UAE authority exempts citizens of Iran from visa overstay fines
Travel & Hospitality
Aviation
Riyadh Air announces Blacklane chauffer service for passengers in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh Air and Blacklane team up to offer chauffer service for Business Elite and Business Class passengers
Air Arabia
UAE airline flight suspension update: Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Emirates travel latest
The latest updates on UAE flight suspensions and cancellations from Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Emirates
Eagle Hills
Abu Dhabi’s Eagle Hills to join $215m renovation of iconic Venice hotel
Abu Dhabi real estate and hospitality company Eagle Hills to invest in major renovation of historic and iconic hotel in Venice, Italy
Air Arabia
UAE airline flight cancellations extended: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia announce MORE suspensions
Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia announce further suspensions and cancellations of flights to and from UAE
GCC airlines
GCC flights cancelled: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman announce suspensions amid rising tensions
Airlines and airports in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman suspended some flights to and from UAE
Global Village
Dubai’s Global Village opens vendor applications for Season 30 as visitor numbers hit 10.5m
Global Village Dubai opens vendor applications for Season 30, inviting proposals for restaurants, coffee shops, and open market concepts
Air Arabia
UAE airlines cancel flights: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia announce suspensions amid rising tensions
Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia announce some suspended flights to and from UAE
Dubai Safari
Dubai Safari Park reports roaring success as visitor numbers up 16%
Dubai Safari Park ends its most successful season with record attendance, rare animal births and major conservation breakthroughs
airport baggage
Middle East airports outperform as airlines face $5bn baggage challenge
Airlines lost $5bn to mishandled baggage in 2024, but the Middle East reported one of the world’s lowest rates, thanks to smart tech, automation, and real-time tracking
Department of Economy and Tourism
Dubai welcomes 7.15m visitors in first 4 months of 2025 as tourism sector powers ahead
Dubai welcomed 7.15 million visitors in the first four months of 2025, as revealed at the DET City Briefing. Key tourism updates include record growth, new campaigns, Dubai Summer Surprises, and the expanded MICHELIN Guide
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi hotels generate $166m in March 2025
Abu Dhabi’s hotel sector earned $166m in March 2025, driven by rising international arrivals and strong occupancy
Armenia
Armenia announces visa-free travel for citizens and residents of UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain
Armenia welcomes tourism and business with visa-free travel for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain
Dubai International Airport
Eid Al Adha in Dubai saw 630,000 travellers pass through ports
Dubai International Airport and Hatta busiest borders during Eid Al Adha
Kuwait
Kuwait announces mandatory exit permits for expats from July 1
New Kuwait expat rules require workers to submit exit requests to employers
Oman
Oman hotel revenue hits $284m as visitor numbers up 8.6%
Oman is attracting more tourists from around the world, leading to a spike in 3 to 5-star hotel revenue
live sporting events
UAE residents plan holidays around sporting events, Hyatt survey finds
Events like Formula 1 and football fixtures have driven occupancy levels across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the report said