Travellers seeking new destinations can add Madagascar to the mix after Emirates announced that it will fly to the African island from September.
In Saudi Arabia, tourism is booming and there's an exciting new coastal destination being developed in Neom, while National Geographic Expeditions has unveiled new adventures for next year.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Emirates expands Indian Ocean network with Madagascar flights
Ring-tailed lemurs, rainforests, chameleons, waterfalls and more, the wonderful world of Madagascar will soon be within easier reach after the announcement from Emirates that it is launching flights to the Indian Ocean island country.
The airline's new route between Dubai and Antananarivo, via the Seychelles, will operate four times a week from September 3.
Boeing 777 jets will offer first class, business class and economy cabins and the Seychelles stop means travellers can combine two holidays into one.
“Madagascar has historically been underserved, despite growing appetite from travellers for authentic eco-tourism experiences,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer.
He added that the new service will “boost Madagascar’s connectivity” and “open new international business opportunities”.
Flights will depart Dubai just before 9am, landing in Mahe at 1.35pm. After a pause of around 90 minutes, where travellers remain on board, flights will continue to Antananarivo, with a flying time of 2 hours 45 minutes. The return service departs Madagascar at 6.35pm, landing in Mahe at 10.20pm and leaving again for Dubai just before midnight.
The world's fourth-largest island offers incredible biodiversity, with 5 per cent of the planet’s plant and animal species only found on this island.
From untouched beaches and limestone plateaus to sprawling national parks and Unesco World Heritage sites, Madagascar offers plenty of natural wonders. Home to many of the world's endangered animal species, the destination embraces eco-tourism, and aims to attract travellers with a similar mindset.
Neom's Magna to open as a coastal destination on the Gulf of Aqaba
Neom has revealed plans for its newest luxury lifestyle coastal destination. Magna will be located on the Gulf of Aqaba, spanning 120km and combining 12 luxury districts.
Part of the futuristic city's sustainable tourism portfolio, the destination will combine 12 previously announced projects. That includes Treyam, which is set to have the world's longest infinity swimming pool; Utamo, an immersive event space cocooned in a mountain with a 64-metre-tall entrance; and Aquellum, which will be home to the world's first floating marina.
Part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plans, Magna will be a tourism destination that has sustainability as a key focus. With plans for 15 luxury hotels with 1,600 keys, Magna is expected to welcome 300,000 annual visitors.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, chief executive at Neom, describes Magna as “a treasure of tomorrow, steeped in natural beauty and advanced technology” and says it will “contribute positively to national economic diversification efforts and the broader Saudi Vision 2030 goals”.
An opening date has yet to be announced, but Magna is the latest addition to the evolving megaprojects in the north-west of Saudi Arabia. It will join the likes of The Line and Trojena, the Middle East's first winter sports mountain destination.
National Geographic expands adventures to Sri Lanka, Portugal and Australia
National Geographic Expeditions is adding three new itineraries to its collection of travel packages next year. Designed to bring tourists closer to nature, the holidays include adventures in Portugal and the Azores, Sri Lanka and Australia.
“We are thrilled to introduce travellers to three new and exciting itineraries,” said Nancy Schumacher, senior vice president and general manager of National Geographic Expeditions. “These immersive experiences will provide our guests with special access as we tour breathtaking landscapes and observe wildlife while also learning from experts and naturalists.”
In Sri Lanka, travellers can join an 11-day exploration across the teardrop island that takes in six Unesco World Heritage sites, wildlife observations and ocean experiences. There will also be a visit to Oceanswell, a National Geographic-supported foundation established by Asha de Vos, a Sri Lankan marine biologist and ocean educator.
Portugal and the Azores can be discovered on a 10-day trip that includes tasting traditional cuisine influenced by the spice trade, touring Porto on an electric tuk-tuk and kayaking along the Unesco-listed Douro Valley.
In Australia, meanwhile, travellers can spend 11 days exploring the Great Barrier Reef and viewing marine life from an underwater observatory; meeting conservation experts and seeing protected indigenous wildlife like fairy penguins; as well as trekking with aboriginal guides through the Daintree Rainforest.
Tourism is booming in Saudi Arabia, global report finds
Saudi Arabia is celebrating a record year for tourism, according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council.
In addition to record GDP contributions and jobs in the sector, the kingdom also enjoyed record visitor spending last year.
The report said Saudi Arabia's travel and tourism industry grew by 32 per cent and represented 11.5 per cent of the economy.
Seven years ahead of its target, the kingdom welcomed 100 million tourists last year. The report said international visitor spending surged by almost 57 per cent to reach 227.4 billion Saudi riyals ($60 billion), breaking the previous record by 93.6 billion Saudi riyals.
The council found that domestic tourism spending was also up, rising 21.5 per cent compared to the previous year. The report states that working in tourism is becoming increasingly common, with the sector now accounting for almost one in every five jobs.
“Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector's extraordinary achievements last year mark a pivotal moment in its journey towards becoming a global tourism leader,” said Julia Simpson, chief executive and president of the council.
According to the report, the tourism industry will account for almost 16 per cent of the country's economy by 2034.
More on Quran memorisation:
Results
Stage three:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-43
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
4. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
5. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
6. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) UAE-Team Emirates, at 24s
General Classification:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-13-02
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin Fenix, at 12s
4. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
6. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Oppenheimer
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Read more about the coronavirus
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
