Dubai Receives 5.58 Million Tourists In H1 2013

Visitor numbers from Saudi Arabia rose by 31.6 per cent during the first half of the year, said DTCM.

Jeddah Tourist Numbers Drop 75% During Ramadan

Officials attribute the low visitor numbers to lack of adequate tourism promotion.

What Can Dubai Learn From Shanghai’s Expo 2010?

With the Expo 2020 announcement looming, Gulf Business looks at how Shanghai’s mega event transformed the Chinese city. Can Dubai duplicate those effects?

Minor Hotel Group Buys 50% Stake In Per AQUUM

Partnership with Universal Enterprises Maldives will see more Per AQUUM hotels across Middle East, Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa.

Underwater Hotels – Unique Concept, But Are They Profitable?

Tea Ros, managing director at Strategic Hotel Consulting, examines the challenges developers face in underwater construction.

Fire Damages Qatari-Owned Historic Paris Hotel

The damage came as workers were putting final touches to a renovation by the owner, a brother of Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the former emir of Qatar.

QE2 To Become Luxury Hotel In Asia

Dubai World’s investment arm Istithmar bought the vessel from Cunard for $100 million back in 2007.

Dubai Plans New ‘Mini World Park’, Central Library

Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed has approved a host of new projects to be undertaken by the Dubai Municipality.

Emaar, Meraas Launch Affordable Hotel Brand, Dubai Inn

The new hotels will be located across the city, and aim to support Dubai’s goal of attracting 20 million visitors by 2020.

Burj Khalifa’s Online Profile Reaches New Heights

The towering Dubai landmark has become the first skyscraper globally to be mapped out by Google Streetview.

Kempinski Gears Up For ME Expansion

But work on its long-awaited Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai remains ongoing and it is unlikely to open until late 2015.

Saudi Not Calling All Tourists

The Kingdom has no immediate plans to open its doors completely to foreign travellers.

Dubai’s Ruler Confident Of Hosting The “Best”- Ever World Expo

The UAE is ready to host an unforgettable World Expo 2020, says Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Gulf Arab States Warn Against Travel To Lebanon

Sectarian violence fuelled by Syria’s civil war has broken out in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Sells $40m Mauritius Hotel Stake

The Saudi company sold its stake to Hawaii-based Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.

Dusit Residence And Suites Doha Opening Late 2013

High-rise property in West Bay will further stoke competition in the city’s hospitality sector

Abu Dhabi Fastest Growing City In ME, Africa

The MasterCard Cities Index report showed the UAE’s capital has a growth rate of 16.1 per cent in relation to visitor numbers.

Hotels Need More Online Video Content Says Google Travel Head

More users expect websites to feature videos as well as photos

Fairmont President: New Hotels For UAE And GCC

Hotels in Ajman, Fujairah and the delayed resort in Abu Dhabi will open alongside new projects in Riyadh and Amman.

High Land Prices ‘Threaten Dubai Hotel Pipeline’

Citymax COO says it would like to build up to five more Dubai hotels – if it wasn’t for the cost of land

UAE Ministry Issues Lebanon Travel Warning

Emirati citizens advised not to travel to the popular Arab country after a demonstration by pro-Assad Syrians in Sidon.

Saudi In No Rush To “Import Tourists”

The Kingdom is currently investing heavily in building tourism facilities for domestic visitors.

Qantas CEO: Five Times More Customers With Emirates Than BA

Alan Joyce says that no other two airlines in the world can do something as significant as the alliance of Qantas with Emirates.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Company Loss Widens Amid Property Weakness

TDIC made a net loss of Dhs2.17 billion in 2012 due to impairments and depreciation compared with a loss of 1.27 billion in the previous year.

Dubai’s Ruler Issues New Hotel Law

The new decree lays down regulations for the licensing and classifying of hotel establishments in Dubai.

Qatar Island Resort Targets Luxury Leisure Sector

The resort will be operated by Anantara Hotels & Resorts, which is opening a resort on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai in September.

Intercontinental Hotels Group Targets Long-Stay Guests

IHG will open its first Staybridge Suites in Beirut in July and a contract should be signed in Dubai “pretty soon”.

Thailand Woos Middle East Honeymooners

The Southeast Asian nation hopes to see a five per cent annual growth in Middle East travellers.

Best Western Dubai Deal ‘In A Couple Of Weeks’

Last year Best Western opened its first hotels in Oman, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Tourists Spend $4.7bn On Visa Cards In UAE

The UK continues to be the top source market to the UAE with British Visa cardholders spending $540.4 million in 2012.