A luxury UAE travel service is launching to enable jet-setters to bring their pets on board.
Sky Nine in Dubai specialises in private jet charters for pet owners. Its inaugural flight, which will be on a Gulfstream GV, is set to fly between Farnborough, London, and Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, on October 14.
So far, the pet clientele includes two dachshunds, two French bulldogs, two golden retrievers and one desert mix, as well as two ragdoll cats. There are three seats still available to book, with the 16-seater flight able to accommodate up to 10 human passengers and their pets for safety and comfort reasons.
Dubai resident Sophie Armstrong, founder of Sky Nine, moved to the emirate with her family in 2002. Having owned dogs for most of her life, she says she understands the frustration that can unfold when wanting to take them along on holiday.
“We always found it stressful getting the crates out and worrying about how the animals would cope on the flight,” Armstrong tells The National. “We then discovered the – very expensive – option of chartering private jets on empty legs and clubbing together to try to fill them.
“So we found a community of like-minded pet parents and realised there was actually a huge demand from individuals looking to share a jet to travel alongside their pets. This is how Sky Nine was born, as a hub in Dubai, to help people travel with their pets.”
Tickets start at Dh36,546 ($9,950) and include one seat for an owner and one for either one pet weighing 23kg or two pets each weighing less than the combined 23kg. All pets will be able to travel in the cabin regardless of size. The price also includes the option of a 20kg bag as well as hand luggage. There will also be snacks and bar refreshments during the flight.
Ahead of the flight, Sky Nine will require human passports and pets' paperwork, but the company can also assist with the necessary documents for entry and exit for the animals at an additional fee, as most countries have specific requirements. They have teamed up with a pet relocation company to provide the service.
Despite the comparatively hefty price point, Armstrong says there is already a waiting list for the return leg of the flight in November.
Aside from their owners' company, pets will also benefit from a host of “special surprises” to make it a less stressful travel experience, says Armstrong. “We have areas for pets to relieve themselves on board,” she adds. “Dogs can make themselves at home on owners’ laps, or their own beds and blankets. The flight is for them and they are our favourite customers.
“Cats must remain in carriers but can be by your side at all times. Before the flight, there are grassy areas for pets to relieve themselves and meet their friends.”
Armstrong says this is a safer way to travel for brachycephalic (or snub-nosed) pets who have more difficulty breathing in enclosed crates and spaces, especially during hotter months.
“There is no queuing for customs or security; you depart and arrive at private terminals so you miss the crowds,” she adds. “It is a stress-free way to travel and have your pet by your side at all times. You save on boarding fees and bring them with you to enjoy the holidays, but can also share the cabin, not just the destination.”
The company has released the first leg of next year's schedule, with summer flights to Paris and Lisbon in June and August, based on customer demand.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
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Always use only regulated platforms
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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
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