Park featuring world’s largest aquarium 64 percent complete

• The aquarium will be home to 68,000 marine animals including, sharks, schools of fish, manta rays and sea turtles.
• Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center to become first of its kind in UAE, focusing on indigenous Gulf and marine life ecosystems.

New flights from Baghdad to Abu Dhabi

• The inaugural flight, operated by Iraqi Airways using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport on August 7
• Iraqi Airways will start by operating one flight per week and will then increase its number of flights to two a week

Egypt papyrus makers keep tradition alive despite tourism slump

• Once used by ancient Egyptians as writing paper, local artists now decorate the papyrus with hieroglyphics, Arabic calligraphy and representations from antiquity
• The papyrus plant, with its fan-shaped foliage, grows in water and can reach four meters (13 feet) in height

Dubai ropes in Hollywood stars for new tourism drive

Saudi borders reopen for vaccinated pilgrims

• Before Sunday's announcement, only immunised pilgrims resident in Saudi Arabia were eligible for umrah permits
• The umrah is a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time -- distinct from the hajj, which takes place once annually

Ancient pharaonic boat taken to Egypt’s grand new museum

• Solar boats were buried in pits next to royal burial chambers in the belief that they would transport the departed into the afterlife
• Egypt has pinned its hopes on a series of recent archaeological discoveries to revive its vital but ailing tourism sector

UK moves UAE from red list to amber, eyes boost in travel sector

• The UK government's announcement comes as the situation in the country has improved
• The country remains committed to opening up international travel safely, says official

Dubai airport expects heavy inflow of passengers as UAE eases curbs

Cruise liner sets sail from Saudi Arabia for first time

Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia receives first cruise ship