DUBAI: surge in arrivals over the summer months accelerated Dubai’s tourism momentum, as the city welcomed 12.08 million international overnight visitors in the first nine months of 2019, according to the latest visitation figures released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).
The strong 4.3 per cent increase in volume growth compared to the same period last year was supported by highly participatory contributions from both traditional and emerging markets, that has continued to capture strong shares of the tourist wallet, further stimulating Dubai’s GDP impact, and the city’s remarkable consistency in transforming itself to respond to global competition.
The positive performance, which drew over 1.23 million visitors to the city in September, an above market average increase of 7.3 per cent over the same month in 2018, coincided with Dubai being ranked the fourth most visited city in the world for the fifth year in a row in Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index 2019, a clear indication that Dubai is continuously renewing its attractiveness to remain a leading global destination.
India retained its position as Dubai’s leading source market, with over 1.39 million visitors during the first nine months of 2019. This reaped dividends as evidenced in the increase in travel share of Indian families with children by a substantial 13 percentage points from 32 to 45 per cent during the nine month period in 2019 over the same period last year.
As the highest traffic volume generator for the GCC, Saudi Arabia registered a two per cent year-on-year growth for over 1.25 million visitors, largely driven by the Saudi National Day holiday on September 23, which saw Saudi arrivals registering a massive 36+ per cent growth compared to the same holiday period in 2018.
Despite the devaluation of the pound against the dollar, and continued Brexit uncertainty, UK remained Dubai’s third largest source market with 851,000 visitors. The emirate retained high demand from families with children, one of the focus segments of the tourism strategy in the UK, accounting for 25 per cent of the share during the first nine months of 2019, up by five percentage points compared to the same period in 2018.
Oman stayed the course as one of the key drivers within the top performing markets, delivering 778,000 visitors for a 28 per cent increase year-on-year, making it the fourth highest traffic generator.
DUBAI, 16th November, 2019 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today made an onsite tour of the Dubai Airshow 2019 to inspect the preparations for the big event that is set to kick off tomorrow at its purpose-built venue at Dubai World Central (DWC).
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was accompanied on his tour by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Dubai Airshow; Major General Abdullah Al Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the UAE Ministry of Defence; Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai’s Protocol Department; members of the Dubai Airshow Organising Committee; and other officials.
During the tour, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum listened to a briefing presented by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Major General Abdullah Al Hashmi on the preparations for the event including the facilities for exhibitors.
The 2019 show will build on the overwhelming success of the last event, where more than 160 official delegations and 1,300 governmental and private companies from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa are participating in the event that has become one of the top three airshows in the world.
Concluding his tour, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the UAE welcomes its guests and wished the airshow success in its latest edition.
SHARJAH, 25th October, 2019 — Sharjah Air Station ‘Al Mahatta Museum’ highlights the history of aviation in the UAE and the Gulf Region. The museum first opened its doors in 2000, and since then, it has been the repository of stories of the first plane to land on Sharjah, the development of Sharjah’s first airport since the 40s, and its influence on the economic, cultural and social life in the region.
The importance of ‘Al Mahatta’ as the representative of aviation history in Sharjah and UAE is undeniable. The museum features a collection of exhibits in the first airport headquarters and provides an opportunity for new generations to learn about the history of aviation in Sharjah.
The story of aviation in these parts began on 5th October, 1932, when the first plane landed at Sharjah airport at 4:00 pm. It came from Gwadar airport (now in Pakistan), on the way to Britain. The Imperial Airways aircraft, named ‘Hanno’, fueled up and left carrying passengers and mail from Sharjah, marking the first flight in the history of the country.
Since its inception, Sharjah’s first airport played a pivotal role in promoting the stature of Sharjah and the country even before the formation of the United Arab Emirates. The airport served as a strategic link between the East and the West, and as a bridge to other cultures and civilisations, offering a fast, easy and effective way to connect with other countries in the region and the world.
Sharjah’s strategic location contributed to mark a significant change in the international air routes. The Imperial Airways decided to shift their air routes from Persia and launch a new flight route through the Arabian Gulf region to their destinations in the Far East. The new route included Cairo, Basra, and Sharjah Air Station as main stopover airports.
Al Mahatta was strategically used as a link between Europe, Asia and Australia, offering effective communication channels with the Western countries in all cultural and commercial fields. The airport was also the base for military aircraft during the Second World War until the year 1971, when the last Hunters, British jet-powered fighters, left Sharjah.
The ‘Al Mahatta’ was distinguished from the region’s other airports by a fortified guesthouse for overnight stops and sleepover making it also the first hotel in the country. The airport’s amenities also include a meteorological centre, telegraph and postal services, control tower, fuel tanks, airport defence force and an aircraft landing field that developed into a runway. In the 1960s, the runway was converted into an asphalt street, now known as King Abdul Aziz Street.
The use of ‘Hanno’ aircraft was a quantum leap in the history of the civil aviation. The aircraft was characterised by its size and capability to fly long distances, a requirement for international flights between the UK, India and Australia through the Arabian Gulf region. That international air route comprised many refuelling stops at key airports such as Croydon in South London, Athens, Cairo, Baghdad, Basra, Sharjah and Karachi, apart from other airports in India and Australia.
The Al Mahatta airport also had the distinction of housing the first cinema in Sharjah which was inaugurated in the 1930s. Documentaries have been collected and maintained by Sharjah Museums Authority, detailing how the cinema industry was established and developed by the British Air Forces between 1949 and 1959. At that time, the cinema hall had been a square-shaped space with a medium-sized screen and seating area, where visitors used to watch silent films, mostly documentaries and comedies.
DUBAI, 10th November, 2019 (WAM) — Schools across the UAE can now sign up their students to explore a world of possibilities at Expo 2020 Dubai, with the launch of an online dedicated booking system for a series of specially designed educational tours.
Four itineraries, curated by the Expo School Programme, will complement educational curriculums and can now be reserved through the recently-launched digital booking system. Parents and teachers are encouraged to learn more at www.schools.expo2020dubai.com.
The system was unveiled earlier this week at a three-day Expo School Leaders Forum, attended by Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, and Jameela Bint Salem Mesbeh Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education.
“The first World Expo ever held in the region is an unmissable educational platform. Maximising the opportunities offered through the Expo School Programme tours will ensure students enjoy an exceptional learning experience that is full of fun and entertainment, empowering future generations and cementing the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai,” said Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Pavilions and Exhibitions Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai.
Several schools, including Amity Education Group, Al Arabia for Educational Development, Kings’ School Nad al Sheba, Jebel Ali School and Al Ansar International School, confirmed during the Expo School Leaders Forum that they would sign up their students for the educational journeys.
The list of educational institutions set to take part in the tours includes seven French-curricula schools from across the UAE.
“The World of Opportunities” journey will inspire students to unlock their potential and take an active, positive role in society.
Students will be taken through the past, present and future of mobility on “The Universe in Motion” tour, traversing ancient discoveries and Artificial Intelligence, on a journey that will explain how the physical and digital worlds continue to evolve.
ABU DHABI, 19th August, 2019 — Marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has declared Muharram 1st, 1441, an official holiday with full pay for all private sector employees in the UAE.
Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, extended his sincerest greetings and blessings to the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses, the Supreme Council Members and the Rulers of the Emirates.
He also congratulated the government, Emiratis and residents of the UAE on this glorious occasion and wished further progress and prosperity to the UAE and to Arab and Islamic nations.
The announcement is made based on a relevant Council of Ministers Resolution.
DUBAI, 20th August, 2019 — Travel is expected to reach an all-time high in the upcoming weeks for Emirates Airlines, as the carrier expects yet another busy period with travelers arriving into Dubai after the summer holidays and Eid breaks.
Excluding transit passengers, over 500,000 people are expected to arrive into Dubai from 20th August until the beginning of September.
Mohammed Mattar, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates Airport Services, said, “With another record-breaking period coming up when it comes to passenger arrivals, we want to ensure that Emirates customers coming back to Dubai have the best experience possible starting from disembarkation through to every touchpoint and have positioned extra resources to ensure a speedy arrival journey.”
Emirates has a number of services and initiatives in place to ensure stress-free movement from gate to arrivals, eliminating potential bottlenecks and cutting wait-times for passengers to complete their formalities. After disembarkation, passengers with restricted mobility can book wheelchair assistance from the aircraft to the terminal entrance. For families, baby strollers are available on arrivals for their convenience at every Emirates gate, placed in special cupboards so that customers can quickly identify them. Buggies are also available to customers upon request.
Emirates customers can expect reduced processing times at immigration counters when using smart gates, by simply using their Emirates ID or passport. They can ‘clear’ immigration in seconds without human intervention or the need for a physical passport return stamp.
Close to 500,000 bags will be processed during this period and extra resources are being deployed to ensure smooth baggage flows. Emirates passengers are informed about their designated baggage carousel prior to landing on their personal ice screens, so they can proceed and collect their bags with ease. Emirates also offers a Home Delivery service where luggage is retrieved, cleared at customs and delivered to customers for a hassle-free arrival experience.
Passengers can also access the Dubai metro directly from the arrivals area of Terminal 3. Services conveniently run every 10 minutes from 5 am to midnight on (Saturday to Thursday) and 10 am to 1 am on Friday.
DUBAI,16th August 2019 (WAM) – A massive 155-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton will be up for grabs for lovers of rare collectibles as Emirates Auction announced it will organize the Middle East’s first auction to sell the giant dinosaur skeleton.
The online auction will be staged by Emirates Auction, the leading company in the field of auctions in the Middle East which specialises in organising and managing public and electronic auctions, at a starting value of Dhs 14.6 million and will end on August 25.
The 24.4-meter-long by 7-meter-high skeleton, which dates back to the Jurassic period, is the first of its kind in the world to be installed at the Dubai Mall. Back then the 25-year-old dinosaur weighed up to five elephants and was one of the long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs and has a tail tapering to a long, thin whip-like end to defend itself against predators.
The dinosaur belongs to the Diplodocus longus variety, deriving it from the Greek words “diplos,” meaning “double,” and “dokos” meaning “beam.” Interestingly, the displayed bones belonging to the same auctioned animal, which makes it exceptionally special. In addition, nearly 90 per cent of the fossil’s bones are original, making it a stunning discovery in the history of palaeontology.
The remains of the adult dinosaur were discovered in a sleeping position in 2008 at the Dana Quarry in the US state of Wyoming.
The auction will be an ideal opportunity for those looking for excellence to supplement their collections with a historic masterpiece rarely found around the world.
LIWA, 15th August, 2019 — The Liwa City Services Division launched a range of initiatives to protect wild plants in the desert and promote cultivation of the rare desert plants found in Liwa.
The initiatives included the establishment of a wild plant nursery in Liwa, on an area of 313,960-square metres. The first phase of the nursery covers an area of 900-square metres and hundreds of thousands of wild plants will be cultivated at the nursery, which supplies official and non-official authorities and individuals.
The nursery cultivates over 20 species of wild plants, such as arta, thamam, ghadeh, marsh, tribe, hala, hanga and ghaf. It also collects and classifies seeds.
The division, represented by the region’s planning, community relations, parks and entertainment facilities administration, recently implemented numerous initiatives, including the distribution of 1,000 ghaf seedlings during the Liwa Dates Festival, to encourage local people to cultivate indigenous plants.
Dubai recently welcomed the innovative cruise ship ‘Spectrum of the Seas’ into Port Rashid, marking its debut into the Arabian Gulf.
A traditional ‘Plaques and Keys Exchange’ ceremony was hosted on board in the presence of the ship’s captain and key industry stakeholders from Dubai Cruise Committee. Reaffirming Dubai’s position as the ‘cruise hub of the region’, Spectrum of the Seas arrived in port bringing almost 4,000 tourists to the emirate in a single day.
Weighing 168,666 gross tonnes, Royal Caribbean’s new Spectrum of the Seas will be the largest and most advanced cruise ship to port in Dubai. The cruise brand revealed several new innovations and features on board the ship, displaying ‘first-at-sea’ activities such as the Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline, RipCord by iFly sky diving simulator and North Star observation pod that offers guests astonishing panoramic views more than 300 feet above sea level. In addition, the ship’s interiors offer a music hall and SeaPlex; the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex with bumper cars, roller skating and basketball.
Mohamed Abdul Aziz Al Mannai, CEO of P&O Marina and CEO of Port Rashid at DP World, said: “The cruise ship terminal at Port Rashid has recorded significant achievements over the past few years, including the development of marine, commercial and tourism infrastructure. This strengthens the emirate’s global position as a hub for trade and cruise tourism and supports the tourism sector in Dubai and its efforts to establish the emirate among the best cities in the world.”
Al Mannai also outlined that the shipyard at Port Rashid welcomes close to half a million visitors annually and expects 725,000 visitors during the 2018-2019 cruise season, as a result of Dubai’s ongoing efforts to attract tourists and investors to the emirate.
Jamal Alfalasi, director of Dubai Cruise Tourism, said: “It is with great honour that we welcome the guests of Spectrum of the Seas, one of the largest and most revolutionary ships to the emirate. This visit strengthens Dubai’s position as the established cruise hub of the region; a key component of our strategic development. Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of reputable cruise liners visiting the emirate and our ongoing partnership with key stakeholders is testament to delivering top-class cruise facilities and providing distinctive services to enhance the tourists’ experience, marking Dubai as a significant destination for cruise tourists worldwide.”
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department at Government of Dubai called on all residents of Burj Khalifa and other tall towers to mind the time difference depending on the floor they are living on.
Apparently, it has become a popular fact in recent year that Dubai’s skyscraper residents have to fast slightly longer than others, up to 6 minutes more before breaking their fast.
The department issued a circular saying that residents who stay between 60th and 120th floor will fast for 4 minutes more than others in Dubai.
The time difference at such heights will result in dawn prayers being held 2 minutes earlier than the rest of Dubai, and will delay sunset and evening prayers by another 2 minutes.
Moreover, the department added that people who live on 121st floor and higher, will have to fast 6 minutes more, as the dawn prayer will be 3 minutes earlier, and sunset and evening prayers will be 3 minutes later than normal timings on the ground below.
The Ramadan calendar prepared by the department revealed that the shortest fasting period will be on the first day of Ramadan, as the dawn prayer will be at 4:16 AM, and sunset prayer at 6:55PM.
On the other hand, the longest fasting period will be on the last day of Ramadan, where the dawn prayer will be at 4:59 AM and sunset at 7:09PM.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on its citizens and residents to inform the nearest court if they spot the Ramadan crescent with a naked eye or through binoculars on Saturday, May 4.
For the purpose, the Supreme Court has issued an online statement which read: “The ministry invites citizens and residents to explore the vision of the holy month of Ramadan for this year on Saturday Sha’ban 29, 1440 – May 4, 2019. If the moon was not visible then look for it on Sunday, Sha’ban 30, 1440 – May 5, 2019.”
The court also urged people who spot the crescent to join the committees formed in the area for this purpose.
Bahrain
The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has announced that with the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, the moonsighting Panel will convene today (May 4) at the council’s meeting hall to receive news and testimonies on seeing the crescent in Bahrain or other Islamic countries.
The council called in its statement on anyone who has information about seeing the crescent to contact immediately the panel.
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Hotels in the UAE will no longer be able to charge guests $1,000 a night for a ‘mediocre room’ according to the vice president of hospitality asset management at Dubai Properties Hotels in the UAE have been overcharging guests as local rates have been ‘out of sync’ with global room prices, leading to increased discounts in the market, according to the vice president of hospitality asset management at Dubai Properties Group.
Speaking to Arabian Business at the Gulf and Indian Ocean Hotel Investors’ Summit (GIOHIS), Stuart Etherington said hotels in the UAE will no longer be able to charge guests $1,000 a night for a ‘mediocre room’ as the market matures and discounts decrease. “If we look at the UAE as a business marketplace, we’ve seen a discount culture in the last 3, 4 years primarily because we’ve been out of sync with what the market is paying globally. If we start to look at the maturity of our industry, and the maturity of the guests coming in, we won’t discount,” Etherington said. “We just need to price accordingly.
No longer will you be able to charge $1,000 a night to stay in a mediocre room in a B-grade location just because we’re the UAE.” While new hotels with various price points have generally lowered market rates, Etherington said some hotels have maintained their rates. “What we’re seeing is diversification in our market.
The market itself is maturing. What we’re seeing is diversification within multiple channels, with 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotels coming. This is statistically driving our rates down because of the blend, however, it’s not all doom and gloom out there,” he said. “A 5-star hotel on a beach is still a 5-star hotel on a beach, and is still achieving similar rates it was achieving 5 years ago,” he added.
Dubai Properties Group is part of the Dubai Holding Company, a global investment conglomerate which operates across 12 countries and includes the Jumeirah Group, which is known for iconic projects such as the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Al Naseem.
SHARJAH, 6th January, 2019 — Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority, EPAA, Emirates Nature-WWF, and the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, EMEG, have launched the Pearl of Sharjah project on Sir Bu Nair Island, a three-year project aimed at preserving the island’s marine ecosystems, a natural biodiversity reserve to raise awareness about the environmental, cultural and heritage of the island.
This came during a community launch for Sir Bu Nair Project, and was well-attended, as it raised awareness about Sir Bu Nair’s environmental, cultural and traditional significance.
Regarding the project, Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson, said, “H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, declared Sir Bu Nair Island a protected nature reserve in 2000. Formerly a haven for pearl divers and fishermen, this island is of ecological, historical, cultural and political significance.
“The goal is to use Sir Bu Nair Island as a model for the management of the UAE’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). We also plan to emphasise the socio-economic and ecological benefits of conserving marine environments. This project will benefit the environment, society and future generations of Emiratis,” explained Mrs. Al Suwaidi.
At the launch, the public was invited to upload images to Instagram using the hashtag #pearlofsharjah. These images were then used to create a digital mosaic of the pearl-shaped island. One of the participants was given an opportunity to win 2 tickets to Sir Bu Nair Festival to witness the natural legacy of the Pearl of Sharjah. The attendees thanked EPAA, Emirates Nature-WWF and EMEG for organising the event, which gave them an opportunity to learn about Sir Bu Nair Island and its ecosystems.
Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF, who was present on the day of the event, said, “We are thrilled to have joined the Sharjah community with EPAA and EMEG on Friday to shine the spotlight on Sir Bu Nair island and share details of our exciting new expedition. Our research in the field will commence in early 2019 with exploration and surveying of critical marine species and habitats, including sharks, rays, fish, birds and corals. Our aim is that our efforts on Sir Bu Nair will be showcased as a national blueprint for Marine Protected Area Management in the UAE”.
Recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, SBN Island has rich and diverse habitats and species, including turtles, birds and coral reefs.
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