Israel participated in the event last year, however only as international military observers, without soldiers taking part on the ground. Morocco and Israel have been working to boost cooperation in the military, security, trade and tourism fields since they normalized ties in December 2020.

The plan will boost Abu Dhabi's tourism market.

Tourism and Finance were the next flourishing sectors named in the poll in which the majority of the respondents were in the 20-29 age group and mostly from Egypt.

Dubai, UAE - Dubai has scrapped the 10-day grace period for visitors whose tourist visas have expired, Arabian Business reported on Friday. Previously, individuals who overstayed their visas were allowed an additional 10 days in Dubai before facing penalties. However, Dubai has now followed other emirates in removing this grace period.Instead,...

Dubai, UAE-- Some 27 million taxi rides were undertaken in Dubai in the first three months of 2023, up one million from the same period last year.According to the Roads and Transport Authority, the latest figures underscored the sector's “remarkable growth” over the past five years.The increase in journeys comes...

Dubai, UAE - Dubai on Monday launched a new QR Code initiative for holiday homes, as part of efforts to improve transparency and increase confidence among investors and visitors in the short-term rental market.Launched as part of Dubai's commitment to supporting the continuous growth of the hospitality industry, the initiative...

AJMAN, UAE -   Chairman of the Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Abdullah Al Muwaiji discussed trade and investment opportunities with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the UAE Antoine Delcourt and his delegation.The meeting, held at the Ajman Chamber's headquarters, was attended by Mohamed Ali Al Janahi,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation to establish luxury hotels across the kingdom.The collaboration aims to develop several hospitality-led destinations which will enhance the tourism sector in the country. The...

The Emirates' non-oil sector is projected to grow by 4.8 percent, driven by robust domestic demand, particularly in tourism, real estate, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, the bank's officials said.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly SAR 133.3 billion ($35.54 billion) were spent in the first nine months of 2022 by about 73 million tourists -- both domestic and inbound -- who visited Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism defines a tourist as every visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) with an...

The kingdom received about 7.8 million international tourists for all purposes during the first quarter of 2023, representing its highest quarterly performance.

Dead Sea, Jordan -- Almost 2 million people visited Jordan in first quarter of 2023, an 87.2 percent increase compared to the first third of 2022, the Tourism Minister of Jordan, Makram Qaisi said Monday.He said that the "tourism sector has begun to recover and grow at a high pace,"...

Dubai, UAE - Dubai has given a boost to its beach tourism by opening three new beaches for night swimming in Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1.The 800-metre-long night-swimming beaches feature lighting systems, which enable residents and tourists to swim around the clock, and electronic screens that display...

GCC countries are investing in infrastructure and programs to become leading tourist destinations. With strategic locations, excellent connectivity, iconic attractions like the tallest building, and a commitment to eco-friendly tourism, they are poised for success in attracting visitors from around the world.

MADRID, SPAIN -  The World Tourism Barometer published its second report of the year, which showed that international tourism is making a strong comeback to pre-pandemic levels.During the first quarter of 2023, twice as many people traveled internationally than in the same period of 2022, with a total of 235...

The deal would mean Messi potentially joins his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi league. There was no confirmation from Messi's current club Paris Saint-Germain, who noted simply that he was under contract until June 30 when contacted by AFP.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia is launching tourism projects worth SAR 1.5 billion ($400 million) in the targeted destinations around the kingdom. The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has sponsored ‘The Collective’ initiative launched by Kerten Hospitality, a hotel investment firm, to establish its projects under one umbrella. The announcement represents an...

Unlike other companies that use vertical-launch rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a carrier aircraft that takes off from a runway, gains high altitude, and drops a rocket-powered plane that soars into space before gliding back to Earth.

DUBAI, UAE -  The private sector and financial institutions in the Middle East should enhance reporting by including information about how they both impact and depend upon nature and natural capital, says a report.   The report titled 'Nurturing Natural Capital: The Middle East Imperative' was released by the World Government Summit,...

Muscat, Oman -- Pakistan and Oman have agreed to boost air travel between the two countries' airports, reports said.The agreement came after a series of meetings in the Pakistani capital held by officials from both nations. An Omani delegation, led by Naif Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation...

Sharjah, UAE-- Sharjah showcased its technology-enabled approach to the tourism industry at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, highlighting the future of tourism in the region and beyond.Sharjah pavilion at the event demonstrated cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking concepts, offering a compelling glimpse into the emirate's tourist destinations.Run by Sharjah Commerce...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--Looking to boost tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries, the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the Jordan Tourism Board have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market 2023.The MoU will unlock the tourism...

SHARJAH, UAE -  Over 3.8 million passengers traveled through Sharjah Airport in the first quarter of 2023, recording a 28.01 per cent increase over the same period in 2022.The airport is expected to achieve even higher growth rates by the end of 2023.  The aircraft movement for the same term...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--The emirate of Abu Dhabi is looking to draw some 24 million visitors by the end of 2023, six million more than it succeeded to attract last year.Ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2023, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced new...

DUBAI, UAE - The 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will open Monday at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), local media reports said.The event, on May 1-4, will see global travel, tourism, and hospitality experts come together to explore how their industry is ‘Working Towards Net Zero’.For ATM 2023’s...

Akbar al-Baker, head of Qatar's tourism agency and Qatar Airways, said hotel occupancy in the months after a World Cup is "always low". Along with the departed football crowds, thousands of foreign workers left the Gulf state after Lionel Messi lifted the coveted trophy on December 18. Many of those...

DUBAI, UAE - Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is likely to display the diversity of the Emirate's destination, offering sustainability platforms and highlighting new initiatives designed to boost the tourism industry during the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market(ATM), local media reports said.This year’s ATM, from May 1-4...

More than 10,500 Emiratis have joined the private sector since the beginning of 2023, bringing the total number of Emiratis employed in the private sector to over 66,000.

Dubai, UAE - The passengers of Dubai Metro surpassed two billion since its inauguration on September 9, 2009, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said.The metro's Red Line transported 1.342 billion commuters while the Green Line served 673.531 million commuters.Additionally, the Dubai Metro maintained a punctuality rate of 99.7%, surpassing...

Doha, Qatar-- Qatar expects a big boost in hotel occupancy rates by at least 80 percent during the Eid holidays in the country.The boost is expected in the wake of the launch of the Haya platform in its new look, which allows 4 types of visas for visitors, and the...

The emirate still remains at the top of the list of places to visit in the region because of the sheer diversity of products it has to offer and the infrastructure it has built.

Dubai, UAE – Jordan’s tourism revenue increased by 88.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023 to reach 1.18 billion Jordanian dinars ($1.66 billion) as nearly 1.5 million tourists visited the country.The Central Bank of Jordan said the tourism income during March grew by 49 percent year on year to...

DOHA, QATAR - Qatar expects more than five million people to visit the Gulf state in 2023 despite a post-World Cup lull, its tourism chief said on Sunday.Akbar Al-Baker, head of Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism, admitted that hotels had fallen quiet after the World Cup final on December 19.But he...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE led the Arab region in terms of investments in Egypt, Jamal bin Saif Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of the UAE International Investors Council (UAEIIC) said.It totaled $28 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2023, compared to $20 billion during the same period...

UAE minister said that the emirates will continue its efforts to build partnerships with strategic global markets under the country’s comprehensive economic partnerships program.

Mummies of dogs, goats, cows, gazelles and mongooses were also exhumed by a team of US archaeologists from New York University.

Doha, Qatar--Doha port received on Thursday the cruise ship MSC World Europa carrying 5,613 tourists and a crew of 2,121. They will be joined later by 555 tourists from Doha to a new itinerary to a number of tourist stops in the region.The cruise sector in Qatar has contributed to...

The Kingdom is making significant investments in new economic sectors, including mining, tourism, and information technology, particularly the electronic games sector.

“Trade has had an indelible impact on our soft power. Located at a strategic global crossroads, the UAE is one of the world’s most connected countries and acts as a vital bridge for many nation’s products on key East-West, North-South trade routes. This role is reflected in the value of...

Sports, social and marketing events, including various global activities and competitions, are likely to bring in more Saudi tourists, Qatar Tourism's data suggest.

The bilateral ties between the two countries were further strengthened after the inauguration of the UAE Embassy in the Azeri capital, Baku, in 2011, and have witnessed advancement due to the mutual keenness of their leaderships, he adds during an interview with Emirates News Agency.

Property markets benefit as an increased demand for tourists and the rise in government spending on infrastructure projects drive the post-pandemic recovery in the region.

This week's Saudi Tour is the first of three stage races in the Arabian Peninsula in February, with competitions also scheduled in Oman and UAE. Organizers of the tour said they are planning to create a women's Saudi Tour, with the UAE Tour offering one this year.

Suliman Farajat, chairman of the PDTRA, stated that tourism in the red-rose city swiftly rebounded from the Covid pandemic impact in 2022.

BAGHDAD, IRAQ -  First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohsen Al-Mandalawi said that the tourism sector in Iraq has all the ingredients for success.Al-Mandalawi made the statement while meeting with the Association of Travel and Tourism Companies in Iraq, a statement issues by the  media office of the First Deputy Speaker...

Cairo, Egypt---Egyptian archaeologists said Tuesday they had discovered an 1,800-year-old "complete residential city from the Roman-era" in the heart of the southern city of Luxor.The city, dating to the second and third centuries, is the "oldest and most important city found on the eastern bank of Luxor," according to Mostafa...

Petra, Jordan--King Abdullah on Sunday highlighted the importance of further developing the city of Petra, and diversifying its tourism product.During a visit to Petra, King Abdullah said developing tourism services in the "golden triangle" of Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba, will have a positive impact on Petra and Jordan at...

Around 1,700 people make a living from Petra as tour guides, trinket sellers or by taking visitors through the site on donkeys, horses, camels or electric buggies.

Face and iris recognition technology vary by country in the region, and expecting it to be implemented in many airports around the world in a short time is unrealistic, says an expert.

GCC countries witnessed the launch of massive economic and development projects in various sectors last year as part of their strategy to diversify their economies.