After a year filled with travel restrictions, quarantines and lockdowns, summer is just around the corner. For many travellers, especially those who have been fully vaccinated, the time is right to travel again.
Emirates airline is warning these travellers to plan ahead for what it says will be a peak travel period.
The airline has advised all passengers to arrive early during this busy time at Dubai International Airport.
More than 450,000 passengers are set to pass through Emirates’ Terminal 3 between Wednesday and July 12.
The busiest days for travel are set to be the next two weekends, July 2 and 3, and then again from July 9 to 10.
1,600 flights and 100,000 arriving travellers
Emirates is operating over 1,600 flights over the next two weeks as UAE citizens and residents fly out of the country, with many of them travelling for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline's latest booking figures show that more than 100,000 passengers are also set to arrive in Dubai during the same period.
With such a busy time ahead, Emirates is warning passengers to arrive early at the airport and to ensure they follow the new rules in place for travel, including compulsory face masks on all flights.
How early do I need to be at the airport?
All travellers should be at Dubai International Airport at least three hours before their flight departure time, according to Emirates.
The airline has reminded passengers that heavy road traffic surrounding Terminal 3 is expected over the next two weeks, so getting to the airport may take a little longer than normal.
Travellers cannot check-in for a flight less than one hour before departure time and anyone arriving after this cut-off point will not be allowed to board.
Once in the airport, passengers need to ensure they are at their boarding gate on time. Gates open 90 minutes before departure and boarding begins 45 minutes before each flight.
All gates close 20 minutes before flights depart. Travellers will not be allowed to board any flight if they arrive late at the gates.
What safety measures are in place at Dubai airport?
Several new safety measures have been rolled out at Terminal 3 and travellers who are flying for the first time since the pandemic began can expect some changes.
As well as increased cleaning of high traffic areas including seats and handrails, Emirates has also implemented social distancing measures throughout Terminal 3 including floor markings, signage and dedicated airport employees to manage the flow of passengers.
Hand sanitising stations and Plexiglas partitions have been installed at check-in desks and in Emirates lounges.
Emirates will also reopen its First Class Lounge in Concourse B on Thursday.
This will have capacity for 540 travellers with socially distanced seating and dining areas. The lounge will help manage the surge in passenger demand over the summer.
Can I use contactless check-in and bag-drop?
Travellers can use Emirates’ contactless kiosks to check in for flights without having to print out documents or touch any electronic screens. These services are designed to reduce waiting times during busy periods.
Completely controlled by personal mobile devices, the kiosks can be used to check-in for flights, choose seats on board, drop bags and pay for additional services like extra baggage charges.
The contactless kiosk services are available on all Emirates flights except those to the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong, as these destinations require additional checks.
Customers can also use Emirates' biometric paths for a contactless journey. These include seven biometric boarding gates that help to cut down on document checks and queuing time.
Should I download the IATA travel app?
Travellers flying to some Emirates destinations from Dubai can register on the IATA Travel Pass to manage their Covid-19 travel documentation.
The app includes information on vaccination status and latest PCR test results, and allows people to ensure they will be verified to fly before going to the airport.
See the travel pass in action here.
Emirates is using the IATA Travel Pass for flights to nine destinations: London, Barcelona, Madrid, Istanbul, New York JFK, Moscow, Frankfurt, Charles De Gaulle, and Amsterdam. The airline plans to add more destinations to this list throughout the summer.
Will I have to show my Alhosn app?
From July 1, Emirates will link its check-in systems to the UAE’s Alhosn app.
This will be in addition to the airline’s existing integration with the Dubai Health Authority.
It means that travellers from across all emirates will be able to digitally retrieve their Covid-19 medical records from the Alhosn app in order to verify their health and vaccination status.
How can I save time at the airport?
Emirates allows travellers to check-in and drop off luggage at the airport up to 24 hours ahead of flights.
This service is available for all flights, other than those to the US. It means travellers can then go straight to security on arrival at the airport.
Travellers can also check-in online from 48 hours to 90 minutes before departure. However, passengers are reminded that selecting this option will mean they still need to visit Emirates’ check-in counters or contactless kiosks in person to complete documentations checks at the airport.
Do I need a Covid-19 PCR test before I fly from Dubai?
Emirates does not require travellers to have a negative PCR test result before flying. However, travellers flying to certain destinations will need to show negative Covid-19 PCR test results at the airport before being allowed to check-in.
The airline has reminded passengers to review the latest travel requirements to their destination including whether a PCR test is required and how far in advance before heading to the airport. These requirements can change regularly so it is best to review the information often.
Emirates has detailed destination-specific information on its website.
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.
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
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.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
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Results
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.
6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m
Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m
Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.
Test series fixtures
(All matches start at 2pm UAE)
1st Test Lord's, London from Thursday to Monday
2nd Test Nottingham from July 14-18
3rd Test The Oval, London from July 27-31
4th Test Manchester from August 4-8
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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.”
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
