Gulf Tourism and Aviation
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IATA cuts Middle East carriers' profit forecast by half
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has slashed its 2011 profit forecast for Middle East carriers by 50%, citing tighter margins on long-haul routes due to high fuel costs. The trade body also warned that failure to stem the Eurozone banking crisis could lead to heavy losses for the global aviation sector next year.
Gulf carriers face challenges beyond the global economy
The scale of the economic fallout means that very few places or businesses in the world have not been affected. As experts attempt to make sense of the damage inflicted and potential future scenarios for their respective fields, it would appear that airline carriers in the Gulf have less to worry about than most.
Saudi Arabia looks to bolster internal tourism
Saudi tourism officials and hotels in the kingdom have been stepping up their efforts to entice local residents to travel within the country in hopes of capturing a larger share of the billions of dollars that Saudis spend on vacations overseas each year.
Middle East carriers ramp up in-flight entertainment offerings
In addition to spending billions of dollars on new aircraft, Middle East carriers are also splashing out big money on new and improved in-flight entertainments systems to keep in step with the latest technology being developed for the aviation sector.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi hotels on divergent paths in 2011
While hotels in Dubai have enjoyed a strong rebound so far this year, Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector is struggling to deal with an oversupply of rooms and a relatively limited range of offerings that limits its ability to attract a wide variety of tourists.
Are the Gulf's big carriers at risk of growing too fast?
Once again the region's carriers placed huge orders at the Dubai Airshow, with Emirates and Qatar Airways leading the way. But as these megacarriers continue their unprecedented growth, are they at risk of over-expansion?
Corporate jet market rebounds in Middle East
Despite the unrest in the Middle East, business jet operators in the region say they are seeing a strong recovery so far this year and are adding more aircraft to their fleets to meet rising demand.
Qatar Airways orders 55 Airbus aircraft
In a dramatic turn of events at the Dubai Airshow yesterday afternoon, Qatar Airways has... Read full article »
Middle East carriers to spend hundreds of billions on new aircraft in next two decades
Airlines in the Middle East are forecast to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new aircraft over the next 20 years to meet continued strong demand and address their rapid expansion plans, according to new forecasts by Airbus and Boeing revealed at the Dubai Airshow.
Dubai Airshow orders may be relatively muted, analysts say
The Dubai Airshow, one of the largest events of its kind, has seen huge orders in past years but analysts say the volume at this year's event could be relatively subdued due to the global economic conditions and the large number of aircraft that the major Gulf carriers already have on order.
Room for growth fuels hotel expansion in Middle East
Experts are still predicting strong growth in the Middle East's hospitality pipeline, so what is attracting companies to the region and should they be more cautious?
Boutique hotels look to grab foothold in Middle East
An increasing number of companies are looking to develop boutique hotels in the Middle East, but they are likely to face challenges trying to lure guests away from the tower hotels that dominate the region.
Middle East looks to grow cruise tourism industry
The Middle East is seeing a rise in cruise passengers as governments in the region invest in new facilities to support the cruise tourism sector. However, while prospects for the industry are strong, it also faces a number of challenges that could hamper its growth.
Hilton to open Waldorf Astoria in Dubai on Palm Jumeirah
UAE-based Al Habtoor Group has announced that it is teaming up with Hilton Worldwide to develop the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Dubai on the Palm Jumeirah. The company has also selected Hilton to manage its two hotels in Lebanon, which marks the first time that Hilton will be entering the Lebanese market.
Marriott plans major expansion of extended-stay brand in Middle East
Marriott International has announced plans to launch its mid-scale extended stay Residence Inn hotels across the Middle East and Africa as part of a major expansion of the brand outside the US.
