As befitting a growing global travel hub, 2017 was an exciting time for new flight routes from the UAE. Airlines both consolidated existing routes and built on earlier launches to expand their networks, while partnerships and codeshare agreements literally opened up the world to UAE travellers wanting to travel only on UAE airlines. In July, for example, Emirates launched a daily service to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, which stops en-route in Yangon; simultaneously, its Hanoi route, which had stopped in Yangon, became non-stop. One wonders what other South East Asian ports of call could be added later this year. A codeshare agreement with Flydubai has expanded Emirates' network by a further 29 destinations, while the Dubai-based low-cost carrier added several new routes of its own, including Batumi in Georgia, Qabala in Azerbaijan and Tivat in Montenegro.
From Abu Dhabi, airBaltic launched a direct service to the Latvian capital Riga, in partnership with Etihad Airways. Riga itself, a hub for airBaltic, announced five new routes from Riga from 2018, meaning that UAE travellers could continue their travels within Europe to the new locales of Bordeaux, Gdansk, Lisbon, Malaga and Split, perhaps booking a circular ticket to fly into one airport and out of the other, all the time using a trusted carrier.
For 2018, expansion is being focused on areas of consistent and substantial tourism growth, with a focus on Europe and Russia. The ability, since February 2017, of Russian passengers to receive a free 30-day visa on arrival in the UAE has led to a huge demand for flights from all over the country, opening up some of Russia's most interesting and previously inaccessible corners to travellers from the UAE. Flydubai alone now offers over 50 flights a week to 11 destinations in Russia, the most recent of which are Makhachkala, Ufa and Voronezh. While new routes will be added throughout the year, these are the 12 we're most excited about now.
1. Abu Dhabi to Goa, Jet Airways
Not a moment too soon, a direct service has just been launched between Abu Dhabi and Goa, turning what used to be at least an 8 hour ordeal via Bombay or Muscat into a breezy 3 hour hop (even if the flight from Abu Dhabi does depart at 10.50pm, arriving in India just before 4am local time). What's more, this route is the first and only direct link between the UAE and the south Indian state, one of India's major tourism centres. With return tickets currently available from Dh843 return including taxes, we anticipate plenty of demand for long weekends from residents of the UAE capital (www.jetairways.com).
2 Abu Dhabi to Baku, Etihad
The capital of Azerbaijan, boasting the Unesco-listed Walled City of Baku with the Shiranshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, as well as the ultra-modern Flame Towers and Zaha Hadid-designed Heydar Aliyev Center, is finally becoming a direct Etihad route on March 2. The thrice-weekly service also takes just three hours and Etihad's civilised flight schedule sees the outbound flight depart Abu Dhabi at 10.10am, arriving at 13.15, while the return departs Baku at 16.30, arriving at 19.25. Again, this more than halves previous indirect travel times of nine hours or more. With return flights currently on sale from Dh1,415 per person including taxes, we can see demand for this service selling out fast (www.etihad.com).
3. Dubai to Krakow, Flydubai
Flydubai's first flights to Poland will start on April 8, when the airline launches a direct service to Krakow (this is also the first direct route to the city from the UAE). The country's cultural capital, Krakow boasts a Unesco-listed old town featuring Gothic, baroque and Renaissance architecture, smart hotels and low prices. Return tickets for the 5.5 hour flight are currently available from Dh2,245 return including taxes (www.flydubai.com).
4. Dubai to Dubrovnik
Starting on April 10 and continuing until October 25 for the summer season, UAE travellers can now fly direct to one of eastern Europe's most popular cities three times a week. The Croatian city's Old Town was world famous long before Game of Thrones was filmed there, and hotel options range from budget to luxury. The route reflects a growing demand for travel to the Balkans from the UAE and builds on the Dubai-Podgorica and Dubai-Tivat routes launched in 2017. Departures from Dubai on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with return flights costing from 2,235 return including taxes (www.flydubai.com). The trip takes six hours.
5. Sharjah – Moscow Sheremetyevo
The number of direct routes starting between the UAE and Russia – whether it's Flydubai, Air Arabia or the Russian charter airline Rossiya, is continuing apace. From March 1, hot on the heels of FlyDubai, Air Arabia will complement its existing Sharjah-Moscow Domodedovo daily flight with a daily direct route into Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, four times a week. While Domodedovo is situated to the south of Moscow, Sheremetyevo is located about the same distance to the north, with faster train services into the capital, one of the world's greatest cities. The flights take just over five hours and tickets are currently available from Dh1,055 return including taxes (www.airarabia.com).
6. Dubai to London Stansted, Emirates
Just in time for the summer exodus, Emirates has announced that it is launching a direct route between Dubai and Stansted Airport in Essex from June 8. While the route will partly cater to business travel, the route is also about getting more capacity into London, with extremely limited expansion options available at Heathrow. UK travellers will enjoy being able to fly into London whilst avoiding Heathrow's crowds. Those landing in Stansted can also travel quickly to the attractive English cities of Cambridge and Newmarket. The flight takes 7 hours and tickets are currently available from Dh2,665 return including taxes (www.emirates.com).
7. Dubai to Catania, Sicily
UAE holidaymakers heading to Sicily will also rejoice in being able to avoid a nine-hour ordeal flying via Rome or other Italian airports in order to get to the southern island of Sicily. From 13 June, it's a six-hour direct flight with Flydubai to Catania, costing from Dh2,185 return including taxes. Thanks to its proximity to Tunisia, Sicily enjoys deep Arab influences which are reflected in some of its architecture, culture and cuisine (www.flydubai.com).
8. Sharjah to Bodrum
Again offering respite from layovers in Istanbul, from June 13, Air Arabia is offering a seasonal direct route to Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera, which gets you there in 4.5 hours. The flight will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Sharjah International Airport at 21:45 hours, and arriving the next day at Bodrum's Milas Mugla International Airport at 01:30 hours local time. The return flight will depart Bodrum at 02:10 hours, landing in Sharjah at 07:35 hours local time. Tickets cost from Dh1,760 return including taxes (www.airarabia.com).
9. Dubai to Kutaisi, Georgia
Flydubai is continuing its run of direct routes into Georgia by launching a service to Kutaisi on 14 June. Kutaisi is Georgia's third biggest city and is located 220km west of the capital Tbilisi. "Capital of several historica kingdoms within Georgia, Kutaisi is today being revitalised after years of post-Soviet decline," says travel media company Lonely Planet. "Georgia's parliament was transferred from Tbilisi to brand-new quarters here in 2012 and Kutaisi's airport has become a destination for international budget airlines." Tickets for the twice-weekly flights cost from Dh1,445 return including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours (www.flydubai.com).
10. Dubai to Makhachkala, Ufa and Voronezh, Russia
Makhachkala, located on the Caspian Sea close to the borders of Georgia and Azerbaijan, has a population of over 500,000 and is home to the Makhachkala Grand Mosque, one of Russia's largest. Its location in the North Caucasus offers some striking scenery. Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, has a population of over a million and is situated south-west of Yekaterinurg, close to Kazakhstan. Voronezh, an industrial city sometimes used as a stopover for journeys to Ukraine or the Caucasus, features some grand old buildings, a renovated city centre and hipster cafes. If only obtaining Russian visas was easier. Tickets for the 3.5 hour flight to Makhachkala cost from Dh1,600; the five-hour trip to Voronezh costs from Dh1,700, and the five-hour flights to Ufa cost from Dh1,381 return, all return including taxes (www.flydubai.com).
11. Sharjah to Asmara, Eritrea
Again following Flydubai, which launched a route to the Eritrean capital in 2015, Air Arabia is now offering one direct flight a week, priced from Dh1,400 return including taxes for the four-hour trip. Asmara is noted for its architecture, including art deco, modernist and futurist, coffee shops and restaurants. Most tourists need a permit to travel outside the city and travellers from the UAE will need to arrange visas in advance. Return flights cost from Dh1,400 return including taxes (www.airarabia.com).
12. Dubai to Kilimanjaro
Just launched by Flydubai, this route solves the thorny, time-consuming issue of how safari travellers get to Tanzania's northern wildlife centres; previously, flights involved detours via Nairobi or Dar Es Salaam. Of course, the route is also ideal for those attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Other attractions in the immediate area include Moshi, the coffee plantations of Arusha, Lake Chala and Arusha and Kilimanjaro National Parks. Once you've finished hiking, take an internal direct flight to the island of Zanzibar before flying back direct to Dubai from there. Return tickets for the 5.5 hour trip cost from Dh1,563 including taxes (www.flydubai.com).
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Read more:
Where to go in 2018
On the move: the importance of real travel in the digital age
Travel year in review: our writers' highlights of 2017
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MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
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The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
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
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%3Cp%3E1.%20Protracted%20but%20less%20intense%20war%20(60%25%20likelihood)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Negotiated%20end%20to%20the%20conflict%20(30%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Russia%20seizes%20more%20territory%20(20%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Ukraine%20pushes%20Russia%20back%20(10%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EForecast%20by%20Economist%20Intelligence%20Unit%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
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TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%2C%20multimedia%20and%20creative%20work%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELogo%20design%2C%20website%20design%2C%20visualisations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20and%20professional%20management%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegal%20or%20management%20consulting%2C%20architecture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20and%20professional%20support%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EResearch%20support%2C%20proofreading%2C%20bookkeeping%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESales%20and%20marketing%20support%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESearch%20engine%20optimisation%2C%20social%20media%20marketing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EData%20entry%2C%20administrative%2C%20and%20clerical%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EData%20entry%20tasks%2C%20virtual%20assistants%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIT%2C%20software%20development%20and%20tech%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EData%20analyst%2C%20back-end%20or%20front-end%20developers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWriting%20and%20translation%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EContent%20writing%2C%20ghost%20writing%2C%20translation%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOnline%20microtasks%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EImage%20tagging%2C%20surveys%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20World%20Bank%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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%3Cp%3EThe%20new%20UAE%20league%20has%20been%20boosted%20this%20season%20by%20the%20arrival%20of%20five%20Pakistanis%2C%20who%20were%20not%20released%20to%20play%20last%20year.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShaheen%20Afridi%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ESet%20for%20at%20least%20four%20matches%2C%20having%20arrived%20from%20New%20Zealand%20where%20he%20captained%20Pakistan%20in%20a%20series%20loss.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShadab%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DThe%20leg-spin%20bowling%20allrounder%20missed%20the%20tour%20of%20New%20Zealand%20after%20injuring%20an%20ankle%20when%20stepping%20on%20a%20ball.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAzam%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EPowerhouse%20wicketkeeper%20played%20three%20games%20for%20Pakistan%20on%20tour%20in%20New%20Zealand.%20He%20was%20the%20first%20Pakistani%20recruited%20to%20the%20ILT20.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMohammed%20Amir%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EHas%20made%20himself%20unavailable%20for%20national%20duty%2C%20meaning%20he%20will%20be%20available%20for%20the%20entire%20ILT20%20campaign.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EImad%20Wasim%20(Abu%20Dhabi%20Knight%20Riders)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20left-handed%20allrounder%2C%2035%2C%20retired%20from%20international%20cricket%20in%20November%20and%20was%20subsequently%20recruited%20by%20the%20Knight%20Riders.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
More from Neighbourhood Watch
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)
Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15
Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)
Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000