Dubai and Abu Dhabi welcomed the first cruise liners this week as sailing season commences.
In Saudi Arabia, voco has opened one of the largest hotels in Makkah, while Qatar Airways has resumed flights to Ras Al Khaimah.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
The UAE marks the start of cruise season
Dubai's Mina Rashid welcomed the first luxury cruise liner of the new season on October 28, with the arrival of Mein Schiff 2. The city anticipates visits by up to 150 cruise ships this year, attracting major operators including MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises.
Mina Rashid was recognised as the Middle East's Leading Cruise Port at the World Travel Awards 2023, while Dubai Harbour ranked as the World's Best New Cruise Development during the Annual World Cruise Awards 2021.
“Dubai has become a major port of embarkation and a popular call for cruise lines in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf, and we expect to record another strong season, with 28 per cent more visitors forecasted in comparison to 2022 to 2023,” said Hamza Mustafa, chief operating officer for DP World.
Zayed Port also welcomed its first ship, with Crystal Symphony docking at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal on Wednesday. The terminal expects 126 calls this season, while Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach is set to host 63 calls, including nine maiden voyages to the emirate.
Last season, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal recorded more than 600,000 visitors, with over 82,000 starting their journey from the capital.
Emirates shines a light on Diwali
Dubai's main airline will mark the Hindu festival of light, as Emirates rolls out Diwali delicacies on-board and in select lounges between Thursday and next Wednesday.
Customers travelling to and from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata and Mumbai will be served Diwali sweets, traditional dishes and themed drinks.
Premium economy and economy class passengers will get motichoor laddu, deep-fried flour balls simmered in cardamom and saffron. First and business class travellers will also be offered a pista roll – ground cashew nut with spices, pistachios and silver leaf.
A thali set and kulfi falooda is available in Dubai's First Class Lounge, while kachori, samosas, angoori rabdi and rasgullas are on offer in the Business Class Lounge. Sweets are also available in the Emirates lounges of Cape Town and Johannesburg, where there is a large Indian diaspora.
A special collection of Yash Raj films are also available to watch on-board to mark the occasion.
The My Emirates Winter Pass returns
Emirates Airline has brought back its My Emirates Winter Pass, which is available until March 31. The campaign lets customers use their boarding pass to access exclusive discounts at restaurants, luxury spas, shops, private pools and beaches across the UAE.
This includes Burj Khalifa, Aquaventure water parks, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai Parks & Resorts, City Sightseeing and more.
If you check-in online and download your mobile boarding pass to the Emirates app or wallet, simply screenshot it to present at participating venues, otherwise it will disappear from the apps once you land.
Qatar Airways resumes flights to Ras Al Khaimah
An Airbus A320 flying in from Doha's Hamad International Airport touched down at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport on Wednesday, marking the resumption of services between Qatar and the northern emirate.
The return of the one-hour flight comes as part of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority's strategy to enhance global connectivity to the emirate, offering greater choice, flexibility and opportunities for international travellers coming to the UAE.
“This partnership marks an important step in driving Ras Al Khaimah’s continued growth as a destination of the future,” said Raki Phillips, chief executive of RAKTDA. “We look forward to working together to drive sustainable growth, in line with our ambition to attract three million visitors annually by 2030 and increase tourism’s contribution to Ras Al Khaimah’s GDP.”
Voco Makkah opens more than 4,000 rooms in the hotel city
IHG Hotels & Resorts has debuted the voco hotels brand in Saudi Arabia's holy city with the official opening of voco Makkah. The brand claims the 4,321-room, four-star property, which is within walking distance of the holy mosque, is the largest in the area, offering rooms for between two and four guests.
“We’re very pleased to increase our presence in the kingdom while catering to the needs of guests travelling to Makkah during the Hajj or Umrah seasons,” said Haitham Mattar, managing director for India, Middle East and Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
“Religious tourism remains the bedrock of the kingdom’s tourism growth, with a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims to the kingdom by 2030.”
The hotel is also home to four restaurants, a mini shopping mall, a barber shop and separate praying areas for men and women.
South-east Asia's first hotel using repurposed buses is unveiled
Singapore's Changi Village will soon be home to a resort hotel made up entirely of retired public buses. The Bus Collective has transformed the fleet of 20 into elegant, eco-conscious luxury suites with marble tops, rain showers and bathtubs.
“By introducing The Bus Collective, we are redefining luxury hospitality, and pioneering an eco-conscious approach to tourism in Singapore,” said Micker Sia, managing director of WTS Travel.
“This visionary project showcases the powerful synergy between nature, tourism and environmentalism for the greater good of our community. Through innovative thinking and resourceful execution, we are breathing new life into retired buses, transforming them into an unparalleled experience for our guests.”
Room rates begin from 398 Singaporean dollars ($295) including breakfast.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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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.
