Emirates Spent Dhs20bn On Marketing In Last 20 Years – Official

The airline has allocated up to three per cent of its revenue on marketing and promotion, says senior executive.

Saudi Arabia Mulls Lifting Visa Restrictions

Saudi tourism president says the Kingdom will consider changing its policies as systems, airports and the country’s security network improves.

Dubai’s Economy To Grow Around 5% In 2014, Same As 2013

Dubai accounts for a quarter of output of the UAE’s economy.

Gulf Arabs Free Fuel For Egypt Reaches $6bn In Value

The aid helps reduce the heavy costs of government fuel subsidies and the drain on foreign exchange reserves.

Qatar Airways CEO Says Company Fully Government Owned

Qatar’s sovereign fund bought a 50 per cent stake from Qatar’s former prime minister and other shareholders last year.

Damac Launches Second Hotel Apartments Operator

Naia will manage 3,000 serviced apartments

Qatar Airways To Launch Al Maha Airways In KSA In November

CEO Akbar Al Baker said it will operate eight A320s in the Kingdom.

Emirates And IHG Big Winners At Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2014

Dubai International Airport and the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai voted best for business travelers in the Middle East

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Announces New Luxury Hotel In Kuwait City

Three properties in Kuwait, London and Edinburgh join the group’s new luxury collection

DAMAC Launches Sharia-Compliant Hotel Apartments

Constella is to be the first Hotel Apartments in Dubai to Receive Official Sharia-Certification

Whatsapp new privacy features

Facebook More Popular Than YouTube – Report

There are 1.3 times more people accessing Facebook on a monthly basis than on YouTube, says a study.

Al Hassan Engineering Wins $5.2m Al Ghurair Deal

The Omani contractor will construct phase two of the Al Ghurair plant expansion in Abu Dhabi’s ICAD – I Mussafah.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths

Exclusive: Transit Airlines Won’t Make Dubai World Central Move Until 2025

Airlines are expected to follow Emirates to DWC when growth requirements are met.

Dubai Investments Q1 Net Profit Jumps 26%

The firm also confirmed that it planned to sell off some assets.

Exclusive: Dubai To Build New Tourism Training Academy

The new entity is expected to begin operations within a couple of years, Dubai’s tourism chief confirms.

Etisalat To Sell West African Units To Maroc Telecom For $650m

The agreement is dependent on Etisalat’s acquisition of a 53 per cent stake in Maroc Telecom from Vivendi.

Wyndham Brings Garden Hotel Brand To Doha

The four star property will be Wyndham’s second in Doha, following the opening of the Wyndham Grand Regency in 2011.

Man Treated For Deadly MERS Virus In Indiana Improving

Health officials confirmed on Friday that the man had been diagnosed with the virus after traveling to Riyadh.

Etihad Says Is Buying Stakes In Europe To Compete, Not Control

Etihad currently has holdings in Air Berlin, Air Lingus and Air Serbia.

Rotana Announces 10 New Hotels In The Middle East

The expansion includes properties in Dubai, Iran and Sudan.

Egyptian Militants Claim Attacks Near Tourist Sites In Sinai

Militant attacks and other political violence have intensified since the army overthrew Mursi last July following mass protests against his rule.

Butlers On Board Etihad A380s

Etihad appears intent on pushing its first class into the luxury private jet space, targeting high-net-worth individuals across the globe.

IFA, Tijaria’s $50m JV To Develop Vacation Club

The $50 million joint venture would fill a current market gap, a company executive said.

Oman’s Sohar Oil Refinery Shut For Cooling Pipe Repair -Operator

The refinery has capacity to process around 116,000 barrels per day of Omani crude.

Egypt Is Safe For Arab Tourists, Says Tourism Minister

The Arab nation is looking towards the Gulf region to revive its slowing tourism sector

Oman 2013 Nominal Economic Growth Slowest Since 2009

The slowdown would underline the government’s main challenge of creating enough jobs for the country’s growing population of nationals.

Bahraini Shi’ite Youth Risk Radicalisation As Political Talks Stall

There are fears that a deadlock in political efforts to solve a three-year-old standoff is deepening frustration among young Shi’ites.

UN’s Ban Urges Climate Action Ahead Of New York Summit

Ban said both meetings would be “solution shops” for an urgent problem.

Accor Plots Middle East Hotel Push

The group plans to reach 100 hotels by 2017.

Hilton Opens First DoubleTree Hotel In Dubai

The 359 room property is Hilton’s fourth Doubletree on the Arabian Peninsula.