Dubai Hotel Travel

Grading work on the fourth phase of Dubai World Central (DWC) – the 140-square kilometre, multi-phase urban land development centred around the world’s largest airport – has been completed at a cost of AED 46 million, enabling contractor access to a crucial component of the project – DWC Aviation City.

The US$1.36 billion DWC Aviation City will be home to DWC’s executive jet terminal and one of the world’s largest MRO centres, with many operators ready to start construction on-site.

Over 3.739 million cubic metres of earth was moved over four months for phase four. A total of 64.735 million cubic metres of earth has been moved over all four phases covering over 74.39 square kilometres since grading first commenced in January 2005. More Details »

The Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City has been named as the official hotel for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.

The two-year agreement (2008-2009) will see all players, International Rugby Board (IRB) officials, VIPs, referees and international media stay at the five-star property, located on the banks of the Dubai Creek. More Details »

The Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre at Te Dubai Mall is to showcase the marvels of the ocean floor to residents and visitors to Dubai. Featuring one of the world’s largest viewing panels and a 270-degree walkthrough tunnel, the Dubai Aquarium is a spectacular display of some of the world’s most intriguing marine animals. Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre at The Dubai Mall is also a significant contribution to the Dubai community, with the educational Discovery Centre offering tailored programmes for schools on aquatic environments.

With the main tank measuring 50m long x 17m wide x 11m high, and the viewing panel measuring 32.8m long x 8.3m high, Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre will be a spectacular showcase of over 33,000 marine animals, representing over 85 different species. Shark and ray-watching will become a favourite leisure pursuit as Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre feature the world’s single largest school of sharks including 45 sand tiger sharks, 45 grey reef sharks and up to 30 spotted eagle rays. In total, there will be over 400 sharks and rays to provide for an adrenaline-fueled visual experience.

A highlight of the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre is the 270-degree acrylic glass walkthrough tunnel spanning the entire length of the tank, which enables visitors to experience a unique close encounter with some of the fascinating aquatic animals in the world. Adding to the overall ambience is a special ‘lunar-cyclic’ lighting system that will create a theatrical effect depending on the time of day, or cater to a specific event. More Details »

Singapore Airlines is to launch operations to Riyadh, the largest city and capital of Saudi Arabia, on 14 December 2008. Using the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, Singapore Airlines will operate four times weekly to Riyadh via Dubai every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. More Details »

K-Porte Inn Dubai, your home away from home, in Dubai. Invested and managed by Global Business Trust you are sure to discover luxury, comfort and convenience amidst the bustling commercial hub of Dubai at K-Porte Inn Hotel. This modern 3 star deluxe property with its chic interior and high-tech amenities has a contemporary design ethos, which makes it stand apart from other hotels in the region.

At K Porte Inn you will discover the true meaning of hospitality. With 117 tastefully appointed rooms that include 5 executive suites and the 5 junior suites we take comfort to the next level. Each room has a set of amenities which includes a mini bar, wireless internet facilities and even international direct dialing. We have designed your experience at K Porte Inn to be outstanding, keeping in mind all your needs, business or leisure. More Details »

Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai will remain as the venue for the Annual Orion Congress to be held on 11 October, 2008 following recent fire damage to the yet-to-open hotel. More Details »

India and Dubai real estate giant Sobha Group has acquired a plot on Dubai’s main artery Sheikh Zayed Road for the development of its first hotel in Dubai.

The group, which announced plans to launch Sobha Hotels at the popular Arabian Travel Market last May, plans to develop over 10 five-star properties in the next three years, with two hotels earmarked for Dubai, six for India, and one each in Oman and Zanzibar. More Details »

Bangkok – based Thai hospitality chain Dusit International is preparing to soft open its first branded residence outside of Thailand. The Dusit Residence Dubai Marina, a 35-storey landmark tower containing a total of 146 premier serviced residences, overlooks the lifestyle enclave of Dubai Marina. The property is scheduled to soft open October/November of this year, and will celebrate its grand opening in the first quarter of 2009. More Details »

Etihad Airways has launched twice-weekly flights between its home base of Abu Dhabi and Minsk, Belarus.

The new air link is anticipated to boost significantly trade and investment ties between the UAE and Belarus with the volume of trade between the two countries standing at more than Dhs110-150 million per year.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said, “To make history as the first airline from the Gulf region to fly to Belarus is a great honour for Etihad Airways. We are extremely excited to help to strengthen further the trade ties between the two countries through the launch of our new Minsk service.”

Minsk is the largest city in Belarus, with a population of 1.8 million people and is the country’s major industrial centre with more than 250 factories and manufacturing plants. With a central location in the heart of Europe, a rich cultural heritage and stunning scenery, Belarus is also seeking to exploit its strong tourism potential.

It is the third new destination to be launched by Etihad this month. On Friday 1 August the airline added to its flying programme to India when it launched daily flights from Abu Dhabi to both Chennai (Madras) and Kozhikode (Calicut).

Minsk brings the total number of global destinations now served by Etihad to 48, a number which will rise to 50 by the end of 2008 with the launch of new services to Moscow in Russia and Almaty in Kazhakstan.

Etihad operates one of its new Airbus A319 aircraft on the twice-weekly Minsk service, configured to carry 104 passengers with 20 in business class and 84 in economy class. The service operates every Tuesday and Thursday. A third weekly flight will be added every Saturday from October 2008.

Flight EY061 departs Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9.45am, arriving in Minsk at 2.25pm the same day. The return flight, EY062, departs Minsk on the same days at 3.15pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 9.40pm.

Leading hotel operators pursuing the management contract for the 500-room five-star property being built at City of Arabia in Dubai are being told that nothing but the best in service will do.

Many leading hotel names are competing for the chance to put their brand on the luxury rooftop hotel at Mall of Arabia, one the world’s largest shopping malls and a key element of the spectacular US$5 billion City of Arabia development.

But City of Arabia owners, Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group, have said they are in no immediate rush to sign a management agreement and will call on a wealth of family experience in the hotel business to make sure the operator chosen can match their ambition.

The Galadari family, which has been doing business in Dubai for more than 50 years, opened the city’s first five-star hotel, the InterContinental, beside the Creek in 1975 and also created another landmark hotel in Dubai, the Hyatt Regency. More Details »