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On Sunday 180 UAE elderly couples in Dubai joined with 1,000 other people on a 118 day Grand World Voyage of 50 cities on the Ms Rotterdam. Destinations include Africa, Northern and Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Asia, and the Caribbean. Managing Director for Lamar Desert Tours and Cruises said his company also has younger cruise passengers, from 30 years and up and the cruise industry is has grown at least…
DAMAC Properties announced their contractor IFG has recently finished Dh6.7 million enabling work on the Lincoln Park site in Dubailand. The area is cleared and the foundation work is completed so the main contractor may now begin work. DAMAC has several projects planned for Arjan and Majan areas, but Lincoln Park is its first development underway in Dubailand.
A Thursday luncheon marking the opening of One&Only Cape Town was attended by Nelson Mandela and Dubai World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Kerzner International Chief Executive Sol Kerzner. Other Guests of Honor at the event included Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Sharon Stone, Mariah Carey, Robert Diniro, and Morgan Freeman. Dubai World and Kerzner International are strategic partners in several huge…
Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal chaired a meeting of the Taif Tourism Development Council on Saturday and reviewed various proposals aimed at making Taif one of the Kingdom’s leading tourism destinations. Prince Khaled said Taif is the number one tourist destination in the Kingdom, the Kingdom will do its best to meet Taif tourism requirements, and he urged the Taif Chamber of Commerce and Industry to use…
The beach near Dubai Offshore Sailing Club reopened after tests showed there is no contamination in the water. This beach has been in the news for months, beginning in December when the Dubai Municipality was forced to close it, and the sailing club, after tankers dumped sewage. The beach was initially reopened but then closed again after beachgoers last month reported black water and toxic sludge. However, a…
Prince Sultan bin Salman said Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry will not impose a security or social burden. Prince Sultan was speaking at a board of directors meeting of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) on Monday. He said the main goal of the SCTA is to develop tourism in order to benefit citizens and their families, who represent the Kingdom’s biggest tourism market. Prince Sultan…
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is heavily promoting business travel at the Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM 2009). The GIBTM exhibition opened yesterday in Abu Dhabi. Director General of SCTDA said the GIBTM conference is an important one in the region because it attracts event planners, conference and exhibition organizers, and incentive buyers from…
Dubai’s Skal International Tourism organization met Monday night and re-elected Mr. Amit Aora President. Mr. Aora is Corporate Director for Sales and Marketing for Emar Hospitality Group. Skal also elected other members for offices including Mr. Chris Anns Vice President & International Councilor, and Mr. Peter van Driessel Vice President – Events. Skal International is a professional tourism body composed of…
Sabre Traveller Networks, Middle East has launched Traveller Security and Data Suite. The new program provides traveler security services, real time information about travel patterns, and reports for air, car, and travel bookings. Sabre CEO Daniel Naoumovitch explained the software suite provides secure access to data, complete travel information and reservation information, and detailed reports for all air,…
The global economic downturn is impacting the sale of luxury and leisure boats in the Middle East. Marine Consultant Mike Derret said boat sales in the Middle East will decrease by about half in the next one to two years. Last year 1,200 boats were sold and in 2007 1,500 were sold. Mr. Derret predicts the effect of the credit crunch will not be as severe as in the United States or Europe where sales are…
Senior Executives say Middle Eastern travel management companies are searching for ways to survive the economic crisis as all travel segments slow and yields decrease. Under consideration are streamlining processes, new revenue streams, and resource management. Executives say three challenges presented by the economic crisis are collection and credit terms yield drops, and resource management. General Manager…
Sri Lanka has received numerous enquiries from Saudi Arabian and other Middle Eastern investors interested in developing the countries hospitality and tourism sector. Faizer Mustapha, Deputy Minister for Tourism, talked about the new interest at a road-show organized by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. Sri Lanka hopes to make their island state a ‘full-fledged” value for money destination sooner than…
Syria’s Minister of Tourism, Dr. Saadalla Agha al-Qalla, emphasized the importance of tourist relations with Spain during a meeting with a Spanish media delegation on Saturday. He said it is important to improve tourist relations and reviewed tourism and its role in the national economy. Mr. Agha al-Qalla highlighted Ministry of Tourism achievements in recent years and said Syria is an appropriate place for…
The Dubai City Center project in Las Vegas is still on track for now because MGM Mirage made a $200 million funding payment on Friday. The $8.7 billion City Center project is being developed jointly by the hotel and casino operator MGM Mirage and Infinity World, a unit of Dubai World. The $200 million funding payment means construction can continue for another month on the 67 acre site between the Bellagio and…
Prime Minister of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Al Maktoum, is visiting Moscow in order to increase interest and business activity of Russian traveler in UAE. The high profile visit is expected to increase areas of engagement between Russia and the UAE. Prominent citizens say that the UAE is already a popular tourist destination for Russians. The executive director of Imex Real Estate Company, Artur…
The Director General of Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) again said DNRD will support the tourism sector by ensuring smooth entry an exit, simplifying procedures, and attending to travelers needs quickly. Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Mari urged relevant authorities to coordinate their efforts in order to boost the economy, and help Dubai to become the regions tourism hub. Mr. Al Mari…
Dubai’s financial chief said Tuesday that urgent action is necessary to shore up Dubai World’s Nakheel, and Dubai Holding. However, Nasser Al Shaikh, Director General of Department of Finance, said the company is not asking for emergency help as they think they can handle the crisis. Dubai’s properties are a lynchpin for the economy, and they have been slumping since last year as oil prices and the global…
Dubai World’s Infinity World subsidiary on Monday filed suit against MGM Mirage because it is concerned that funding commitments for the $8.6 billion project will not be met. The 67 acre city center project is currently being built on the Las Vegas strip. MGM recently filed SEC returns indicating it may not be able to meet its debt repayment obligations. MGM has over $13 billion in outstanding debt…
