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What’s new “Send clients with an appetite for culture and design to Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, when the Louvre Abu Dhabi will open. Its 600+ artworks will tell the story of shared human experience from ancient times to the present day” NABEEL AL ZAROUNI, UK COUNTRY MANAGER, TCA ABU DHABI
Clockwise from top left: Qatar’s world-class Museum of Islamic Art; mountain biking in rugged Oman; relaxing in Ras Al Khaimah; falconry is the national sport across the Gulf States
Accommodation: Coming up in Dubai: the 304-room Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira (starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels), the region’s first cinema-themed hotel; the quintessentially British Dukes Dubai (dukesdubai.com) is synonymous with sister property Dukes London and offers a golden sandy beach with views over the Dubai Marina skyline; and The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel, which describes itself as the first holistic welling resort in the Middle East. Centara Hotels and Resorts recently opened a new 152-room hotel in Muscat, Oman. Located in the bustling Ghala Heights business district it features three restaurants, a spa and a rooftop pool and terrace. Centara is also opening a new hotel in Qatari capital, Doha, later this year. Airlines: Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com) and Qatar Tourism Authority have a free Doha stopover initiative until September 30, giving transit passengers free hotel stays and complimentary transit visas. It’s part of a bigger campaign called +Qatar, seeking to encourage transit passengers to add Qatar to their itineraries. Emirates will be introducing a second daily A380 service between Dubai and Birmingham, beginning October 29. Attractions: The foundations have been laid for The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, the world’s tallest building, set to become an iconic landmark when it opens in 2020. It will feature The Pinnacle Room and VIP Observation Garden Decks. Cruise: Luxury lines Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises are seeing record-breaking demand for cruises originating in Abu Dhabi. The emirate is forecast to welcome more than
300,000 passengers from 148 calls made by 18 ships from 15 different cruise lines during the 2017/18 cruise season – around 10% up on last year. Oxford Economics predicts that Abu Dhabi cruise tourism will see 450,000 passengers by 2020, rising to 808,428 in 2025.
Tourism talk “The UK was the second biggest source market for international visitors to Abu Dhabi last year, with more than 238,000 Britons checking into the emirate’s hotels, a three per cent increase year on year. This year has started just as positively, with 86,529 Brits staying at Abu Dhabi’s hotels in the first four months, a four per cent year-on-year increase. “Forging strong relationships with the trade is hugely important to us, and we’re constantly looking for new ways to assist UK agents and tour operators. We have joint marketing programmes planned with 17 different tour operators. “In September we will fly 36 agents from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin to Abu Dhabi to explore the city, desert and attractions of Yas Island. We also plan to tour the country delivering destination training. “As an incentive to agents, we’ll be giving away tickets to Manchester City home games, as well as Yas Island theme park passes.” Nabeel Al Zarouni, UK Country Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
Where to book it LUSSO – 01625 591111 Lusso offers five nights at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, from £1,215pp based on two people sharing a Superior Room on a half-board basis, plus private transfers and flights with British Airways. This is a saving of £255pp. Valid until September 20 2017.
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lussotravel.com
ETIHAD HOLIDAYS – 0345 600 8118, A week at the five-star Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel, Dubai, flying economy from Heathrow, is from £1569pp half-board. etihadholidays.co.uk
sellingtravel.co.uk
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