Real Estate & Travel News in United Arab Emirates from Propertyshowrooms.com

Abu Dhabi offers the 'ultimate shopping experience'

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Demand for property in the UAE could be set to rise following the comments of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

Investors and holidaymakers looking for the ultimate shopping experience have been told that they will be hard pressed to find a better destination than the emirate.

Lawrence Franklin, strategy and policy director at the tourism body, explained that the impressively decorated shopping malls "make for an unbeatable shopping expedition".

"Abu Dhabi has a cosmopolitan city with urban architecture, green gardens and fountains," Mr Franklin said.

"It hosts a range of business-cum-leisure facilities, from a state-of-the-art convention centre and luxurious hotels, to spas, designer golf courses, an arts complex and heritage sites."

Meanwhile, Etihad, the national airline of the emirate, has launched a promotional campaign offering free stopovers at selected luxury hotels in downtown Abu Dhabi, Yas Island or Dubai.

The news could prompt an increase in the number of individuals looking to purchase property in the UAE.

Dubai is 'best retail destination in the world'

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Demand for property in Dubai could be set to rise after a new report labelled it as one of the best shopping destinations in the world.

Research conducted by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) has revealed that the emirate is now on a par with London as the world's premier retail city.

The property consultancy noted that more than half (56 per cent) of all the top international retail brands have a presence within Dubai.

CBRE claims that the growth of the emirate as a shopping destination has been fuelled by limited opportunities in traditional markets and the emergence of a wealthy, well-educated and well-travelled population.

Michael Leighton, senior retail Consultant for CBRE Middle East, said: "Historically, Dubai has been the entry city to the Middle East, but now retailers are looking to replicate their success in other Middle Eastern countries with a similar consumer base."

Indeed, since 2006 an additional 1.2 million square metres of retail space has entered the Dubai market.

Travel links between UK and UAE boosted

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Emirates has boosted travel links between the UK and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the launch of its new route from Manchester to Dubai.

The superjumbo will fly between the two locations twice daily and has already broken the record for the most number of passengers to leave the site on a single flight when it took off on September 1st.

Improved travel links will be welcome news for people with property in the UAE.

"This is a historic moment for Emirates as we bring our 21st century superjumbo to the north-west, 20 years after our first flight from the region," explained executive vice-chairman Maurice Flanagan.

"Our Manchester service has been an incredible success story, and we're delighted to be opening the next chapter today."

Earlier this week, figures from Dubai International highlighted that the airport has been receiving a record number of passengers.

In July, some 4.3 million passengers were handled by the airport, compared with 3.7 in July 2009.

Travel in the UAE 'picking up'

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Travel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has picked up, according to latest figures.

Investors with property in the UAE will be pleased to hear that recent figures from the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority show the number of people visiting the Emirate jumped 16 per cent in July compared with the same month the previous year.

July was the ninth consecutive month of double digit guest growth for the Emirates.

For the first time, international market growth of 29 per cent outstripped domestic growth of four per cent.

Commenting on the findings, Nadine Hallak, a spokesperson for Cheapflights.co.uk, said that travel to the UAE had dropped during Dubai's recession, however, things are now picking up.

She added that high-profile events such as the launch of Formula One in Abu Dhabi and the fact that the recent Sex and the City film was set in the Emirate have boosted its profile with holidaymakers.

Tourism in UAE set to rise

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Individuals who have invested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be boosted by claims that holiday bookings to the country are increasing.

Nikki Hain, product manager for Middle East, Indochina and Indian Ocean at Premier Holidays, is confident that airlines offering cheap fares to the emirate are encouraging tourists to return to the country.

"By the end of December 2009 we were up 48 per cent year-on-year for Dubai bookings, for next year," she said.

Business Monitor International's United Arab Emirates Tourism Report suggests that recovery in arrivals to the region is expected to continue throughout 2010.

According to the Post Office Travel Services Holiday Money Report holidaymakers will be able to take advantage of the strengthening GBP when visiting the UAE this year.

Property company Asteco reported that property prices in the area have stabilised during the last quarter of 2009.

One-fourth of new passenger jets destined for the Middle East

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One-fourth of the world's new planes are destined for the Middle East as Arab airlines take advantage of the region's strategic location to build their fleets, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, said...

Golf event set to attract visitors to Abu Dhabi

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A large number of sports fans are expected to visit the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship next month.

Taking place from January 15th to 18th, the event is sanctioned by the European Tour and will see many of the world's top players in action at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course.

England's Ian Poulter told the European Tour website that tournaments in the Middle East are growing in stature among the international golfing community.

"This reflects how more top players are looking to go to places like Abu Dhabi at the start of the year to compete in excellent conditions and contest ever-improving fields - it's the future of the game," the 32-year-old said.

Poulter will compete with world number three Sergio Garcia, three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington and 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman at the tournament.

Faisal Al Sheikh, major events division head at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said that Poulter's presence at the tournament is "bound to be a crowd-puller" due to his status as a fans' favourite.

ADTA recently revealed that hotels in Abu Dhabi are currently enjoying occupancy rates of 85 to 90%, despite the economic downturn.

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Abu Dhabi Airport Sees 32.3% YTD Passenger Growth

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hajj traffic lifts KSA into third largest market served from AUH for the month...

Jumeirah announces expansion plans for Wild Wadi Water Park

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel group and a member of Dubai Holding, has revealed expansion plans for Wild Wadi Water Park with the arrival of the latest rides...

Etihad plans second relief flight from Phuket airport

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Etihad Airways is finalising plans to start a second relief flight from Phuket International Airport in Thailand in order to move as many stranded passengers as possible starting from today...

Air Arabia Buys 10 Additional Airbus A320 Aircrafts

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that it has signed a contract with Airbus for 10 additional A320 aircraft...

Etihad Airways will require $18b funding for new aircraft

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Etihad Airways contributes 6.8 per cent to Abu Dhabi's non-oil GDP and 2.8 per cent to its total GDP, according to the airline's officials...

14m travel with Etihad in five years

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Having completed five years of operations today, Etihad Airways said yesterday it has flown almost 14 million passengers to date, on more than 87,000 flights to 48 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia...

Boeing Projects Robust Airline Growth in the Middle East

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Boeing unveiled its Middle East 2008 Current Market Outlook (CMO) yesterday on the eve of the AVEX Airshow & Aviation Exhibition held in Sharm el Sheikh...

UAE recommended to winter sunseekers

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Consumers from the UK have been encouraged to head to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for some winter sunshine.

According to the Times, many Britons are craving some high temperatures after the country experienced another "dismal" summer.

Therefore, it has suggested that people escape the cold winter weather by taking a break in the UAE.

The newspaper stated prices at this time of year can be highly affordable, which means places such as Dubai can be enjoyed by families during the school holidays.

Commenting on the region, the Times said: "The Middle East is a shoo-in for guaranteed winter sun."

The publication added that prices are at their lowest during the two weeks prior to Christmas.

This comes shortly after the opening of a new terminal at Dubai International Airport.

Flights to new destinations are being slowly phased in order to ensure the facility's introduction goes smoothly.

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Dubai opens third airport terminal

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dubai Airport is today seeing the opening of its third terminal, news that may interest those thinking of investing in property in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The new terminal - which will be used solely by Emirates Airlines - will bring in aircraft from regional destinations such as Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as long-haul routes from the USA, Canada and Brazil.

Further development at the terminal will see more routes opened up to Africa, Europe, the Far East and Australia.

Such an expansion may help boost the growing property market in the country further by encouraging more investors to come to the country.

In Dubai itself building work continues as the property market carries on growing.

Earlier this month UAE developer Tameer unveiled details of the winning bid to construct a new mixed-use skyscraper in the city.

The Anara Tower will be one of the tallest in the world, the firm has said.

UAE recommended to winter tourists

Thu, 2 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Consumers from the UK who wish to enjoy high temperatures during the winter have been encouraged to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the Sun, the Middle Eastern country can be reached by plane in just 7 hours and offers temperatures of up to 38 degrees C.

Dubai was flagged up as one area that offers temperatures along these lines throughout the whole winter seas, along with Abu Dhabi.

The newspaper said the latter destination offers a number of other attractions to visitors, including good beaches and leisure activities such as diving.

"After our hideous summer, many will be looking for a splash of sunshine to get you through the long, cold winter," the Sun commented.

This comes after James Eustace of Medhotels told Travel Weekly that the UAE's accessibility from Europe makes it an "ideal" location for winter holidaymakers to consider.

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RTA launches QHSE Intranet page

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Public Transport Agency at Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that it launched an intranet webpage to focus on Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (QHSE) aspects...

34.3% year-to-date Growth At Abu Dhabi Intl Airport

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) reported a 22.9 per cent year-on-year jump in passenger traffic through Abu Dhabi International Airport for the month of August...

Emirates Raises $265M In Islamic Financing

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Emirates airline has raised $265 million (Dh973m) in Islamic financing to pay for the lease of two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft delivered earlier this year...

BA expands into Dubai

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

British Airways (BA) has confirmed that a third daily flight will run between London and Dubai later this year.

This development further opens up the emirate to business and leisure travellers, as well as overseas property buyers, in the UK.

The frequency of the Heathrow service will go up from the end of the next month as part of the carrier's winter schedule.

BA has also indicated that it will add more than 300 extra business class seats on the route.

Paul Starrs, commercial manager of BA in the Middle East, commented: "[This] demonstrates the Dubai market's enduring importance to the airline."

He added that he is confident air passengers will find the business class seats enable them to travel in comfort, convenience and privacy.

The announcement comes shortly before the opening of a new terminal at Dubai International Airport.

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British Airways Eyes Expansion in Middle East Operations

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite high fuel prices, British Airways will add a third daily flight to its winter schedule and is eyeing other expansion plans in the Middle East, according to an airline spokesman on Wednesday...

Al Ain Municipality Signs Contract for Route Signage Project

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

His Excellency Awad Khalifa Bin Hasoum Al Darmaki, General Manager of Al Ain Municipality, signed on Wednesday a contract with a national, specialized company for the Fourth Phase of the ongoing Route Signing, Street-Naming and Plot-Numbering Project in Al Ain...

RAK to get new airport terminals

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Visitors to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) will soon be passing through new airport terminals, it has been reported.

According to Gulf Africa Duty Free magazine, the emirate's transport hub is to be revamped over the next 12 months.

The new terminals should allow it to handle a greater number of services and will fuel further expansion of the facility.

This should help to encourage more airlines to offer flights to and from RAK, a development which would significantly improve the ease of access to the region.

Commenting on the facility, Michelle Soliman of RAK Airport said it is not aiming to compete with places such as Dubai.

She commented: "We certainly have a different atmosphere here.

"We are finding our own niche, which is to operate with our two operators and look after RAK Airways."

The comments come after Gulf News cited figures from RAK Tourism which showed that the area is becoming more popular with visitors.

Statistics indicated that annual visitor numbers rose by over a quarter in 2007 to approximately 215,000.

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Flights to Dubai gain popularity

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Emirates Airline has hailed the success of its direct service between Newcastle Airport and Dubai.

The carrier, which introduced the route a year ago, stated that the flights are proving to be very popular with leisure and business travellers.

Indeed, figures show that in the last 12 months, more than 140,000 people have boarded the daily service.

Vic Sheppard, vice president of Emirates in the UK and Ireland, has hailed the success of the Dubai route, describing it as one its biggest successes in Britain.

He commented: "Given that it has been a challenging time for the entire airline industry, we are delighted to have received such strong support from the north-east travelling public."

This comes after Holidays-Direct revealed that top-end destinations such as the United Arab Emirates are attracting a higher-than-average number of bookings this year.

The online travel agency believes this is because British consumers want to make the most of their holiday time and ensure that it is a memorable trip.

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Etihad Airways Announces Special Ramadan Fares

Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is delivering special fares during the month of Ramadan to selected destinations in its coral economy class...

Elite Jets takes delivery of brand new Gulfstream G450

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Elite Jets, the luxury private jet operator based in Dubai, has added the brand new Gulfstream G450 to its existing executive aircraft fleet...

Etihad to launch flights to Nigeria

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Etihad Airways is to start flights next year to Nigeria from Abu Dhabi. The airline will operate four services a week to Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, and Abuja, the country's capital city...

Britons take breaks in Dubai

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Holidaymakers from the UK are increasingly booking holidays to luxury destinations such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This is the conclusion of Holidays-Direct, which found that the poor weather in Britain is prompting many to fly out to sunny locations.

The UAE was identified as one of the main hotspots for people from the UK, as it has seen an increase in the number of bookings this year.

Holidays-Direct said places such as Dubai are proving to be popular as consumers want to go "somewhere special".

Jon Pearce, spokesperson for Holidays-Direct, commented: "We all need cheering up, so a holiday is a luxury that has become a necessity for many."

He added that Dubai also offers a pleasant alternative to the "lousy weather" the UK has been experiencing this summer.

This comes after a study by Cater Allen Private Bank revealed that nearly two-thirds of Britons would like to visit a long-haul destination.

Dubai Airports Phase Operations At T3 From Oct 15

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dubai Airports has announced that a phased transition of operations to Dubai International's new Terminal 3 will start from October 14, 2008...

Jet to sign code-sharing agreement with Emirates

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

India's Jet Airways, which is starting flights from Dubai to New Delhi and Mumbai this month, said it will have a code-sharing agreement with Emirates as the two carriers seek to benefit from the growing traffic on the UAE-India sector...

Dubai Metro control system on track

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Senior Rail Agency officials visited Canada to witness the testing of an automatic train control (ATC) system that will be used for the Dubai Metro...

Dubai airport sees record travellers

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) has recorded the highest number of travellers entering and leaving the country via Dubai International Airport, which reached 76,863 on August 15, just 18 days after implementing the new visa rules...

Britons look beyond Europe

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Holidaymakers from the UK are becoming increasingly keen to leave Europe behind, it has been revealed.

According to a study by Cater Allen Private Bank, 63 per cent of Britons want to visit a long-haul destination.

The survey identified a number of reasons for this, such as the desire to escape the crowds and explore somewhere off the beaten track.

In addition, some respondents said they wanted to sample a different culture and enjoy an adventure in a new location.

However, some admitted to wanting the bragging rights of having been the first person in their peer group to visit a certain location.

Commenting on the findings, Sally Ann Watts of Cater Allen said: "Britons are moving away from traditional holidays and becoming aspirational in their holiday choices."

The desire to travel outside Europe could also be related to the current economic climate, as the pound recently slumped to an all-time low against the euro, which has led to holidays in places such as Italy becoming more expensive.

Luxury travel market remains strong

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Affluent leisure travellers are continuing to take luxury holidays, as they are well-insulated against the current economic downturn.

According to Luxury Travel Magazine, people with lots of disposable income are not being negatively affected by the credit crunch.

Therefore, wealthy holidaymakers are continuing to take breaks in popular hotspots such as the United Arab Emirates.

Sharon Livingston, editor of Travel Magazine, said Dubai in particular is proving to be very popular with foreign visitors.

This, she stated, is leading to neighbouring regions following suit and aiming to attract more visitors.

Ms Livingston commented: "The world is a big place and places have been opening up more."

She added that areas such as the Middle East have become "playgrounds" for people with lots of disposable income.

The United Arab Emirates was recently highlighted as one of the best destinations for expatriates to live.

According to research by HSBC, the country offers a number of suitable attractions for foreign nationals, such as good living standards and high salaries.

Etihad Launches 'Unaccompanied Baggage' Service

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Etihad Airways has started a new service to allow its customers to send heavy or excess quantities of baggage before they fly.The 'unaccompanied baggage' service is for luggage which exceeds approved allowances to be sent separately to avoid excess baggage fees...

UAE: Testing of Palm Jumeirah trains to begin in October

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Testing of the trains that will run on The Palm Jumeirah's monorail system will begin in October, Nakheel announced yesterday.The mass-transit service will operate from Gateway Station at the base of the manmade island to the Atlantis hotel. Passenger services are due to start next April but before that the trains and track will undergo stringent tests overseen by international...

Srilankan Appoints New Country Head For UAE

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

SriLankan Airlines announced the appointment of Shiran A. Perera as the Country Manager for the UAE...

Emirates Airline May Build Galleys

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dubai's international airline, Emirates, may decide to go in for downstream production activity such as manufacturing of some interior structures of the aeroplanes that comprise its fleet, according to a top airline official...

Palm Monorail to Start from April 1, 2009

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The monorail on The Palm Jumeirah will start operations on April 1, 2009, Nakheel's director of investments told Emirates Business yesterday...

Dubai company puts 400 more taxis into service

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cars Taxi, a franchise taxi company of the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) Taxi Agency has recently added 400 more taxis into its existing fleet, the Roads and Transport Authority said yesterday...

Middle East and Asia air cargo traffic growth slows

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The rate of growth of air cargo traffic in the Middle East and Asia is slowing but expansion remains the dominant feature on a world trading map that is tilting decidedly towards the regions...

Middle East records fall in passenger traffic

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Middle East airlines recorded a 9.6 per cent drop in passenger traffic in June 2008 compared to a 12.8 per cent drop regional airlines witnessed in their traffic in May this year, according to International Air Transport Association, or IATA...

Dubai RTA: 400 New Vehicles to Beef up Taxi Fleet

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Roads & Transport Authority in Dubai announced that CARS Taxi Co., which is operating under the umbrella of RTA Dubai Taxi Agency, has recently added 400 new modern vehicles to beef up taxi fleet in Dubai...

Dubai World Security signs MoU with Bluesail LLC

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dubai World Security (DWS), the security solutions arm of Dubai World, announced the signing of a MoU with Bluesail LLC, the Middle East's leading maritime training company based in Dubai, to provide training to the DWS Marine Division...

Gulf Airlines Defy Global Troubles

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Strong passenger traffic and higher yields will help the Gulf airlines to defy the downward global trend in the aviation industry suffering from high oil prices that are eating into profits and in some cases forcing bankruptcies in the more mature markets...

Emirates explores more flights to US cities

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Emirates made history when its Airbus A380 landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport on its maiden flight at approximately 4:35pm on August 1, with the company's president, Tim Clark, on the inaugural flight...

Demand for Dubai's marine transport to rise

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With more offshore infrastructural developments in Dubai reaching their final stages of completion, marine transport in the emirate is set to become a popular mode of transport...

Azizi Investments confirms Mina Rashid land purchase

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Azizi Investments, the Dubai based multi national property developer, has confirmed the purchase of over 667,000 square feet of land at Mina Rashid, the redevelopment of the old Port Rashid that is being master planned by Nakheel...

Exotic holiday destinations enhance a persons image-020808

Sat, 2 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Many British consumers are booking trips to exotic destinations overseas because they believe it will improve their public image.

According to private bank Cater Allen, 46 per cent of holidaymakers from the UK think the place they visit reflects on them as a person.

This was said to account for why destinations favoured by celebrities are proving to be particularly popular with leisure travellers.

The United Arab Emirates was flagged up as one major hotspot for those who want to follow in the footsteps of well-known people.

Brazil and the south of France were also identified as very popular locations, even though they can cost more than other holiday destinations.

However, many British people were found to be very willing to splash out on expensive trips abroad, particularly those in south-east England.

Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates was highlighted as one of the best destinations for expatriates to live.

According to research by HSBC, the country offers a number of suitable attractions for foreign nationals, such as good living standards and high salaries.

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