Category: Middle East

In an initiative to develop Sharjah’s tourism prospects, Wego, the largest online marketplace in Middle East and North Africa, has kicked off a unique destination co-marketing campaign in collaboration with Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). The campaign aims at projecting Sharjah’s greatest tourist attractions through online marketing activities. The customary hospitality and traditional charm, fun attractions etc will be promoted through this campaign. The campaign aims to mark Sharjah as a strong spot in world tourist map and make it a unanimous destination of choice among global travellers. The campaign will also have its marketing hand on the ... Read more

Emirates has launched the Emirates Vintage Collection – a selection of fine wines from its cellar in Burgundy which have been stored for up to 15 years. The four wines to be included this year are the Château Cheval Blanc 2004, Château Haut Brion 2004, Château Mouton Rothschild 2001 and Château Margaux 1998. Due to limited availability, these exclusive wines will be served in First Class on select routes for a limited period. Since 2006, Emirates has been buying wines for long term storage, many of which were purchased ‘en Primeur’ or when they were still in barrel. The Emirates ... Read more

Saudi Arabia was the only Gulf state with no public Christian places of worship. Saudi has entered into a deal with Vatican to build churches in the Gulf region. “This is the beginning of a rapprochement… It is a sign that the Saudi authorities are now ready to give a new image to the country,” President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, told the Vatican News website after returning from Riyadh. The agreement was was signed between local Wahhabi leaders and a Vatican cardinal to establish a cooperative relationship. The deal signed between Tauran and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdel ... Read more

Targeting Indian tourists, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has opened a representative office in Mumbai. More than 110,000 Indian travellers visited Qatar in the first quarter of 2018. Qatar has become an increasingly accessible destination for Indian travellers, especially after Qatar waived visa entry requirements for Indian citizens last year. “The decision was taken in view of the rapid growth of India’s outbound tourism market in recent years, coupled with QTA’s intensified efforts to diversify and grow visitor source,” said QTA’s Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer Rashed AlQurese. “The steps taken to make accessing Qatar easier are particularly targeted at visitors seeking to experience ... Read more

Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah, the luxurious resort owned by Oman Tourism Development Company has won “Oman’s Leading Resort 2018” at the 25th edition of the World Travel Awards. The Middle East Gala Ceremony was recently held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. “We are proud & honoured to have been recognised again by the World Travel Awards 2018 and we are delighted that our resort is appreciated by the travel industry. This confirms that we continue to deliver excellent service and a reflection of the hotel’s exceptional team in extending true hospitality with an intuitive touch to our guests,” ... Read more

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is celebrating its 25th anniversary to Dammam. Originally operating two flights a week, Emirates now flies four times daily between Dammam and Emirates’ hub in Dubai. Since the start of the Dammam service in 1993, the airline has carried more than 3.8 million passengers. “We are embarking on a real milestone as we celebrate 25 years of service to Dammam. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a major market for Emirates and we take great pride in the role we play in providing global connectivity both for business and leisure passengers in Dammam and ... Read more

Sharjah has launched its first English language radio station Pulse 95 Radio on Monday. The opening ceremony, held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC), was held at the Al Majaz Amphitheatre. The channel can be accessed on 95 FM or from the Sharjah Media corporation’s (SMC) web and mobile application. The Pulse 95 Radio station has Emirati, Arab, and international presenters. Sally Mousa, Sara Al Madani, Ana Schofield, Amna Roberts, Omar Al Busaidy, Hassan Dennaoui (Big Hass) and Iman Al Majali are the presenters. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, who took ... Read more

H H Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, has inspected the specially-designed Etihad Airways’ “Year of Zayed” A380 at Etihad Airways Engineering’s facilities in Abu Dhabi. H H Sheikh Theyab was joined by H E Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, and Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, as well as members of the Etihad senior leadership team. The A380 in “Year of Zayed” livery is just one component of Etihad’s extensive initiatives taking place throughout 2018 which are based on the four “Year ... Read more

Marriott International has opened the first Element-branded hotel in Dubai. The 168-room property features studios and one-bedroom suites. “A recognised industry leader in the eco-space, Element promotes a life in balance with its emphasis on wellness and sustainability and we are excited to debut the brand in a city like Dubai where sustainability remains a key focus across all sectors,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. Marriott International appointed Stuart Birkwood as cluster general manager for its properties in Dubai: Aloft Me’aisem, Element Me’aisem, and Aloft Dubai South. Located in Dubai Production City, ... Read more

Oman Air has unveiled its new and exclusive premium lounge at the Muscat International Airport. Oman Air passengers travelling in First Class and Business Class can now take advantage of the airline’s new premium class lounge. Spread over a two story, the lounge offers guests a wide array of food and beverage services, including dining areas and bars, luggage room, entertainment area, a smoking room, prayer rooms, business centre, kid’s room, nap area, shower facilities, baby changing facilities and a wellness area. Covering 429.35 square metres with an overall capacity of 100 people, the area designated for First Class guests ... Read more

Do you wish to enjoy rain all throughout the year? Then, The Rain Room at Al Majarah, near Buhaira Corniche in Dubai, is your perfect destination. The Rain Room by Random International, uses 1,200 litres of self-cleaning recycled water that provides an immersive experience of continuous rainfall. His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the Rain Room,  in the presence of Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, president of Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF). The Rain Room, is built on an area of 1,460 square metres, will not get you drenched in the rain. ... Read more

Good news for Dubai residents! the free-to-use Artificial Intelligence (AI) pods to be installed installed in various places across the Emirate will do quick health scans and give immediate results. Bodyo, the company that has conceived and assembled the health pods in the UAE, would be installing at least 44 pod units by mid-August. The health pods will be set up across at malls, clinics, corporations or other places with a high footfall. “These are the first such kind of AI pods designed in the UAE. Only the RnD had been done by the biomedical scientists in France,” Tariq Hussain, ... Read more

Dubai had a record international overnight visitation in 2017, which totalled 15.8 million, up 6.2 per cent over the previous year.  The Emirate’s top 10 source markets contributed a share of 59 per cent of total tourist volumes, with the remainder made up of highly diversified markets across the globe, according to the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (Dubai Tourism) Annual Visitor Report 2017. As per the report, three out of four visitors were families and couples, with individuals making up 14 per cent, friends 8 per cent, and colleagues 3 per cent of total visitation. Around 73.8 per cent ... Read more

Etihad Airways teams up with Emirati brand, A Friend of Mine by Xpoze to launch an exclusive luxury loungewear line to be offered to the airline’s First Class guests. The airlines is also planning to launch a new clothline for the guests who are staying in The Residence on board the Airbus A380 fleet. Inspired by the simplicity and elegance of traditional Emirati dress, the new clothline features earthy colours and is made of anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic Modal. The colours of the dresses have been selected to ensure that it complements all skin tones and can easily be matched with other items ... Read more

Oman’s first budget carrier SalamAir said it will operate three weekly direct flights to Tbilisi and two weekly flights to Baku starting from June 14. “It is the perfect time for SalamAir to fly to Tbilisi and Baku. The Eid holidays is a time for celebration and during this period there is generally a surge in travel to the Caucasia region. Our aim is to provide guests with better choice and flexibility to create their personal journey,” said Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir. “We want to bring Oman and the Middle East closer to Eastern Europe. There is great potential for ... Read more