Travel - Gulf Insider

1 week ago

Sharjah Taxi Launches Family Electric Vehicle At Sharjah Airport

Sharjah Taxi has introduced a new family electric vehicle to its fleet at Sharjah Airport. This initiative forms part of its broader strategy to enhance passenger experience, promote sustainable public transport, and offer environmentally friendly transport solutions. Khalid Al Kindi, General Manager – Sharjah Taxi, stated: “This initiative is part of Sharjah Taxi’s ongoing efforts to modernise its fleet with new and contemporary vehicles that meet the needs and demands of its passengers. The addition of a family vehicle will enhance public transport services and contribute to offering innovative and eco-friendly transportation solutions, reflecting our commitment to implementing environmental sustainability concepts, reducing pollution, and realising Sharjah’s vision of a greener and more sustainable city.” Al Kindi added: “At Sharjah Taxi, we always strive to provide high-quality services and enhance the transportation experience for our customers. We are committed to offering transportation options that meet their needs, providing maximum comfort for families and passengers seeking spacious vehicles that combine comfort with sustainability.” The new family electric vehicle, a Yaxing Wertstar YBL 6590 that accommodates 11 passengers, makes it an ideal choice for families and travelers. Key features of this vehicle include spacious seats, additional luggage storage space, an efficient air conditioning […]

1 week ago

Dubai’s Emirates Announces Fourth Daily Flight To Johannesburg From March 2025

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has announced plans to introduce a fourth daily flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, starting March 1, 2025. This addition follows the recent launch of a second daily A380 service between Dubai and Johannesburg on 1 September. The new service, operated on a three-class Boeing 777-300ER, will increase Emirates’ capacity by 708 seats daily. Emirates strengthens travel ties Flight EK767 will depart Dubai at 00:10, arriving in Johannesburg at 06:20. The return flight, EK768, will leave Johannesburg at 10:15, landing in Dubai at 20:15. Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “South Africa has long been a highly popular destination for both leisure and business travellers connecting to and through Dubai, and the fourth daily flight enables us to better serve the growing demand for travel to and from the market. We’d like to extend our thanks to the South African authorities for their partnership and support in securing this new service, which reinstates the capacity we offered South Africa pre-pandemic, with 49 weekly flights, across three gateways. “As we reflect on nearly three decades of operations to the market, we remain committed to driving inbound travel to South Africa, supporting the […]

1 week ago

Qatar Extends Special Offers For GCC Travellers

Qatar has extended its offering of special deals for GCC residents as it looks to attract tourists and travellers from across the region. Visit Qatar invites GCC residents to experience a suite of exclusive offers designed to enhance their stay in Qatar. The newly launched “Visit Qatar Pass” offers GCC visitors the opportunity to explore Qatar’s diverse attractions with exclusive benefits. Qatar tourism offers Now extended until September 30, 2024, the pass provides 30 to 50 per cent discounts across various categories, including: Available for free through the Visit Qatar mobile app, the Pass requires only a simple email registration. Travellers can redeem offers on the Visit Qatar Pass in advance or directly at participating venues, ensuring a seamless and flexible experience. In addition, Visit Qatar is launching a Buy-One-Get-One-Free campaign throughout September available exclusively on the Visit Qatar Pass. This limited-time offer allows visitors to enjoy buy-one-get-one-free deals on a variety of experiences, including hotel stays, ticketed attractions, dining, and more In partnership with Qatar Tourism, Katara Hospitality, a leading global hotel owner, developer, and operator based in Qatar, is offering exceptional deals across its 14 distinguished properties. Available exclusively on the Visit Qatar Pass, visitors can benefit from special […]

1 week ago

Saudi Arabia Leads G20 Tourism Growth With 73% Increase in International Visitors

Saudi Arabia has once again registered the highest growth in international tourism figures, in the first seven months of this year, among the G20 countries, according to the latest data from the United Nations Tourism Organisation. Compared to the same period in 2019, the Kingdom recorded a remarkable 73 per cent increase in the number of international tourists and a 207 per cent growth of international tourism revenues, the organisation’s September 2024 World Tourism Barometer report shows. Saudi Arabia welcomed around 17.5m international tourists during this period, which points to a significant increase in its global tourism appeal. Saudi tourism growth In 2023, the Kingdom had 27.4m visitors, registering a 56 per cent growth in the number of international tourists compared to 2019. This positioned Saudi Arabia at the top of the UN list recording tourism growth among major tourist destinations in 2023. Moreover, the travel item’s surplus recorded a historic SR48bn ($12.8bn) in 2023, reflecting a 38 per cent year-on-year increase. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its 2024 Article IV Consultation report issued in September, commended the unprecedented achievements of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, as part of Saudi Vision 2030. IMF particularly noted the sector’s role in the drive to […]

1 week ago

UAE Airlines Clarify Rules on Pagers, Walkie-Talkies for Lebanon Flights After Beirut Ban

UAE airlines are operating their flights to Lebanon as scheduled, and are monitoring the tensed situation which has escalated between Israel and Hezbollah. UAE carriers clarified that they would follow the instructions issued by the authorities of the respective countries with regards to carrying pagers and walkie-talkies. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways issued a statement saying, “Etihad Airways is currently operating its normal flight schedule to and from Beirut. We monitor all global security situations minute by minute. Safety is always our highest priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.” A flydubai spokesperson also said the carrier “follows all directives issued by the local authorities”. Earlier this week, hand-held radios that were carried by Hezbollah members exploded, resulting in death and injuries of multiple people. The blasts have caused international concerns about how devices can be manipulated to harm the public. On September 19, travellers flying to and from Lebanon’s Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport were prohibited from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on flights following the mass attack on Hezbollah’s communication devices this week. In light of the attack, Qatar Airways also announced a ban on carrying pagers and walkie-talkies onboard Lebanon flights. “Following the directive received from the Directorate General […]

1 week ago

UAE: Etihad Flight Delayed Due to Routine Checks After ‘Suspected Bird Strike’

An Etihad Airways flight (EY146) from Geneva to Abu Dhabi, originally scheduled to depart on 10.40am on September 22, has been delayed due to routine checks. These checks come after a “suspected bird strike” according to an update from the airline. The airline apologised for the disruption and said that teams are “doing their best” to help passengers. Etihad advised customers to make sure their contact details are up-to-date to ensure they receive the latest flight information. Passengers can visit the official website to check their contact information. For queries, customers can contact the airline through phone, social media, or live chat. Bird strikes are not an isolated phenomenon, and is more common than flyers may think. These generally occur at lower altitudes and in the day due to the greater number of birds during daylight and at lower heights. Earlier this month, an Etihad flight from Colombo to Abu Dhabi returned to the Sri Lankan destination after a bird strike. After inspection, the same aircraft later took off from Colombo with all the passengers and landed in Abu Dhabi, following a nearly 5-hour delay, the airline earlier confirmed to Khaleej Times. On May 20, an Emirates Dubai-Mumbai aircraft hit a flock of […]

2 weeks ago

Bahrain Fully Digitises 15 Traffic Services, Boosting National Digital Transformation

Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa, Director-General of Traffic, announced the successful development and 100% digitalisation of 15 traffic services. These efforts are part of the broader national drive to enhance digital transformation under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s comprehensive development process and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to enhance 500 services across 24 government entities. The move came as a result of the collaboration with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) and under the supervision of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology, chaired by Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The digitalisation of these services aims to simplify procedures, reduce paperwork, and ensure seamless service delivery across all electronic platforms. The newly digitalised services include the annual renewal of vehicle registration certificates for government authorities and GCC citizens, as well as the ability to view and pay traffic fines for government and Gulf vehicles using the fine or ID number. Other services include the issuance of driving learning licences for various vehicle categories private cars, motorcycles, trucks, and public and private transport vehicles along with the booking of […]

2 weeks ago

Bahrain’s Ports, Airport And King Fahd Causeway Welcome Over 3 Million Travelers In July

The Kingdom of Bahrain saw a significant influx of travelers in July, with over 3.3 million people passing through its various entry points. This figure includes travelers entering and exiting the country via Bahrain International Airport, the King Fahd Causeway, and Bahrain’s seaports. The busiest entry point was the King Fahd Causeway, connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. In July, 1,407,970 passengers entered Bahrain through the causeway, while 1,427,189 travelers left Bahrain through the causeway. Bahrain International Airport followed closely, with 223,784 passengers arriving in Bahrain and 247,564 travelers departing from Bahrain. The country’s seaports saw 1,856 passengers entering Bahrain and 1,892 travelers departing from Bahrain. In June, a total of 3,378,007 travelers passed through Bahrain’s entry points. The King Fahd Causeway recorded 1,431,932 arrivals and 1,455,995 departures. At Bahrain International Airport, 213,032 passengers arrived and 273,466 departed. Additionally, the country’s seaports welcomed 1,912 passengers and saw 1,670 travelers depart. These figures highlight the growing popularity of Bahrain as a destination for both business and leisure travelers. The country’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and diverse attractions continue to draw visitors from around the globe.

2 weeks ago

Kuwait: School Buses Equipped With Tracking Services For Female Students

As the new academic year 2024-2025 begins, the Ministry of Education has announced the launch of school bus services for female students attending middle and secondary schools across all educational regions. The Ministry confirmed that all school buses are equipped with tracking services and that bus traffic is monitored by relevant departments within the educational districts and the Ministry’s General Office to ensure student safety. Female students interested in utilizing this service can register through their respective school administrations. The Ministry has allocated a total of 1,996 buses across various educational districts: 100 buses for the Capital Educational District, 100 buses for the Hawalli Educational District, 155 buses for the Farwaniya Educational District, 86 buses for the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational District, 360 buses for the Ahmadi Educational District, 130 buses for the Jahra Educational District, 125 buses for religious education institutes, 200 buses with standard specifications for the Special Education Department, 40 buses for the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Talent and Creativity, and 20 buses for scholarship students.

2 weeks ago

Etihad Announces 20% Sale On India Flights To Mark Anniversary

Etihad Airways is celebrating 20 years of flying to India with a flash sale on flights to and from the UAE. Etihad launched flights to the commercial capital of India, Mumbai, on September 26, 2004, quickly followed by New Delhi on December 1, 2004. Etihad’s network significantly expanded over the subsequent decades, and following the addition of flights to Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Jaipur earlier this year, Etihad now flies to 11 gateways in India. Etihad India flights sale Etihad has also expanded seat capacity between Abu Dhabi and India this year with additional flight frequencies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Etihad is now operating more than 50 extra flights per week to India, compared to last summer, providing more convenient departure timings and therefore more flexibility with onward connections. Celebrating the milestone, Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “India is a strategically important market for Etihad and we’re extremely proud to be celebrating 20 years of flying to this incredible country. “When the young and ambitious Etihad launched flights to Mumbai in 2004, it was Etihad’s eighth global destination and since then we’ve expanded to 80 destinations with a vision to offer 125 destinations by 2030.” To celebrate […]

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Sharjah Taxi Launches Family Electric Vehicle At Sharjah Airport

Dubai’s Emirates Announces Fourth Daily Flight To Johannesburg From March 2025

Qatar Extends Special Offers For GCC Travellers

Saudi Arabia Leads G20 Tourism Growth With 73% Increase in International Visitors

UAE Airlines Clarify Rules on Pagers, Walkie-Talkies for Lebanon Flights After Beirut Ban

UAE: Etihad Flight Delayed Due to Routine Checks After ‘Suspected Bird Strike’

Bahrain Fully Digitises 15 Traffic Services, Boosting National Digital Transformation

Bahrain’s Ports, Airport And King Fahd Causeway Welcome Over 3 Million Travelers In July

Kuwait: School Buses Equipped With Tracking Services For Female Students

Etihad Announces 20% Sale On India Flights To Mark Anniversary

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