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Abu Dhabi targets 39.3 million visitors by 2030
Emirate's new tourism strategy aims to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP from $13.34 billion in 2023 to $24 billion by 2030.
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Iran making efforts to ease travel of expats to country: Ebrahim Raisi
Iranian expats are free to travel to and from the country and the government's plans and decisions should ensure that the travel of the citizens should be trouble-free, President Ebrahim Raisi has said. Raisi was speaking at the newly established Iranian Expatriates Supreme Council. He said the government's efforts are... -
Abu Dhabi Airport traffic likely to surge 400% over holiday season
From the period running December 22 to January 2, Abu Dhabi Airports estimates an average of 32,000 passengers and 102 flights per day. -
UAE suspends entry for travelers from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria
UAE citizens are barred from traveling to the four African countries except for the country's emergency treatment cases, official delegations, and scholarships. In addition, the country has introduced new travel requirements for those coming on direct flights from Uganda and Ghana. These include having a negative COVID-19 test obtained within... -
Dubai airport fully operational for first time since pandemic
Dubai airport, one of the world's busiest travel hubs, is fully operational for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic erupted in March 2020, officials said Monday. The opening of sections closed as the Covid-19 crisis took hold comes as the United Arab Emirates records a rise of infections amid... -
Etihad launches WorldPass for frequent travelers from UAE
Etihad Airways has announced a new travel solution aimed at corporate and frequent travelers booking from the UAE, said local media. The newly launched Etihad WorldPass allows the airline’s customers to purchase a travel subscription which offers complete flexibility and ease with rearranging bookings throughout the year, said sources. Etihad... -
Arab countries ban travel from African nations
The United States and several European countries have taken similar steps, banning travel from at least seven southern African countries. South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla told reporters that he felt some of the reactions to the new Covid-19 variant that was found in South Africa were ‘unjustified.’ -
Emirates expects to return to profit in ‘next 18 months’ as losses drop by half
Aviation giant Emirates expects to return to profitability "in the next 18 months" as the sector bounces back from the Covid pandemic, its president Tim Clark said Tuesday. The Dubai-based carrier said last week it was on the path to recovery as six-month losses dropped by more than half from... -
Kuwaitis complain about rising prices, high inflation
Growing costs and a drop in purchasing power are seen as deterioration of the standard of living Kuwaitis have been accustomed to for years. -
Gulf Air boosts frequencies
Passenger numbers have grown ahead of the holiday season. -
Climate and Covid recovery loom large over Dubai air show
Airlines are still deep in the red, with losses expected to extend by another $51.8 billion this year. -
Middle East to see boost in tourism in 2021 and beyond
The tourism and travel sector in the Middle East is expected to grow 27.1 percent in 2021, a little behind the global average of 30.7 percent. -
Which Asia-Pacific countries are re-opening to foreign visitors?
Mainland China, where Covid-19 first emerged last year, remains closed to overseas tourists, as is Japan. -
Combat Field: a gamer’s paradise at Riyadh Season
Among many attractions of Riyadh Season is Combat Field for fans of war and combat games. It simulates the reality of wars through 33 events. -
Emirates to restart flights to Saudi Arabia and St. Petersburg
Emirates will restart flights to Saudi Arabia and St. Petersburg in Russia with demand for travel rising as the Covid pandemic restrictions ease in many parts of the world. -
Emirates to provide extra baggage for Lebanon-bound customers
Customers can avail the additional baggage allowance for travel booked on emirates.com, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents as well as online travel agents -
All fully vaccinated tourists can travel to UAE
Tourists will have to do a mandatory RTPCR test on arrival, according to the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. -
Expo 2020 promises a productive Q4
The sale of tickets, easing of travel restrictions and positive investment projections point to a surge in economic activity in the run-up to the mega event. -
Emirates to increase salaries of employees
Emirates has announced that from October 1 it will undo all changes to employee pay structure that it undertook to save the airline from going under last year when Covid swept through the whole world. -
Abu Dhabi updates Covid-19 travel list of ‘green’ countries
Travelers from these countries need not quarantine on arrival in Abu Dhabi. -
Jazeera Airways posts 138% growth in passenger traffic in Q2
The operational performance shows positive signs that travel will recover at a fast pace after eased restrictions come to effect by the middle of Q3 2020 -
Saudi borders reopen for vaccinated pilgrims
Authorities in the ministry responsible for coordinating foreign pilgrims will from Monday begin "gradually receiving Umrah requests from various countries of the world," the Saudi Press Agency reported. -
UK moves UAE from red list to amber, eyes boost in travel sector
The UK government announced on Thursday that the UAE will be moved from the red to the amber list, as the situation in the country has improved. Bahrain, India and Qatar were also moved to the amber list, according to a statement issued by the UK Government. -
Dubai airport expects heavy inflow of passengers as UAE eases curbs
Dubai airport is expecting a heavy inflow of passengers with the UAE’s announcement that there would be an easing of travel restrictions from African and Asian countries. -
Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia receives first cruise ship
One of Saudi Arabia’s oldest ports in the Red Sea, Yanbu usually sees traffic of cargo and passengers, and even some Hajj pilgrims. -
Three-year exit ban for Saudis breaking Covid-19 travel rules
Saudi Arabia has officially recorded more than 520,000 cases of coronavirus, of which 8,189 have resulted in deaths. -
Qatar re-opens for fully vaccinated international travelers
Qatar has reopened its borders for fully-vaccinated international travelers, but there are some conditions -
Saudi Arabia bans citizens from traveling to Indonesia as Covid cases surge
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday barred its citizens from travelling to Indonesia due to the surge in Covid-19 cases there -
Saudi Arabia makes 2nd vaccine mandatory for those travelling abroad
Saudi citizens will from August 9 be allowed to travel abroad only after the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine -
Qatar re-opens for fully vaccinated international travellers
The new arrangements will also make it easier for citizens and residents of Qatar to travel in and out of the country, enabling fully vaccinated people to bypass the quarantine requirement when returning to Qatar -
31 percent of all Middle East travel destinations closed: UNWTO
Digital solutions, vaccination to ease travel restrictions 29 percent of all destinations worldwide closed for international tourism About 31 percent of all travel destinations in the Middle East remain closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, a UN report said, as it expected global vaccination rollout and increased adoption of digital solutions... -
Emiratis can’t travel to 14 countries on UAE’s no-go list
Many individuals such as diplomatic missions exempted Cases of Delta variant have been found in many countries Seeking to keep out the new dangerous variants of the coronavirus, the UAE government would not allow citizens to travel to 14 countries on its no-go list. The no-go countries – India, Pakistan,... -
Saudi Arabia forbids travel to and from UAE, Ethiopia, Vietnam
Ban to ensure the variant is kept out of the kingdom All travelers to the kingdom will have to undergo quarantine Alarmed at the outbreak of more infectious variants of the coronavirus in the world, and its neighborhood, Saudi authorities are banning travel, without prior permission, to and from the... -
Emirates NBD expects UAE GDP to grow by 1.5 percent in 2021
Revenues to grow 12 percent on higher oil prices and taxes A 7 percent increase in total government expenditure also likely Dubai’s biggest lender Emirates NBD expects the UAE’s GDP to grow at 1.5 percent this year, with the non-oil sector growing at 3.5 percent, slightly lower than the UAE... -
Etihad to continue with ‘Verified To Fly’ travel platform
Abu Dhabi – Etihad Airways will continue to use the 'Verified To Fly' platform, which allows travelers to validate their Covid-19 travel documents before arriving at the airport. The platform is currently available for a vast majority of Etihad flights and has been found "hugely popular" with the travelers, the airlines... -
Fewer restrictions, fast vaccination give Dubai edge in events sector
The emirate plans to host one of the biggest gas conferences and an African investor summit this year Dubai aims for 25 million unique visits to the Expo 2020 As restrictions hamper travel to hubs such as London and Singapore, Dubai is fast becoming a winner in the more than... -
ADNEC launches Tourism 365 to scale up tourism sector in Abu Dhabi
ADNEC is looking to create experiential travel opportunities for tourists coming to Abu Dhabi through a new company called Tourism 365 The company will aim to enhance the emirate’s regional and global positioning in the wider tourism sector The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company is looking to create experiential... -
Emirates to fly from India again as Dubai lifts ban over virus
Dubai said that only passengers from India 'who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine' would be allowed to travel to the emirate Some 300 flights a week were operating between the UAE and India before the ban was announced in April Dubai said that only passengers from India... -
Hotels in Riyadh earn best rates in three months as travelers fill up rooms
Arab News quoted the research company on Monday that Occupancy stood at 42.8% The growth is due to easing of travel restrictions and return of international flights Owing to the easing of travel restrictions and return of international flights to the city, Riyadh’s hotel industry is showing signs of cheer... -
Saudi car rental firm posts 40% growth in 2020
Vehicle rental market in the country is forecast to grow 7.5 percent until 2026 -
Flydubai to run two new summer routes to Greece
Demand for travel to places outside MENA has risen after vaccine rollout Flydubai seasonal routes will open only after Sept 29 With the rollout of more and more vaccines against coronavirus, and the decline in the rate of infection, Flydubai will be adding two more new routes this summer as... -
Gulf residents can’t wait to visit Europe as travel curbs ease
EU to lift curbs on high-spending tourists from the GCC Thousands of travelers from the Middle East are expected to visit the continent European Union has agreed on Wednesday to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions on visitors from around the world ahead of the summer tourist season. Ambassadors from the 27...