Future-proofing hospitality asset value needs financial rigor with emotional intelligence
The GCC’s luxury hospitality sector has become a global benchmark, yet behind every polished facade lies an increasingly complex financial...
Opinion
81 percent of Saudi population attends cultural events, activities in 2024: GASTAT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 81.6 percent of Saudi individuals visited at least one cultural event or activity in 2024, according...
Arts & Culture
Business
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...
- Aquellum is hidden within a breathtaking 450-meter-high mountain range.
- The subterranean digitalized community creates vibrancy and interconnectivity.
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...
- December 2023 finished for Dubai Duty Free with record monthly sales of US$221 million, an 8.37 percent increase compared to 2022.
- It's 40th anniversary celebrations offered a 25 percent discount on December 20 which led to a shopping spree of $14.8 million in 24 hours.
Arts & Culture
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...
- Riyadh Season attracts large number of visitors with different kinds of activities and experiences.
- It is one of the major Saudi events that establishes new concepts in the world of entertainment.
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...
- Riyadh Season 2023 started in late October, and since then, it has witnessed a large visitor turnout at all entertainment areas.
- At the Season, visitors can enjoy concerts, exhibitions, festivals and other events in which celebrities and prominent brands participate.
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
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.
Economy
Siranna: NEOM’s premier destination for elite travelers revealed
NEOM, Saudi Arabia – NEOM, a futuristic city planned by Saudi Arabia in its northwestern Tabuk Province, has unveiled Siranna,...
- The destination offers uninterrupted views of the Red Sea, with its tiered design offering diverse views and perspectives
- Arriving via waterborne transportation to the secluded bay, guests will journey through the natural rock formations before reaching the entrance of the property
Business
Abha Valley has potential to be a tourist destination
ABHA, SAUDI ARABIA - Extending over 34 kilometers, the Abha Valley Basin enjoys a variety of wildlife aspects, civilizational features...
- The Abha Valley abounds in environmental diversity, which explains its array of mountain plants.
- The rugged areas of the highest point of the valley form the right habitat for the Arab tiger,
Future-proofing hospitality asset value needs financial rigor with emotional intelligence
The GCC’s luxury hospitality sector has become a global benchmark, yet behind every polished facade lies an increasingly complex financial...
Opinion
Company News
Latest News
GCC tourism’s contribution to GDP expected to surge by 2030: Fitch
GCC tourism's GDP contribution will rise from $130 billion in 2023 to over $340 billion by 2030, driven by aviation...
Qatar to witness GCC’s highest growth in hospitality industry revenue until 2028
Hospitality industry revenue in Qatar is expected to witness the highest growth rate in GCC until 2028, Alpen Capital has...
Arts & Culture
Killer heat wave sweeps the globe, hundreds perish
A punishing heat dome continues to intensify over the northeastern United States, scores of record-high temperatures were matched or broken...
Economy
Most Read
Tunisian Jewish pilgrimage sees low turnout amid security fears
Djerba, Tunisia - Only a dozen pilgrims turned up Friday at this year's Jewish pilgrimage on Tunisia's island of Djerba...
- The pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue, Africa's oldest, usually draws thousands of pilgrims from Europe, Israel and beyond, attracting international and local tourists as well
- But on the first day of the pilgrimage event this year, only about a dozen worshippers were present - almost none of them foreigners
Alberta seeks to charm the world with a solid tourism growth plan, says Minister Joseph Schow
Alberta's tourism sector, with attractions resonating with GCC travelers, aims for a $25 billion visitor economy by 2035, says Joseph...
- 'We possess attractions that resonate with international travelers, including those from regions like Saudi Arabia or the UAE'
- 'Alberta's tourism sector aims to attract visitors from GCC countries, fostering relationships and expanding its global marketing efforts'
Business
‘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...
- Our omni-channel approach offers seamless and personalized experiences across multiple touchpoints that aim to redefine customers’ travel booking journey, says Singhvi
- as become even more important to create hyper-customized and context-sensitive, targeted measures to reach and engage with the right kind of audience, he adds