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Middle East urged to diversify tourism offering following Arab Spring
Travel and tourism experts are calling for a diversification of the Middle East's tourism offering to counter negative perceptions about the region that have arisen in the wake of the Arab Spring.
Mideast carriers forge ahead with aggressive expansion plans, but challenges loom
Led by the region's big three carriers, passenger flows to and from the Middle East are expected to reach 140 million by 2015, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group. However, the region's carriers also face challenges over the next few years as they continue to implement their aggressive expansion plans, BCG warns.
Palm Jumeirah looks to carve niche as tourism destination
After plans for many of its hotel offerings were scrapped or put on hold, the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is slowly beginning to emerge as a leisure destination in its own right with the recent opening of several new hotels.
Abu Dhabi sees sharp rise in visitors as room rates tumble
Abu Dhabi hotels witnessed a record increase in guest arrivals in July, boosted by a steep drop in room rates and a large influx of travellers from the Middle East in the wake of the unrest in the region.
Budget carriers look to revive fortunes after difficult six months
It has been a tough six months for low-cost carriers in the Gulf, as regional unrest and soaring fuel prices have slammed passenger numbers and driven operating costs sky-high. Is the second half of 2011 likely to offer any respite for the Gulf's embattled budget airlines?
Dubai to spend $7.8bn on airport expansion project
Dubai Airports has announced that it is gotten approval to embark on a $7.8bn expansion programme of Dubai International that would boost capacity at the airport from 60 million to 90 million passengers a year.
Hilton's UAE expansion focuses on Ras Al Khaimah
Hilton is rapidly adding more hotels in the UAE, but not in the widely-known cities of Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Instead, the hotel company is focusing its expansion on the relatively low-key northern emirate of Ras al Khaimah, which aims to attract visitors looking for a quieter and less costly alternative to its glitzier neighbours in the country.
Ritz-Carlton to manage iconic hotel in Oman
Ritz-Carlton has expanded its portfolio in the Middle East with the announcement that it is taking over the management of one of the most iconic hotels in the region, the Al Bustan Palace in Muscat, Oman.
Hotels flock to Saudi Arabia to meet increased demand
A growing number of hotel companies are signing deals to open new properties in Saudi Arabia to meet the rising influx of pilgrims that travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as the kingdom's strong domestic tourism market.
More international airlines inaugurate Iraq routes
Emirates Airline has announced that it is launching services to Baghdad, joining a growing list of carriers that are gradually adding more flights to Iraq as the country's economic and security situation improves.
Will all-inclusive hotels soon be all-the-rage in Dubai?
As the summer lull approaches, Movenpick is rolling out an all-inclusive package at its Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai as a way to attract new types of customers. The hotel believes this is a model whose time has come in Dubai, but will other hotels in the emirate follow suit?
Will all-inclusive hotels soon be all-the-rage in Dubai?
As the summer lull approaches, Movenpick is rolling out an all-inclusive package at its Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai as a way to attract new types of customers. The hotel believes this is a model whose time has come in Dubai, but will other hotels in the emirate follow suit?
Middle East airlines' profit forecast revised downwards by $800m
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has sharply lowered its profit forecast for Middle East carriers in 2011 as unrest in the region, high oil prices, and natural disasters continue to impact negatively on the sector.
Massive airport projects underscore growth in Middle East aviation sector
With aviation being a key driver of economic growth in the Middle East, countries throughout the region are spending billions of dollars to expand their airports in an effort to ensure these facilities have the capacity to meet the future needs of the rapidly expanding sector.
MGM Hospitality eyes expansion in Middle East, Asia
Although MGM Hospitality has faced delays in the opening of its hotels in the UAE, the company is keen to launch new projects in the Middle East, China, and India as it looks to ramp up its expansion outside its home base in the US.
