Category Archives: Agents

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has become one of the first UAE government entities to create its own Non-Fungible Token (NFT). During a series of innovative workshops, more than 220 employees collaborated to create the unique NFT digital art, which aimed to reflect DCT Abu Dhabi’s corporate values of being welcoming, pioneering, agile, and collaborative. Jasim Al Hebsi, Acting Director of the People and Performance Department at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “In creating our NFT collage, we have proven that the spirit of innovation is thriving within our organisation. At DCT Abu Dhabi, our vision is to cultivate knowledge and understanding for our cultural heritage, while also initiating creativity to embrace the future of technology. So, as well as highlighting our corporate values and encouraging teamwork, this project has enabled us to gain a firm understanding of how art and culture are evolving in the digital age.” NFTs are digital assets that represent real-world objects, such as artwork, music, video game, or film clip. The created arts can be purchased or sold online using cryptocurrencies only, and are often encoded and stored on the same cryptocurrency blockchain software. The two-day workshop event consisted of eight sessions where 20 teams worked on creating their designs using a photo library containing more than 1,000 images. The unique designs were fused to create a collage which was later transferred into DCT Abu Dhabi’s exclusive NFT. Since DCT Abu Dhabi’s NFT workshop, other UAE government entities have shown interest in recreating the sessions to make their own unique digital assets. NFTs were first invented in 2014, but they have recently gained recognition as an increasingly popular means …

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) has marked the 50th anniversary of the airline’s first passenger flight to Dubai, which arrived on 5th April 1972. The anniversary flight was greeted on arrival at Dubai International Airport by airport representatives and KLM staff, who joined a ceremony to mark the milestone. KLM started services to Dubai on 5th April 1972 with a once-a-week connection via Athens and Dhahran, operating an extended Douglas DC-8 jet aircraft. The flight returned from Dubai on April 6th. At that time, Dubai International airport handled around 500,000 passengers per year (1970 figures) and Schiphol Airport more than 5 million. In 2021, Schiphol welcomed 25.5 million passengers (in 2019 pre-Covid the total was almost 72 million); Dubai International welcomed 29.1 million people in 2021, and 86.4 million in 2019 (pre-Covid). Speaking about the 50th anniversary of KLM’s first flight to Dubai, Simon Scholte, General Manager Middle East, Air France KLM said: “This is a very special occasion marking the amazing milestone of KLM’s first passenger service to Dubai. We have the additional honour of celebrating this anniversary during the UAE’s ‘Year of the 50th’ and at the conclusion of this extraordinary global event, Expo 2020 Dubai. It’s a time to pause briefly and reflect on Dubai’s remarkable progress over the last 50 years and to express our gratitude to Dubai government and the airport authorities for their tremendous support. It’s also a time to look ahead at the strong and growing relationship between Dubai and KLM, and our shared commitment to innovation and sustainability.” Air France KLM offers flights from various cities in the Middle East to the airline’s two hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol, connecting …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) concluded its first-ever Visit Abu Dhabi Roadshow event in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the successful two-day event hosted in partnership with Etihad Airways and Experience Hub. The roadshow saw key stakeholders join DCT Abu Dhabi representatives to showcase the UAE capital as the leading tourism destination for families and couples in the Middle East region. Paving the way for long-term partnerships in the sector, members of DCT Abu Dhabi met with tour operators and key stakeholders to promote and discuss the unique and diverse experiences the destination offers Israeli travellers. Nabeel Al Zarouni, Travel Trade & Market Development Regional Section Head – Domestic & Middle East Region at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Over the last 50 years of the UAE’s growth, Abu Dhabi has played an integral role in shaping the tourism offering of the region and we’re delighted to have been able to showcase this, and upcoming announcements, to our valued travel trade partners in Israel. Abu Dhabi is a destination that offers the world in one place – culture, entertainment, relaxation and amazing natural landscapes from deserts to beaches. There is something for everyone to enjoy at your own pace, whether it’s the tranquillity of Al Ain to the thrills of Yas Island. We look forward to welcoming more Israeli travellers this year, particularly with the exciting calendar of events we have in 2022 and beyond.” The official visit started on 23 March when the roadshow welcomed industry leaders, Israeli senior management, diplomats, and Abu Dhabi tourism stakeholders at an exclusive networking dinner held at the Hilton Tel Aviv hotel. This was followed by a DCT …

Gulf Air participated in the Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 25-27 March. The national carrier hosted its VIP guests, partners and travel agents at its Paddock Club at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Gulf Air Acting CEO, Captain Waleed Al-Alawi, praised the organization and the quality of performance that he witnessed in the race, adding, “We were pleased to welcome our customers in the Saudi market, which is of special importance to Gulf Air. As the official sponsor of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which was the inaugural race of the Formula 1 season in 2022, we are pleased with the success of the stc Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, especially in view of our strong relationship with the Saudi market and our partners in it, and the long historical relations linking the Kingdom of Bahrain with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Congratulations to Saudi Arabia for another successful race, and we wish Formula 1 more success in the future.” At the 2022 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Bahrain, and for the second Formula 1 race in a row, Gulf Air performed a low-emission flypast over the Bahrain International Circuit. Gulf Air is the official sponsor of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix since its historic launch in Bahrain in April 2004 as the first ever Formula 1 race in the Middle East; and has been contributing to the success of this sporting and social event and ensuring its excellence at all levels.  

According to a new survey by leading online travel agency Wingie, Istanbul was the MENA region’s most popular tourist destination in the first quarter of 2022. Driven by increased vaccination rates and the removal of travel restrictions, the global tourism and aviation sectors appear to be making a rapid recovery. This is especially the case in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where Istanbul has emerged as a leading flight destination, according to leading flight-booking website Wingie. “Despite continued concerns over Omicron, international air travel in the MENA region showed major signs of recovery in this year’s first quarter,” Wingie Commercial Director Orkun Ozkan says. “Istanbul, meanwhile, topped the list of the most preferred destinations among MENA travelers.” According to first-quarter data compiled by Wingie.ae, most of the flight tickets purchased in MENA were to Istanbul, followed by Khartoum, Manila, Dhaka, Baku, Lucknow, Entebbe and London. Wingie’s survey also found that, most flights originating from MENA departed from the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha. During the first several weeks of the year, numerous flights also departed from Dubai, Kuwait City and Cairo. “Throughout the period, travelers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman mostly traveled to Istanbul,” Ozkan says. The three most popular air routes were Riyadh-Khartoum, Jeddah-Khartoum and Riyadh-Baku. Wingie’s survey found that, following Istanbul, the most popular destinations among the same demographic were Khartoum, Manila, Baku and London. “More than 15 million people use Wingie each month to book their flights, so it can provide a very good picture of overall travel trends and consumer preferences,” Ozkan says. According to the survey, the average age of those booking tickets through Wingie is 34, and roughly …

Oman Air Holidays, the tour operating arm of Oman Air – has launched a digital platform giving locally owned and operated SMEs in travel and tourism sector greater online presence and visibility in front of a broader range of international customers. Helping local SMEs digitize their offer is a commitment Oman Air Holidays has undertaken in recent months to help empower local tour operators, guides, hotels, and other small business and solopreneurs in Oman’s growing leisure and hospitality ecosystem. “Empowering Omani SMEs through digitization initiatives brings them out of the shadows and into the spotlight where they can truly shine as local service and product providers,” said Mundher Yaqoob Al Shaikhani, Senior Manager Oman Air Holidays. “Creating opportunities where SMEs can flourish is a key component of the tourism pillars contained in Oman Vision 2040, and Oman Air Holidays is proud to do its part to help. Our platform is connected to a truly global audience and we know it will give local SMEs a step up in the right direction as we continue our efforts to attract more inbound tourists to Oman.” The new digital platform now connects local SMEs to a larger, growing network of international partners associated with Oman Air Holidays. In 2021, Oman Air Holidays partnered with several international travel operators, including WebBeds (a division of Webjet Limited), to enhance its digital booking experience and to provide more choice, flexibility and convenience to guests in search of innovative custom holiday packages. It also introduced stopover packages offering the flexibility to discover some of the most desirable tourist spots in and around Muscat.

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable developments in the Hajj and Umrah sector to shift towards a more digitized and innovative future. In efforts to create a one-of-a-kind Umrah and Hajj experience for the modern pilgrim, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah organized its annual conference and exhibition for this year, “The Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition” under the title “Transformation towards innovation.” The “Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition” was held under the Patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region and in the presence of a number of Their Excellencies Ministers from the Islamic world, and a large number of diplomatic, social, economic and media personalities under the umbrella of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the pilgrim’s service program to contribute to submit recommendations and proposals for innovative solutions that better serve the Hajj and Umrah sector and to ensure a smooth and comfortable Hajj for the guests of Allah. The Kingdom hosted this extraordinary event to discuss new and advanced ways to enrich the Hajj and Umrah experience in line with Vision 2030. The “Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition” offered an attractive gateway for investors to build strategic partnerships with stakeholders from both the governmental and the private and non-profit sectors while combining efforts to keep up with the accelerating pace of technology and harness its benefits to better serve pilgrims through the following: Shed light …

Travelex has launched its 29th location at the world’s busiest international airport, Dubai International (DXB) in the latest indication of the UAE’s tourism industry’s strong post-pandemic rebound. Travelex is also announcing plans to open its 30th store at the airport by April 2022. The new location – conveniently located for passengers in DXB’s Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall – is equipped with ATMs and trades in over 60 currencies. The launch of the new flagship store  and Travelex’s 46th in the UAE – comes as regional passenger volumes continue to climb, with 29.1 million passengers passing though DXB in 2021, a 12.7% increase on 2020. Earlier this month, the World Travel and Tourism Council announced that the Middle East’s travel tourism sector is likely to reach $246 billion this year – just 8.9% below pre-pandemic levels – with a return of global air travel, a relaxing of Covid-19 regulations, and major events, such as Expo 2020 Dubai and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, being major drivers of the market’s recovery. Travelex now offers customers foreign exchange services from 22 conventional stores and 7 mobile kiosks across Dubai International – all operated by over 240 employees. In addition to 29 locations at DXB, Travelex also operates a range of stores, OTMs (mobile kiosks) and ATMs across the wider UAE. These include Port Rashid, as well as a combined 15 locations across Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Travelex has plans to develop further locations across both Dubai International and Sharjah in 2022, creating more jobs in the process for both Emiratis and expats. Batu Dolay, Commercial Director, Travelex Middle East & Turkey said: “We are delighted and proud to both open our 29th …

Wego and Egypt Tourism Authority launch a campaign to get travelers to visit Egypt during all the seasons. Egypt continues its commitment and efforts in applying stringent health safety and precautionary measures to ensure the safety of citizens and tourists and has been welcoming tourists from the GCC. The campaign will focus on promoting Egypt as the most preferred destination of choice for Middle Eastern travelers showcasing the various elements of Egypt including warm weather, scenery, and a wide array of activities. The country will be marketed and retargeted on all Wego platforms through both the website and application, including online promotions, and other additional contributions. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India at Wego, said: “Over 2.43 million flight and hotel searches from MENA to Egypt were performed on Wego in March, where the country ranked the second most searched destination. We’re delighted to partner with Egypt Tourism Authority, to promote Egypt’s hidden gems including one of the world’s intact temples, museums, and pyramids.” You can’t think of Egypt without imaging Aswan, Hurghada, Luxor or Sharm El Sheikh. The country is the world’s largest open-air museum and has one of the oldest temples and museums, which are a must see for everyone. Amr Al-Kady, CEO of Egypt Tourism Authority, commented: “Egypt is intensifying its efforts to boost the tourism sector in the country and attract more tourists through promotional campaigns that highlight the country’s tourist destinations. Through our partnership with Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the region, we will attract more travelers from the Middle East to explore the best of Egypt. The country has been following stringent measures to provide a seamless …

The fourth edition of the most popular virtual travel trade show in the Middle East is scheduled to kick off tomorrow at 11am until 5pm. This year 22nd and 23rd March 2022, will witness a whole new line up of interesting sessions apart from the B2B networking opportunities from 11am to 5pm. One of the key partners from the Balkan region has some very unique experiences for the market to be shared, hence agents have the opportunity to tap into this market. Ivana Karanikić – General Manager – Prolingua Travel DMC shared, “Participating at 4th GTS is of utmost importance for us as we are intensively working on the Middle East travel market since 2018 and particularly because this year we have intensified, in cooperation with some tourism stakeholders from Western Balkans, the promotional activities so you will soon hear us at Arabian Radio Network channels as well as on other important media. I see this participation as an opportunity to meet both existing and future partners in order to raise awareness of Western Balkans’ market as well as us as one of the best connoisseurs of that travel destinations. This year our main focus is on our brand new tour – Muslim Women’s Adriatic Cruise along Croatian coast with 4 departures in 2022 as we recently become the only Western Balkans’ Halal Certified TO.  Thanks to unique tours combining outdoor, adventure, culture and gastronomy that have been recently updated, we also work intensively to promote undiscovered parts of Montenegro and Western Serbia as perfect travel destinations. New gem in our travel necklace is definitely Albania as an ideal destination to spend summer holidays with family but also to enjoy …