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.

Baghdad, Iraq--The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani has stressed the need for economic reform and supporting the sectors of agriculture, industry, tourism and trade.The prime minister highlighted the need to fortify Iraq, in order for it not to be a passage for smuggling hard currency and money laundering.Al...

In a statement, it said that "foreigners heading to the south of the country" who have tours booked with licenced local companies could obtain visas "on arrival at airports and land borders, instead of going through normal visa procedures". It also boasts 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) of Mediterranean coastline and...

With a giant evergreen tree, colorful balloons in the streets and selfies in the Church of the Nativity, Christmas tourism has returned to Bethlehem after two years of Covid-linked curbs.

Mikati said the economy had grown by nearly two percent in 2022 after two straight years of severe recession that saw Gross Domestic Product fall by 25.9 percent in 2020 and by 10.5 percent in 2021.

DUBAI, UAE -   MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)    Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer has launched the construction work for the Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project.The  US$12 million (AED 46 million) project was recently awarded to DEWA and is part of the company's social and investment responsibility to...

Rabat, Morocco - UAE and Morocco discussed ways of boosting their cooperation and investment opportunities in industry, economy, investments, culture, and tourism. The discussion occurred between Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of Morocco, in Morocco.The visit is a step...

In its Q3 review, the apex bank attributed the upward review to the robust performance of some non-oil sectors, including tourism, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.

Sharjah, UAE--- Sharjah has witnessed a 68 percent increase in female entrepreneurs recently and as the market grows and expands, it will continue cultivating an environment that is inclusive and supportive, said Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of the Sharjah Business Women Council. She was speaking on the opening day...

Dubai’s hotel inventory in October 2022 comprised 144,737 rooms at 790 hotel establishments compared with 122,185 rooms available at the end of October 2019.

ABU DHABI, UAE - The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) said that the registration of insured individuals in the private sector with the authority is the first step towards receiving benefits as part of GPSSA’s social insurance system. This is in addition to benefits provided by the NAFIS...

French fashion house Dior debuted its latest collection Saturday at the Giza pyramids, after Italian designer Stefano Ricci held a show at Luxor's Temple of Hatshepsut in Oct.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Fifty deals and agreements are expected to be signed in the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb said. The minister evaluated the deals to be worth $50 billion, local media reports said. The agreements include...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--- Yanbu Commercial Port has officially kickstarted the third edition of the Saudi cruise season by berthing MSC Splendida, which arrived from Jeddah Islamic Port, marking the maiden cruise call for the current season that will run until May 2023. To celebrate the start of the new season,...

DUBAI, UAE - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai has approved the Dubai Countryside and Rural Areas Development Master Plan, spanning an area of 2,216 square kilometers. The Plan seeks to preserve the nature of areas including Lehbab, Margham, Al Marmoom, Al...

Marrakesh, Morocco—The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) convened its 117th Executive Council in Marrakesh, Morocco, as the sector’s recovery continues to gather pace. According to UNWTO data released this week, international arrivals are on track to reach 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. However, building on...

An estimated 340 million international arrivals were recorded in the third quarter of 2022 alone, almost 50% of the nine-month total.

SHARJAH, UAE - The 9th edition of the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum (SITTF) is set to kick off at the Sharjah Expo Centre on November 24, 2022, under the theme 'Building a Resilient Future for Tourism'. The forum will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin...

The two countries agree to set up Saudi-Thai Coordination Council, vow to enhance investments and cooperation in sectors such as energy and tourism and fight corruption.

ABU DHABI, UAE - UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri visited the Havana International Fair 2022 in the Republic of Cuba, at the invitation of the Cuban government. The visit was aimed at exploring opportunities for cooperation and establishing new economic partnerships between the UAE and Caribbean...

Qatar faces the challenge to accommodate 1.2 million fans expected to attend the FIFA World Cup.

As the world gears up for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the positive ripple effect is being felt in the business fraternity across the Gulf region, especially in the UAE.

Saudi officials are putting on 240 weekly flights linking the kingdom to Qatar, up from six normally, and easing overland travel during the tournament, Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb told AFP last month.

The Gulf ministers review projects aimed at strengthening joint Gulf action in tourism as well as strategic partnerships between the GCC and other countries and stakeholders.

Dubai, UAE—  The economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council will likely receive a boost from the FIFA 2022 World Cup, as more than 1.2 million fans are expected to attend the event. According to a survey conducted by S&P Ratings, the influx of football fans from around the world will...

Experts attribute the main reasons for the increase in the real estate demand to the UAE government's numerous initiatives and the high income level of investors.

Saudi Arabia is focused on offering solutions that make global trade more predictable and reliable, says Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim at an event in Riyadh.

The Kazakhstan ambassador valued the UAE leadership's interest in strengthening relations between the two countries, pointing out that the 1st of October marks the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan.

The efforts are intended to jumpstart the nascent tourism sector in the once closed-off kingdom, which only began issuing tourist visas in September 2019 -- just months before the coronavirus pandemic decimated the industry globally.

Crowds are already growing as a World Cup buzz mounts. Fan zone attractions and temporary stores are being set up around Nama's camel enclosure and the hundreds of small stores selling incense, spices, carpets, gold and even falcons and other birds and animals. Press reports said stores will be allowed...

Doha, Qatar— Qatar Tourism has thrown open more than 20 hotels, resorts and new tourist destinations in the country ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The projects and tourist attractions will be ready to receive football fans from next month. In a statement on Sunday, Qatar Tourism stated...

The UAE capital -- which now boasts 5,325 registered vessels -- is well on its way to become a key hub for the international superyacht industry, says a report

All travelers to Qatar will need the pass to enter from November 1, whether they intend to watch a game or not. The card acts as a visa, match ticket and transport ticket. Saad Al-Suwaidi, head of the Hayya pass service, said that 1.5m-1.7 million people have so far applied...

Those with bottomless budgets in the resource-rich region have attractive accommodation options too, with one third-party site offering $4,000-a-night hotel rooms and $26,000 for a "head of state" suite -- with a 30-night minimum stay.

From Formula One racing to the football World Cup, the top-notch global sporting events are coming to Middle East, bringing with it billions of dollars in sports tourism.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has confirmed its participation at the 42nd GITEX Technology Week, to be held from October 10- 14 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Center.

Major events such as Qatar World Cup 2022, Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, etc. will give Gulf tourism a boost in the last quarter of this year, according to a latest report.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib said more cooperation is a must for sustainable future in tourism in G20 nations. It includes facing issues spawned by the Covid pandemic, taking collective action for renaissance of the tourism sector and partnerships between private and public...

Some of the greatest minds in the aviation industry took to the stage at this year’s Global Aviation Conference in Dubai, UAE.

More organizations in the region are trying to turn their current challenges into advantages through innovations and by improving skills to collaborate with suppliers and allies.

The drop comes as the exchange rate of the Egyptian pound is seeing a decline in light of the pressures the country is experiencing due to the Ukrainian war repercussions and the decline in foreign reserves at the Central Bank.

With little investment the UAE, and in particular Dubai, stands to gain if, as expected, supporters opt to stay in the tourism hotspot instead of tiny Gulf neighbor Qatar during the November-December tournament. High accommodation prices in the Qatari capital Doha and Dubai's more permissive environment including a wider availability...

A UAE economic delegation led by Minister of State Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh visited Tbilisi, Georgia.

A strong performance is expected this winter when neighboring Qatar hosts football's World Cup. Hotel occupancy was up more than 40 percent in Covid-hit 2021, UAE prime minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said after a cabinet meeting.

The FIFA World Cup, which is likely to boost tourism across GCC, is all set to increase revenues for Gulf airlines, hotel and restaurant industries and domestic transportation.

A global hub for major events, ADNEC centre has infrastructure, flexible teams and facilities to provide key services through a number of companies.

A delegation from Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) visited Petra on Tuesday to advance cooperation between the two kingdoms in tourism.

The regulations came into effect after the minister of tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb signed on a ministerial decree, making it easier to visit the oil-rich kingdom.

As part of the campaign, Beckham tours the country with several local personalities, exploring spice markets and street art in the Gulf nation.

Dubai tourism recovered fast after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, registering a 203 percent increase in the number of visitors in the first four months of 2022.