Organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix Formula One race decided not to cancel the event this year in light of the burgeoning Covid-19 pandemic, but opted instead to proceed without the thousands of spectators that would normally attend to watch. In a statement about the decision, officials explained, “Given the continued spread of Covid-19 globally, […]
Egypt reopens the interior of the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Sakkara to the public
The Step Pyramid at Sakkara, built in the 27th century BC as the final resting place for the Third Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser, has had its interior reopened to the public after a 14-year, USD 6-million restoration project. The restorations, which began in 2006, were carried out to shore up the monument’s structural integrity after damage […]
New data show Gulf visitors giving Egypt a boost
A new report released by the Arabian Travel Market revealed a marked increase in expected Egyptian tourism revenues coming from visitors from GCC countries. According to the report, visitors from the region will contribute USD 2.36 billion to Egypt’s coffers in 2020, representing an 11% increase over spending by GCC visitors in 2019. Saudis, who […]
Egypt’s Almasa Royal Palace property to become a St. Regis
Marriott International has announced plans to take over and operate the Almasa Royal Palace hotel property as a St. Regis in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital east of Cairo. The announcement was made at a joint press event with the National Authority for Management and Investment (NAMI), which was attended by the advisor to the president […]
Sharjah unveils new eco-park
The UAE’s Sharjah emirate opened a new eco-park today in an effort to boost eco-friendly and sustainable tourism in the area. Officially named the Buhais Geology Park, the new attraction is located just off Highway E55 between Meleha and Al Madam near the country’s border with Oman. The park showcases the history of plant, animal, […]
Khalaf Al-Habtoor, Chairman of Al-Habtoor Group
Khalaf Al-Habtoor is the founder and chairman of Al-Habtoor Group, an Emirati holding company for businesses and investmetns in construction, real estate, vehicle sales and rentals, and education. Khalaf Al-Habtoor sat down for a revealing exclusive interview with Arab News to talk about his company’s plans to join in on the expected upcoming Saudi tourism […]
UAE offers new five-year tourist visa
The United Arab Emirates has approved the creation of a new five-year, multiple-entry visa for tourists who wish to visit the country repeatedly without having to apply for a new visa every three months. The new option was announced on Twitter by UAE Prime Minister, Vice President, and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin […]
New data show increasing global interest in Saudi tourism market
A new report from market research firm YouGov has shown that international tourists are gaining interest in visiting Saudi Arabia following the kingdom’s decision last year to begin offering tourist visas en mass and the country’s efforts to promote itself as an emerging tourism destination. The YouGov data revealed that about one out of every […]
Egyptian officials eye world records as new promotion strategy for Grand Egyptian Museum
When it opens, Egypt’s new billion-dollar Grand Egyptian Museum is already set to be the world’s largest archaeological museum and the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization. However, Egyptian officials are hoping to sprinkle the lead-up to the museum’s grand opening with some publicity derived from a few other “firsts.” The Egypt Independent reports […]
Four new Saudi cultural heritage museums set to open around the kingdom
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has announced the completion of four new Saudi history and heritage museums to be opened around the kingdom in 2020. These will be the first of 13 new cultural museums slated to be established in Saudi Arabia as part of the country’s National Transformation Program 2020. […]
