Dubai's airport and hotels had a windfall last monthas visitor numbers surged following a slowdown during the height of summer and Ramadan.
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An expansion of routes by airlines using Dubai International Airport helped push up passenger traffic by 6.2 per cent last month.
About 4.2 million passengers passed through the airport compared with 3.9 million during September last year.
"We have had a good year so far in terms of passenger traffic and with the Islamic pilgrimage of Haj just a few days away, we expect to see already robust passenger numbers surge over the coming weeks," said Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports.
The boost for Dubai hotels was partly driven by continued diverted tourist flows to the emirate amid unrest in other parts of the Middle East and was also helped by the earlier timing of Ramadan in August.
There was a 20.4 per cent increase last month in revenue per available room to US$135.10 (Dh496.20) compared with last year at hotels in Dubai, despite an increase in supply, according to data from STR Global, a research firm based in London.
"The number of rooms in Dubai has increased and the percentage of occupancy has increased," said Syed Zulfiqar Mehdi, the director of sales and marketing at City Seasons Hotel and Suites in Dubai.
"Due to the disturbance in Egypt, the GCC market has moved to Dubai. In September it was the Eid holidays, when a number of people were travelling from the GCC and the school holidays of Saudi Arabia and the GCC were extended."
Mr Medhi said business flows this month and next month were also positive.
"The weather is in favour. Now a lot of GCC travellers are moving to Dubai, especially given that Thailand has floods. From November 4 to 9 we're sold out for the Eid holidays. It's a very heathy sign that the peak season has started with good numbers." Major exhibitions next month, such as the Dubai Airshow, are also expected to help.
There has, however, been a slight dip in the number of European visitors this month, because of economic uncertainty, Mr Mehdi said.
"We were busy for the Eid period," said Wael El Behi, the executive assistant manager at Ramada Downtown. "The business started bouncing back from September onwards. The weather conditions are not that hot compared to August."
Hoteliers have also cited Dubai's relative affordability as a major factor in helping to drive visitors to the emirate from markets including India.
In the first nine months of the year, passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport has risen to 37.5 million, an increase of 7.8 per cent over the same period last year.
There was a decline in traffic on Middle Eastern routes, Dubai Airports reported.
But increased services to Russia and eastern Europe helped boost passenger traffic. The budget carrier flydubai's expansion into Russia in recent months has meant the market expanded by 33.9 per cent. Growth in traffic to Saudi Arabia helped the GCC market grow by 31.9 per cent. The eastern European market rose by 18.7 per cent, with North America increasing 17.6 per cent.
In preparation for a further rise in traffic for the Haj, the airport plans to deploy additional personnel and dedicated passport control counters to handle the movement of thousands of pilgrims travelling through the airport.
The only black spot was a drop in freight movement during the month. It handled 177,128 tonnes of freight last month, 5.5 per cent less than the 187,390 tonnes it handled during the same period last year.
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FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
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Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
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The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
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Torque: 985Nm
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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