Minor Hotels has signed a management agreement with UAE master developer Nakheel for a new Avani hotel in Dubai. The 372-key Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel will be developed by Nakheel and will be located adjacent to the recently-opened Ibn Battuta Metro Link, which is directly connected to Ibn Battuta Mall.

The Oberoi Group is set to expand its presence in the UAE with the opening of The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah. Located just a 25-minute drive from Dubai, the resort is set to open in March.

Passenger traffic at Dubai international registered an increase of 9.4 per cent in November 2016, according to the monthly traffic report issued today by operator Dubai Airports. The airport welcomed a total of 6,581,805 passengers in November compared to 6,013,911 passengers during the same month in 2015.

Dubai Parks & Resorts has marked the completion of its third and final theme park, Motiongate – meaning the destination is now completely open to the public. Over 1,500 of the world’s media, UAE dignitaries and celebrities were in attendance for the formal inauguration of Dubai Parks & Resorts earlier. Here Breaking Travel News takes a tour.

The cast of La Perle by Dragone have entered the next phase of rehearsals for the launch of Dubai’s first permanent resident show opening mid-2017. For the cast to be on peak physical form for the show, they are currently undergoing an intense physical training programme, before moving into the state-of-the-art aqua theatre to begin rehearsals, so that they can perform 450 performances a year – two shows a night, five days a week.

Dubai Airports, operator of Dubai International and Dubai World Central, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau Dubai Expo 2020 to ensure a world-class experience for the millions of guests that will visit Dubai during the event. Following the signing of the deal the airport operator is now an official supporter of Dubai Expo 2020.