International professional services firm Accenture has opened its first innovation hub within the Middle East and North Africa region in the form of the Dubai Tourism Hub in the United Arab Emirates. The hub is situated in Dubai Media City and is an immersive environment showcasing the company’s innovative technology capabilities, including artificial intelligence, extended reality, the Internet of Things and much more. The Dubai Innovation Hub uses industry-focused demonstrations, prototyping, a start-up showcase and…

After a makeover that took three years to complete, Atlantis, the Palm is reporting that 2019 was a record-breaking year with 90% average occupancy. The increased number of visits is down to strong footfall from many top source markets in addition to diversified markets, and is aligned with Dubai Tourism’s tourism strategy. One of the most significant factors was the marked increase in bookings from the United Arab Emirates, which rose by as much as…

The VAT Recovery Self-Service Kiosks for Tourists Scheme in the United Arab Emirates has been expanded to include major hotels and shopping malls, according to a new report. The new locations are an addition to the kiosks that were already in use in air, maritime and land entry and exit ports all across the country, the WAM report states following the official announcement of the move from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). The aim of…

The Jais Adventure Peak has been officially unveiled by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. The Jais Adventure Peak is a mixture of iconic attractions that sits on top of Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the United Arab Emirates. The latest adventure tourism offering from the emirate includes the Jebel Jais Flight, Jebel Jais Viewing Deck and Jais Sky Tour as well as new additions such as Jais Sky Maze and Jais Adventure…

2019 was another successful year for tourism in Abu Dhabi, and with the number of visitors from the US increasing by 5% from 2018, the capital of the United Arab Emirates highlighted its travel sector at the 2020 New York Times Travel Show. The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) organised the emirate’s participation in the show, which is designed to encourage American tourists to come to the city this year.…

The future of the tourism and travel sectors in the United Arab Emirates will be a bright one, with more and more travellers choosing to go on holidays by plane, according to the chairman of Cozmo Travel and group CEO of Air Arabia, Adel Abdullah Ali. At the opening of the 37th branch of Cozmo Travel in the UAE, Ali told the Khaleej Times that he was confident of the travel industry’s future in the…

Although 2019 saw a fall in the number of travellers going through Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates for the first time in two decades, the airport is still the busiest in the world for international passengers, according to authorities. There was a 3.1% fall in traffic at the airport to 86.4 million passengers in 2019, which was down from the 2018 figure of 89.15 million, according to Dubai Airports. It marked the…

The expansion into Abu Dhabi by Wizz Air in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company, which is state-owned, could result in the creation of the region’s first low-cost carrier. There is potential for a global market for Wizz Air with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi with increasing connectivity with southwest Asia in addition to a number of LCC Asia-Europe connections. Up to 50 aircraft could be being flown by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi within…

Emirates Airlines is further expanding its partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai and will be educating festival-goers about its connection to ‘The World’s Greatest Show’ at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The festival begins today at the InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City and will carry on through to 9th February. Emirates and Expo 2020 are unleashing a joint interactive space that is aligned with the ‘Tomorrow’ theme, with the rollout of unique on-ground experiences for…

Accor’s trendy eco-hotel brand Ibis Styles has opened a new property in Dubai, its third in the emirate. Ibis Styles Dubai Airport has 351 rooms and is designed to serve modern cosmopolitan tourists who want a joyful and surprising experience. The opening of the new hotel is expected to make a significant contribution to the already vibrant hospitality industry in the United Arab Emirates. Ibis Styles Dubai Airport is strategically positioned in Al Garhoud close…