Travel insurance, and travel security, have been much discussed this year.
With fresh perspective on just how quickly circumstances can change, the UAE's airlines are adapting to reflect recent history.
Both Etihad Airways and Emirates airline are offering insurance for international passengers, in a bid to reassure travellers flying into the UAE following the Iran war.
Emirates is now offering its Comprehensive Travel Cover, which includes medical cover for conflict-related incidents, backed by airline-managed hotel accommodation and extended-stay support across a range of disruption scenarios. It can be purchased on the airline's website at the time of booking or added to existing bookings via the Manage Booking tab online.
Etihad is launching its free insurance offering in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Provided by insurer Daman, it will be offered to all international visitors arriving in Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated flights from July to December. Read more about the airlines' insurance offerings here. And for an insight into what the introduction could do for the tourism industry, read my colleague Nick Webster's analysis here.
For those of us in the UAE, it looks set to be a busy summer of travel either way.
In recent days, Etihad has launched flights to Krakow in Poland, Palma de Mallorca in Spain, Damascus in Syria and Zanzibar in Tanzania, with the routes launched over four consecutive days between June 11 and June 14. This is on top of the return of five of the airline's seasonal summer routes. Services to the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini resumed on June 15 and June 16 respectively, while flights to Malaga in Spain restarted on June 15. Nice in France returns on June 19, followed by Egypt's Mediterranean resort city of Al Alamein on July 16.
Etihad reported that its summer capacity is up 10 per cent compared to the same period last year, while flights are operating at close to 90 per cent load factors.
And the launches don't stop there. Looking ahead to later this year, there are still plenty of new routes to come.
Air Arabia is launching a Sharjah to Rome service on July 1, Emirates is launching a Dubai to Helsinki route on October 1 and, come November 3, Etihad will launch its Abu Dhabi to Calgary route. Meanwhile, flydubai has announced a new daily service to Pokhara International Airport starting on September 23. The Dubai airline is the first from the UAE to offer direct flights to the city in central Nepal. Read a round-up of what's still to come here.
Perhaps a snowy trip to Finland or Canada, or a lakeside Nepalese visit could be on the cards for later this year.
Until next time, safe travels.
Travel news you may have missed
• A visa-free agreement between the UAE and Papua New Guinea has been introduced. The reciprocal visa waiver allows Emirati and Papua New Guinean passport holders to travel between the two countries without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, provided passports remain valid for at least six months.
• Football fans travelling during the Fifa World Cup 2026 need not miss a moment of the action, with regional airlines Etihad Airways, Emirates airline, Saudia, Gulf Air and Qatar Airways among those offering live coverage of matches. Read our full rundown here.
• Dubai Airports received two honours at the Ideas Arabia International Award – Dubai Quality Group, recognising its leadership in Digitisation and AI Integration in Health & Safety and Accessible & Inclusive Travel for People of Determination Guests.
• Oman Air is launching its first direct flight between Dubai and Salalah on July 3. The new route will give travellers further access to the lush green landscapes of the sultanate's southern region during the rainy khareef season. The airline will operate three flights per week, complementing its three daily services between Dubai and Muscat. Khareef season lasts from late June to September.
Arab art exhibitions worth travelling to this summer
Summer travel often brings the usual museum circuit on to a traveller's radar, but several of this season’s most interesting exhibitions are looking towards the Arab world.
Across Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific, regional histories and artists are being foregrounded through archaeology, contemporary installation, sound, film, painting and questions of memory. Paris alone could fill a weekend, with exhibitions on Lebanon, Libya, Egyptian history and objects from the Al Thani Collection. Venice, meanwhile, is hosting a wide range of Arab and Middle East-linked artists as part of the Biennale.
Read William Mullally's rundown of Arab-related exhibitions outside the Middle East to plan a trip around this season here.
And if you happen to be in North America − watching the World Cup, perhaps − you may also want to check out some Arab musicians. Here, William has put together a guide to who is performing where in the next few weeks.
Travel buy
The Dyson Supersonic Travel hair dryer is now available in the UAE.
A more compact version of the Supersonic, it is 32 per cent smaller and 25 per cent lighter than the full-sized styling tool, making it fit to be packed in checked luggage or a carry-on.
Another travel-friendly perk of the device: its voltage automatically adapts when travelling, which means it can be used around the world. This is not standard on all Dyson products.
It is available with the smoothing nozzle attachment for Dh1,199. Other attachments, such as the diffuser, wide-tooth comb and gentle air attachment, can be bought separately.
Spotlight destination: Family-friendly Bali
Playgrounds, water slides, kids' clubs, cooking lessons, spas and art classes are among the many appealing attributes of a hotel that caters to children and parents alike.
The enjoyment of a family holiday relies heavily on keeping children entertained and worn out by day’s end, as Ronan O'Connell has learnt across many trips with his wife and energetic young son.
Read what he makes of three of Indonesian island Bali's tried-and-tested family-friendly resorts here.
Top travel tip
Lean on AI to build your daily itinerary when exploring a new city. It's rarely without mistakes, though − so be sure to fact-check! − but the digital tools can build comprehensive plans, helping you tick off new sights in a destination.
Make sure to ask it to factor in travel times and cost, so you don't end up hopping from end-to-end of a city, and shelling out for entrance fees that aren't within your budget.
In the headlines
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