Tag: UAE

With less than 10 days to go until it opens its doors to the world, Expo 2020 Dubai today launches its official song. Titled This Is Our Time, the song highlights pride in the UAE’s culture, celebrates the future, and brings together nations from around the world, while conveying the story of Expo’s overarching theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future through the universal language of music. The song is led by Hussain Al Jassmi, one of the UAE’s biggest artists and Expo 2020 Ambassador, accompanied by 21-year-old Emirati singer-songwriter Almas, named in Spotify’s Best Female Talent in the Middle ... Read more

UAE is in the top 20 list of travel and tourism fields in the world. It ranks first in the Middle East and Arabian region. This information is based on the latest report from the World Economic Forum, the World Competitiveness Yearbook, and the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center. The report states the arrangements and facilities in the UAE in the field of tourism. This was the success of the Tourism Policies Implemented by the Government for the last several years. At the same time, UAE is number one in the index of the countries with the largest rent a ... Read more

The UAE cabinet has approved a new self-sponsored Remote Work Visa that will enable employees from all over the world to live and work remotely from the UAE, even if their companies are based in another country. The one-year visa allows foreigners to enter the UAE and work in line with terms and conditions issued with the visa. The new scheme aims to support the public and private sector, and also enables employees to expand their digital skills and adapt to the emerging gig economy. The decision was reached on Sunday during a cabinet meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin ... Read more

A haven for humans craving furry feline company, a cat cafe in Dubai also doubles as an adoption centre for some of the United Arab Emirates’ many strays. The Ailuromania Cat Cafe, which was the Middle East’s first cat cafe when it opened in 2015, hopes the relaxing properties of its 25 rescue and shelter cats will help find them their forever homes. “Anyone who is stressed just has to find a cat. All your stress will go away,” said Omnia Fareed, whose two cat-loving sisters Allaa and Iman started the cafe after university, taking inspiration from similar establishments in ... Read more

In an effort to exercise more control on the pandemic, Dubai on 27th Jan has announced updated travel protocols. The updated protocols make pre-travel PCR tests mandatory for UAE residents, GCC citizens, and travelers arriving in Dubai irrespective of the country they are coming from. The new regulations have come into effect from Sunday, January 31.  The committee has also made changes to the validity period of PCR tests reducing it from 96 hours to 72 hours. A statement was released in the Government of Dubai’s Media Office site informing the public about the revised travel protocols. The statement said ... Read more

The Dubai Opera hosted legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and a troupe of renowned Israeli singers including Idan Raichel as part of a historic concert held at the Dubai Opera. The event, titled ‘A Celebration of Peace’, was held in celebration of the growing momentum for peace in the region. The concert, which featured the participation of musicians from the UAE, highlights Dubai and the UAE’s global reputation as a beacon of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and a model for intercultural harmony and diversity. It also reinforces Dubai Opera’s rising profile as a unique international hub for performing arts and world-class entertainment. ... Read more

Budget carrier GoAir on Thursday announced the expansion of its services to the UAE with the launch of new flights to Sharjah from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, and Kannur. Currently, flights to the UAE are operated under an Air Bubble Agreement since international commercial flights to and from India remain suspended from March 23 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It has flights to Dubai in the UAE. GoAir is commencing scheduled direct flights to and from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, and Kannur to Sharjah under the Air Bubble Agreement effective January 1, it said in a release. The flight schedule ... Read more

UAE-based Indian welfare groups are anxious about the fate of future repatriation flights from the country after two chartered flights to India could not take off on Saturday in the absence of approvals from authorities in India, according to a Khaleej Times report. The Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), a welfare organisation, said the Etihad Airways EY254 flight that it had chartered from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode on Saturday had to be cancelled ‘at the last moment’ because the Directorate of General Civil Aviation (DGCA) did not send the permissions necessary for it to land in India. As per the ... Read more

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has told India’s flag carrier Air India that transportation of passengers — whether UAE nationals or not — to the emirates will not be allowed. If any one wishes to fly on a Vande Bharat Mission flight from India to Dubai, he or she will require “specific approval from the Embassy of UAE in New Delhi and UAE ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation (MOFAIC),” said an Air India spokesperson on Wednesday. “All passengers including the Indian Nationals who are holding valid Residency Permit/Work Permit of United Arab Emirates and have procured approval of the UAE’s Federal Authority ... Read more

Around 8,000 tourism, leisure and commercial facilities and restaurants in Abu Dhabi are eligible for refunds of 20% of the annual rental value, on their commercial property leases, amounting to a sum of Dh1 billion. They will get a refund of Dh200 million as part of the economic stimulus package launched by the Abu Dhabi government within the “Ghadan 21” programme to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on business activities. This was announced by Khaled Mubarak Bani Zama, director of the Industrial Development at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, during a media briefing. The department approved 220 applications ... Read more

One of the emirates’ must-see during the festival is UAE’s top visitor destinations, Ski Dubai that has won plenty of awards since its opening in 2005. As one of the region’s best family-friendly attractions and lifestyle brands, Ski Dubai has been named the world’s best indoor ski resort for 2016 and 2017. At Ski Dubai’s Snow Park you can enjoy all the magic and fun of building your own snowman or just having fun in the snow! The 4,500-metre square Snow Park gives you the chance to go sledding and tobogganing or climb towers. You can also explore a beautiful ... Read more

UAE and Colombia have signed an agreement on the mutual exemption of prior visa requirements for ordinary passport holders from both countries. The agreement was signed by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Luz Stella Jara Portilla, Vice Minister of Foreign Relations of Colombia, following their meeting as part of Sheikh Abdullah’s visit to Colombia. “Relations between the two countries are steadily growing at all fronts, including trade, investment and cultural ties. Our relations could expand further to include cooperation in the fields of food security, services and tourism,” said Sheikh Abdullah. “There ... Read more

As per a recent report released by Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the UAE’s inbound tourist footfall will touch 8.92 million by 2023, from its major 5 source markets. The upcoming Expo 2020 and its legacy, District 2020, are expected to have a positive impact on inbound arrivals to the UAE from the country’s top five source markets between 2018 and 2023, according to the data. The UAE’s top source market rankings are expected to remain mostly unchanged post-Expo 2020; however, the latest research from Colliers International, in partnership with ATM, reveals the Russian and Chinese source markets will show above ... Read more

The Al Majaz Waterfront area has been one of the most popular attractions among residents and tourists in Sharjah. But, the authorities have recently banned all picnics in this area. “The green spaces at Al Majaz waterfront are part of its aesthetics and are not equipped for picnics. Meanwhile, visitors can enjoy all the facilities, play areas, enjoy the fountain shows, and the beautiful serene waters of Khalid Lagoon,” said an official statement. Located in the vibrant heart of the city of Sharjah, Al Majaz Waterfront covers an area of 231,000 square feet, featuring stunning scenery overlooking the Khaled Lagoon. This iconic leisure ... Read more

The Indian hospitality chain, Oyo, is all set to enter the Saudi Arabian market.  Other than its regular offerings such as hotel rooms, homestays and townhouses, Oyo is launching a new category for the Saudi market. The new category of offer is expected to tap the huge number of religious tourists visiting the country. OYO Hotels & Home has also set a target of reaching 12,000 rooms by 2020 in the Middle East market, which is a 10-fold jump from 1300 rooms on its platform in the UAE market. In September 2018, the company has raised some AED3.68 billion (US$1 billion) funding ... Read more