Dubai is set for a winter tourism boom as hotel room rates rise and bookings surge in the lead up to the Cop28 global climate conference.
The crucial UN summit, which runs from November 30 to December 12, is expected to bring 70,000 visitors to the emirate from around the world.
The National spoke to hoteliers and industry experts who predict occupancy levels will go through the roof during the two weeks of an event that will garner worldwide attention.
Rooms in Dubai's hotels are already selling out fast, according to a leading expert, with the UAE's National Day also taking place on the conference's opening weekend (Saturday, December 2).
Room rates for the opening day of Cop28 will set you back as much as five times current prices at some hotels, The National found
“Cop28 combined with UAE National Day on Saturday, December 2, and along all other events taking place in Dubai during the at busy winter period, will ensure the city is absolutely buzzing with activity,” said Kostas Nikolaidis, account executive for the Middle East and Africa at hotel analytics provider STR.
“On the hotel demand side, almost 30 per cent of all hotel rooms are already booked for both the first few days of Cop28 as well as New Year’s Eve.
“Demand is expected to continue to build up as we get closer to both dates. Both dates will no doubt lead to exceptional performance for the hotel industry in Dubai.”
So far, the night with the most bookings is unsurprisingly Saturday, December 2, which is National Day. Almost one in three of all hotel rooms in Dubai have already been booked for that evening – according to data provided by STR's parent company CoStar.
About 32 per cent of all rooms are booked out already in Dubai for the first night of Cop28, which is Thursday, November 30.
That figure rises to 33 per cent the following night.
Expo's Rove hotel fully booked
“We are seeing lots of interest for the Cop28 period,” said Paul Bridger, chief operating officer of Rove Hotels.
“Rove Expo 2020, the only hotel inside the Cop28 site, is fully booked.
“Given that the event falls on a very busy period of the year, we expect to see all Rove Hotels in Dubai running at 100 per cent occupancy for the Cop28 dates, with the city overall near full capacity.”
A standard room at Rove Expo 2020, the hotel on site where Cop28 is taking place, costs in the region of Dh1,500 during the event, according to a staff member.
“With the current trends we are expecting the hotel to have occupancies in the range of 95 per cent,” said Thomas Kurian, hotel manager a Leva Hotels.
Group bookings in demand
The main drivers behind interest in Dubai hotel rooms during Cop28 are groups connected to governments taking part in the climate change conference, according to Mr Bridger.
“Most queries come from groups from the participating governments, although there are also inquiries from media organisations, NGOs and support groups,” he said.
“With the current trends we are expecting the hotel to have occupancies in the range of 95 per cent,” said Thomas Kurian, hotel manager a Leva Hotels.
“With the current trends we are expecting the hotel to have occupancies in the range of 95 per cent,” said Thomas Kurian, hotel manager at Leva Hotels.
“As for rates, it would be approximately 20 per cent higher against [the same period] last year.”
A call to the hotel's reservation team revealed a standard room will set you back Dh1,050 on Friday, November 30 – the opening night of Cop28.
He said a trend had also emerged of how long people attending Cop28 were visiting Dubai for – as well as where visitors were going to travel from.
“We have witnessed that the demand for Cop28 has drawn guests from the UK, Israel, and the European market,” said Mr Kurian.
“These discerning visitors are planning stays of seven to 10 days, underscoring the international appeal and significance of the event.”
Proximity to the climate change conference has also played a part in some hotels experiencing a surge in interest.
“We are experiencing very high demand for Cop28,” said Robert El Khoury, vice president of sales and marketing at JA The Resort.
"This is primarily because we are one of the closest hotels to the venue.
“Requests are coming from various sources, primarily direct bookings, as well as through government organisations and embassies.”
The company is expecting occupancy at the property to be at 100 per cent throughout Cop28.
Prices for standard rooms during the opening night of Cop28, at JA The Resort, start from just under Dh1,950.
In comparison, the same room would cost Dh507 for Wednesday, September 27.
Mr El Khoury added that sister property The Manor by JA was also almost sold out, with only limited availability left.
“Guests are coming from across the globe, with delegations from Europe and Africa, and we are anticipating the arrival of guests from the GCC and the Middle East,” he said.
“The typical duration of their stay spans the entire conference, which lasts for 14 days.
“Cop28 has certainly generated a significant increase in demand and will positively impact occupancy and prices in Dubai.”
New Year's demand
Hoteliers are also expecting to see a similar pattern emerge on New Year's Eve, traditionally a busy night for the industry in Dubai.
“Anticipation is high for New Year's Eve, as early bookings are already reflecting the customary robust demand,” said Mr Kurian.
“Given our strategic proximity to Downtown Dubai, we expect to reach full occupancy during this celebratory period, which aligns with the consistent interest we observe during Cop28.”
Rove Hotels was also preparing for a bonanza New Year's Eve across Dubai.
“Compared to previous years, at Rove we are seeing an increase in demand around the New Year's Eve across our city hotels,” said Mr Bridger.
“Room rates on certain properties such as Rove Downtown or Rove City Walk, which are near the celebrations in Downtown Dubai, are also 10 per cent higher year on year.”
Rove Downtown rates this year are starting at Dh2,299, on New Year's Eve, while a room at Rove City Walk starts from around Dh1,799.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
Company%20profile
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Results
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
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
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
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.
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
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AIDA%20RETURNS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
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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
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
