Plans for a single GCC tourism visa will be a “fantastic development” for tourism in the region, making it more attractive for visitors and businesses, the head of Dubai Airports has said.
“It's one of those planks in the travel arsenal that will be greater than the sum of its parts,” Paul Griffiths, chief executive of state-owned Dubai Airports, told The National on the sidelines of the World Travel and Tourism Council's global summit in Rwanda.
“The development of tourism in other countries in the Middle East will make the whole region more attractive and encourage more businesses.”
The head of the world's busiest airport by international traffic said he was often asked about competition from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which is developing big tourism projects and building a new airport in Riyadh.
However, he pointed to the evolution of tourism in Europe where travellers often visit several cities within the continent during a single trip.
“The Middle East also has a multiplicity of different things to see or do … the difficulty, of course, is that tourism in the Middle East is nowhere near its potential compared to tourism in Europe,” Mr Griffiths said.
“And the more places in the Middle East that can be added to the 'must-sees' on the tourism map, the better it will be for every single nation within the GCC.”
The more cities there are on the tourism map that encourage people to visit the Middle East, the better the perceptions that people will have of the region, he added.
Plans for a single unified tourist visa system are being developed with the aim of simplifying travel within the GCC and boosting tourism. The new system is scheduled to be introduced between 2024 and 2025.
The move is a big part of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, which is aimed at increasing the sector's economic contribution through increased regional travel and higher hotel occupancy rates.
It intends to boost the number of visitors to GCC countries to 128.7 million visitors by 2030. That is up from 39.8 million last year, which was an increase of 136.6 per cent compared with 2021.
The new programme is expected to be a game-changer for the region, according to hospitality and tourism experts.
There is an untapped market for tourism in the GCC bloc, with many travellers put off by visa restrictions that made reaching some nations difficult, they said.
Dubai International Airport raised its full-year 2023 passenger forecast in August to 85 million, from an earlier projection of 83.6 million, and is inching towards its pre-coronavirus levels.
“Every time we've revised our forecasts through the year, we've had to revise them in the upward direction, which means that we've exceeded our forecasts at every level,” Mr Griffiths said.
“If things continue to go well, I am hopeful that by the end of the year we may be close to our original pre-pandemic numbers.”
The hub recorded 86.4 million travellers in 2019.
The emirate is expected to host a flurry of global events in the coming weeks that are expected to attract an influx of international visitors to the city.
These include the Dubai Airshow on November 13, the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels on November 20 and the Cop28 UN climate summit at the end of the month.
Chinese travellers are also starting to come back to Dubai, although not yet in full force.
“We're starting to see really encouraging signs that they will be back in strong numbers,” Mr Griffiths said.
He could not provide a timetable for their return to pre-Covid levels as the recovery of Asian markets has been “sluggish and they've not performed as we had really wanted”.
Unified standards on sustainable travel
Asked about the impact of the Israel-Gaza war, that has raged on for nearly a month, on the airport's traffic, Mr Griffiths said: “The situation in a few parts of the world at the moment is obviously very serious and we don't want to take anything away from the human suffering, but I would say that Dubai seems to be a place where we're incredibly resilient and traffic flows always seem to hold up.”
Dubai International Airport is connected to 255 destinations in 104 countries and serves 90 international airlines.
“Because of the huge volumes that come through from so many parts of the world, if one traffic flow is slightly depressed, then it seems to be compensated by another area,” Mr Griffiths said.
The war is undermining tourism across the Levant at the start of the high season, which runs from October to late May.
The sector is a major foreign currency earner in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, all of which border Israel and are under varying degrees of economic pressure.
Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world’s oil, has given up most gains since October 7 when Hamas, which rules Gaza, attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
Concerns are mounting about longer-term travel demand as households wrestle with inflation and rising interest rates, and as geopolitical tension, particularly in the Middle East, has started to deter some travellers.
However, Dubai International Airport is optimistic about travel demand holding up.
“Nothing flies off the shelves quicker than if you put 'limited edition' on it and, unfortunately, the pandemic put 'limited edition' on every airline ticket, so when we were able to open up connectivity to the world again, everyone just said 'get me on a plane'," Mr Griffiths said.
The removal of Covid-related curbs on international travel allowed people to release their pent-up desire to visit new countries, a trend known as revenge travel.
“I don't think revenge travel has exhausted itself yet … the propensity to travel is alive and well, and we're seeing the results of that,” he said.
The same attitude attitude that we apply to aviation safety should be applied to sustainability, because you could argue that failure to deal with it in an intelligent manner can lead to an equally dramatic result
Paul Griffiths,
chief executive of Dubai Airports
“Traffic growth is very much order of the day, so the DXB hub has never been in greater shape.”
The airport executive was speaking during the WTTC's annual gathering of industry officials where the issue of urgent climate action and measures for sustainable travel and tourism were the dominant themes at this year's discussions.
Mr Griffiths emphasised that the global aviation industry should tackle climate action with the same stringent and harmonised approach it takes towards safety regulations.
“People have a right to expect that all measures are taken to ensure the safety of every journey,” he said.
“The same attitude that we apply to aviation safety should be applied to sustainability, because you could argue that failure to deal with it in an intelligent manner can lead to an equally dramatic result.”
The aviation industry must work with governments in partnership to address decarbonisation efforts “because what you cannot have is a playing field where some parts of the supply chain conform and others don't”, Mr Griffiths said.
Just as aviation safety rules have been adopted by regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation as a common standard globally, the same approach needs to be applied to environmental sustainability.
“We need to get to a common standard of what environmental responsibility looks like so that we all know what we're enforcing – until we get to that, it will be difficult,” he said, pointing to the numerous carbon dioxide reduction initiatives.
“This is a problem for the entire planet and it needs a global solution that we can all work collaboratively towards. We can't have different schemes that conflict with other schemes … we all have a duty of care to decarbonise whatever activity we're engaged in at the fastest possible rates,” Mr Griffiths said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
