Category: Middle East

Sharjah is home to acclaimed art galleries, buzzy waterfront areas and a sophisticated outlook; as creativity and excitement flow through the emirate. At the same time, the emirate stays true to its Islamic heritage, with a traditional, gracious and welcoming vibe. Nestled between two lagoons, the emirate is a global metropolis of modern business and vibrant culture. UNESCO declared Sharjah a Culture Capital of the Arab World in 1998 for its efforts to maintain and promote Arab traditions. The city shares its heritage with over 20 museums and galleries, local architecture and culture-packed leisure activities. Sharjah is a prime tourism ... Read more

RTA Dubai and Oman National Transport Company has opened international bus route to commute passengers between Dubai and Muscat, and the one-way ticket will cost AED55. RTA’s Public Transport Agency has opened the international bus route between Dubai and Muscat, which aims to boost land transport and ease the mobility of passengers between the two sisterly countries. An agreement was signed in Dubai by Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA and Ahmed bin Ali Albulushi CEO, MWASALAT Oman. Coaches operating on this route will start at Abu Hail Bus Station, and the one-way ticket will cost AED55. Bahrozyan ... Read more

The Al Majaz Waterfront area has been one of the most popular attractions among residents and tourists in Sharjah. But, the authorities have recently banned all picnics in this area. “The green spaces at Al Majaz waterfront are part of its aesthetics and are not equipped for picnics. Meanwhile, visitors can enjoy all the facilities, play areas, enjoy the fountain shows, and the beautiful serene waters of Khalid Lagoon,” said an official statement. Located in the vibrant heart of the city of Sharjah, Al Majaz Waterfront covers an area of 231,000 square feet, featuring stunning scenery overlooking the Khaled Lagoon. This iconic leisure ... Read more

Al Ula, the gateway to Mada’in Saleh, is a small town about 400 km north of Medina. Once an oasis with fertile soil and abundant water, it was founded in the 6th century BC and originally inhabited by the Lihyanites. The town was formerly a strategic trade route for spices and incense from the Levant, Egypt and North Africa. The 2,000-year-old ghost town was made of stone and mud. The preserved archaeological site still contains many distinctive tombstones and inscriptions written in ancient Nabatean scripts, which historians believe was an old form of the Arabic alphabet. Al Ula, Abandoned city ... Read more

Travellers can experience Abu Dhabi without entering the emirates now; leading media company Lonely Planet and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed a first-to-market agreement. As per the agreement, lonelyplanet.com will host the ‘Abu Dhabi Adventure Builder’ video player at www.lonelyplanet.com/abu-dhabi-adventure-builder For the next 12 months, enabling travellers to sculpt their own personal, visual itinerary from afar. Featuring 15 bespoke videos of experiences in and around Abu Dhabi, visitors can add up to five videos to the player at any one time, allowing them to explore the city and its surroundings in ... Read more

Spartan Middle East and Africa Championship, the regional version of the US originated series of obstacle races, has announced that it will return to Mleiha, Sharjah, next month with newly introduced Age Group categories and a competitive Kids heat. The Championship to be held on Friday, 15 February 2019, will see more than 4,500 attendees with an estimated 2,500 racers from the region who will compete in three race types and six race categories, in the historic tourism destination of Sharjah. Organized in partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism project, the ... Read more

Etihad Airways flies the world’s first flight using fuel made in the UAE from plants grown in saltwater by Khalifa University. The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), a non-profit entity established by Masdar Institute that is part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, announced the world’s first commercial flight using locally produced sustainable fuel on an Etihad Airways Boeing 787 powered by GE’s GEnx-1B engines. The flight from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam marked a major milestone in the development of a clean, alternative aviation fuel to reduce carbon emissions. The initiative also addresses food security in the UAE through the ... Read more

Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, is the perfect destination for leisure seekers and history enthusiasts. Offering magnificent landscapes, breathtaking coastlines and rich, terracotta desert planes, the emirate has firmly established itself as the UAE’s most authentic destination in the Middle East. With year-long sunshine and 64 kilometres of white sandy beaches, just 45 minutes from the busy metropolis of Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah offers an entirely unique experience from its neighbouring emirates. Ras Al Khaimah is known to most of the tourists as the abode of the best beaches in UAE. However, ... Read more

ഉദ്‍ഘാടനത്തിനു മുമ്പും ശേഷവുമൊക്കെ വാര്‍ത്തകളില്‍ നിറയുകയാണ് കണ്ണൂര്‍ വിമാനത്താവളം. വടക്കേ മലബാറിന്‍റെ  സ്വന്തം വിമാനത്താവളത്തിന്റെ ലോഗോയും പരസ്യവും പതിച്ച ചെയ്‍ത ബസുകള്‍ ദുബൈ നഗരത്തില്‍ കൗതുകമാകുന്നു എന്നതാണ് പുതിയ വാര്‍ത്ത. നാല് ദുബൈ സര്‍വീസ് ബസുകളാണ് കണ്ണൂര്‍ ഇന്റര്‍നാഷണല്‍ എയര്‍പോര്‍ട്ടിന്റേതായി ബ്രാന്‍ഡ് ചെയ്ത് ദുബൈ നഗരത്തിലൂടെ ഓടുന്നതെന്ന് ഡൈജി വേള്‍ഡ് മീഡിയ റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നു. മലബാറിനെയും ഗള്‍ഫിനെയും ബന്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്ന പ്രധാന വിമാനത്താവളങ്ങളിലൊന്നാണ് കണ്ണൂര്‍ എന്നതിനാലാണ് ഈ പരസ്യമെന്ന് ദുബൈ റോഡ് ട്രാന്‍സ്‍പോര്‍ട് അധികൃതര്‍ വ്യക്തമാക്കിയതായാണ് റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകള്‍. മലബാറിനെ ഗള്‍ഫ് രാജ്യങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്ന പ്രധാന വിമാനത്താവളത്തില്‍നിന്ന് ഉടന്‍തന്നെ കൂടുതല്‍ ഗള്‍ഫ് സര്‍വീസുകള്‍ ആരംഭിക്കുമെന്നും റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകളുണ്ട്.

Musandam is a mountainous peninsula in Oman, projecting into the Strait of Hormuz, separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its serrated coastline features fjord like inlets called ‘khors,’ and its waters are home to dolphins and other marine life. Dhow cruises are a popular activity. Khasab is the capital of the Musandam governorate. The main thing that makes this area special is the collocation of sea and mountains. Excursions in boats and traditional ships will give the visitors unforgettable enjoyment. Musandam has something for everyone who visits there – let it be off ... Read more

With an aim to enhance tourism in the area, Oman has unveiled plans to build the country’s longest zip-line in Al Hamra. The zip line will be operated in the Misfat Al Abriyeen village. The operation of the project will be shared between Al Masfah Company as the owner and Oman Refreshments Company as the funder. The ministry of Tourism will be the technical advisor and supervisor of the project. Al Hamra, a 400-year-old town in northeastern Oman, is located at the foot of the Hajar Mountains. Some of the oldest preserved houses in Oman, mudbrick houses built in the Yemeni style, can be found ... Read more

The Indian hospitality chain, Oyo, is all set to enter the Saudi Arabian market.  Other than its regular offerings such as hotel rooms, homestays and townhouses, Oyo is launching a new category for the Saudi market. The new category of offer is expected to tap the huge number of religious tourists visiting the country. OYO Hotels & Home has also set a target of reaching 12,000 rooms by 2020 in the Middle East market, which is a 10-fold jump from 1300 rooms on its platform in the UAE market. In September 2018, the company has raised some AED3.68 billion (US$1 billion) funding ... Read more

Ajman Municipality plan to create a central square in the emirate to attract more tourists. The project is expected to be launched in early 2019.The Ajman Square project will include a number of cafes and restaurants, an open-air seating area and a walking track to encourage people to gather in one place. “The project highlights Ajman’s unique identity and aims to improve its living environment, by raising the emirate’s quality of life,” noted Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department. “The square will enable visitors to practice sports on a walking track and the open-air ... Read more

The most awaited Grand Egyptian Museum is getting ready to be inaugurated by 2020. The museum is intended to showcase Egypt’s ancient treasures while drawing tourists to help fund its future development. The project has been delays due to various reasons and now the works are progressing with accelerated pace to be inaugurated by 2020. Meanwhile, the costs of the project has soared from an initial USD 650 million to over USD 1 billion, with most of the financing coming from Japan. Japan is not only one of the museum’s major financial partners, it is also playing a key role ... Read more

The Tourism ministry of Oman reopens Al Khaboura Fort in the Governorate of North Batinah, announced the Ministry of Tourism. The fort, according to officials, was earlier closed due to maintenance work. In a statement online, the Ministry of Tourism said, “The Ministry of Tourism reopened the Al Khaboura Fort in North Batinah Governorate to visitors after completion of the maintenance work [that was being] carried out by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture.” The fort will be open to visitors from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. The Ministry added, “[We] wish that visitors [get to] a spend good and useful ... Read more