Tag Archives: tourism

Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman who doubles as one of the US’s highest-ranking diplomats, came under fire after posting a photo of herself on Wednesday smiling outside a Saudi Arabian government complex during a visit to Riyadh to discuss the alleged torture and killing of a US resident and …

Dubai has approved an ambitious tourism strategy to attract 21 to 23 million tourists by 2022 and 25 million visitors by 2025. This is a part of a strategy to strengthen Dubai’s position as a favoured destination and the most visited city in the world. The strategy was approved during …

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Wednesday plans to turn a section of its northwestern coast into a magnet for international tourists, part of a broader push to diversify the economy away from oil. “The new destination is a natural extension of the Mediterranean Sea, and dubbed the …

Theme park operator Dubai Parks and Resorts said Sunday it has signed a strategic partnership with leading Chinese payment service UnionPay to introduce the facility for Chinese travellers visiting the UAE. With six billion subscribers globally, UnionPay claims to have the largest cardholder base in the world. According to the …

Retailers and the tourism industry have reacted positively to the announcement that visitors to the UAE will soon be able to claim back any value added tax (VAT) they are charged. On Wednesday, the UAE cabinet agreed to put in place a system that will allow tourists to receive refunds …

An Egyptian court sentenced a Lebanese tourist to eight years in prison on Saturday after she posted a video tirade on her Facebook page that Egyptian authorities claimed had insulted the country and its leader. The news website Ahram reported that Mona el-Mazbouh was initially handed an 11-year sentence and …

The UAE’s non-oil private sector output and new orders in June rose at their fastest pace this year, indicating a strong improvement in the overall health of the economy, according to the Emirates NBD Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The PMI for June rose to a 2018 high of 57.1, up …

Come August 1 and lasting for three months thereafter, a general amnesty will come into effect for foreigners and non-residents who have violated the UAE’s residency laws. While full details of the amnesty — dubbed ‘Protect Yourself via Rectifying Your Status’ — have yet to be clarified, Brigadier Saeed Rakan …

by Ibaa Younis*   Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the most ancient and continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city is clearly divided into two parts; old and new. In this sense, it combines the present time features and the deep-rootedness of the past. The charm …

The UAE will grant a three-month general amnesty to foreign violators of the country’s residency laws starting from August 1, a senior official said on Thursday. Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashedi, Acting Director General of Foreigners Affairs and Ports Department at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, told Gulf …

A new policy promising free limited visas to transit passengers could potentially allow visitors to stay in the UAE for nearly a week, and it’s not just good for the tourism sector but for the local economy as a whole. The UAE cabinet approved last week a decision to exempt …

Jumeirah will eventually add one more hotel brand to its stable, chief executive Jose Silva declared in an interview with Gulf News, speaking to the press for the first time since taking over the top position in January. As the company enters its next phase of expansion, targeting global markets whilst …

The tourism industry is expected to receive a boost from the latest in a long line of government measures intended to bolster the economy, experts and industry officials say. On Wednesday evening, the UAE Cabinet approved a decision to exempt transit passengers from all entry fees for the first 48 …

The Executive Committee of Abu Dhabi Executive Council has approved the reduction of tourism fees from 6 per cent to 3.5 per cent and municipality fees from 4 per cent to 2 per cent. The committee also endorsed the reduction of municipality fees for hotel rooms from Dh15 to Dh10 …

Tourism in Abu Dhabi and Dubai grew by 3.6 per cent during the first three months of 2018, compared to the same period from last year. Hotel occupancy increased by 1.2 per cent and room occupancy rose by 5.7 per cent, according to recent statistics issued by the tourism departments …

Construction of the world’s next tallest tower in Dubai has reached a new milestone and is running ahead of schedule. The 450 skilled workers commissioned for the $1 billion (Dh3.6 billion) project have just completed the concrete placement for the pile cap of the super-tall masterpiece, it was announced on …

Dubai’s tourism authority is set this week to launch a major charm offensive in China, courting some of the largest companies in the world in a bid to lure more Chinese visitors to the city. On Sunday, Issam Kazim, the chief executive of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing …

Dubai welcomed a record 4.7 million foreign tourists in the first quarter this calendar signalling strong growth momentum for the economy, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said in a statement on Friday. “Welcoming 4.7 million international overnight tourists from January-March 2018, the emirate posted a stable …

There is no move to legalise gambling in Dubai, despite the imminent arrival of three of the world’s most famous hotel casino brands, according to the emirate’s most senior tourism official. The MGM Grand, the Bellagio, and as of last week Caesars Palace, are all heading for Dubai, with the …

When Marc Descrozaille is not busy laying down future growth plans for Swiss hotel chain Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, he is either taking his private boat out in the Dubai waters, going dune-bashing in the desert or cooking for his friends and family. And if not that, you will find …

Nearly 10 years after the world’s most famous ocean liner steamed into its new home of Dubai, Queen Elizabeth 2 is set for a soft opening on April 18 at its new permanent home of Port Rashid. Invitations went out on Thursday to media in an informal announcement that the …

Sitting idle for nearly a decade at Port Rashid, history’s most famous ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is primed and ready for a new life as an upscale tourist destination permanently berthed in the heart of Dubai’s maritime centre. Reno crews have been seen all over the ship since last …

This very 70s style beach campsite is a great way to enjoy the simpler things in life, in a city that hardly ever sleeps. The new campsite is located at the ultra-peaceful Banan Beach Resort, a beachfront venue that is home to the most retro tents you’ll see, as well …

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, has said that Abu Dhabi is witnessing rapid growth and development on its journey to become a world-class tourism destination. “This is as a result of activating an economic diversification strategy, supporting non-oil producing sectors, and adopting tourism as one of …

With key tourism projects and infrastructure development, Oman’s Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is making significant efforts to enhance the country’s offerings in the sector while emphasising on sustainable development. As a signatory to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for sustainable tourism development, Oman has adopted several measures to enhance tourism …

The UAE has been rated number one globally in 50 indices covering vital community and service sectors, according to the Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018. The UAE led in the region and the world in various indices including the quality of government decisions, the government’s ability to adapt to changes, the …

After several months of excavation work, Egypt’s antiquities ministry said on Saturday that an ancient cemetery had been discovered near the city of Minya, south of Cairo. The large necropolis is located 2.5 miles north of the Tuna al-Gabal area, a vast archaeological site on the edge of the western desert. …

Shaikh Zayed Road will continue to host the “world’s tallest hotel”, with the opening this week of the Gevora built by the Al Attar Group. The 75-floor structure stands at a height of 356 metres (1,167.98 feet) and has 528 rooms. It is located right near the DIFC cluster and …

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is due to visit London in early March, it is understood. The visit was previously set to take place in February, but now appears to have been pushed back amid fears it could be disrupted by activists protesting the kingdom’s role in the ongoing war in …

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Tuesday held talks with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah …

Japan-inspired eatery Wagamama, which opened its flagship restaurant in Dubai Mall on Wednesday, has been mismanaged in the UAE, losing ground to lesser brands, according to its top executive in the country. “It was a mistake that RMAL Hospitality made. They had a great brand, they had an opportunity to …

Argentina’s ambassador to the UAE on Tuesday joined the Camel Trek organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre (HHC), even camping overnight with other participants before heading into the desert on his own camel on Wednesday. Fernando De Martini’s gesture is aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation between the UAE …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and Airbnb have agreed to promote responsible home sharing, in an attempt to boost tourism and diversify the tourism offer in the Ras Al Khaimah, the government office said on Wednesday. This agreement follows the recent adoption of a new directive which makes …

A record 4.875 million people stayed in Abu Dhabi’s 162 hotels and hotel apartments during 2017, a 9.8 per cent increase on 2016, the capital’s tourism authority said in a statement on Tuesday. Figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism–Abu Dhabi (DCT) for its hospitality sector reveal that …

The inaugural Ajman seaplane flight took off from Al Zora Marina on Wednesday, with Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ajman Tourism Development Department, on board. The 9 seater Cessna Caravan amphibian seaplane will have daily flights from Ajman to Dubai Creek at 8.30 am. The 17 …

A groundbreaking natural desert reserve covering 10 per cent of Dubai’s total area has been launched. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched Al Marmoom Reserve on Tuesday. The first open desert reserve for public will house …

President Trump’s dismissal of Haiti, El Salvador and all of Africa as “shithole countries” whose people are not desirable for U.S. immigration  shocked people around the world and provoked swift condemnation. The president made the remarks Thursday during a White House meeting with lawmakers. And reactions were swift. “The African Union Commission is …

One person was killed on Monday during clashes between security forces and protesters in a Tunisian town, a security official and residents said, as demonstrations over rising prices and tax increases spread in the North African country. A man was killed during a demonstration against government austerity measures in Tebourba, …

Shawarma joints across the country will now have to adhere to new standards issued by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma). Esma announced on Saturday that it was enforcing new federal standards that would tighten controls at all stages of preparing the region’s most popular fast-food item. According …

A hot air balloon crashed on Friday in Egypt’s Luxor governorate, killing a 36-year-old South African tourist and injuring 13 other foreign tourists as they were on a tour over the Valley of the Kings, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. The body of the deceased tourist as well as those …

A floating house has reportedly sunk in front of Burj Al Arab, Gulf News has learnt. There were no injuries in the incident. The floating house, which was placed in front of Burj Al Arab, sunk on Wednesday. Lt. Col. Ahmad Atiq Burqibah, Deputy Director of the Search and Rescue Department at …

The experience of pearl diving, a centuries-old tradition of Emirati culture, is now available in Ajman for citizens, residents and tourists. Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Foundation in cooperation with Rahal Travel and Tours, a subsidiary of the Ajman Holding Group, has announced the launch of the Ajman Pearl Journey, which …

The Trump administration said Thursday it would allow new offshore oil and gas drilling in nearly all United States coastal waters, giving energy companies access to leases off California for the first time in decades and opening more than a billion acres in the Arctic and along the Eastern Seaboard. …

Beekeeping tradition in the mountains of the UAE is receiving a renewed buzz with the opening of the region’s first queen bee rearing station in Hatta on Wednesday. The 110-square-metre Hatta Honey station was inaugurated on Wednesday by Dr Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, coinciding …