Travel & tourism

Atlantis the Palm raising $850m loan

Atlantis the Palm will pay an initial interest rate of 5.5 per cent to raise an US$850 million syndicated loan, according to two people familiar with the deal. Read Article Atlantis the Palm raising $850m loan

Kingdom Tower: Four Seasons signs hotel deal with world's tallest

The Saudi prince funding what is expected to be the world's tallest tower said he had struck a final agreement with Four Seasons to operate the hotel element of the project in Jeddah. Read Article Kingdom Tower: Four Seasons signs hotel deal with world's tallest

Officials to pitch Abu Dhabi to Koreans and Japanese

Abu Dhabi officials will visit Japan and South Korea this week to market the capital as a destination for meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Read Article Officials to pitch Abu Dhabi to Koreans and Japanese

tourism

UAE tourist numbers woo global stars like Rihanna, The Killers and Coldplay
Dubai World Trade Center and Abu Dhabi's Flash entertainment are seeing an increase in music concerts as the Emirates try a new beat to attract tourists.

Sananda Sahoo

Related: Rihanna to 'shine bright like a diamond' in Abu Dhabi

tourism

Hoteliers in Dubai size up rooms at low budget
Economy hotel operators are planning to boost the number of rooms in Dubai as the city seeks to broaden its appeal as a tourist destination.

Lianne Gutcher

Related: Accor aiming to turn poacher in Dubai

Emirates Airline to open the world's first public commercial flight simulators

New 'aviation-themed' attraction in London operated by Emirates Airline will let the public fly Airbus 380s and Boeing 777s. Read Article Emirates Airline to open the world's first public commercial flight simulators

Yas Marina adds berths and restaurants

Yas Marina is planning to add more berths to cope with demand for corporate entertainment at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Read Article Yas Marina adds berths and restaurants

Selling the high seas dream

The Life: Lakshmi Durai, the executive director of Middle Eastern operations for Royal Caribbean International based in Dubai, leads the way for women in the Middle East's travel industry. Read Article Selling the high seas dream

Arabtec-led consortium wins $629m Jordan project

Arabtec said on Sunday that a consortium led by the company had won a US$629 million contract to build the first phase of a tourism project in Jordan. Read Article Arabtec-led consortium wins $629m Jordan project

Iraqis feel the brunt of sanctions as trade slows

The number of Iranian pilgrims, who used to flock in their tens of thousands to the shrines in Iraq, has halved. Read Article Iraqis feel the brunt of sanctions as trade slows

Google and YouTube help Cleartrip connect with travellers

The Life: When Cleartrip, a popular online travel portal based in India, decided to move into the UAE and Saudi Arabian markets, the staff were perplexed. Read Article Google and YouTube help Cleartrip connect with travellers

Polynesian theme sprouts on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah

The Life: Christophe Schnyder, the general manager of Sofitel The Palm, talks about the competition on the strip and how his hotel plans to stand out. Read Article Polynesian theme sprouts on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah

Anantara targets more conferences in Abu Dhabi

Owner of the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa hopes it can lure more meetings and conferences business to better compete in the crowded Abu Dhabi market at its newest property. Read Article Anantara targets more conferences in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's former Rocco Forte to reopen as a Hilton hotel

Hilton Worldwide is to take over the management of the former Rocco Forte Hotel after the luxury European brand walked away from the capital earlier this year. Read Article Abu Dhabi's former Rocco Forte to reopen as a Hilton hotel

Work on $1.5bn theme park in Jordan starts

Ground breaking work has finally started on the Red Sea Astrarium, a 74-hectare theme park in Aqaba, Jordan. Read Article Work on $1.5bn theme park in Jordan starts

Premium business content offered by The National

tourism

Bin Majid Hotels aims to double portfolio
Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts, based in Ras Al Khaimah, aims to almost double the number of properties in its portfolio by the end of 2015.

Gillian Duncan

Related: Real Madrid reveal 'sportainment' island plans for RAK

tourism

False start for Rocco Forte chain in Abu Dhabi
Rocco Forte, the luxury European hotel chain, exited its Abu Dhabi property because the location was not right for the brand, according to a senior executive with the company.

Gillian Duncan

Related: Rocco Forte hotel makes a wave of its own

tourism

Dubai gets new hotel ratings as prices rise
Dubai formally launched a new hotel classification system yesterday, expected to trigger a rush of improvements as owners bid to meet the new standards.

Rebecca Bundhun

Related: Dubai expects to add 4,000 hotel rooms

SOUND & VISION

James Cameron to open Abu Dhabi Media Summit

Hollywood's biggest directors will be coming down to attend the Abu Dhabi Media Summit and share their tricks of the trade. Watch Video

Most Viewed

tourism

Trying to get my 74-year-old father back into Abu Dhabi after a Kenyan safari gave us both a crash course in the dark arts of customer service.

Rob McKenzie

Related: The top 10 reasons to travel in 2013

Sound & Vision

In pictures: Abu Dhabi Airport's futuristic Midfield Terminal See Pictures
In pictures: Saudi Arabia unveils new metro in Riyadh See Pictures
In pictures: Paris Air show See Pictures
Video: UAE achieves MSCI Emerging Markets status Watch Video
Video: UAE's expanding tea trading industry Watch Video
In pictures: Where the millionaires call home See Pictures
In pictures: A look inside Emal's production plant See Pictures
In pictures: Opening date set for Abu Dhabi's Yas Mall See Pictures
In pictures: Key developments on Abu Dhabi's horizon See Pictures
In pictures: MasterCard's top global destination cities See Pictures

THE MOST FROM THE NATIONAL

View History

Clear

Editor's Picks

Tender bids for Midfield Terminal

Abu Dhabi Airports Company is preparing to put out for tender bids on the next major contract on the vast Midfield Terminal after completing its first big construction milestone this week. Tender bids for Midfield Terminal

Boss has got it in for me so what can I do?

The Life: The Workplace Doctor's advice on having a boss you can't stand: Coming face-to-face with yourself may provide some interesting and objective perspectives. Boss has got it in for me so what can I do?

Emiratis: your shops need you

Emirati employees stock shelves at the Sharaf DG electronics store at the Century Mall in Fujairah. Christopher Pike / The National

The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres, a regional trade body, is aiming to increase the number of UAE nationals working in the retail industry. Emiratis: your shops need you

Blueprint to expand UAE mobile commerce

The UAE Central Bank agrees a roadmap with banks plus Etisalat and du to make a wider range of financial transactions via mobile phone possible. Blueprint to expand UAE mobile commerce

Abu Dhabi faces Emiratisation challenge

The number of Emiratis employed in government and semi-government positions in Abu Dhabi could swell four times by 2030 to 352,000, estimates an official from the emirate. Abu Dhabi faces Emiratisation challenge