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Scheduled to open in mid-2020, the 233-key Anantara Sharjah Resort will be located on a prime beachfront location in Sharjah, approximately at a 15 minutes’ drive from Sharjah International Airport. The resort will offer a selection of accommodation options including Deluxe Rooms and Luxury Suites. Facilities will include multiple dining options with a specialty restaurant located on a pier, spa and wellness centre, a kids’ club, a swimming pool and a ballroom able to accommodate up to 540 guests for a banquet. Sharjah’s first Anantara resort marks a significant addition to the Emirate’s hospitality sector, which has seen impressive growth in recent years. The Anantara Sharjah Resort is co-owned by Basma Group and ARADA, with the latter playing a developer management role in the delivery of the property. HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman, Basma Group and ARADA, said: “Anantara is one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel brands, and this new property marks yet another hospitality milestone for Sharjah. We’re looking forward to launching the resort in 2020, and delivering on our commitment to providing exceptional new destinations to tourists.”

The 4th Hospitality Industry Forum organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) was held in Sharjah on the theme ‘Continuous Innovation,’ highlighting the robust expansion of the emirate’s tourism sector from 2016 to 2017. The session featured three sessions titled ‘Sharjah Hospitality Results,’ ‘Key to a Successful Travel’ and Tourism Innovation,’ a panel discussion on ‘A Stairway Towards Innovative Marketing’ and two workshops titled ‘Investment in Human Capabilities’ and ‘Destination Competitiveness in an Innovative World.’ Local hospitality sector revenues witnessed a remarkable 7.8 per cent increase during the first half of 2017 compared with the previous year, reaching AED 372 million as the emirate steadily positions itself as a destination of choice for tourists. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “Under the consistent guidance of H.H. Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the UAE Supreme Council, the relentless efforts of Sharjah’s tourism sector have placed the emirate in the international tourism map and has brought success both at the regional and local levels by offering a world-class destination that represents the Arab cultural heritage as well as a family-friendly environment.”

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), welcomed the joining of the initial group of elite governmental entities and multinational companies from the aviation sector in Dubai to the Future Aviation Lounge (FAL), an initiative that was recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. FAL is a first-of-its-kind business social network based on artificial intelligence technology that foresees the future of the global aviation sector and related industries. The initiative promotes dialogue and close cooperation among individuals and entities involved in Dubai’s aviation industry. The platform targets government agencies, multinational companies, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academia and experts in the aviation sector. It also widens the role of enterprises and individuals in accelerating the growth of the sector and increases its share in Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

flydubai unveiled its brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first of 76 ordered from Boeing, all of which will be delivered by 2023. Six of these will join the flydubai fleet by the end of 2017. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, flydubai, said, “This is another milestone in Dubai’s aviation success story. The efficiency and enhanced performance this aircraft promises is going to play an important role in the new chapter of flydubai’s growth strategy.” The new Boeing 737 MAX 8s will initially be deployed on the furthest points on flydubai’s network, including Bangkok, Prague, Yekaterinburg and Zanzibar. Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of show organisers, Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East, said, “The Dubai Airshow has always been the place for the industry to meet and do business, and to see new product launches and industry innovations. We are looking forward to what the rest of the week will bring.”

Azerbaijan has simplified its visa process by granting it online for citizens of 93 countries. Travellers will now be able to obtain visas to Azerbaijan within three hours, be it a weekend or a holiday. “This resolution will increase the tourists flow to the country not only for the beautiful autumn season but also for the rest of the year.” Rashid AL Noori, Chairman, Representative Office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan in GCC Chairman said. He noted that the influx of tourists to Azerbaijan increased by 15 -20 percent this summer, compared to the same period of last year. Arab tourists take the first position among tourists visiting Azerbaijan, followed by travelers from Russia. In July only, 330,000 people visited the country, and we anticipate that the figure will go up significantly, considering we have direct flights from Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai and we expect to inaugurate direct flights from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to Baku soon.” The decision comes as a positive gift to the visitors in GCC who love the country for its proximity and wish to visit more often on different purposes beyond its exquisite nature and Culture.

Sharjah’s hospitality sector revenues witnessed a remarkable 7.8 per cent increase during the first half of 2017 compared with the previous year, with its value reaching AED 372 million, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced. The announcement came as the emirate steadily positions itself as a destination of choice for local, regional, and international tourists. SCTDA reported a massive 70 per cent occupancy rate from January to June this year. The total number of guests for the first half of the year reached 885,000, representing a 3.5 per cent increase versus the same period in 2016. Saudi nationals occupied many of the local hotels’ lists of top guests. During the first two quarters of the year alone, hotels welcomed at least 72,000 Saudi travelers. HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “The remarkable expansion in the occupancy rate is the result of the Sharjah Government’s intensive efforts to attract local, regional, and global tourists as part of its comprehensive and ambitious socio-economic development plan. Our ultimate goal is to draw 10 million visitors a year by 2021, a grand accomplishment that will help accelerate the emirate’s unprecedented growth in the 21st century. To achieve this end, we will launch forward-thinking initiatives, bold projects and campaigns, as well as maximize all our assets and resources to place Sharjah, the UAE’s cultural capital, on the global tourism map and enhance its brand and profile on the international stage.” According to Al Midfa, part of the strategic plan for this year is to sustain the high tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia. SCTDA has set into motion a number of road shows covering major cities in the KSA to …

Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton’s midscale brand, and RAK National Hotels LLC opened Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah, marking the brand’s entry into the northern most Emirate of the United Arab Emirates. The hotel joins five other Hilton properties operating in the Emirate and 22 across the UAE. Located in the heart of the Al Nakheel area, just steps from two major shopping malls and minutes from the souks and historical sites of the old city, Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah features 240 modern and comfortable guest rooms, including 10 family rooms and eight suites, with sweeping city, creek and garden views. Commenting on the opening, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAKHH and RAKNH, said: “Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah is a very strategic asset within our portfolio of hotels. It presents a significant opportunity for us to satisfy the needs of travellers who visit Ras Al Khaimah from all around the world. We have seen a shift in recent years towards the mid-market segment, which goes in hand with the growing importance of the emerging modern traveller. The hotel therefore, is the right choice for us and for Ras Al Khaimah. We look forward to seeing it grow and succeed.” Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah guests will be treated to numerous amenities and services, including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property, a 24-hour business center, two tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center open all day. The property also offers an outdoor pool, a separate shaded pool for children, and access to the beach facilities at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa via complimentary shuttle. For conferences and other events, …