UAE: Investors No Longer Need To Provide Bank Guarantees To Dubai Tourism To Set Up Tourism Companies

Dubai will waive bank guarantees required to set up tourism companies as the emirate seeks to lower the cost of doing business and attract investments in line with government initiatives to stimulate the economy.

The move will exempt more than 2,000 travel and tour operators from bank guarantees worth a total of about Dh250 million and free up capital to reinvest in their businesses, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing said in a statement on Tuesday.

Relaxing regulations in support of the business community, especially supporting start-ups and SMEs, is fundamental for sustained sector growth, Helal Almarri, director-general of Dubai Tourism, said.

It is a very positive signal for prospective investors and new ventures to launch tourism projects by taking advantage of the quick and hassle-free processes in place.

Dubai has slashed various corporate and government fees as part of efforts to increase the emirate's competitiveness and stimulate business growth after the introduction of a five per cent value-added tax (VAT) last year.

The emirate has set a target to attract up to 25 million visitors annually by 2025 and to become the world’s most visited destination. Tourism numbers remained flat at 11.58m visitors in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, according to Dubai Tourism data.

The rate of annual passenger growth at Dubai International Airport in 2018 has decelerated after years of massive expansion.

Before the new deregulation measure, tourism companies were obliged to provide bank guarantees ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh600,000 as a pre-condition to acquire a trade license from the Department of Economic Development (DED).

The amount depends on the type and number of business activities that the company will engage in.

The DED totaled the bank guarantees paid by each of the 2,000 companies to arrive at the Dh250m figure, which it will exempt operators from paying.

Going forward, investors will no longer need to provide bank guarantees to Dubai Tourism to set up tourism companies or offer travel and tour-related services in the emirate.

Dubai Tourism earlier proposed a plan to attract more transit passengers to visit the emirate, including introducing time share accommodation to attract more families and luxury yachts to stopover in Dubai.

Last year, Dubai slashed aviation and municipality fees as part of initiatives aimed at making it easier to do business. The emirate will scrap 19 fees related to the aviation industry as it seeks to attract more than Dh1bn of foreign investments into the sector.

In seeking to diversify its economy from oil, Dubai focused on developing its aerospace sector as part of plans to boost non-oil revenue, transform the city into a business hub, create jobs and attract tourists.

Open skies policies, large investments in infrastructure and a foreign investor-friendly business environment spurred the development of the aviation industry.

Aviation will account for 37.5 per cent of Dubai’s gross domestic product in 2020 and about 45 per cent of GDP by 2030 from 27 per cent in 2013, according to Oxford Economics.

Dubai is the world’s fourth most-visited cities after Bangkok, London and Paris, according to a Mastercard annual survey in 2018.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Beware Of Thieves Pretending To Be Tourists, Dubai Police Warn Visitors

The UAE is considered one of the safest destinations for both expatriates and tourists.

Crime rate in the country, including Dubai, is lower than many other places on earth, but it doesn’t mean everyone isn’t at risk for some kind of theft or that people are angels.

UAE residents have recently been advised to take precautions when they go out, or to be wary of fraudsters on the streets.

They should be extra careful, especially when they’re approached by strangers.

In their latest advisory, the Dubai Police has indicated that some thieves are probably on the prowl in the city, pretending to be tourists.

They may approach any unsuspecting individual and pretend to ask about the latest foreign exchange rates.

Beware of thieves acting as tourists, who enquire about currencies and exchange rates, the Dubai Police said on Twitter.

It is not clear how these thieves exactly operate, but it’s better to be careful than be sorry.

According to the UAE’s Ministry of Interior, 98.6 per cent of residents still feel it is safe and secure to walk out at night in the UAE, making the country the world’s second safest place to live in.

We are second after Singapore. UAE’s policies and strategies were behind the achievements to make the country one of the safest countries in the world, said Lt General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chairman of police and public security in Dubai last May.

The Dubai Police had said in January that the number of serious crimes committed in the emirate dropped by 15 per cent in 2017 when compared to a year earlier.

The number of unsolved crimes also fell by 14 per cent during the same period.

A record-breaking number of international tourists have visited the United Arab Emirates in 2017, making Dubai the fourth most visited city in the world.

15.79 million tourists visited the country last year, which is 6.2 percent more than in 2016, when the country welcomed 14.9 million visitors.

The latest data published by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), show that Dubai is getting closer to its 2020 tourism target.

Of course which is to welcome 20 million tourists within a year, as last year’s growth rate has exceeded the 5 per cent achieved in 2016.

Many factors have affected the tourism in the UAE to grow.

Among other the Dubai Tourism’s ongoing collaboration with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the multi-awarded #BeMyGuest campaign which potrays Khan’s journey across a series of short films that see him taking visitors to Dubai.

On the other hand, the newly minted visa-on-arrival status for both Russian and Chinese tourists, has affected the number of visitors from both countries.

The facilitation of visa norms has caused the number of visitors from China to increase for 41 percent and the number of Russian tourists for 121 percent.

Dubai offers a lot of tourist attractions for travelers from around the world and not only popular landmarks like the Burj Khalifa.

Last year alone the country has invested in a number of developments in order to further broad Dubai’s appeal to a wide spectrum of visitors.

City’s newest beachfront district La Mer, the Etihad Museum and La Perle in Habtoor City have all been inaugurated last year and are expected to boost the number of visitors this year even more.

Top ten countries with most tourists coming from, were as follows 2017:

- India topped the list, with two million annual visitors to the UAE, keeping its place for another year running. 15 percent more people from India visited the country this year, than in 2016.

- Saudi Arabia was again in the second place contributing a total of 1.53 million tourists in 2017. Despite an overall 7 decrease of visitors, it remained the highest driver of traffic volumes from within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

- The United Kingdom delivered 1.27 million travelers, 2 percent more in comparison to 2016, despite Brexit.

- Oman, 682 thousand of this year’s visitors were from Oman.

- China saw 764 thousand of its nationals visiting the UAE, 41 percent more than the previous year, which was a lot affected by the new visa facilitation which allows citizens to obtain a visa-on-arrival.

- USA, 633 thousand of this year’s visitors were from the United States of America.

- Pakistan saw little increase with 598 thousand of its residents visiting the UAE.

- Russia delivered 530 thousand visitors, scoring the highest increase of visitors with 121 percent more than in 2016. Just as in the case of China, the increase was affected by the new policy of visa-on-arrival.

- Germany, 506 thousand of this year’s visitors were from Germany.

- Iran, And 503 thousand of this year’s visitors were from Iran.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Tourism Growing Very Fast And Steadily, Dubai Alone Is Worth $29.6 Billion (AED109 Billion)

The UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy are bearing fruit, as new data has revealed that the country’s tourism sector is experiencing a boom in revenue and visitors.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are in the forefront of the resounding success.

Tourism sector gives oil a run because of its money. The UAE has been taking active steps through the years to solidify the tourism sector as a venerable area of the country’s economy, in addition to a major feature to tourists and investors alike.

According to the planet Tourism Organization (WTO), the UAE happens to be among the ten fastest growing holiday destinations in the global world, which was attained by the country’s Emirates, abu Dhabi especially, through developing their infrastructure and supporting the hotel sector, along with holding exhibitions, festivals along with other events.

With new data revealed by Dubai’s Department of Commerce and Tourism Marketing, Dubai Tourism, the real numbers appear to support this.

At the ultimate end of 2017, the sector in Dubai was worth $29.6 billion (AED109 billion) per year in accordance with their findings.

The true amount of visitors through the first quarter of 2018, who found its way to the country’s airports, reached around 32.8 million.

Dubai welcomed an archive 8.10 million international overnight tourists through the first half a year of 2018, year representing a frequent increase on the same period last.

In fact, DXB’june that 1 s operator revealed in late. 1 million passengers were likely to visit in 3 days just, between July 5th and July 8th.

The initial half a year of 2018 have both sustained and generated a reliable performance, supporting strong growth across our global feeder markets.

Attracting 8.10 million visitors through the first 1/2 of 2018 stands us in good stead once we accelerate momentum towards our visionary aspiration to become the most-visited city on the planet, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai Tourism, commented.

According to the most recent Q2 data published by the Expedia Group, a ongoing company that runs travel fare aggregator sites, the true amount of travelers visiting the center East from Europe is increasing.

The set of the most notable ten markets in to the UK be included by the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Switzerland – a complete of six Europe.

Recent research released prior to the Arabian Travel Market revealed that arrivals from Europe to the GCC are set to cultivate for the time of 2018 – 2020 by around 17%, Expedia explains.

The most these travelers are anticipated to reach in the UAE.

India, Saudi Arabia, and the united kingdom, for the reason that order, earned the greatest amount of visitors into Dubai in H1.

Spread across a complete of 700 establishments, Dubai’s accommodation inventory stood at 111,of June 2018 317 by the end, up 7% set alongside the same time this past year.

With a rise popular for mid-market hotels operating in Dubai, the real amount of four-star properties has increased from 114 to 138, representing 25% of the rooms’ inventory, highlighting the high level of big spenders passing through the national country.

According to WAM, occupied room nights were up year-on-year with a complete of 14 also.97 million in comparison to 14.53 million through the same period in 2017, outlining the ongoing popularity and diversity of Dubai’s hospitality sector.

On another hand, the most recent statistics from the Abu Dhabi Department of Tourism and Culture concur that 162 hotels, hotel resorts and apartments in the emirate received 339,592 guests through the first 1/2 of 2018.

That is a rise of around 19,from June 2017 000 guests, while hotel establishments in the emirate received 2,413,year 230 guests through the first half a year of the existing, a rise of 5% on the same period in 2017.

The increased popularity of a comparatively more budget option for accommodation such as for example Airbnb in addition has contributed to a rise in tourism.

30% of individuals say they wouldn’t normally have traveled if it had been not for Airbnb, Hadi Moussa, the company’s general manager for the MENA region.

Moussa also said that Airbnb has its eyes set on growth within the spot, such as for example plans to capitalize on the 25+ million visitors likely to go to the UAE for the Expo 2020.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Dubai Tourism Woos More Chinese Tourists

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and China’s internet major Tencent have signed an agreement to help promote the emirate as a destination of choice for Chinese tourists, whose numbers in Dubai surged 41 per cent last year.

The agreement will result in ecosystem-wide strategies spanning the Tencent network to expand Dubai Tourism’s marketing reach and penetration within China – one of the fastest growing source markets for Dubai, Dubai Tourism said in a statement on Tuesday.

Tencent will promote its offerings including WeChat and WeChat Pay as an option for convenient and secure mobile payment for Chinese tourists at local outlets.

In parallel, Dubai Tourism will encourage Dubai merchants to leverage the Tencent Cloud and media solutions to enhance the overall city-experience for Chinese visitors and drive spending from this significant consumer base.

Dubai is boosting its profile in China to attract more tourists after their number surged to 764,000 in 2017, pushing it to fifth spot among the emirate's global source markets, after the UAE eased visa rules for Chinese nationals.

Dubai Tourism in January this year also signed an agreement with Chinese telecom operator Huawei, which will pre-load all its devices with both user-generated and official cinematographic content of Dubai.

On Monday, the agreement was expanded further, with Huawei Mobile Services agreeing to offer useful and accessible content about Dubai, in particular through the company’s newly-updated SkyTone travel and roaming apps.

The Tencent MoU opens the far-reaching spectrum of WeChat solutions for Dubai to effectively and efficiently target key Chinese audience segments through Dubai Tourism’s official WeChat account, Dubai Tourism said.

With over 980 million monthly active users on WeChat and Weixin, Dubai Tourism will be able to drive amplified brand awareness of the destination and its superlative offerings, extending the benefits across Dubai’s stakeholder ecosystem.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Rumour To Negatively Affect Popular Ice Cream Chain

Its hot, the temperature’s above average, and the last thing you need is mould on your ice cream.

A video has been circulating on social media recently, an alleged resident of Dubai claims to have found mould in their tub of Baskin Robbins ice cream.

In the video, the so-called resident also blames Dubai Municipality for not implementing stricter rules against food establishments.

In response, Dubai Municipality launched an investigation into the allegations and announced that this rumour is completely false.

On its official Facebook page, Dubai Municipality confirms that the video was filmed in one of the Gulf countries and not in Dubai, or the UAE.

Dubai Municipality confirms that it has an integrated system consisting of strict procedures to ensure control of all traded food in the emirate.

The municipality also uses the self-monitoring method on food institutions to ensure full compliance with all specifications and legislations adopted in the country,it said.

The municipality also said it deplores those who publish any false information without confirming the source.

Meanwhile, An Indian nurse was found dead in her apartment in Karama on Saturday, family sources said.

The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Santhi Thomas, who hailed from the state of Kerala.

According to a family friend, it was Santhi’s husband who found her hanging from the ceiling fan in their apartment when he got back from work.

He said Santhi, who has a three-year-old daughter, had been married for four years and had joined her husband in Dubai over two years ago. She was working with a private hospital.

“Santhi’s parents said the couple had some discord between them and the child is living with her father’s parents. They said she had earlier booked a ticket to go home and it was cancelled,” the family friend said.

Dubai Police, which is investigating the case, has interrogated the husband, he added.

Police has not commented.

Meanwhile, Before you head off for your summer holiday and fly to your dream destination, here’s a quick checklist to keep your house safe and your utility bills to a minimum this summer.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has launched its annual ‘Tips before Travelling’ campaign as part of its efforts to raise awareness on the sensible use of electricity and water, reducing waste, and following safety guidelines.

Now in its fifth year, the move is part of Dewa’s annual ‘Let’s Make this Summer Green’ campaign.

Since many families leave the UAE during summer for long periods of time, ensuring that these guidelines are kept will not only conserve natural resources but also give residents peace of mind.

“As part of its role as a socially-responsible government organisation, Dewa puts environmental protection and sustainability of natural resources at the forefront of its priorities.

We organise an integrated set of initiatives, programmes and activities throughout the year to raise awareness about the importance of rationalising energy and water use and adopting a conscious and sustainable lifestyle,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice-President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Dewa.

Amal Koshak, Senior Manager of Marketing Communications at Dewa, said the tips are quick and easy to do and beneficial.
“Simple tips that can be followed at home before travelling for summer vacations are a quick and effective way to protect natural resources, reduce costs, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

For example, not repairing a small leak in the kitchen that wastes one drop of water each second, could lead to wasting 32,000 gallons of water per year,” Koshak said.

Toilets can account for almost 30 per cent of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance, according o Dewa.

But even more worrisome is an average of 20 per cent of toilets leak. It is better then to check toilets periodically for leaks and repair them promptly before leaving UAE.

If you have a swimming pool which and don’t want to drain it, cover it to reduce evaporation. An average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 1,000 gallons (3,785 litres) of water per month.

UAE: Dubai Working On $1.7 Billion Tourist Resort In New Man-made Islands

Dubai plans to develop a 6.3 billion dirham ($1.7 billion) tourist resort on two man-made islands it will build either side of the Burj Al Arab, its luxury sail-shaped hotel.

It is the latest development planned by the emirate as it aims to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2020 when Dubai will host the World Expo 2020 exhibition.

Spanning four million square feet, Marsa Al Arab will be made up of two islands, one dedicated to entertainment and family tourism and the other featuring luxury villas and a private marina..

Dubai is already one of the world’s most visited cities, although its hotels, shopping malls and state-owned airline, Emirates, have been buffeted by a strong US dollar which has made the emirate pricier for many overseas visitors.

The United Arab Emirates pegs its dirham to the dollar.

Around 4.6 million tourists visited Dubai during the first quarter, up by 11 per cent compared to the same period of last year, according to Dubai Tourism data.

Marsa Al Arab will feature 140 villas, a marine and water park and a theater with capacity for 1,700 people to host Cirque du Soleil, local media reported. Work on the project will break ground in June and be completed by late 2020, WAM said.

The agency did not mention how the project would be funded. Dubai is working on several big projects due for completion in the next few years and being funded by debt.

It is building the World Expo 2020 exhibition site, an extension to Dubai’s Metro system and Al Maktoum International Airport, a new airport being developed on the edge of Dubai, which will serve up to 146 million passengers by 2025.

Marsa Al Arab will add 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) of beach to the emirate’s coastline, WAM said. Dubai’s most famous artificial island, Palm Jumeriah, is home to several hotels, villas and apartments.

But other islands it planned to develop were stalled or scaled back after the emirate’s 2009 debt crisis.

Palm Jebel Ali, which began construction in 2002, has yet to be completed, while plans for Palm Deira have been reworked to create a scaled-down project called Deira Islands.

Another man-made archipelago, The World, a 300-island chain laid out in the shape of the world’s continents, has only been partially developed.

UAE: Dubai's e-tourism With Enhancement Of Mobile Apps

Dubai has increased its e-footprint in the tourism sector to pamper tech-savvy travelers, experts said at the recent Arabian Travel Market Fair in Dubai.

One of the biggest trends in e-tourism this year is the enhancement of mobile apps, particularly in the hospitality industry, says Cody Morris Paris, associate professor of social science at Middlesex University Dubai.

For example, Dubai's tourism authority and Hong Kong-based hotel smartphone service company Tink Labs signed an agreement on April 25.

Hotels in Dubai will offer our Handy Travel smartphones in their rooms with all the necessary apps installed to discover Dubai, says Salha Soussi, Tink Labs' senior sales manager of the Gulf Region.

"The smartphone is provided free of charge in the room and has to be given back by the hotel guest once he checks out."

Paris says: "The clearly defined, well-executed and innovative destination-marketing campaigns emerging from Dubai tourism are very effective."

Dubai attracted nearly 15 million overnight visitors last year, a 5 percent increase over 2015, the city's tourism authority reports.

Dubai hopes to attract at least 20 million visitors by 2020, when it'll host the World Expo.

It has been running the MyDubai campaign to encourage social media users to post images of the city in recent years.

Popular attractions include the world's highest tower, Burj Khalifa, and the seven-star hotel, Burj Al Arab.

Dubai's tourism apps Visit Dubai and Dubai Calendar address and cater to the widespread shift from desktop to mobile devices among global consumers, providing tourists information, says the tourism authority's annual report for 2016, which was released at the fair.

Over 52 million engaged with the tourism authority on social media last year, a 60 percent increase over 2015, the report says.

The number of social media followers also surged, and travel volumes increased in the first three months of 2017, year-on-year.

Dubai is the first Arab city to introduce free WiFi on public transportation like on buses and the driverless Dubai Metro as well as at popular tourism spots and public beaches.

Smartphone users can charge their devices at public Smart Palms - solar-powered, palm-shaped trees made of concrete and equipped with recharge slots for smartphones and tablets.

Paris expects such services to further develop.

"Enhancements featuring direct messaging, location-based services and other tools that allow for more personalized, direct and on-demand services will greatly enhance the level of services provided to guests, as well as provide greater efficiency in providing that service," he says.

"The UAE as a whole has one of the strongest place brands in the world and tourist-experience-enhancing technologies have been adopted by people of all ages."

UAE: 1,800 Units Approved, Dubai Tourism

With more than 1,800 units now approved and in operation across the city, Dubai's holiday home sector is on track to expand its capacity to cater to diversifying visitor segments.

Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said the growth of this sector is being driven by effective government regulations designed to increase competitiveness, transparency, safety and standardisation.

The holiday home sector has emerged as a new segment in Dubai's thriving tourism industry on the back of Dubai Tourism's decision earlier this year to allow private homeowners to apply for a holiday home permit and start leasing their properties directly.

Dubai Tourism said since the introduction of updated regulations in May, 109 homeowners had submitted applications for a holiday home permit, of which 39 have now been approved, enabling them to enter the market.

"These join the 78 approved holiday home operators already doing business in Dubai. Moving forward, Dubai Tourism anticipates further growth across the sector," Dubai Tourism said.

"To maintain standards, Dubai Tourism regularly inspects registered homes, which are classified as either 'standard' or 'deluxe' depending on their offering. At present, 83 per cent of the more than 1,800 approved holiday homes are rated standard and 17 per cent deluxe. Units are spread across the city, with the highest concentrations currently in Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach and Downtown Dubai," said Khalid bin Touq, executive director, tourism activities and classification sector, Dubai Tourism.

How to obtain licence
To obtain a licence, homeowners must ensure their property meets the required quality, health and safety standards, while also offering all necessary amenities and guest services, as well as insurance coverage and wider community integration.

"Owners are also accountable for ensuring the property meets all legislative requirements and complaint management policies, and is accurately listed to visitors and sufficiently maintained. Dubai Tourism inspections ensure that holiday homes are standardised. Home owners that do not comply with regulatory demands may be issued with penalties," it said.

Dubai's holiday home initiatives are part of the emirate's objectives to further diversify and increase its hospitality offering in line with its Tourism Vision to attract 20 million visitors per year by 2020.

Holiday homes also complement the positive growth trends in the city's wider hotel and hotel apartment segment, catering to diversifying traveller demographics and needs, and ensuring Dubai provides accommodation options to suit all types of visitors.

As envisioned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the city has emerged as the world's fourth-largest destination for tourism, boosted the tourism sector's size six-fold and assigned the government departments to work as one team to place Dubai on the world tourism landscape.

"With demand increasing, overall projected occupancy rates until 2018 are expected to be maintained at a strong 77 per cent approximately, ensuring Dubai's hotel industry retains its attractiveness while allowing the emirate to build stronger competitiveness as a global tourist destination," Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of Dubai Tourism, said.

Dubai has raised its hotel capacity to more than 100,000 rooms, and tourist arrivals to more than 14.2 million in 2015. The new target is to achieve 134,00 rooms by the end of 2018.

Dubai Tourism’s First-ever East Africa Roadshow

Dubai-based carrier showcases its services and offerings in Uganda and Tanzania highlighting its affordable and reliable direct air links to Dubai and increased frequencies
Dubai-based airline flydubai (www.flydubai.com) is participating in Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (Dubai Tourism) first-ever East Africa roadshow joining 14 Dubai-based partners in showcasing a wide range of services and upcoming attractions. flydubai will take part in the road show in Kampala on 24 August, where it will then continue to Dar es Salaam on 30 August.

The roadshow is a great platform for local operators to meet directly with the airline and learn first-hand about the services and choices passengers from the market have when choosing to fly directly to Dubai for business or leisure.

Commenting ahead of the roadshow, Issam Kazim, CEO at Dubai Tourism, said: “The potential of Uganda and Tanzania as a source market is positive, and this roadshow provides us with the opportunity to directly interact with the operators here and showcase what Dubai has to offer. We look forward to making long-lasting and fruitful trade relationships during the trip to further grow the tourism market in Uganda for the benefit of all.”

flydubai was launched in 2009 to help create free flows of trade and tourism in the region and further support Dubai’s vision to become an internationally recognised aviation and tourism hub. flydubai’s reliable, affordable and high quality product offering with both business and economy classes, makes it possible for more people to travel more often to Dubai.

Sudhir Sreedharan, SVP Commercial Operations at flydubai (GCC, Africa & Indian Sub-Continent), said: “We are very pleased to take part in Dubai Tourism’s first-ever roadshow to East Africa and to showcase brand Dubai and flydubai. We are committed to opening up underserved markets and providing reliable, direct air links to destinations that previously had no or very few connections to Dubai. East Africa is a very important market that has shown significant growth over the past few years. We currently operate 82 weekly flights to 11 points in Africa, including 3 weekly flights to Entebbe and 4 weekly flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. These weekly frequencies will increase to 4 flights to Entebbe and 7 flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar from October.”

flydubai currently flies to 11 destinations in North and East Africa: Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Asmara, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Entebbe, Hargeisa, Juba, Khartoum, Port Sudan and Zanzibar.

Business Class is available on most of the routes on the flydubai network and the carrier has recently introduced WiFi and Live TV on select flights.

The carrier, which is the second largest operator out of Dubai International, has built a network of 90 destinations in 44 countries and operates more than 1,700 flights a week out of it is home in Dubai International (DXB), Terminal 2 and the newly opened Al Maktoum International- Dubai World Central (DWC).

About flydubai:
Dubai-based flydubai (flydubai.com) strives to remove barriers to travel and enhance connectivity between different cultures across its ever-expanding network. Since launching its operations in 2009, flydubai has:
• Created a network of 90 destinations in 44 countries, with 19 new routes launched in 2015.
• Opened up 59 routes that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai or were not served by a UAE national carrier from Dubai.
• Operates a single fleet type of Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will take delivery of more than 100 aircraft by the end of 2023.
In addition, flydubai’s agility and flexibility as a young airline has enhanced Dubai’s economic development, in line with the Government of Dubai’s vision, by creating trade and tourism flows in previously underserved markets.

For more information about flydubai services, please visit flydubai.com.
Please visit our Newsroom for the latest flydubai news

About Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism):
With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate.
Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirate’s commerce sector, and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Convention and Events Bureau, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (formerly known as Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment).

UGANDA: Dubai Tourism Pokes Kampala

Dubai Tourism to open up to partnership with local counterparts in Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania.

Delegates will showcase the best of Dubai to further position the city as a must-visit destination for Ugandan travellers – over 38,000 of whom visited Dubai in 2015, registering a 22 per cent year-on-year increase as Dubai set to enter top ten global cities in hotel supply as it marks 100,000 rooms Depending on how the country and the region position itself to partake on this initiative, it could either turn out to be a win-win situation or otherwise.

According to the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) and 14 of its Dubai-based partners will embark on a multi-destination road show across three East African cities, starting in Kampala on 24 August.

Also encompassing tour operators, the aim of the trip is to highlight and promote the wide array of new and upcoming family attractions, experiences and hotels in Dubai that will further enhance the visitor experience.

As for the regional countries, among them Uganda, it will generate an opportunity for local operators to meet directly with the gulf city’s top partners with view to work together and develop the industry.

The 14 co-participants are made up of top brands including flydubai, Emirates Airline and Kenya Airways, as well as hotel groups such as Address Hotels, Rove Hotels, Time Hotels and Crowne Plaza, plus resorts featured by Arabian Falcon Holidays.

Key destination services companies include Alpha Tours, Rayna Tourism, Red Apple Middle East Tourism, North Tours and Connect World Travel & Tourism. Global Village, a leading family, cultural, shopping and entertainment destination in the Gulf region, and a popular attraction with Africans visiting Dubai, will also be joining the delegates to showcase the breadth of Dubai’s destination offering.

Commenting ahead of the road show, Issam Kazim, CEO at Dubai Tourism, said: “The potential of Uganda as a source market is positive, and this road show provides us with the opportunity to directly interact with the operators here, to showcase what Dubai has to offer them. We look forward to making long-lasting and fruitful trade relationships during the trip to further grow the tourism market in Uganda for the benefit of all.”

Dubai continues to be a popular tourist destination for Ugandan travellers, with over 38,000 visiting the city last year, a 22 per cent increase over the previous year.

Overall, Dubai saw a 13.7 per cent increase in travellers from these three East African countries last year. Sudhir Sreedharan, SVP Commercial Operations at flydubai (GCC, Africa & Indian Sub-Continent), said: “We are very pleased to take part in Dubai Tourism’s first-ever roadshow to East Africa and to showcase brand Dubai and flydubai.

We are committed to opening up underserved markets and providing reliable, direct air links to destinations that previously had no very few connections to Dubai.

East Africa is a very important market that has shown significant growth over the past few years. We currently operate 82 weekly flights to 11 points in Africa, including 3 weekly flights to Entebbe and 4 weekly flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

The weekly frequency will increase to 4 flights to Entebbe and 7 flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar from October.”

With Dubai set to hit the 100,000 rooms milestone this month across its expanding hotel and hotel apartment inventory, the city aims to firmly position itself as a top 10 global destination in terms of available hotel supply, indicating high demand from international travellers and sustained growth in tourism volumes.

Due to launch at the end of August, the park will bring to life the world of Marvel comics, transport visitors back to the Jurassic age in Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure and feature family favourites in the Cartoon Network zone.

Another new addition to Dubai’s expansive entertainment offering will be Dubai Parks and Resorts, the largest integrated theme park destination in the region, which is scheduled to open at the end of October.

The destination comprises Hollywood-inspired motiongate™ Dubai, Bollywood Parks™, a first-of-its-kind entertainment theme park that brings the Bollywood experience to life, and the region’s first.

UAE: Dubai Tourism Desert Tour And Camp Rules

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) announced on Monday new desert tour and camp regulations.

Dubai Tourism has established quality benchmarks for all desert tour operators, including those managing outdoor, cultural and hospitality activities, it said in a statement.

The new regulations will come into effect in three months’ time.

Operators will be evaluated on a number of categories including, visitor experience, health and safety, insurance coverage, marketing and advertising as well as transport and logistics. The new regulations will also focus on the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices.

“Close to 20 per cent of all tourists who visit Dubai include a desert experience as part of their agenda and desert-based activities have consistently ranked among the top ten must-do activities in Dubai,” stated Khalid Bin Touq, executive director, tourism activities and classification sector, at Dubai Tourism.

Under the new regulations, guest safety is covered, such as mandatory child car seat regulations, vehicle inspection criteria and provisions to ensure all in-car safety equipment is installed by approved vendors. All drivers must have completed their tour guide certification from Dubai Tourism, deliver mandatory safety briefings to guests and have all correct RTA licenses.

Dubai Tourism will also increase investment in upgrading infrastructure, including new regulations with regards to the upkeep of facilities, e-permit systems to streamline and simplify processes and an inspection system to keep tabs on offending drivers and operators.

UAE: Bookings In Dubai’s Tourism Industry Are Looking Strong

Bookings in Dubai’s tourism industry are looking strong for the first quarter of this year despite the fire which swept through a downtown hotel on New Year’s Eve, the head of the emirate’s tourism department said.

Fire engulfed the 63-storey Address Downtown luxury hotel and residential tower as thousands gathered below the nearby Burj Khalifa to watch a huge fireworks display.

Pictures of the blaze, the emirate’s second major fire of 2015, were beamed around the world, but Dubai’s allure as a tourism hub has not been diminished, according to Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of Dubai Tourism.

“Quarter 1 forward bookings are looking strong and we remain focused on this growth,” he said, noting the “swift and efficient handling of the incident at a very busy time of year” highlighted that people’s safety was always a priority.

Tourism is a key pillar of the economy of Dubai, which has established itself as a entertainment and conference hub.

Overnight visitor numbers jumped 7.5 percent in 2015 to 14.2 million, as the emirate built on its policy of attracting tourists from a wide range of countries, aided by the expanded reach of airlines Emirates and Flydubai, Almarri said.

Asia was the largest source of growth, with a 26 percent year-on-year jump in Indian visitors to more than 1.6 million people, making India Dubai’s number one source of visitors.

South Asia as a whole saw an increase of 21.7 percent year on year, with the rest of Asia rising 17.9 percent, led by a continued gain in Chinese tourists.

Turning to 2016, the slackening of economic growth in Asia would be among the main challenges for Dubai’s tourism sector, Almarri said, as would currency fluctuations.

With the U.S. dollar—to which the United Arab Emirates’ dirham is pegged—at multi-year highs against many currencies, the cost of visiting for many has escalated.

The impact has already been seen with visitors from Russia, CIS countries and Eastern Europe slumping 22.5 percent in 2015. The Russian rouble has been hit by the impact of Western sanctions, while Central Asian nations are suffering from the collapse in oil prices.

Almarri added Dubai was focusing on attracting families as their numbers were on the rise, especially among Gulf nations— which constituted the largest segment of visitors at 3.3 million in 2015.

UAE: New Year’s Eve Fire Has Not Affected Tourism,

Bookings in Dubai's tourism industry are looking strong for the first quarter of this year despite the fire which swept through a Downtown hotel on New Year's Eve, the head of the emirate's tourism department said.

Fire engulfed the 63-storey Address Downtown luxury hotel and residential tower as thousands gathered below the nearby Burj Khalifa to watch a huge fireworks display.

Pictures of the blaze, the emirate's second major fire of 2015, were beamed around the world, but Dubai's allure as a tourism hub has not been diminished, according to Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of Dubai Tourism.

"Quarter 1 forward bookings are looking strong and we remain focused on this growth," he said, noting the "swift and efficient handling of the incident at a very busy time of year" highlighted that people's safety was always a priority.

Tourism is a key pillar of the economy of Dubai, which has established itself as an entertainment and conference hub.

Overnight visitor numbers jumped 7.5 percent in 2015 to 14.2 million, as the emirate built on its policy of attracting tourists from a wide range of countries, aided by the expanded reach of airlines Emirates and Flydubai, Almarri said.

Asia was the largest source of growth, with a 26 percent year-on-year jump in Indian visitors to more than 1.6 million people, making India Dubai's number one source of visitors.

South Asia as a whole saw an increase of 21.7 percent year on year, with the rest of Asia rising 17.9 percent, led by a continued gain in Chinese tourists.

Turning to 2016, the slackening of economic growth in Asia would be among the main challenges for Dubai's tourism sector, Almarri said, as would currency fluctuations.

With the U.S. dollar - to which the United Arab Emirates' dirham is pegged - at multi-year highs against many currencies, the cost of visiting for many has escalated.

The impact has already been seen with visitors from Russia, CIS countries and Eastern Europe slumping 22.5 percent in 2015. The Russian rouble has been hit by the impact of Western sanctions, while Central Asian nations are suffering from the collapse in oil prices.

Almarri added Dubai was focusing on attracting families as their numbers were on the rise, especially among Gulf nations -- which constituted the largest segment of visitors at 3.3 million in 2015.

UAE: Dubai Expects More Chinese Tourists In 2015

Hoor Al Khaja.

A slowdown in China’s economy is unlikely to lead to a drop in the number of Chinese visitors to Dubai, with the emirate’s tourism authority working to add more flights between the two destinations in 2016.

Hoor Al Khaja, manager of overseas promotions at the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), said by phone that the tourism authority continues to see appetite from Chinese visitors to the emirate and expects growth in the second half of this year, despite China’s economic slowdown.

Growth of the world’s second-largest economy weakened in the third quarter to 6.9 per cent, down from 7 per cent in the previous quarter. The growth rate was the slowest since 2009. China is targeting an annual economic growth of 6.5 per cent between 2016 and 2020.

Dubai attracted 241,000 Chinese visitors in the first half of this year, up 26 per cent year-on-year.

“We expect to see positive growth,” Al Khaja said, adding that Dubai Tourism has been “aggressive in the Chinese market over the last year.”

She, however, declined to give a forecast for Chinese tourist numbers for the second half of this year. She said that over the next 12 months, the department will target different Chinese cities for its roadshow and launch new promotions.

Dubai Tourism will create a campaign for the upcoming Chinese New Year in February, according to Al Khaja. “We have been working with the Chinese government in the last year and we were able to launch three new flights [from China] to Dubai, and we will be working on launching a few more in the next year,” she said.

China is Dubai’s seventh largest tourism source market, and grew the most last year, with 344,000 visitors, up 25 per cent compared to 2013.

Dubai Tourism has four offices in China — in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.