GCC is rewriting the narrative on cultural diplomacy
Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.
Economy
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2025 kicks off Friday with over 800 competitors
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Dakar Rally 2025, the largest and longest race in the world of motorsports, is set...
Business
Hotels in UAE generate revenues of US$7bn in first seven months, says minister
ABU DHABI, UAE - In the first seven months of the year, hotel establishments in the UAE generated revenues of...
- Hotel establishments in the country hosted 16 million guests in in the first seven months of 2023, said the UAE economy minister.
- Some 56 million hotel nights have been booked while the occupancy rate reached 75 percent from January to July.
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia to enhance air connectivity to over 250 destinations by 2030
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - A delegation led by President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz bin...
- The Kingdom plans on carrying 330 million passengers annually and raising freight capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030.
- Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic also signed agreements on air transport services between the two countries.
Geostrategy
Russia plans visa-free travel with Latin American countries
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – A senior Russian official said that they intend to move towards visa-free travel with all countries of...
- The Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Latin American Department said that visa-free travel with all Latin American states is an achievable goal.
- The statement on visa-free travel was made by the senior diplomat on the sidelines of the "Russia - Latin America" conference.
Arts & Culture
Producer Baz Luhrmann to be head of jury at Red Sea International Film Festival 2023
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Red Sea International Film Festival has said that internationally renowned writer, director and producer Baz...
- The festival's third edition will take place from November 30 to December 9 in Jeddah.
- The event will showcase movies from filmmakers from the Arab region, Asia and Africa.
Economy
Innovation steers Middle East through tourism swings
Facing tourism seasonality challenges, the region diversifies offerings, enhances infrastructure, and collaborates, for year-round success despite temperature fluctuations.
- The Middle East combats tourism seasonality and temperature challenges with innovative strategies for consistent year-round appeal
- Using diversified tourism, improved infrastructure, and collaboration, destinations can maximize off-peak season benefits in the region
Geostrategy
China grants Approved Destination Status to Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – China on Tuesday granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) to the Gulf Kingdom. The bilateral agreement, signed...
- The bilateral pact allows Chinese citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia in group tours in addition to facilitating greater ease of access.
- ADS will drive greater connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China and unlock new opportunities across the tourism ecosystem.
Arts & Culture
Chinese President Xi Jinping declares biggest-ever Asian Games open
Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza...
- In front of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other visiting leaders, Xi officially opened the Games at the 80,000-capacity Hangzhou Olympic stadium.
- The theme of the ceremony was water and it also celebrated Hangzhou's ancient history and landscape.
Geostrategy
$15m paid in compensation to passengers in 2021-22 in Saudi Arabia, says GACA
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said that national airlines in the Kingdom have issued...
- These compensations were given primarily to deal with issues such as delays, loss of luggage, flight cancellations.
- GACA aims to ensure that passengers are well-informed about their rights and can easily obtain refunds as per the regulations.
Sudan refugees bring off-season tourism to Egypt’s Aswan
Around 310,000 people have crossed from Sudan into Egypt since war broke out on April 15 between the forces of...
- "Since our Sudanese brothers came from the war, work has started to get better and there's been more work in tourism,"a boat captain said
- Egypt is currently going through its worst-ever economic crisis, which has devastated purchasing power across the country
Economy
Qatar Tourism appoints Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim as brand ambassador
Doha, Qatar - Qatar Tourism has appointed Olympic and World champion, Mutaz Barshim, as its newest brand ambassador. Barshim, who...
- Barshim recently set a world record as the only high jump athlete to win five World Championship medals
- Qatar recently concluded its Summer in Qatar season, which saw the debut of the country’s first-ever Qatar Toy Festival, and ‘Disney on Ice.’
GCC is rewriting the narrative on cultural diplomacy
Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.
Economy
Company News
Latest News
‘Over 91 percent of travel bookings are now online’
Digitalization is revolutionizing travel, and data analytics is hyper-personalizing the sector, notably in GCC's growing business tourism, says Pallav Singhvi...
Business
Saudi to bring in more tourists from the Caribbean with expanded eVisa program
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, has announced the expansion of...
Business
ATM 2024 in Dubai to host 2,300 exhibitors from 165 countries
Dubai, UAE - The 31st edition of Arabian Travel Mart, 2024, taking place from May 6 to May 9, is...
Business
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Business
Business and leisure combo drives GCC tourism boom
Business travelers worldwide are drawn to the GCC countries due to their rapidly growing economies, strategic geographic locations, and ambitious...
- The region has positioned itself as a hub for a diverse range of travelers, including job seekers, investors, artists, and even those merely passing through
- The GCC is becoming a hub for major cultural and entertainment events, from art exhibitions and live concerts to sports events
‘Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Bahrain have reinforced position as top GCC tourist spots’
GCC region is a hidden gem, offering a distinct blend of Arabic culture and history, Fahim Jalalli, CEO of Kanoo...
- What began with Emirates and Dubai has expanded to include Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, says Fahim Jalalli, CEO of Kanoo Travel
- The region hosts numerous trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions, and have so many hotels that are capable of accommodating tens of thousands of attendees, he adds
Business
Meet Middle East tourism’s power players
Tourism industry accounts for 9 percent of GCC region's GDP and it is expected to grow annually at 7.7 percent....
- The region’s largest economy, Saudi Arabia, won encomiums for the "remarkable achievement" of receiving over 100 million tourists in 2023.
- Motivated by this success, the Kingdom has now set a new ambitious target of welcoming 150 million tourists by 2030.