Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the return of a major winter tourism push aimed at driving up visitor numbers for all seven emirates.
The 'world's coolest winter' campaign sets out to cement the country's growing status as a leading tourism destination both at home and abroad.
Sheikh Mohammed said departments across the Emirates would work as one to celebrate the best the country has to offer.
"Local and federal tourism departments are working as one team to establish the UAE as a major tourist destination," said Sheikh Mohammed on twitter.
Sheikh Mohammed said the goal of the scheme was to encourage visitors to explore all corners of "our beautiful nation".
Primarily, it would be aimed at bolstering the domestic tourism industry.
He shared a video highlighting the rich array of attractions in the country to his millions of followers on the social media platform.
"The most beautiful winter in the world campaign has an internal goal in the first degree, and global in the second.
"Our families get together in our beautiful nation. Families from Abu Dhabi and Dubai enjoy the beauty of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Families from the rest of the UAE come to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and experience the best of times in their touristic facilities. We want everyone to enjoy themselves in the UAE."
The new campaign, led by the Ministry of Economy in partnership with various authorities, will run from today until the end of January, 2022.
The UAE Government Media Office described it as the largest domestic tourism strategy undertaken by the country.
The initiative aims to build on the success of the first 'World's coolest winter' campaign introduced in December last year.
The 45-day drive was part of a wider strategy to promote the UAE as one destination.
The plan aimed to double by 2030 the annual Dh41.2 billion ($11.2bn) spent on domestic tourism and encourage staycations.
Earlier this week, Dubai launched its own promotional campaign in line with an ambitious vision to become the "world's best city to live and visit".
The initiative, called Dubai Destinations, will bring together government departments and the growing creative community to share the best of the emirate with the world.
The strategy will complement Dubai's efforts to enhance its profile as a leading global destination, focusing on a wide variety of leisure, dining, cultural and sporting experiences.
Dubai Media Council will develop a Dubai Destinations calendar with an initial focus on outdoor activities.
The campaign will also feature guides designed to help people explore Dubai’s top-rated experiences, campsites, outdoor activities and home-grown restaurants.
The beauty of the UAE - in pictures:
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
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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
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique