Etihad will launch flights from Abu Dhabi to Paris on double-decker A380 plane
Travel & Hospitality
Austria
UAE passport ranks as world’s strongest
The UAE passport offers citizens visa-free access to over 180 countries globally
Dubai
Dubai ranks among top 10 most affordable global city destinations
Dubai outranks major travel hotspots like Paris and New York City
Arabian Travel Market
Dubai to host ATM 2024; city has 150,000 hotel rooms and welcomed 17m tourists last year
Hospitality stakeholders will head to Dubai for ATM 2024
NEOM
NEOM: Marriott signs deal to open second luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia
Located in the remote mountains, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve aims to provide a “bespoke” and “immersive” experience centred around “human connection” through highly personalised service and design that reflects the local environment
Hospitality
Saudi Arabia plans for 320,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 to meet surging tourism demand
Research reveals a major hospitality expansion is underway in Saudi Arabia as the country looks to attract 150 million visitors by 2030
Bahrain
EU approves 5-year Schengen Visas for Saudi, Omani, and Bahraini citizens
Ctizens of the three Gulf countries are now permitted multiple-entry visas to travel within the Schengen zone
Abu Dhabi
UAE theme parks rival Orlando in scope, with giant potential market of 3bn visitors, LEGOLAND Dubai boss says
Orlando may currently hold the crown as the world’s top theme park destination, but the UAE is making a play for the title with its world-class parks and growing appeal
Cayan Group
Saudi Arabia: NEOM Hampton by Hilton hotel to open in early 2025 under new deal
Real estate firm Cayan Group signs an agreement with Hilton for a 201-key hotel in NEOM
beach club
Ras Al Khaimah: Al Hamra, RIKAS Hospitality announce new UAE beach club
Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2024, the new Ras Al Khaimah beach club will provide a hospitality experience alongside leisure and entertainment options
airport baggage
Dubai rain: Emirates opens baggage collection as it looks to return 30,000 luggage items
Emirates invites passengers who left cases at Dubai International Airport to retrieve luggage
Dubai Airport
Dubai’s Emirates had ‘toughest week’ as UAE rain cancels 400 flights, left passengers stranded and saw ‘unacceptable’ delays at airport: Sir Tim Clark
Dubai rains led to major disruption at airport, ‘unacceptable’ delays and confusion says Emirates President Sir Tim Clark
Aviation
UAE rains bring Dubai to standstill; Saudi Arabia announces new visa rules; Eid holiday dates revealed; Real estate analysis- 10 things you missed this week
UAE rains bring Dubai to standstill, new Saudi visa rules, Eid Al Adha expected dates, real estate analysis and more of the biggest news stories this week
Airports
World’s best airport 2024 revealed: Which Middle East hub won top prize?
World Airport Awards 2024 by Skytrax named a Middle East transport hub as the best airport in the world
DocsInBox
Middle East F&B sector to undergo massive transformation with new DocsInBox MENA expansion
The company is targeting to help the region’s hotel, restaurant and catering (HoReCa) sector to save one million man hours per month with its e-invoicing and procurement solution
National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI)
Oman hotel revenues hit $136m in February, up over 18% on last year
Oman tourism sector grows as visitor numbers swell since last year
Jeddah
Time Out Jeddah Restaurant Awards 2024: Nominees revealed
The annual awards will crown Jeddah’s best restaurants on May 15