Cathay Pacific will reintroduce non-stop flights between Dubai and Hong Kong from October 2.
The airline will operate three flights per week — on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays — providing UAE travellers with direct access to Hong Kong, as well as connections to onward destinations such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.
All flights will depart from Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport and will be operated on a Boeing 777-300 aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration that includes the airline’s forward-facing lie-flat seats in business.
The airline has introduced a Fly Ready tool, which allows guests to upload their Covid-19 test results and other required health documents between 12 and 48 hours before their flight to Hong Kong, to be verified ahead of time. Meanwhile, the Fly (Worry) Free initiative offers travellers greater flexibility with their bookings, with the option to make unlimited ticket changes, including the alteration of travel dates and destination, until December 31.
“Reactivating our link from the GCC to Hong Kong is extremely important to us as the market remains a priority,” says Vishnu Rajendran, Cathay Pacific's area manager for the Middle East.
“We’re confident our offerings, like the ease of connections, warm Asian hospitality, diverse in-flight entertainment options and customer-centric initiatives such as our health document verification tool, Fly Ready, make us one of the world’s greatest service brands.
“Aside from the stream of those visiting friends and relatives and business travellers who we welcome on board from around the region, travellers from the GCC are also searching for cultural experiences abroad. Hong Kong and the various destinations that are easily accessible from our home hub, such as Japan and South Korea, offer these in abundance.”
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
