Flydubai is resuming flights to the Maldives from next month.
The low-cost airline will commence its Dubai to Male route from October 29. It will operate four times per week to the Maldivian capital, with economy and business-class fares available.
A one-way flight will take a little over four hours and tickets in economy cost from Dh1,595. Outbound flights will depart Dubai on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10.35am. Return flights will leave Velana International Airport in Male at 11.30pm (local time).
Flydubai first flew from Dubai to the Maldives in 2013. It operated the service again in 2018. The airline said popular demand among travellers is its reason for reinstating the route this year.
A rising demand for travel
"We continue to see signs of recovery as more countries start to lift restrictions on international travel. Working together, all the stakeholders in the travel industry have a role to play to safeguard travel in this new environment, enabling more people to travel confidently," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive of Flydubai.
"We remain agile in our operations and committed to gradually adding more flights to further support the flow of trade and tourism around the region as we look ahead to this new way of travel in the months to come."
Tourists welcome
The Maldives began to welcome tourists back earlier this year. It is one of the few destinations in the world that is open to travellers of any nationality. Initially, the archipelago opened without the need for holidaymakers to obtain negative Covid-19 tests, but this has now been updated. All tourists to the Maldives must present a negative PCR test on arrival at Velana International Airport.
The test must have been taken in the past 72 hours.
All of the 156 resort islands in the Maldives are also taking protective measures to help shield travellers from the virus.
With the addition of these flights, Flydubai is now operating to 40 destinations across Africa, Central Asia, Europe, the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East.
This month, Flydubai announced it was giving all passengers free Covid-19 medical cover when taking a Flydubai flight between now and Monday, November 30. The airline has also implemented several in-flight safety measures to help keep passengers safe when flying.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
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Price: From Dh650,000
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
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Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
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Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months