The electronic system for the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme in the United Arab Emirates has processed as many as 2.83m applications since being launched in November last year. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) director general Khalid Ali Al Bustani says that the average number of applications being received every day has increased by 50% from 3,800 in its first month to as many as 7,730 today. The electronic system’s tremendous success has been applauded…
Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADDH) is to invest as much as Dh409m in FTI Group, the third biggest tour operator in Europe. The partnership will help to boost tourism in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The two companies are teaming up to increase visitor numbers from a variety of important markets in Europe, such as the UK, Germany and France, to Abu Dhabi, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. ADDH’s chief…
With Brexit likely to become a reality under UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, there are clear indications that it will result in a rise in the real estate and tourism sectors within the United Arab Emirates, according to analysts. The UK pound has been in free fall since the departure of Theresa May, the former prime minister, but has stabilised following last week’s election, with the UK now seemingly certain to leave the EU by…
The number of visitors heading to Abu Dhabi in 2019 has increased by 100,000, according to new figures. Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) officials say that an increase of 7% in hotel revenues has also been recorded in the emirate. The rise could be attributed to visitors being impressed by the increasing number of world-class attractions in the capital, experts say. Success has also been achieved by a new government data analytics program that…
Tour operator Holiday Factory has been given the Best Incoming Tour Operator 2019 award at this year’s Welcome to Georgia! National Tourism Awards. The event was held on 6th December at Tbilisi’s Sheraton Grand Metekhi Palace. Holiday Factory, which serves clients primarily in the United Arab Emirates as well as other countries in the GCC, already has a strong reputation for its superb customer service and unmatched holiday package prices. Holiday Factory Georgia’s general manager…
The year of 2019 has been busy for sports tourism in the United Arab Emirates, and especially in Abu Dhabi. The Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon was hosted by the city last weekend, with the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix being won by Lewis Hamilton at the start of the month. The 12th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship will also be coming to the emirate next week. Nor is this hectic pace confined…
The world of air travel in the United Arab Emirates is in for some changes with a self-imposed ban on single-use plastics at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest international airport in the world, about to reach its deadline. Dubai Airports announced earlier in 2019 that two airports in the emirate – DXB and DWC – will soon cease using any single-use plastics to try to minimise the impact on the environment. Dubai Airports made…
Arrivals to the GCC from the UK are expected to increase by as much as 22% by 2024, according to new data from Colliers International. The data, which has been released in advance of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020, says that the increase will be the result of direct and new flight routes as well as a growth in the number of leisure travellers and more competitive air fares. Around 2.8 million residents of Great…
The national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, has become the first airline in the world to gain funding for a new project based on compatibility with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The airline is partnering with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the First Abu Dhabi Bank to borrow Dh404.2m to expand the Etihad Eco-Residence, which is a sustainable apartment complex intended for use by the airline’s cabin crew. The loan…
Tourism opportunities for travellers from Africa, India and the Middle East to explore Mexico will be greatly improved following the announcement by Emirates that is entering the aviation market connecting the United Arab Emirates to Mexico. An enhanced interline agreement has been announced by the airline, which will see new routes and destinations opened up for passengers wanting to travel between Mexico, the Middle East, the Gulf and elsewhere. Passengers with Emirates can now just…