Dubai Tourism News Page 68
Ramadan fails to shake Dubai hospitality market
Hotels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, performed nearly in sync during Ramadan 2014 compared with Ramadan 2013, according to STR Global. The shift of Ramadan impacts travel patterns which in turn affected overall hotel performance in Dubai.
Dubai Airports outlines further expansion plans at Al Maktoum International
Dubai Airports today welcomed the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, endorsing the US$ 32 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. Under the present plans, the airport will ultimately accommodate more than 200 million passengers a year. The development is anticipated to be the biggest airport project in the world and will be built in two phases.
Family holidays to drive growth in Dubai tourism sector
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing has revealed how family-centred travel is emerging a key component of travel to the emirate. Following the release of strong new tourism figures yesterday, he commented: “Our strategy continues to be positioning Dubai as the must-experience family destination: as such we are constantly diversifying our tourism offering and increasing our hotel portfolio to attract, and cater to, a broader market of visitors.”
Chinese visitors drive record figures for Dubai tourism
Dubai’s hotels welcomed more than 5.8 million tourists in the first half of 2014, up around one per cent compared to the same period last year, according to stats released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing. Hoteliers and hotel apartment operators saw total first half revenues reach Dhs12.74 billion ($3.18 billion), an increase of 10.9 per cent year-on-year.
Dubai to launch new tram network in November
Dubai’s new tram will officially launch on November 11th, it has been announced following the latest trial operations which were attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. It will be the first tramway project, outside Europe, to be powered by a ground-based electric supply system along the track without the need for overhead cables.
Dubai multi-entry visa to boost cruise tourism sector
Recent regulatory changes to the United Arab Emirates’ visa system will have a transformative effect on Dubai’s cruise sector and further boost medical tourism in the emirate. A new ruling in the UAE which took effect on August 1st 2014, will ensure implementation of a new visa and fees system.
Spike in Al Maktoum International airport traffic
Passenger and cargo traffic at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central registered a major surge in the second quarter of 2014 following the temporary shift of an estimated 600 flights per week from Dubai International during a major runway upgrade project that concluded on July 20th and the permanent relocation of all cargo freighter operations. Between April and June, DWC recorded 475,992 passengers, a sharp rise from 102,137 passengers that used the facility in the first quarter this year.
Ramadan Nights: A ‘breaking of the fast’ tour of Dubai
Video: The final instalment of Ramadan Nights with Breaking Travel News and Phil Blizzard here tours the city of Dubai visiting hotels on Palm Jumeriah and the mainland to discover a wide variety of Iftar venues and meals to ‘break the fast’, from Zabeel Saray to the iconic Burj Al Arab.
An oasis of Ramadan tranquillity at Conrad, Dubai
The Conrad Dubai is located in the heart of the buzzing financial district of the city, along side the Sheikh Zayed Road. Despite the frenetic pace of life and the high speed activity on the highway and byways close by, the Conrad does offer a haven of tranquillity - as Phil Blizzard discovered on his ‘Ramadan Tour’ of the region.
Dubai International passenger traffic soars ever higher
Passenger traffic at Dubai International rose to 34,676,090 during the first half of 2014, up 6.2 per cent from the same period last year despite a runway refurbishment programme that reduced the airport to a one-runway operation and cut flights by over 26 per cent during May and June. Dubai Airports today also released traffic results for June which showed a total of 5,067,726 passengers passed through Dubai International, the 18th consecutive month of more than five million passengers, down 8.5 per cent from the 5,537,908 passengers in June 2013.
Dubai International returns to full operations following partial closure
Dubai Airports successfully resumed full operations at Dubai International earlier following the reopening of the northern runway. At the same time flights that had temporarily moved to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central while the runway upgrades were underway have now returned to Dubai International.
Dubai International prepares to return to full capability
Dubai International’s northern runway is undergoing certification by the General Civil Aviation Authority as the final step to its reopening and returning the airport to full capacity on July 21st, ending an 80-day runway refurbishment and upgrade programme. Both of the airport’s runways were closed consecutively from May 1st for refurbishment.