Dubai Hotel Travel

Cruise tourism is gaining momentum in the UAE as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have been adopting drastic steps to attract big players of the industry, experts say.

All three emirates have been making significant investments in infrastructure to support cruise tourism facilities and services in the country. Abu Dhabi has erected a new tented cruise terminal at Mina Zayed, Dubai is reshaping Port Rashid and Sharjah is focusing on Khorfakkan to attract around 700,000 cruise visitors during this season.

Dubai will take the lead in total cruise visitors as it is expected to welcome 475,000 passengers at Port Rashid during this season. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, or DTCM, forecasts a steady growth for the next four years with 625,000 passengers by 2015, a 38 per cent increase over 2010 figures.

Realising the potential in cruise tourism, DP World is expanding Port Rashid cruise terminal facilities to continue its leading position as the largest cruise centre in the Middle East. It will expand the current facilities by the end of 2012 to cater for as many as five cruise ships at one time, against its current capacity of accommodating only two ships. (more…)

Economy Class passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi airport will have the use of a dedicated Air Astana coach transfer to central Dubai. Passengers should contact ground staff on arrival and proceed to the arrivals lower level car park. The coaches will transport passengers to the Emirates and DNATA Building near the Clock Tower in central Dubai.

Economy Class passengers departing Abu Dhabi airport will have the use of a dedicated Air Astana coach transfer from central Dubai to Abu Dhabi Airport. This service will depart from the Emirates and DNATA Building near the Clock Tower in central Dubai as per the schedule below.

Bus departures from Dubai for flights Abu Dhabi – Almaty (01 Dec 10 until further notice)
- Flights operating on Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat: 07:00
- Flights operating on Tue, Fri, Sun: 19.00

Bus departures from Dubai for flights Abu Dhabi – Astana (01 Dec 10 until further notice)
- Flights operating on Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun: 20.00 (note these flight services depart at 00:15 on the days mentioned above so departure from Dubai will be at 20.00 on the proceeding day)

Business Class passengers are entitled to a private car transfer to and from Abu Dhabi Airport. This service must be pre-booked 72 hours ahead of travel. Please contact your travel agent or directly Air Astana 24 hour ?all ?entre on +7 (727) 244 44 77 to arrange private transfer. (more…)

Dubai, with its glittering array giant malls packed full of luxury brands, is seen as the world’s best city for shopping among people in the Arab world, according to a new survey.

The survey by Yahoo! Maktoob Research found 32 percent of respondents ranked Dubai as the number one shopping destination, beating out more established global cities such as London, Paris and New York.

Dubai’s retail sector has grown rapidly over the last decade on the back of the city’s economic boom, establishing it as a popular global shopping tourism destination.

The city’s stable of shopping centres includes Mall of the Emirates, which features an indoor ski slope, and Dubai Mall, one of the largest in the world that is located next to the 828-metre Burj Khalifa.

Paris was ranked the second best shopping destination with 13 percent of the vote, followed by Beijing, Istanbul and London in joint third with 5 percent, the survey found. (more…)

Each evening, hundreds of people head to Heritage Villages created in Al Shindagha and The JBR Walk in Dubai Marina to watch the rich Emirati heritage and culture unfolding before their eyes while taking time out to try out the best of authentic Emirati cuisines amidst the colourful and festive sights.

A desire to taste the truly local food is one strong reason that draws them to visit the sprawling venues during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF-2010) which runs until February 28. (more…)

The Heritage Collections (Banader Al Turath) Exhibition, which was officially opened by H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at The Walk Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai Marina, is offering insights into Dubai’s glorious past and progress through 3000 years to residents and visitors from different parts of the world.

Organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as part of its participation in the 15th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), the show is being held at The Walk JBR for the first time and will run until February 28. It is open to the public from 5 pm to 10 pm.

After formally cutting a ribbon to mark its opening, H. H Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, accompanied by scores of DTCM and DSF officials, toured the exhibition housed in a special marquee set up at the venue, located next to Hilton Jumeirah along the Arabian Gulf shores.

The Heritage Village, created by DTCM on the lines of a similar facility in Al Shindagha, is a big draw with the residents of Dubai Marina and surrounding residential zones, 75 per cent of whom being Westerners. (more…)

Emirates, the international airline of the United Arab Emirates, on Monday added an extra daily connection between its home base of Dubai and the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, bringing the total number to 21 weekly, non-stop flights.

The service has been established in recognition of the demand for flights to and from Malaysia and Emirates’ deep commitment to serving the Malaysian market. (more…)

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (DTCM) representative office for the UK and Ireland has been presented with a trophy for being the Best Tourist Board at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards held in London recently.

This is the first time that DTCM has bagged this award beating destinations like Australia, Barbados, Spain, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK

The London-based representative office has also been presented with an ‘Investors in People’ Award in recognition of excellence in managing, developing, training and motivating people in an organization. DTCM is the only National Tourist Board in the UK and the only organization with in the Tourism and Leisure sector within London to be bestowed with this award.

Investors in People recognition is an international endorsement by a professional UK body that sets a level of good practice for improving an organisations progress through its people. (more…)

The Louis Vuitton Trophy which gets under way on 13th November 2010 in Dubai is expected to put wind in the sails of the UAE tourism industry.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy is one of the most coveted events in sailing and Dubai joins established premier regatta venues, including Auckland, Sardinia and Hong Kong as 2010 hosts.

Paul Cayard, Chairman of the World Sailing Team Association and skipper/strategist of Team Artemis, said: “I have been sailing in Dubai on several occasions. The conditions are ideal, the course is next to the shore and the atmosphere is exciting. DIMC is a fantastic host and I am sure our event here will open many eyes to this fantastic racing venue.”

Saeed Harib, President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and CEO of DIMC, which will host the race, is delighted to be helping the growth of the sport in the region.? (more…)

The blossoming of the airline’s 23rd route into Europe will bring much awaited news in The Netherlands. The daily, non-stop service from Dubai will be operated with a combination of 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft, boasting a three-class configuration and the newest version of ice, the passenger revered in-flight entertainment system. Emirates, with its exquisite Private Suites, will be the only airline offering First Class accommodation on the route.

This is the fourth new destination to be announced this year by the Dubai-based carrier. Durban and Luanda were both launched in October and Tokyo was recently announced with a start date of 28th March 2010. (more…)

flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, is set to expand its network in Africa with the announcement of flights to Djibouti from 01 September 2009.

The new service, FZ601, will operate three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Dubai at 08:00 and arriving in Djibouti at 10:15 local time. The return flight, FZ602, will leave 45 minutes later at 11:00 and arrive back in Dubai at 15:15 local time.

One way fares to Djibouti from Dubai will cost from AED 650, including all taxes and one piece of hand baggage weighing up to 10 kg, and will be available for purchase from the website (flydubai.com), call centre (04 301 0800) and travel agents from today. (more…)