IOC creates historic Olympic Esports Games with 2025 launch in Saudi
History was made today when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to create Olympic Esports Games. The first edition will...
Chinese company to build Saudi Arabia’s first ocean park
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, China's largest ocean theme park operator, announced plans on Thursday to build...
Business
Economy
Abu Dhabi National Aquarium is the largest in Mideast
An estimated one million people a year are expected to visit the aquarium housing marine animals in ten distinct habitats...
- An estimated one million people a year are expected to visit the aquarium housing marine animals in ten distinct habitats under the supervision of marine life experts
- The aquarium offers many interactive activities, including scuba diving, animal feeding, and glass-bottomed sailing boat tours
Economy
Omicron surge pushes Morocco to extend flight ban
The restrictions have dealt a punishing blow to the North African country's vital tourism sector.
- Morocco imposed the measure to run initially from late November until December 31
- This, despite a mechanism being in place for Moroccan citizens stranded abroad to come home
Business
Indian Minister says UAE most popular tourist destination for his countrymen
The UAE is the most popular destination in the world for Indian tourists, according to figures submitted to Indian Parliament...
- The second and third most popular destinations for Indians were Thailand and Bangladesh, but their figures were way below those of the UAE.
- The Minister confirmed that 314,495 Indians left on tourist visas for the UAE in the first quarter of this year.
Arts & Culture
Abu Dhabi to host Pokemon GO Tour live event in 2022
Gamers on Yas Bay will be joined by those taking part in Monterrey, Mexico at Parque Fundidora and Kaohsiung, Taiwan...
- The event will be hosted by Niantic, the AR company behind Pokémon GO, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
- The ticketed event will include real-world habitats, special in-game features, photo ops, a special game plan, exclusive merchandise and targets existing gamers
Economy
Dubai emerges as global superyacht capital
Dubai is now home to 15 marinas with more than 3,000 berths, which can accommodate an array of pleasure craft...
- Dubai is now home to 15 marinas with more than 3,000 berths, which can accommodate an array of pleasure craft and luxury yachts as well as superyachts and gigayachts
- More than 200 superyachts were registered across the Middle East as of 2019 with Dubai being the base for many of these vessels, says a report by Oxford Business Group
Arts & Culture
Saudi festivals celebrate cultural blooming
As Saudi Arabia opens up on the culture front, tourism gets a leg-up in a boost for Vision 2030.
- Saudi Arabia is witnessing a huge tourist boom, reflecting the government's interest in the sector
- STA collaborates with the Saudi tourist sector to develop one million jobs and 100 million annual visits by 2030
Business
Oman sees hospitality industry revenue fall 3.5%
The National Centre for Statistics and Information says domestic guest have supported the Oman's hotels.
- Domestic guests constituted the highest percentage of visitors in hotel industry of Oman
- The occupancy rate of hotels in Oman rose by 36.3 percent
Turkey pledges to protect Mediterranean Sea
Turkey, the last G20 country that ratified the Paris climate agreement, faces criticism for how it treats its water.
- Microplastics pollution in the Mediterranean Sea poses a threat to marine life
- Turkey’s southern shores on the Sea of Marmara has witnessed the largest outbreak of ‘sea snot’
Business
Saudi Arabia, Oman ink 13 business deals
The deals were inked by Oman Investment Authority firms with Saudi counterparts as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited.
- OQ signed three MoUs in the fields of petrochemicals, renewable energy and green hydrogen sector
- In the field of dry dock and logistic services, Asyad signed an MoU with a Saudi shipping company
Economy
Syria eyes visitor resurgence, especially from Europe
Syria is an important destination for Shiite pilgrims, and has continued to welcome visitors from Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon during...
- Syria is home to several UNESCO world heritage sites that were very popular with tourists before the war
- Most sites were damaged by more than 10 years of a conflict, but restoration work was undertaken
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
IOC creates historic Olympic Esports Games with 2025 launch in Saudi
History was made today when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to create Olympic Esports Games. The first edition will...
Company News
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NEOM announces Aquellum as futuristic lifestyle community
NEOM, SAUDI ARABIA - The Board of Directors of NEOM has announced Aquellum, a luxury and experiential space embedded within...
Business
Dubai Duty Free achieves all-time record sales of over US$2.16bn in 2023
DUBAI, UAE - The New Year began on a high note for Dubai Duty Free with the announcement of an...
Business
Over 12m people visit Riyadh Season in 60 days
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Two months after their launch, on October 11, 2023, Riyadh Season events had already attracted 12...
Arts & Culture
Most Read
Saudi Arabia introduces unified platform for visas, including Hajj, Umrah
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday introduced 'KSA VISA,' a unified visa platform aimed at streamlining visa application...
- The platform aims to automate visa issuance procedures, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience
- The initiative is a step in the kingdom's strategy to bolster tourism in the forthcoming years
Business
Red Sea Global, VAARST join hands for marine ecosystem mapping
TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA - Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations, is piloting SubSLAM, an...
- VAARST’s photogrammetry and real-time intelligent data collection system are transforming how underwater ecosystems are mapped and preserved.
- SubSLAM, developed by VAARST, enables precise quantification and identification of corals and underwater objects using advanced 4K sensors.
Business
NEOM unveils Utamo, a $500bn project to showcase world’s mega artists
NEOM, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's $500 billion mega project, has introduced Utamo, a new art and entertainment destination set...
- Described by NEOM as "an innovative and multipurpose event and performance space," Utamo features VIP lounges and signature restaurants
- NEOM envisions Utamo as a venue where "reality and the digital realm converge," aiming to redefine entertainment benchmarks