Dubai News

Dubai’s tourism volumes surge to over 12 million

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.

Educational tours set to wow students at EXPO 2020

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.

Why Dubai Tops Every Traveller’s Wish List?

Dubai – the name itself inspires awe and your mind will put you on wanderlust in a millisecond. There are many reasons for Dubai being the favorite destination of travellers across globe. Let us cite 5 reasons why Dubai Tops every traveller’s wish list:

1. Bespoke luxury

The city of Dubai offers plenty of luxury experiences. The 5 star hotels provide private helicopters for their guests. Dubai is shopping lover’s favorite destination. The Dubai Mall has everything you need under one roof. You can enjoy cruising on a private yacht in Dubai. Dubai desert safari includes camel rides, belly dancing, campfire with barbecue etc… that in itself is a one-of-a-kind experience.

2. Safety

Dubai is one of the safest places for women. You can wear whatever clothes you are comfortable with and roam around in the city. The police also plays an important role in ensuring safety to each and everyone. The laws are stricter and crime rates are lower compared to other countries. Road safety is also fairly good in Dubai city.

3. Cleanliness

Dubai beaches are awarded blue flag for cleanliness. The quality of sea water is pretty good and is free of pollutants. Some commercial markets in Dubai have hygiene ambassadors who promote cleanliness in the city by conducting awareness camps. The water and air pollution rate is comparatively low in the city.

4. Multicultural

Dubai is so multicultural that it has people from more than 100 countries. People show mutual respect for one another. All kinds of religious festivals are a big part of Dubai’s culture.

5. Sight-seeing

There are a lot of places to visit in Dubai. Among them Burj Khalifa tops the list. It’s the tallest man-made structure. Dubai museum is in Al-Fahidi Fort. It was built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. Dubai Creek separates the city into two; Deira and Bur Dubai. One of the beautiful mosques in Dubai is the Jumeirah mosque. Dubai aquarium is another top tourist attraction. It is in the Dubai Mall. Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in UAE. It is shopaholics favorite destination; electronic goods, books, clothes or just anything, you name it and you can find it in this mall. The Palm Jumeirah, that looks like a palm tree from above, is the eighth wonder of the world.

Emirates to introduce second daily flight to Brussels

DUBAI, 5th July, 2017 (WAM) — Emirates will introduce an additional daily flight to Brussels, complementing Emirates’ existing schedule and providing a double-daily service to customers from 29th October, 2017.

The new scheduled flight will be added to meet the growing demand for travel on the route. Emirates has carried over half a million passengers between Dubai and the Belgian capital since launching operations on 5th September, 2014 – and the demand continues to grow for both inbound and outbound flights.

As well as providing choice and convenience for both, Belgian customers and inbound visitors, Emirates’ operations over the recent years have made a positive impact on Belgium’s tourism, trade, investment and employment. Keen to build on its already significant economic contribution, Emirates is confident its analysis demonstrates that the high potential of the route more than justifies the addition of a second daily service between Dubai and Brussels, both, to meet existing demand and to stimulate new growth.

Inbound tourism is also expected to receive a significant boost, with the new flight creating an anticipated 50,000 more tourist arrivals and generating over US$110 million of tourist revenues for the Belgium economy annually.

The second daily flight, which offers additional cargo capacity in the belly hold of the wide-body Boeing 777-300ER, will enhance trade links between Brussels and Dubai, transporting pharmaceuticals, perishables such as chocolates and automotive parts from Belgium to the UAE and beyond.

Al Saada The First happiness park launched in Dubai promoting excercise & entertainment

DUBAI, 20th October, 2016 A ‘happiness park’ that promotes exercise, entertainment and sustainability, was launched today in Dubai, in support of the happiness agenda of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Called ‘Al Saada’, the park, which is the first smart platform of its kind in the MENA region, was opened at the Dubai Ladies Club, in the presence of Ohood Al Roumi, Minister of Happiness, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director of Dubai Women Establishment.

The park is equipped with a range of workout machines which can transform kinetic energy into electricity, using innovative devices, and become familiar with DEWA’s major work values and principles, while enhancing the individual’s contribution to rational consumption, through entertainment, in a healthy and educational manner.

Al Saada Park is an innovative initiative that promotes the role of women and works to achieve their happiness through an activity which combines social, physical, entertainment and educational elements, which enables them to play active roles in achieving the happiness of the community, said Ohood Al Roumi, Minister of Happiness, at the opening.

She urged women to participate and benefit from the available activities at Al Saada Park, while pointing out that modern scientific studies confirm that exercising regularly increases happiness and raises the spirit, improves the mood, and motivates positive and happy ideas, bringing smiles to people’s faces.

“We are pleased to be collaborating with DWE through this project to promote a culture of exercise, energy conservation, and sustainability. This supports Dubai’s objective to be a smart and sustainable city that is home for happy, creative, and empowered people. As Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, once observed, sport should be the everyday culture of every member of society and the lifestyle we live and practice daily, because it refines a person’s soul, body and behaviour,” Al Tayer said.

“Happiness is central in DEWA’s strategy to support the happiness agenda, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in May 2016, to lead a citywide transformation that delivers the best possible services that improve people’s experiences to make them happier, and turn Dubai into the happiest city in the world,” he added.

“Al Saada Park is a result of the ideal partnership and collaboration with DEWA. We trust that its future results will bring many opportunities that will enable us to participate in achieving more strategic goals for the benefit of society,” said Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director of Dubai Women Establishment, while expressing her appreciation for DEWA’s leading efforts in sustainability.

There are three main zones in the park, the Energy Zone, the Educational Zone, and the Fun Zone. – AAMIR

Dubai hotel room rates 30%

Hotel room rates in Dubai have dropped as much as 30% as the global economic downturn sees holidaymakers cut back on spending, tour operators in Dubai have noted.

Aloke Dey, the manager of Dubai-based Sharaf Travel Holidays, said fourstars and five star hotels have cut their room rates by between 10 percent and 30 percent, also the Frre night offers are being offerred from begining of the 2009. This includes the worlds best hotel in DUbai the burj Al Arab which is offerring 1 free night if you book 2 consequetive nights.

Avtar Singh, director of operations at Dubai-based Lama Tours, said room rates had dropped at least 10 percent over all.

Mr. Suhail Agha of Exotic DUbai Tours reported that there had been such feeling starting from August the bookings for 2009 are low and due to this the hotel rates are bound to be low. “The hotels will either need to lower the rates or put in more efforts with tour operators to promote Dubai even more in the foreign world” Mr. Suhail Added.

Mr. jamal panhwar of Travel & Culture said that the rates were already hyped and a correction was always needed.

Recently opened hotel The Atlantis Dubai which spend 22 million on a grad party with hollywood and bollywood actors and actresses is also having dificult time to fill up the rooms. rumors were that Atlantis had reduced rates to about 90% but it was just a rumer however the hotel has reduced rates about 10-15%

Summer in Dubai… 48 degrees and rising

Temperatures have already reached a maximum of 48 degrees Celsius in the UAE over the weekend, and are expected to remain the same over the next three days, according to weather forecasters.

The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) on Sunday said that temperatures within the internal areas will range from 45-48 degrees Celsius, while the coastal areas will not fare any better with a maximum range from 39-46 degrees Celsius.

The NCMS stated that the weather across the country will be, “hot and fair in general, hazy at times and partly cloudy over some eastern and southern areas.”

Summer in Dubai… 48 degrees and counting
Humidity is expected to reach as high as 85 per cent
Published: 09:30 June 26, 2016
Mariam M. Al Serkal, Senior Web Reporter
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Dubai: The summer heat is back.

Temperatures have already reached a maximum of 48 degrees Celsius in the UAE over the weekend, and are expected to remain the same over the next three days, according to weather forecasters.

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The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) on Sunday said that temperatures within the internal areas will range from 45-48 degrees Celsius, while the coastal areas will not fare any better with a maximum range from 39-46 degrees Celsius.

The NCMS stated that the weather across the country will be, “hot and fair in general, hazy at times and partly cloudy over some eastern and southern areas.”

“Light to moderate winds, freshening at times over some exposed areas, causing some blowing dust at times.”

The level of humidity is likely to increase over some western coastal areas until Tuesday, with a chance of mist and fog forming. In the coastal areas, humidity is expected to reach as high as 85 per cent in internal areas, while residents living along the coast will be faced with humidity levels ranging from 70-90 per cent.

Northwesterly winds are also expected during the day, with an average speed ranging from 15-25km/h, although it may reach 35km/h at times.

The sea in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman will be calm, with slight to moderate waves at times.

New ‘mini world’ tourism attractions to be built in Dubai

In continuation to promote Dubai as the city of Expo 2020 yet another wonder is being built in Dubai the tourist attraction boasting miniature recreations of iconic world landmarks including the Empire State Building, the Great Wall of China and even the Burj Khalifa is set to open in Dubai.

The attraction which may be named as “Mini World Park”, was approved by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum this week. The attraction will also feature odes to Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Rome’s Colosseum, and many other recognisable natural and manmade monuments.

The location and other details of the project are still to come

This is not the first time that Dubai has attempted to bring together some of the world’s most famous landmarks into a single tourist development. Falconcity of Wonders, announced in 2005, proposed builder larger-than-life replicas of the likes of the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Eight years later though and that project has failed to get off the ground.

As part of its Expo 2020 bid, Dubai Municipality this week unveiled a number of other new projects.

The Al Mamzar Corniche Beach development, opposite the incomplete Palm Deira, will add up to 60,000 sqm of new public beaches in Dubai and is expected to open in the first quarter of next year.

A new Maritime Museum, in the shape of a nautical snail, will overlook Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and will cost AED35m ($9.5m) to build.

The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Library project, which will take the form of an open book, and will act as a new central library. Spread across nine floors, the library will accommodate more than 1m books on display and a further 1.2m in storage.

Saudi Prince Meshaal meets UAE Balloon Team

SHARJAH: Saudi Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Head of Pledge-Allegiance Commission met the UAE Balloon Team here today. He was briefed by the UAE Balloon Team, led by Captain Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Mansouri, to take part in this year’s edition of the Al Janadriyah, an annual cultural festival held in the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Chairman of the Higher Committee of the 7th UAE International Balloon Festival and Cup, Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mualla, also briefed Prince Meshaal on preparations to launch the King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Balloon at this year’s festival in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The event to be held in December this year will also see the launch of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Balloon Cup, the “Faris Al-Arab” (Arabic for the Arab Knight) Balloon Cup, the Spirit of the Union Balloon and the Gharbia Balloon will be launched at the same event.

In remarks at the meeting, Prince Meshaal hailed the achievements of the UAE in different spheres to advance prosperity and success in society. He also praised the achievements of the UAE Balloon Team in international competitions.

Emirates Literature Foundation decree issued

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, has issued decree No.8 for 2013 establishing the Emirates Literature Foundation as a public entity and an independent corporate body.

The new literature entity will have 3 main objectives, namely Emirates airlines, Dubai Culture and the Book Festival Foundation.

The emirates literary foundation will be managed by a board of trustees under the chairmanship of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

The board members include Shaikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Isobel Abulhoul, DrLo’ayMohammad Belhaoul, Maurice Flanagan, Dr Rafee’a Obaid Gobash, and Dr Hessa Abdullah Lootah.

The newly formed foundation will be responsible for organising, managing and supervising the Emirates Airline Literature Festival on an annual basis, as well as for attracting top world writers and lettermen to enrich the event with their creative literary works. The festival will be open and accessible to all.

The foundation will work to enhance and provide a proper environment for local, authors, poets and lettermen to enable them to give their best intellectual outputs.

It will also encourage literary production in both Arabic and English in particular, as well as other languages, with a focus on children’s literature. The foundation will also encourage reading and foster a love of reading among schoolchildren, out of their classes.
It will coordinate with the Dubai Culture and other relevant bodies to establish the “Book Centre” to be home to literary activities throughout the year, and also encourage authors.

The foundation will invite an elite group of Emirati and expatriate writers to attend international literature-related events and festivals.

Dubai Emerging As A Mature Tourism

The National has published an interesting article about the boom of tourism in Dubai this year. Many people relate the increase in number of tourists in Dubai to the unrest in the Arab world however there is an other factor that can be the main cause of increase in tourism in Dubai and that is the increase of options to see in Dubai.

Dubai is not any more a shopping destination it has matured from mere 2 days shopping to the luxury beach travel desert adventures and also the remarkable Burj Khalifa is attracting a lot of people to come to Dubai.

In my own capacity as a tour-operator I have seen many different type of tourist coming to Dubai. There was a time the numbers of tourists counted were mainly just the transit passengers from south Asia, than came the time when we had lot of Europeans started to come and as the economy of the western countries was shaking a slump came. This slump it self has managed to be a learning curve for the Industry Dubai hotels have realized that they just cant keep increasing prices.

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The touroperators managed to get themselves organized and now are able to offer more professional tour services. Even the guides have been able to understand that the time is not always the same and now they must give good service to stay in the job hence the Industry has not been matured and is ready to accept more tourists.

Tourists come to another country for pleasure as well as for learning the new cultures and new systems. Dubai has now developed enough infra structure and also enoug of its high paced history which attracts people towards it.

I remember I used call Dubai “Concrete Paradise” that implieng that there was no substance in it there was no natural development in it. Now I can not say that any more. I am now myself developing new tour packages which are centered towards showing people the culture of Emirates and also history geography and the huge success in building the remarkable buildings like Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Ibne Batuta mall etc. Recently in our company we have started a new tour called Islam awareness tour that tries to show people how Muslims live their life and what are the teachings of Islam. In about 6 hours we are able to give enough material to a tourists that he or she can go home and actually can talk about the basics of Islam.

Similarly another half day city tour has also been developed that gives people a taste of traditional culture of Dubai. We take people to old areas of Dubai let them taste the spices and offer them traditional Lunch or breakfast at a special Arabian restaurant.

There are now ques at Burj Khalifa for entrance tickets just like at the Colosseum in Rome or any other place. People now come to Dubai not just to shop or to sat 2 days in transit but now its a full length tourist destination which need atleast 7 days to explore it.

World record hopes for Emirati women’s giant mat

Seven Emirati housewives worked to preserve UAE culture and heritage

Dubai: Seven Emirati housewives got together and made a giant traditional mat from date palm tree leaves, as part of their efforts to keep this symbol of the UAE’s culture alive.
The seven women, who are all members of the women committee of Dibba Al Fujairah’s Culture, Theatre and Arts Centre, said it took them around six months to complete the project as they worked on it whenever they got some spare time out of their busy daily routines.
The mat is made of date palm tree fronds and is 24m and 30cm long. Its width is 74cm.

The traditional mat, known in the UAE as a ‘Haseer’, was widely used to furnish floors of houses, mosques and roof tops in the past. They are still used today, but mostly for outings, especially in the desert. The giant mat will be on display at the first Liwa/Ajman Date Festival which begins tomorrow and will continue until Friday, July 29.

Saif Al Dahmani, Head of Al Nakheel Foundation for Heritage and Handcrafts, is the one who suggested the idea of making the giant mat and is now working on promoting it. He is even trying to find a sponsor for the project to help get the mat registered with the Guinness World Records (GWR).

“We already exhibited the mat at the Liwa Date Festival which ended last week and we got a good response from visitors who were amazed at seeing the mat and appreciated the hard work that went into it,” he told Gulf News.

Common people

Al Dahmani said he chose the traditional mat because it is part of the country’s heritage and something that was used widely in the past, especially by common people. “I am basically coordinating with the women committee, as I am exhibiting this mat at various exhibitions,” he said. “I also promote the handmade products by these women on various occasions,” he added.
Mariam Juma, the general supervisor, who oversaw the project, said she feels proud of the women who dedicated time out of their busy lives to this project. She said the seven women spent six months first, weaving and then sewing the mat. “When we suggested to them the idea, we did not set a timeframe because we knew it is difficult for them to dedicated certain hours to this because of their other commitments.
“This is the first time the women committee of Dibba Al Fujairah has taken up such a project and we are happy it has seen the light,” she said.

Aisha Hamdan, one of the seven women who worked on the mat, told Gulf News they all took part in the project because they wanted to do something that represented the culture and heritage of the UAE as a country.
“This mat does not only represent us women from Fujairah, but the entire UAE,” she said.
Sindiyah Al Rahma, a 50-year-old housewife and mother of nine, said she spent her time working on the mat whenever she was free from her house responsibilities.
“I used to spend around one to two hours whenever I had some time on hand because I also take care of my house and children,” she said.
Fatima Hassan, a mother of six, said weaving and sewing has always been her passion.
“I learned it when I was a child and still love doing it. So the idea of making a giant mat putting our experience into it was very exciting to me,” she said.
Art of weaving
Halima Ali, another 50-year-old housewife and mother of nine, said she learned the art of weaving and sewing from her grandmother and mother and she still does it. She is also now passing on the skills she learned to her daughters.
“We have to pass on the experience of making these traditional handcrafts to the younger generations because they are part of our identity and we have to preserve it in a way or the other,” she said.

At a glance

Work on the giant mat started on December 1, 2010 and was completed on May 27, 2011.
The giant mat will be on display at the first Liwa/Ajman Date Festival, which starts tomorrow and runs until Friday, at Ajman Festival City, near Ajman City Centre.
For details on the festival contact: 050-3006888

Dubai creates corporation for government real estate

Dubai has established a commercial corporation to own and manage all properties registered in the name of the government, state-run news agency WAM said on Sunday.

Dubai Real Estate Corporation will have financial and administrative independence, WAM said, will be able to contract with third parties, and will be open to sue and be sued.

The entity will be responsible for all development, purchase, sale, lease and management of these properties, the agency said, citing a decree from Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

“The Corporation aims to own and manage the properties… including the ownership, reconstruction, investment and the use and exploitation of land…” the agency said.

No details were given on the properties to be managed.

Dubai, the worst-hit property market in the Gulf, saw house prices more than halve in late-2008 as the financial crash wiped out project funding and brought a halt to its real estate boom.

Real estate sales have plummeted since the days of Dubai’s property bubble, when speculators frequently bought yet-to-be- built homes and sold them at a profit before a single brick was laid.

State-owned developer Nakheel, which is seeking to restructure $10.9bn in debt, is expected to be carved out of parent company Dubai World this month.

Dubai said earlier this month it had scrapped 217 real
estate projects in the emirate as of May 31, and expected a further 237
developments to be completed “in due course”.

The total value of property sale transactions plunged to
AED119.5bn at the end of last year from AED152.9bn a year earlier, it said.

Global analysts remain divided on the state of the trade and
tourism hub’s real estate market, with many suggesting house prices have
further to fall.  

Deutsche Bank said this month that Dubai property prices
continued to slide and that political instability in the Middle East had failed
to give the market an expected boost.

“Despite talks of renewed interest in real estate following
regional unrest, there is no visible sign of an improvement,” analysts wrote.

By contrast, London consultancy Knight Frank said last week
that Dubai’s real estate market had seen house prices rise 2.1 percent since
October, with a modest 0.6 percent increase in Q1.

“The Middle East provides an improving picture,” said Liam
Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank. “Dubai has seen price
growth regain positive territory in the last six months and the consensus is
that the market is stabilising following the volatility observed in 2008-2010.”

Dubai Tourist Arrivals affected due to events in Middle East

Middle East events affect tourism in Dubai

The recent events taking place in the middle east and Libya have left a mixed impact on tourism. The total arrival of the people at Dubai airport although has not decreased as such but the tour companies are facing cancellations and the future bookings have shown decrease.

The DTCM’s media relations team created a webinar on 15th March for travel media to give an update about the state of tourism in Dubai the have shown exceptionally positive news about the forth coming events for tourism in Dubai.

According to DTCM, Dubai visitors have exceeded 8.5 million globally this past year. There was also an increase in hotel capacity which remained at an average of 70%. An additional 9500 rooms came available, making around currently 71,000 rooms available.

When spoken to some safari providers in Dubai they have seen 30% decrease in the safari bookings, however the efforts of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) it is expected that this short fall of tourist arrival will be covered immediately.

Islamic fashion: A modern makeover for mums abaya

Statuesque models clad in black robes with strategically placed slits and headscarves boasting vibrant flashes of color sashay down a Dubai runway to the theme song for a James Bond movie.

For the Dubai-based designers of the Rouge Couture line on display, the Western music combined with the unusual twists on the traditional abaya worn by observant Muslim women is the perfect contrast which sums up Islamic fashion.

“Our designs are there, in part, to empower women and show that traditional Arab women are strong,” said Rouge Couture founder Sarah Madani at the show in October. “Our line is both traditional and religious and no matter how far we go with it, our clothes are still modest.”

Modesty and religion are the cornerstones behind the fast-growing Islamic fashion industry, which is making a mark on runways from Indonesia and Dubai to Monte Carlo. Islamic fashion is part of a growing appetite for sharia-related industries and assets, ranging from finance to halal food.

Some of the biggest names in couture, such as Christian Dior, are racing to produce Islamic-inspired attire that will tap into the spending power of Muslim women globally.

Muslim designers are also eager to find their place in a fashion industry that is conservatively estimated to be worth more than $96 billion globally.

But the industry has its detractors, who say Islamic fashion misses the spirit of Islam and exploits the faithful by producing attire that is labelled Islamic, but whose aesthetic appeal owes much more to Western ideals of beauty.

A fashion show in Monte Carlo last August — where the Malaysian prime minister’s wife was a patron — sparked protests from student groups and politicians in Malaysia as well as widespread criticism on the Internet.

Some designs featured at the Islamic Fashion Festival were reviled for portraying the Prophet Mohammed’s name in Arabic calligraphy on the chest of a sleeveless abaya-inspired gown.

“The pride of the entire Islamic community worldwide has been tarnished by the Islamic Fashion Festival,” one Malaysian parliamentarian said at the time.

A Facebook page was created calling for the Prime Minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansur, to apologise to Muslims.

But Islamic Fashion Festival founder Raja Rezza Shah said critics missed the point of the event, which brings together designers of all faiths to create clothes with consumers from the Muslim world in mind.

“My event is about showing the gentle side of Islam to a non-Muslim audience,” Shah said. “There will be mistakes made by some designers that do not have a deep knowledge of Islam. How can I show Islam is gentle if I chop a designer at the first mistake?”

Shaykha Halima Krausen, a German-born sharia scholar, said there is always a concern that religion will be exploited for economic gain, but there were also opportunities to be had.

“Rather than looking for conflicting Western and Islamic values … I would really like Muslims to be more creative themselves in order to revive their cultural wealth,” she said.