Jordan’s Umm al-Jimal added to UNESCO heritage list
Amman, Jordan - Jordan's Umm al-Jimal village has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, in a move hailed on Sunday...
Al-Hada and Muhammadya Al-Shafa in Taif: A tapestry of tourism, nature
Taif, Saudi Arabia - Taif and its serene towering mountains, nestled deep within the majestic Sarawat Mountains, serve as a...
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
Business
Virgin continues space ticket sale
The current fare is $450,000 per seat.
- Virgin Galactic has sold around 100 tickets since flying its founder Richard Branson to space earlier this year
- In total, the company has now sold 700 space tickets, according to a spokesperson
Business
AlUla will become top tourist destination: French ambassador
Ludovic Pouille, French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, believes that AlUla Governorate will become one of the top international tourist destinations...
- He also expressed admiration of what he saw during his third visit to AlUla this year, referring to its nature and developments
- The ambassador noted that the two countries cooperate in the field of agriculture and environment employing innovative techniques and methods to face the climate change
Economy
COP26 sees new coalition for net-zero tourism
The SGTC will be headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and may open regional offices in other countries.
- The STGC is a multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition established to lead, accelerate, and track the tourism industry’s transition to net-zero emissions
- It is also expected to drive action to protect nature and support communities
JNTO opens its first office in Dubai in bid to draw more GCC tourists
Japan aims to attract 60 million visitors annually by 2030 and it is looking to draw a large number of...
- Japan aims to attract 60 million visitors annually by 2030 and it is looking to draw a large number of them from the Middle East
- As many as 28222 tourists visited Japan from the GCC in 2019, marking an increase of 28 percent from last year
Research
Israel eyes influx of tourists from UAE, Bahrain
Israel is anticipating a significant influx of Emirati and Bahraini tourists as the global tourism industry starts recovering from the...
- Israel expects 100,000 tourists a year from the UAE and Bahrain, with each tourist spending $1,500 per vacation
- The Jewish state is expected to make $150 million annually in revenues from the Gulf tourists
Economy
Dubai approves Hatta master development plan
The Hatta master development plan is said to be aimed at developing Hatta, an exclave of Dubai, into a tourist...
- The Hatta plan is a part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to create a roadmap for enhancing infrastructure
- The master plan also aims to implement development projects and initiatives across the emirate over the next 20 years
Business
UAE flights to help 1m Mideast tourists visit Brazil
Before the pandemic, around 75 percent of the tourist traffic between Brazil and the Middle East were to and from...
- These will be direct flights from the UAE to Brazil’s Amazon and the Northeast regions
- Brazil’s tourism minister has said more Brazilians would love to visit the UAE once the new flights are launched
Business
Qatar Airways gets $3bn govt assistance after huge loss
The airline reported an overall loss of $4.1 billion for the year to March 31, double the figure for the...
- The Gulf-based carrier recently reported an underlying operating loss of $228.3 million
- Qatar Airways is the second largest airline in the Middle East after Dubai-based Emirates
Jordan’s Umm al-Jimal added to UNESCO heritage list
Amman, Jordan - Jordan's Umm al-Jimal village has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, in a move hailed on Sunday...
Company News
Latest News
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
10m people attend Riyadh Season 2023 events in first 50 days, says report
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - According to the Riyadh Season, 10 million people took part in the activities organized in the...
Arts & Culture
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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
Business
PIF sets up agri and ecotourism firm Dan Company
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Monday the establishment of Dan Company, specializing in agritourism...
- The company plans to develop unique tourism projects around cities across Saudi Arabia with attractive natural and farmed landscapes.
- Dan aims to involve local communities in imparting experience that enables visitors to fully interact with Saudi regional culture and traditions.

