With travel demand showing no signs of slowing this year, airlines in the UAE have been busy expanding their networks.
Ahead of the peak summer season, there’s a flurry of new easily reachable destinations for travellers to consider.
Whether you want to explore Portugal’s cosmopolitan capital Lisbon or take a budget flight to India’s Kolkata, here are 10 new flight routes on the horizon.
1. Abu Dhabi to Lisbon with Etihad Airways
The national airline of the UAE will begin flying direct to Lisbon this summer. From July 2, Etihad Airways will operate three flights per week to the Portuguese capital on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays.
As one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, the coastal city is a fantastic spot for those seeking culture, culinary delights and lively nightlife.
2. Dubai to Tokyo-Haneda with Emirates
From April 2, travellers flying to Japan will have another option for getting there as Emirates adds more flights to the country’s bustling capital. The Dubai airline is launching direct daily flights to Tokyo-Haneda for the first time since before the global pandemic.
Operated via the airline's new fleet of Boeing 777s, premium passengers will be able to fly in Emirates’ much-celebrated first-class suites.
While the airline already flies to Tokyo-Narita, travellers can opt to fly into Haneda, which has closer proximity to central Tokyo, as well as the option of much more domestic connection to destinations across Japan.
3. Abu Dhabi to Copenhagen with Etihad Airways
If Denmark is calling, keep an eye on Etihad’s winter schedule. The Abu Dhabi airline is launching flights to Copenhagen for the first time in October.
It will operate four weekly flights to the Danish capital, one of Scandinavia’s most popular tourist destinations that is famous for its colourful canals, cosmopolitan cafe culture and unique attractions.
Flights will operate via Etihad’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with 28 seats in business class and 262 in economy.
4. Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf with Etihad Airways
While Etihad previously operated to Germany’s Dusseldorf, flights to the city were suspended owing to Covid-19. However, they are set to restart in October.
From Abu Dhabi, there will be three weekly flights direct to Dusseldorf, Etihad’s third destination in Germany after Frankfurt and Munich. Lying on the banks of the Rhine River, the city is famed for its arts and music scene, as well as being renowned as the fashion capital of Germany.
5. Abu Dhabi to Kolkata with Air Arabia and Etihad Airways
Travellers intent on flying to Kolkata this year will be spoiled for choice, with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways both launching routes to India’s third-largest city.
Famed for its temples, theatres and colonial architecture, Kolkata will be served by low-cost airline Air Arabia Abu Dhabi from March 15. The airline will operate three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with one-way fares starting from Dh499.
And the UAE’s national airline is resuming direct daily flights to Kolkata, with services launching on March 26. Return fares with Etihad start from Dh1,145.
6. Dubai to Shymkent, Kazkahstan, with flydubai
Low-cost airline flydubai is resuming services to Shymkent in Kazakhstan for the first time since Covid-19.
Travellers heading to the vibrant traders' town can fly twice weekly from Dubai starting from February 28. Flight time is less than four hours to the central Asian city, which features buzzing bazaars, ancient architecture and natural scenery. Visit in spring to see wild tulips blanket the region. Shymkent is flydubai’s third destination in Kazakhstan.
7. Sharjah to Kuala Lumpur with Air Arabia
Air Arabia is resuming direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from March 20. The low-cost airline will operate three flights per week from Sharjah International Airport to the Malaysian capital next month. This will further increase to daily flights from June.
Kuala Lumpur, the largest city in Malaysia, is known for its numerous landmarks, beautiful beaches and Islamic architecture and is a hub of culture and modernity.
8. Dubai to Mogadishu with flydubai
Flydubai is launching flights to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. It’s the first time a UAE airline has operated in the African city and the route is expected to serve primarily transit and business passengers.
Daily services from Dubai will begin on March 8, with the frequency increasing to double daily flights in June.
Hamad Obaidalla, chief commercial officer at flydubai, said: “We continue to look for opportunities to grow our network in East Africa and open up underserved markets. This region has seen significant economic growth and development in recent years, our direct flights will further stimulate the economy and help create free flows of travel and trade.”
Mogadishu is flydubai’s 11th destination in Africa.
9. Dubai to Sardinia with flydubai
If summer in Italy appeals to you, flydubai’s new route to Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, could be just the ticket. Launching on June 22, just in time for peak travel season, flights will depart Dubai on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
It’s the first direct scheduled international connection operated in Sardinia, a place famed for its coastal drives, untouched beaches and rock formations. And Cagliaria is the most Italian-style city on the island, making it the perfect place to start any trip.
10. Dubai to Christchurch with Emirates
Having already announced it is ramping up operations to Australia, Emirates is also restarting flights to Christchurch, via Sydney.
The Dubai airline’s longest route will return for the first time since the pandemic on March 26, with flights departing first for Sydney and then taking off 1 hour and 45 minutes later for Christchurch, on New Zealand's south island.
Christchurch is popular among tourists as somewhere considered to be constantly evolving, with tourists able to see ever-changing street art, stay in funky hotels and explore a multitude of green spaces.
Ten destinations within five hours of the UAE - in pictures
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
THE%C2%A0SPECS
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THREE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
Sour%20Grapes
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Company%20Profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
