Tag Archives: UAE

IndiGo announces the commencement of daily direct flight connecting Mumbai to its 41st international destination, Fujairah. The only emirate situated along the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, Fujairah is renowned for its pristine beaches, majestic mountain landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. This expansion is part of IndiGo’s strategic global growth plan and further strengthens its presence in the Middle East. This marks IndiGo’s fifth destination with direct connectivity in the UAE after Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The newly launched direct flight from Fujairah to Mumbai and followed by Kannur, not only caters to the growing demand for travel from both business and leisure travellers but also comes at a favourable time, as Fujairah strengthens its position on the global adventure tourism map. In a recent development, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah are planning to launch UAE’s first cross-emirate adventure trial. This opens up new experiences for Indian travellers seeking immersive outdoor getaways. Meanwhile, the strategically planned flight timings carefully coordinated with bus arrival and departure timings are designed to ensure a seamless, hassle-free travel experience for those exploring the UAE, from the cultural charm of Sharjah to the iconic skyline of Dubai and the natural beauty of Fujairah. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said: “We are pleased to commence daily direct operations between Mumbai as well as Kannur to Fujairah, UAE’s hidden gem known for its natural beauty and growing economic significance. IndiGo already flies to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and now also to Fujairah in the UAE. As our 41st international destination and fifth in the UAE, Fujairah offers immense potential for trade, tourism, & business. With these …

Amid ongoing airspace restrictions triggered by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, many flights to and from Pakistan and northern India have been cancelled or delayed at Dubai International Airport. Dubai-based carriers Emirates and flydubai have reported delays and cancellations. According to the airport’s latest flight status, the following flights have been cancelled: Multan (MUX): FZ 340 Lahore (LHE): EK 623, AC 7617, FZ 360 Sialkot (SKT): EK 619, FZ 338 Karachi (KHI): FZ 332 Faisalabad (LYP): FZ 356 Islamabad (ISB): FZ 354 The following flights have been delayed: Lahore (LHE): PA 416, EK 625, AC 7579 Sialkot (SKT): PK 179 Islamabad (ISB): PA 210, EK 613, AC 7571 Multan (MUX): FZ 326 New Delhi (DEL): EK 513 Peshawar (PEW): EK 637 Abu Dhabi cancels flights Several flights from Zayed International Airport have been cancelled as airspace restrictions continue to disrupt operations in the region. According to the airport’s latest flight status, the following flights have been cancelled: Etihad Airways (EY297) – Karachi Pakistan International Airlines (PK264) – Lahore Air Arabia Abu Dhabi (3L335) – Multan Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates and reschedule if necessary. Qatar Airways suspends flights to Pakistan Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended all flights to Pakistan following the closure of Pakistani airspace. The airline said it is closely monitoring the situation and reaffirmed that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority. Passengers have been advised to check the latest updates on affected flights by visiting qatarairways.com or by contacting the airline’s customer service centre at +974 4144 5555.

In a landmark move, the Walt Disney Company is set to open its first theme park in the Middle East, with a new project planned for Abu Dhabi. The entertainment giant has signed an agreement with Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, to bring a world-class Disney theme park and resort to Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates. This will be Disney’s seventh global theme park resort and will be fully developed and built by Miral, marking a significant expansion of Disney’s presence in the international tourism market.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed a series of strategic partnerships at Arabian Travel Market 2025, targeted to drive tourism growth and enhance visitor experiences across key international markets. The new initiatives span collaborations with leading travel operators, hotel groups and destination management companies and will focus on attracting visitors from Europe, Saudi Arabia, India and other key markets, while showcasing Abu Dhabi’s diverse offerings and year-round appeal. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said, “The strategic partnerships signed at Arabian Travel Market 2025 represent a significant step forward in our efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a world-class tourism destination. Targeted collaborations across Europe, Saudi Arabia, India and other key markets, enable us to enhance Abu Dhabi’s international profile and reinforcing its appeal as a dynamic, year-round destination. Globally and locally, these partnerships underline our commitment to sustainable growth, offering unique, tailored experiences that resonate with diverse global audiences, while ensuring the long-term resilience and innovation of the sector.” Strengthening European Connections DCT Abu Dhabi is committed to strengthening its connections with European markets, recognising the region’s importance as a key source of international visitors. Loop Leisure Autumn 2025 : An agreement has been signed with Loop Leisure to host Loop Leisure Autumn 2025 from 12 – 16 October at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi. The announcement comes after Abu Dhabi hosted Loop Beyond Borders event which hosted travel agents from across Central and Eastern Europe in 2024. The Autumn edition will welcome 130 high-end travel agents, tour operators, and media from largely German-speaking markets with participants hailing from Germany, Switzerland, …

SriLankan Airlines and flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, have announced today an interline agreement commencing from 09 September 2024, introducing more travel opportunities between Sri Lanka, the UAE and beyond on select routes on the carriers’ networks. This interline agreement will enable passengers travelling with SriLankan Airlines to seamlessly connect via Dubai’s aviation hub to more than 30 destinations that flydubai operates to in Africa, Central Asia, Central and Southeast Europe as well as the Middle East. This includes unique holiday destinations such as Bucharest, Istanbul, Krakow, Mombasa, Naples, Sofia, Tashkent and Zanzibar. In addition, the interline will offer flydubai passengers’ access to 16 destinations on SriLankan’s robust network spanning Southern and East Asia, the Middle East and Australia – including Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo. “We are excited to partner with flydubai to provide our passengers seamless connections and greater convenience. This partnership reinforces our strategy to broaden our network and global reach, presenting customers with more travel choices and flexibility. We look forward to collaborating with flydubai and welcoming their passengers aboard our flights to experience an authentic SriLankan journey,” said Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines. SriLankan Airlines and flydubai are committed to delivering convenient and reliable travel options for their valued customers. Passengers can expect the signature hospitality and onboard services that both airlines are renowned for when travelling with SriLankan and flydubai. Commenting on the interline agreement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said, “we’re excited about our new interline agreement with SriLankan Airlines that will further strengthen trade and tourism relations between the UAE and Sri Lanka. Since the start of operations to Sri Lanka in 2010, we have seen consistent …

A visa-on-arrival facility is available to citizens of Japan, South Korea, and the UAE if they are visiting India for tourism, business, conference, and medical purposes. This visa is valid for 60 days with the flexibility of double entry, said MOT. However, it is available only at 6 designated airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

Immigration authorities in the UAE have intensified inspection and screening at the country’s airports to detect individuals arriving on a visit visa to seek employment. Now, all passengers arriving on visit or tourist visas will undergo strict profiling, including verification of funds and other information. Visitors engaging in tourist activities should provide information on their hotel accommodations, return tickets, and available funds.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, UAE announces that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has a new unified tourist visa called “GCC Grand Tours,” which would allow travellers to visit all six Gulf countries and stay for over 30 days. This initiative aims to boost tourism and make travel across the GCC region more convenient. by simplifying travel across Gulf countries, with an estimated 128.7 million visitors by 2030.

According to tourism statistics report by MOT, Indian departures during January-June 2023 were 1,32,08,837. 42% of this travel was for leisure and holidays with the percentage share of the top 5 source countries being UAE, Saudai Arabia, USA, Thailand and Singapore.   

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Odisha, has announced that direct flights will be operated between Bhubaneswar to UAE very soon. Patnaik made this announcement while addressing the diaspora from Odisha in Dubai recently. Odisha government has already proceeded with a viability gap funding (VGF) plan for direct flight services between Dubai and Bhubaneswar.