Trips from the UAE to Jordan are set to get cheaper with the launch of new direct flights from Abu Dhabi to two Jordanian cities.
Low-cost airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is starting flights to Jordan’s capital Amman and to the coastal city of Aqaba in the south of the Hashemite kingdom. The budget airline will fly twice a week to Amman, a destination named the most welcoming in the world by travel experts at Lonely Planet.
Tourists can explore the city's thriving arts and culinary scenes, visit ancient monuments and take a trip to the nearby Dead Sea, only 30 kilometres from the capital.
Flights commence on April 30 and will depart Abu Dhabi every Tuesday and Saturday. One-way fares for the 3.5-hour flight are from Dh70.
The budget airline is also set to fly twice per week to the coastal gem of Aqaba, with flights starting on Thursday, April 28. Scheduled to depart the UAE on Sundays and Thursdays, the flight to the southern city is around 10 minutes shorter than the Amman flight, and fares are also from Dh70 for a one-way ticket.
The seaside city of Aqaba is packed with luxury resorts and sweeping beaches and is also where travellers can check out the country's largest water park.
Aqaba is located only 90 kilometres from the world-renowned historical sites at Petra, for those keen to see this Nabataean wonder.
Is Jordan open to tourists?
Having closed its borders to travellers earlier during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jordan is once again welcoming foreigners, regardless of vaccination status.
All visitors must have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before flying. A QR code is also required for travellers, which is issued after completing this online form.
On arrival in Jordan, travellers will need to take another PCR test which is at their own expense. This costs 20 Jordanian dinars ($28) and must be prepaid. Children under 5 are exempt from all testing requirements.
Non-Jordanian travellers must make sure they have valid travel insurance to fly to the country.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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