8,000 hotels worldwide, as well as recognition and privileges in Dubai Production City. The property’s full transformation will come into fruition in Q1 2026 with the debut of the Marriott Hotel and the UAE’s largest Marriott Executive Apartments – a dual-branded destination redefining short and long stays with exceptional space, service, and sophistication. The reimagined property, comprising two distinctive towers, has been thoughtfully designed to cater to both transient and long-stay guests. The hotel tower will embody the refined comfort and timeless sophistication of Marriott Hotels, while the serviced apartment tower will transition into Marriott Executive Apartments, ideal for long-stay residents and relocation clients seeking a seamless balance of magnificence and convenience. As the only five-star property in Dubai Production City, it also offers the largest room and apartment inventory in the area, complemented by a diverse range of room categories to suit business travelers, families, and long-term guests alike. Drawing inspiration from Marriott’s global design ethos, the transformed spaces feature modern interiors, elegant furnishings, and cutting-edge in-room technology, creating a sense of warmth and sophistication throughout. The hotel’s enhanced F&B portfolio introduces multiple new dining venues and bars, each blending stylish design with …

Qatar Airways has increased capacity to Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, Shanghai, and Singapore this winter season to meet the global demand on these routes. This increase in flight frequency is part of the airline’s broader winter schedule enhancements, which have already introduced additional frequencies to more than 15 major destinations, including Cape Town, Dublin, London, Phuket, and Toronto. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for a record ninth time, continues to offer greater choice and connectivity through its Doha hub, the award-winning Hamad International Airport. The growing demand for Qatar Airways’ travel experience resulted in the airline offering nearly 3,000 additional flights this year. Qatar Airways service to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Starting 17 December 2025, Qatar Airways flights to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) will increase from 14 to 17 weekly flights. The additional services will offer seamless connections between Southeast Asia and Jeddah, London, and Paris through Doha. Qatar Airways service to Lagos (LOS) Effective 15 December 2025 until 28 March 2026, Qatar Airways’ services to Lagos (LOS) will increase from 10 to 14 weekly. The increased frequency enhances connectivity between the Nigeria and Qatar Airways’ extensive global network of over 170 destinations, facilitating smoother travel for both business and leisure passengers to Delhi, Guangzhou, and London. Qatar Airways service to Shanghai (PVG) Effective 01 January to 28 March 2026, services will rise from 7 to 10 weekly flights to meet growing inbound and outbound demand from China. This frequency increase will further enhance connectivity between Asia and Qatar Airways’ key destinations across Algiers, São Paulo, and Warsaw.   Qatar Airways service to Singapore (SIN) From 12 January 2026, Qatar Airways will deploy the Airbus A380 on select flights …

Alaa Al Ali with over three decades of experience in the travel and tourism industry, leading Nirvana Travel and Tourism since its establishment in 2007, is a highly respected figure in the UAE’s travel sector. Ali has been instrumental in establishing Nirvana as a regional powerhouse in the tourism market. Under his visionary leadership, the company continues to evolve each year, striking a seamless balance between exceptional customer service, operational efficiency, technological innovation, and groundbreaking product development. His remarkable contributions to the industry have earned him a well-deserved feature on ‘The Most Creative Business Leaders in the Arab World’. Guided by an in-depth understanding of the region and a clear business vision, Ali has steered Nirvana to the forefront of the UAE’s travel sector, earning prestigious awards and widespread industry recognition. He now heads NG9 Holding, a dynamic conglomerate comprising Nirvana Holding, Gewan Holding, and 9Yards, operating locally and regionally across 10+ countries in multiple industries with a diverse business portfolio.

Hatim Al Harbi is a transformation-driven leader who turns bold visions into tangible realities. With 20 years of experience spanning government transformation, tourism development, and entrepreneurship, he has built systems, teams, and platforms that redefine regional impact. As Chief of Tourism at the Aseer Development Authority, Alharbi established Saudi Arabia’s first regional Destination Marketing & Management Office (DMMO), later expanding it into a full tourism sector that achieved 26% growth in visitor numbers and gained global recognition through UN Tourism, GSTC, and PATA. His approach combines visionary thinking with practical execution building what doesn’t exist and leading what truly matters. Beyond government leadership, Alharbi has co-founded ventures in digital, fintech, and F&B, embodying the spirit of innovation that drives Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 transformation.

Naeem Darkazally is a hospitality leader with commercial and asset management experience. His career path is filled with rich experience. He has worked in senior management positions with leading international hotel chains, such as Marriott, IHG, Le Meridien, and Millennium & Copthorne, as well as major grassroots operators like Rotana, where he was a key player in successfully opening 12 Rotana hotels in various destinations. Owning the Abjar Group, he managed to restructure a multi-branded franchised hotel’s all commercial disciplines. In April 2021, Darkazally moved to Tourism Authorities — firstly in Ajman, UAE and thereafter at Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism — as a hospitality advisor on strategies and developments.

Meerah Ketait is Head of Retail and Leisure UAE for dnata Travel, the UAE’s longest serving travel provider, part of the Emirates Group. The UAE’s original travel agency, dnata Travel was formed in 1959 as an air ticket provider, and has since expanded to become a multi-channel, full-service travel agency with a regional presence. Ketait heads the dnata Travel leisure brand in the UAE, including its extensive retail network, and online channels, including www.dnataTravel.com. Ketait manages a team of travel experts who work round the clock and around the world to bring UAE travellers the most current destination information and inspiration, as well as tailor-made packages. Ketait has worked with the Emirates Group for more than a decade, supporting Emirates Airline in a series of product management roles, before starting her career with dnata Travel in 2022.

In a dazzling show, the Arabian Travel Awards introduced new stars of the evening at its eighth edition in Dubai. Known as the ‘Oscars of the industry’, the awards recognise the key players who contribute immensely to the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors in the Middle East. Chief Guest for the event was Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi – Director of Tourism Development – Ministry of Economy and Tourism, UAE and the Guest of Honour was  His Excellency, Tengku Dato’ Sirajuzzaman Tengku Mohamed Ariff, Ambassador Of Malaysia To The UAE. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting travel, tourism, and hospitality in the region. Fair and unbiased, the Arabian Travel Awards follow a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news, and TravTalk Middle East, premier media partners for the event’s coverage. The awards are divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards, and Partner Awards. They include awards for Best Business Hotel, Best Family Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few.

The eighth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards returns tonight recognising the key players who contributed immensely to the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in the UAE. It is an invitation only event at Embassy Suits by Hilton Business Bay Dubai. Arabian Travel Awards is a platform for the Middle East market to appreciate the efforts of the travel, tourism and hospitality specialists who have contributed to the booming travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting travel, tourism and hospitality in the region. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news and TravTalk Middle East who are premier media partners for the coverage of the event. The awards will be divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards and Partner Awards. They will include awards for Best Business Hotel, Best Family Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few. San Jeet, Mentor, Arabian Travel Awards, shared, “The awards this year come at a pivotal time. With the region witnessing historic growth and tourism fast becoming a strategic pillar for diversified economies, it’s more important than ever to celebrate those leading the way. From sustainability champions to digital disruptors, the Arabian Travel Awards is a tribute to those redefining the future of travel in the GCC.” As Malaysia prepares to unveil its grand Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, this partnership presents an ideal platform to showcase the country’s vibrant culture, rich heritage, and luxurious travel experiences. The …