Five years ago, Eric Li, the Middle East and Africa manager for a Beijing travel company, would send just a few hundred Chinese tourists annually to the UAE. Now he helps organise trips to the Emirates for more than 5,000 a year.
"Before, they didn't know where Dubai and the UAE was. But now the people know where the UAE is, and they want to go," said Mr Li, who works for Beijing Jin Jiang International Travel Company. "It's countrywide. They're coming from all over China, from every province we've sent groups."
There are plenty of figures to back up Mr Li's assertion that the Emirates is increasingly popular with Chinese tourists.
Last year, about 152,000 Chinese visitors stayed in Dubai's hotels, and the emirate's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) recently predicted the figure for this year would be more than 50 per cent higher.
As delegates at a recent DTCM forum in Beijing were told, Dubai is a "hot" destination, and not just in terms of the weather.
Numbers have taken off since September 2009 when the UAE gained "approved destination status" from the Chinese authorities, making it easier for tour companies to advertise the country as a destination, and easing procedures for securing visas.
Another major attraction of the UAE, says Ivy Gao, a senior representative at the DTCM's Beijing office, are the direct flights from China, with five airlines connecting the Chinese capital and Dubai.
That the flying time is a modest eight hours makes the UAE ideal for the Chinese, who typically are unable to take the two-week holidays enjoyed by many Western travellers. They get a week or so off at the Chinese New Year around the beginning of February, and about a week in October. A five-day, four-night stay in the Emirates fits in better with this than a long-haul visit to Europe.
Trips are also affordable, says Mr Li.
Typically, a five-day, four-night trip, including flights, hotel, visa, Dubai city tour and a guide costs between 7,000 yuan (Dh3,953) and 13,000 yuan. Chinese travellers are typically "middle-level" white-collar workers such as nurses, doctors, lecturers and businessmen, Mr Li says.
"The people … they want to see how it is changing, what the Arab world is like," he says.
Usually, Chinese visitors come to the Emirates in groups of between 20 and 30 with a guide, which is important as most of the travellers speak neither English nor Arabic.
Day trips to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are often included, as is a visit to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Many visitors like to spend at least one night in the Burj Al Arab.
"Sometimes they spend a lot of time in their hotels. They just relax, such as at the Jumeirah series of hotels," Mr Li says.
The many shopping malls also make the UAE a particular draw for Chinese tourists, says Zhang Hangqin, an associate professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
"[Chinese tourists] buy for their relatives, for their friends. It's a way of showing they've been there," she says. "Also, anything that represents a very different culture from [their own] becomes a place to visit. Australia was the first Western destination. It was very popular. Dubai also is very different from Chinese cultures."
A few years ago, says Ms Gao, Thailand and Singapore were popular with Chinese tourists. Some have "got tired" of these destinations, with Dubai a beneficiary.
The increasing popularity of the UAE among Chinese tourists is part of a wider trend for citizens from the world's most populous nation to travel abroad. Last year, according to China's national tourism administration (NTA), 57.4 million Chinese took trips abroad, a jump of 20.4 per cent on 2009. The NTA expects the figure to be about 84 million by 2015.
"My hotel has seen a threefold increase [in guests from China] in the months of May and June," says Habib Khan, the general manager of the Arabian Courtyard Hotel and Spa in Dubai. "The Chinese will come because of the low prices. Dubai has become so affordable."
Hoteliers say there was a surge in Chinese visitors in February during the Chinese New Year, when the Dubai Shopping Festival was also taking place.
"China is an important market," says Syed Zulfiqar Mehdi, the director of sales and marketing at the Samaya hotel, a luxury property in Deira.
The DTCM, which opened offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, is engaged in an intensive effort to attract many travellers from "second-tier" cities, as they are referred to in China. These places such as Xi'an, Jinan and Harbin have several million residents each, people whose disposable incomes have risen dramatically on the back of years of double-digit economic growth.
"The tourists in second-tier cities are richer, they can afford this destination, but they are short of knowledge about Dubai. The UAE is quite a new destination for them," Ms Gao says.
"They think they cannot afford it, but we tell them they can. They're surprised, and then they're eager to go."
In a dozen second-tier cities this year, DTCM is running seminars where travel agents receive training about Dubai and what it has to offer to help them better market the Emirates as a destination. The organisation ran similar events in 10 second-tier cities last year. These seminars also help UAE hotels and airlines strike promotional agreements with agents, reducing the cost of package trips.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which like the DTCM has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, has also held "destination workshops" for travel agents where the capital's many attractions are highlighted. Two years ago ADTA won an award for its marketing efforts from Travel Weekly China magazine.
The organisation said the emirate offered an "authentic" and "exotic" experience that appealed to Chinese cultural tourists, and with more Chinese travelling abroad, the numbers visiting the UAE capital were likely to increase.
"The market prospects are very impressive," the organisation said.
Prof Zhang also believes the UAE's share of China's ever-increasing tally of foreign tourists is likely to grow.
"As long as it's stable and safe, definitely [growth will continue]," she says. "It represents luxury and a good variety of different activities. With these I am confident there will be a lot of Chinese people going there."
business@thenational.ae
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lee%20Sang-yong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Don%20Lee%2C%20Lee%20Jun-hyuk%2C%20Munetaka%20Aoki%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3
Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
