Diriyah culture developments will be major part of $63bn project on outskirts of Riyadh
Travel & Hospitality
leisure and tourism
UAE National Day 2024: dnata reveals weekend offers at luxury Maldives resorts
With travel time of just over four hours, the Maldives continues to be a preferred destination for GCC travellers seeking tropical escapes
tourism industry
Outbound travel bookings see massive surge as UAE travellers’ winter and National Day vacation demand sees major boost
Short trips seem to be in vogue this year for UAE travellers, with nearby tourist destinations such as Istanbul, Tbilisi, Baku and Amman seeing maximum bookings
Aquaventure
Dubai’s Aquaventure to host official Guinness World Record attempts this December
The weekend event will feature six official record-breaking challenges open to visitors of all ages, with Guinness World Records adjudicators on site to verify attempts
AROYA
PIF-backed Saudi cruise business AROYA announces Khuzama Experience with 150 VIP suites, 1,678 cabins, 29 restaurants and world’s largest on-ship shop
Massive Saudi cruise ship will feature the world’s largest retail area on a cruise ship and more than 1,800 cabins and suites
Aviation
Dubai International Airport on track for record year after welcoming 68.6m passengers so far; London and Riyadh top destinations
Dubai International Airport sees passenger traffic climb 6.3 per cent and India named most popular destination market
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development
Abu Dhabi’s ADTIC partners with Accor for $100mn luxury Sofitel Legend Pyramids Hotel in Giza
The 303-room luxury hotel is set to break ground in December 2024
hotel occupancy
Riyadh five-star hotel occupancy hits 97% amid tourism boom
Riyadh had welcomed 8.8 million domestic tourists and 1.3 million international tourists in the first half of 2024
Dubai hotel
Kleindienst to add 5,000 5-star hotel rooms to Dubai as it targets 10% market share
Developer behind The Heart of Europe on Dubai’s World Islands targets 10 per cent market share of 5-star hotel rooms
Dubai
Dubai Museum of the Future hits 3 million visitor milestone since 2022 opening
The Museum of the Future in Dubai has established itself as a centre for Arab scientific innovation, hosting 380 events focused on future governments, space, technology, economy, and business
Dubai
Italian jewellers cash in on Dubai’s wedding tourism boom, says trade agency boss
Dubai’s 2023 marriage law reforms have unleashed a surge in destination weddings across the emirate, with Italian luxury jewelers strategically positioning to capture the growing market
air travel
India-UAE air travel sees massive 75% festive season surge as travellers seek budget-friendly GCC spots
The spike in festive season travel demand is leading to ticket prices to the UAE climbing by 30–50% already, and are expected to see more highs for year-end travel
Batik Air
Flydubai announces interline agreement with Batik Air
Flydubai and Batik Air Malaysia have announced an interline agreement
Breitling
Breitling’s 140-year evolution: Why the luxury watchmaker is opening cafes in Saudi Arabia
The brand is integrating food and beverage offerings into many of its boutiques, including launching Breitling Kitchens in markets such as Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the UK
Emirates
Emirates brings Spotify podcasts and playlists to in-flight entertainment system
Emirates has launched a collaboration with Spotify to bring audio streaming to the skies
UAE
SHP Portfolio launches in UAE, offering tailored real estate strategies for f&b sector
The company said it is involved in the expansion of London’s iconic Rowley’s Steakhouse into Dubai, and the popular Daikan Ramen and Daikan Izakaya concepts across the UAE
Saudi Hospitality
Saudi tourism booming with 99% increase in hospitality licences
Saudi Arabia has more than 443,000 licensed hotel rooms as tourism sector thrives