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July 8 - Despite progress made in Petra in the three years since being named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, tourism officials say there is still work to be done to improve the visitor experience in the ancient Nabataean city. Visitor flow has risen "tremendously" since Petra was designated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World on July 7, 2007, according to Petra Development and Tourism Region…
July 7 - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has issued a royal decree for a landmark Saudi heritage exhibition to tour a number of European capitals and US cities after the show at Paris' Louvre museum. The Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) Prince Sultan bin Salman expressed his gratitude to the king for the gesture, describing the "Archaeology Masterpieces of…
July 7 - Deputy Governor of Hail Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saad announced on Monday the launch of the Hail Summer Tourist Festival, which is to run under the slogan "Welcome the Guest and the Summer." The month-long festival has been organized by Qalb Al-Aalam (Heart of the World) Company in partnership with Mobily. The prince also witnessed the signing of a partnership contract, which launched the festival's site on…
July 7 - The Taif Summer Festival, which opens today with a variety of cultural, educational and sports programs, is expected to attract more than a million holidaymakers and tourists from within the Kingdom and neighboring GCC states. Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal is scheduled to inaugurate the festivities during a colorful ceremony at King Fahd Sports City in Hawiya. Organisers said they…
July 7 - The Jeddah Municipality opened a new park in the Rowda district of the city as part of its "100 Parks in 100 Weeks" initiative. "I want to thank all of those who participated in putting smiles on the faces of local children and people, and I would like to thank the Friends of Jeddah Parks group for their efforts in coordinating with the municipality to open a park in each district of Jeddah," said…
July 6 - Tourism and conservation officials said they are currently considering an offer from a local firm to secure a destabilized rock formation in the ancient city of Petra. Officials have been waiting for over a year to select a firm to secure the detached rock, which hovers above the 1.2-kilometre path leading to the iconic Treasury which is the main entrance and exit for all visitors to the World…
July 6 - More than 123,000 people left Kuwait over the weekend through the country’s various exit points. The exodus followed the announcement of school exam results and resulted in massive congestions on the way to the airport and at the land exit points. People had to be resilient and wait in queues that stretched more than five kilometres near the Salmi border exit. Tension was palpable at the airport…
July 6 -Jewel of Muscat, the replica of a 9th century merchant sailing vessel, also known as a dhow, moored at the Singapore port on Saturday, ending a journey that lasted almost five months. The vessel set sail from Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, in February. “It is like a dream come true,” said Tom Vosmer, designer of the boat and Project Director while talking to reporters over the phone. The American…
The Dubai Country Club, a family-oriented, “not for profit” members club is soon to reopen its doors. Located in DubaiLand directly behind the Arabian Ranches the club is offering great value pre-opening memberships to residents new and old. In the years since its closure, the Dubai Country Club Committee have been busy securing a new home is set to become the biggest and best value sports, leisure and…
July 5 - Omran, the Government of Oman's tourism development and investment arm, yesterday announced the opening of a new Natural History Museum at Swiss-Belhotel Resort in Masirah Island. The centre gives visitors the chance to learn more about the unique wildlife and marine environment surrounding Oman's largest island. The centre has already proved popular with hotel guests and with the local community,…
July 5 - Several nationals and residents have criticised the delay in the launch of summer activities of the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) along with the delayed announcement of the events. The activities, dubbed Doha Summer Fun City, will begin on July 20 which was announced last week. Many people said the activities should have started earlier since a number of families would be out of the country by mid-July.…
July 5 - Tickets for the Makkah Metro (also known as Mashair Metro) will be distributed during October, more than a month before Haj, said the Chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee Sa’ad Jameel Al Qurashi at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The tickets will be evenly distributed among Mutawifeen [Hajj service providers] and during the next pilgrimage, the Metro is expected to transport about…
July 5 - The Dead Sea Development Company (DSDC) is scheduled to announce two large-scale projects with investment plans that will exceed JD60 million, officials in the company said on Wednesday. Amwaj International, a Jordanian real estate developer, will invest JD50 million to build a resort at the Dead Sea Development Area, according to the DSDC Chief Executive Officer Taha Zboun. In addition,…
The World Tourism Organisation's (WTO) latest ban on subsidies for Airbus from European governments will not have any impact on any Gulf carriers as the ruling will affect future aircraft developments and not the existing ones. Max Sukkhasantikul, Consultant — Commercial Aviation, Aerospace and Defence Practice, Frost & Sullivan, said: "I do not think this ruling will have any impact on the Gulf's regional…
The Abha Tourism Festival will begin on July 8 and run until August 21, said Asir Governor, Prince Faisal bin Khaled. "There will be no musical concerts, contrary to the rumours which have been circulating about the festival's important events," the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) quoted Prince Faisal as saying on Tuesday. Instead, there would be an operetta composed of national songs…
July 5 - Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a secret tunnel in the tomb of Seti I, who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago, the culture minister said on Wednesday. The Egyptian team, headed by Chief of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, had been searching for this tunnel for over 20 years in the West Bank necropolis of Luxor in South Egypt Hawass said it then took three years to excavate the 174 metre-long…
New Dubai, UAE July 2010: Three senior executives from Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts abandoned their shoes and socks in a moment of fun during a pre-opening inspection at Dubai's new hotel on the block, the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, scheduled to open in August. Andreas Mattmuller, the group's Chief Operating Officer - Middle East & Asia with Jan Kaiser, General Manager, Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel and Michael Nugent,…
Air Arabia, Middle East and North Africa's first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that the next destination from latest hub in Alexandria, Egypt, will be Abu Dhabi. The new service to the UAE's capital will commence on July 12, 2010. Air Arabia’s fifth destination from its Egyptian hub will operate four times per week between Burj Al Arab International Airport, Alexandria, Egypt and Abu Dhabi…
