Category: Middle East

Flash floods caused by heavy rain across Jordan have killed eleven people and forced hundreds of tourists to seek higher ground in the kingdom’s ancient city of Petra, as per the government spokesperson. About two dozen people were injured and dozens more evacuated from their homes in several locations in the kingdom, as floodwaters rose rapidly. In Petra, floodwaters in some areas rose up to 4 meter as reported by the  state TV. Amateur video posted on social media showed a powerful torrent rushing through a steep, narrow canyon in Petra, as several hundred visitors crowded on a patch of ... Read more

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, marked 15 years since its inaugural commercial flight to Beirut on 12 November 2003. In a fitting tribute to the first flight, guests travelling on flight EY535 to the Lebanese capital enjoyed a cake-cutting ceremony at the departure gate this morning. The airline also presented each guest with a limited-edition cabin crew scarf and tie set, designed by iconic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, while younger flyers were gifted Etihad teddy bears by cabin crew wearing the airline’s first ever uniform from 2003, in addition to its current style. More than 400 employees ... Read more

As the busiest days of the travel calendar approach, travellers can ‘fly better’ with Emirates as well as enjoy a stress-free experience even before boarding their flight during the festive period with Home Check-in. With convenience in mind, customers in Dubai booking their travel across any class with Emirates can now take advantage of Home Check-in for just AED 250 for up to seven pieces of luggage. The rate of AED 25 will be charged for every additional piece of luggage. Customers can book the service on emirates.com 12-48 hours before departure. Home Check-in agents will come to a customer’s ... Read more

Emirates is set for its largest participation yet at the 2018 edition of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIA) taking place from 14-16 November. This is the first time the airline will showcase its 100th A380, which is emblazoned with the HH Sheikh Zayed decal as a tribute to the late founding father of the UAE. The aircraft on display will allow both trade visitors and the general public to explore all the features on this latest generation double-decker, including Emirates’ refreshed OnBoard Lounge. The Emirates Flight Training Academy, which was inaugurated one year ago at the Dubai Airshow, will also ... Read more

Emirates is firing up its ovens for Thanksgiving celebrations on board and on the ground. The airline will offer customers special holiday menus across all classes on flights between Dubai and the US and in the respective airport lounges. The Thanksgiving menu will be available to customers travelling between Dubai and the US from November 22 to 25. First and Business Class passengers can choose from appetisers including: a smoked duck salad, served with poached fig, pickled beetroot, green beans, plum chutney and hazelnuts; a creamy cauliflower soup; a pumpkin soup with toasted pumpkins seeds and chives; or a smoked ... Read more

Heart-pumping dune bashing, exploring past civilisations, and stargazing in the middle of the desert: Mleiha has put together an all-encompassing itinerary through its Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project. Mleiha, in the Emirate of Sharjah, is striking the right chord with history buffs and the traveller who loves the great outdoors. In 2016, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre was officially opened by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as part of the first phase of the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project. The project, realising the true potential of Mleiha as a ... Read more

The Middle East’s first indoor ski resort, Ski Dubai, has activities to keep you enthralled for several days and can be visited many times over! Snow Park Snow Park is a breathtaking 3,000 square meter, real snow wonderland — strap on your snow boots and experience Twin Track Bobsled runs, a Snow Cavern filled with interactive experiences, and Tobogganing hills. Head one down to the upgrade station for an exhilarating ride on the Giant Ball or jump on the chairlift for a one of a kind bird’s eye view of the entire park. Don’t miss out on the resident royalty ... Read more

Sharjah pavilion at WTM London 2018 The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (SCTDA), has announced exclusive updates about ten latest additions to its portfolio of hospitality projects and eco-destinations at World Travel Market 2018, which kicks off on Monday, 5th November 2018 at the ExCeL in London, UK, and will conclude on Nov7. The global event provides a unique platform for tourists and visitors looking for exceptional experiences to enjoy. This year’s exhibition focuses on the emerging global trend on ‘bleisure’ or the combined experiences from business tourism and leisure. SCTDA is participating at WTM London for the 16th consecutive ... Read more

Etihad Airways is celebrating fifteen years since its first flight and its subsequent rise as one of the world’s leading airlines. The major milestone is being marked with a series of events and initiatives in Abu Dhabi and around the world, beginning with the unveiling of an exclusive collaboration with iconic New York fashion designer, Diane von Furstenberg. The UAE national airline now operates a next-generation fleet of over 110 modern Boeing and Airbus aircraft, flying to 84 passenger and cargo destinations. Over the span of 15 years, Etihad Airways has operated over 840,000 passenger flights and has carried 139 ... Read more

Emirates is gearing up to launch the world’s first “biometric path” which will offer its customers a smooth and truly seamless airport journey at the airline’s hub in Dubai International airport. Utilising the latest biometric technology – a mix of facial and iris recognition, Emirates passengers can soon check in for their flight, complete immigration formalities, enter the Emirates Lounge, and board their flights, simply by strolling through the airport. The latest biometric equipment has already been installed at Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International airport. This equipment can be found at select check-in counters, at the Emirates Lounge in Concourse ... Read more

Salalah, the gateway to Oman’s most southerly governate of Dhofar, has been one of the sought after tourist places in the Middle East during the soaring summer season from 21st June to 21st September 2018. As per the statistics revealed by The National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), 826,376 tourists visited Salalah during this period, citing a record hike of around 28 per cent against the same period in 2017. As per the reports, around 94.4 per cent of tourists visited Salalah for recreational and entertainment purposes.  779,703 tourists visited Salalah with this purpose during this period, which were 604,774 ... Read more

UAE to have major visa policy changes, which will came in to being from today, 21st October 2018. It is expected that the new visa rules will not just benefit expatriates, but boost the local economy as well. The visa policy changes include the extension of entry permits for visitors and visas for women. The Federal Authority for identity and Citizenship confirmed last week that it will begin extending the residency visa for widows and divorced women and their children for a year without a sponsor. The residency visas of students sponsored by the parents will also be renewed. The ... Read more

India is the biggest tourism markets for Dubai and it aims at doubling number of tourists in the coming years. Last year around 2.1 million Indians visited Dubai. In order to achieve the target, Dubai is planning to enhance the air connectivity with India. “Air connectivity at present is not enough; we are running at almost full capacity. With the kind of campaigns we are running, demand will increase further. We are working with Indian carriers to facilitate dialogue with the civil authorities and the airports in Dubai to make it easier for them to bring in more capacity,” said ... Read more

Hospitality giant Marriott is planning to add 11 new properties in the UAE by year-end, bringing its portfolio to 59 properties and over 17,000 rooms in the across the six Emirates. In 2018, around 6 properties have been added so far and the hospitality major is planning to add five more in the country this year itself. The company is planning to add 20 new properties in the next five years. Marriott is expecting that this development pipeline could generate over 5,000 new jobs in the country. This year saw the opening of hotels under two regional brands – Elements Hotels brand ... Read more

Mount Nebo, Jordan Tourism industry of Jordan is in a revival mode, after years of safety concerns due to regional instabilities. Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, Tourism Board General Director, said that the country has been witnessing increase in the number of inbound tourists during the past eight months of the year.  There is a recorded 12 per cent increase in the number of tourists who stayed in the Kingdom, while the income from tourism also increased by 14 per cent. “We have been implementing a new strategy using social media to change the mentality of tourists and convince them that Jordan ... Read more