Emirates check-in robot

Emirates unveils new ‘city check-in and travel store’ in DIFC

The new facility is a stylish and spacious contemporary space that is aimed at ensuring a hassle-free check-in experience for passengers

WTTC travel and tourism EIR report photo gettyimages

Global travel and tourism sector to reach $9.5tn in 2023: WTTC

The global tourism body also forecasts that the sector will recover to 95 per cent of the 2019 job level

Tokyo

All UAE residents can now apply for eVisas for Japan

New visa application rules have also been announced for Saudi nationals and residents in Saudi Arabia, as well as citizens of Qatar

Emirates

Dubai’s Emirates adds 38 additional flights to 6 cities ahead of Eid Al Fitr

This year, more than 110,000 travellers are expected to board Emirates flights during Eid across the region

Eid getaways

Top 12 getaways for Eid this year

With Eid just around the corner, many people in the UAE are already planning their vacations to celebrate the occasion with their loved ones

Sri Lankan carrier FitsAir has ramped up its services from the capital city of Colombo to Dubai.

FitsAir raises frequency on Colombo-Dubai route

Using its Airbus 320 aircraft, it has increased operations to a daily service between the two destinations

emirates and philippine airlines announce interline agreement Image Emirates Media Centre

Emirates, Philippine Airlines codeshare offers travellers access to these destinations

With the new agreement, Emirates now has interline partnerships with 120 air carriers

dxb smart gates

Smart gates make DXB airport journey easier; scanning documents no longer needed

If you’re registered for the smart gates, you can pass through by simply looking at the green light, with no need to scan a document

Qatar

Qatar launches first commercial charter flight to and from Kazakhstan

The nation has identified Kazakhstan as one of 15 target markets where tourists can relax, rejuvenate and enjoy Qatar’s vibrant culture

Vietnam

Dubai’s Sunset Hospitality Group launches Azure Beach and Attiko in Vietnam

The group sets sights on opening a further 20 venues in 2023, 15 of those internationally, as its expansion plan gathers pace

musafir travel trends 2023 -e1607842665376

International travel to see steeper growth in 2023, predicts Musafir.com

The average annual business travel spend of SMEs in the UAE is expected to grow by 15-20 per cent in 2023

Review: Staycation at V Hotel Dubai

Review: Staycation at V Hotel Dubai

Located in Al Habtoor City on the banks of Dubai Water Canal, the hotel is unlike anything else you will experience

Pandemic travel

Pandemic travel has reached a tipping point

The pullback in restrictions is “an acknowledgment that we’re in a new phase of this pandemic, where things are more stable

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launches its first flight to Tashkent

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launches first flight to Tashkent

The flights will connect Abu Dhabi International Airport to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport with a twice-weekly service

Passenger demand, forward bookings signal continuing recovery, says IATA

Passenger demand, forward bookings signal continuing recovery, says IATA

Total traffic in October 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 44.6 per cent compared to October 2021

Dnata

UAE’s dnata announces partnership with Amex GBT

As per the agreement, dnata will provide full end-to-end travel and meetings management services to Amex GBT’s customers in the region

etihad-airways-and-armani-casa-launch-world-first-luxury-partnership

Etihad Airways, Armani/Casa partner to deliver a premium travel experience

Launching onboard in December, the partnership will further enhance Etihad’s premium offering, exclusively curated with designer Giorgio Armani

DayAway offers a daytime experience Waldorf Astoria in Dubai

DayAway, a portal offering daytime luxury experiences, launches in the UAE

With seven luxury launch partners currently on board, DayAway’s offerings in the UAE include experiences at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Telal Resort Al Ain and InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah

Neeraj Gupta, CEO Policybazaar UAE

How the surge in travel has impacted the insurance sector

Neeraj Gupta, CEO of Policybazaar in the UAE tells Gulf Business about how travel insurance has gained prominence post the pandemic

Sleep 'n Fly T3-B new lounge at DXB

Airport Dimensions opens flagship sleep ’n fly concept at DXB

Sleep options include a range of cabins and sleep ’n fly’s signature FlexiSuite Pods and a dedicated ‘Power Nap’ area

Emirates statement on operations at London Heathrow

UK-UAE travel: Emirates to start third flight to London Gatwick to meet demand

The third daily flight will help serve high demand from customers travelling to and from London this summer

Saudi Arabia airspace

Saudi Arabia opens airspace to all carriers

The move by Saudi Arabia marks a win for Joe Biden as he uses his visit to the region this week to advance US strategic interests

Airbnb readies $2bn buyback on surge in travel demand

Dubai ranks as 10th best Airbnb destination globally in 2022

According to the latest data from Inkifi, Dubai has 15,948 Airbnb active rentals

Emirates

Emirates Airline’s Adnan Kazim on the carrier’s roadmap to a thriving future

Dubai will definitely remain a core strategy for Emirates, opines the carrier’s chief commercial officer 

Arabian Travel Market 2022: The industry’s best on offer

Airlines, hotels, tourism boards and travel trade operators from around the world came together for the event

Airbnb is shutting China business to focus on outbound Asia travel

The San Francisco-based company will stop offering rental homes and experiences in the country this summer

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Saudi Arabia

The Middle East’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve to be established in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea project

Apart from the property in Saudi, there are only five other Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide

Uk visa

UK to waive visa requirement for Saudi, Bahraini nationals from June 1

They will need to fill out an online visa waiver application which will be processed within 48 hours and at a cost of GBP30

in-destination

ATM 2022: In-destination experiences to shape the future of global travel and tourism

Topics discussed at the one-day forum included the role of sustainability in driving the in-destination business forward

Ras Al Khaimah Airventure

Ras Al Khaimah offers new hot air ballooning experience

The RAK Airventure attraction is open daily at Manar Mall and is part of the emirate’s sustainable tourism initiatives