Tag Archives: dubai investment news
Cargo volumes up at Dubai World Central
Dubai's status as a global trading hub continued to grow in the first quarter of 2013, as cargo volumes increased significantly.New figures released by Dubai Airports highlighted a 7.8 per cent upturn in air freight deliveries at Dubai World Central when compared to the first three months of 2012.The facility – which is the city's second airport – handled 53,974 tonnes of goods during the quarter, as traders from all over the world transported cargo to the Middle East.Air traffic movements at the airport rose by 16.8 per cent year-on-year, which underlines just how much the airport has grown in its short lifetime.It first opened in 2010 and is now served by 36 airlines. Last year, the airport handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight and this figure is widely forecast to be surpassed in 2013.Dubai World Central is also expected to accommodate passengers for the first time in October 2013 and this will take some of the strain off Dubai International Airport.The latter is the second busiest aviation hub on the planet, with 66 million people expected to pass through the complex this year – up from 57.6 million in 2012.Wizz Air and nasair are both lining up new services from Dubai World Central, making it easier for travellers to fly into the UAE from Europe and Saudi Arabia.Chief executive officer at Dubai Airports Paul Griffiths insisted that maintaining high levels of cargo growth is far from easy in the current climate, even for Dubai.”The next step in the evolution of the airport will see continued cargo traffic growth, the commencement of passenger operations slated for October 27th with launch carriers Wizz Air and nasair, and the hosting of its first ever Dubai Airshow from November 17th,” he remarked.”All will play a role in building our new airport's growing brand reputation.”If current trends persist, aviation experts predict Dubai Airports' total cargo volumes to reach three million tonnes a year by 2015. Continue reading
Emirates scoops international awards
Emirates cemented its status as one of the best airlines in the world by scooping a number of awards at a plush ceremony held in Dubai over the weekend (May 5th).The UAE-based carrier left the Business Traveller Middle East Awards with an array of prizes, including the coveted Best Airline Worldwide gong.As well as this, the firm landed the Airline with the Best Business Class, Airline with the Best Economy Class and Best Regional Airline Serving the Middle East awards.Emirates' executive vice president of passenger sales worldwide Thierry Antinori was extremely happy to receive such recognition.”This is a superb collection of awards for Emirates,” he remarked.”In a fiercely competitive environment and under the scrutiny of Business Traveller Middle East readers, we have truly shone with our products, services and value for money.”Emirates also picked up three accolades at the World Travel Awards for the Middle East region over the weekend. The company won the Middle East's Leading Airline Business Class, Middle East's Leading Airline Rewards Programme and Middle East's Leading Airline Website awards, which further reiterates its growing dominance.In many ways, the rise of Emirates has been intertwined with the stunning growth of Dubai as a city and the company has certainly had a major part to play in the recent expansion of the emirate's international airport.Emirates continues to add new flights to different destinations around the world, which has helped Dubai become one of the best connected cities on the planet.Earlier this year, the firm launched new routes to Warsaw and Algiers, while plans are also in place to start flights to Tokyo Haneda in June, Stockholm in September and Clark International in the Philippines in October.Dubai International accommodated 57.6 million passengers in 2012 and aviation experts predict this figure to rise to around 66 million in 2013. The facility can cater for 75 million people a year thanks to a recent expansion and its total capacity is set to increase even further by the end of the decade. Continue reading
Wyndham Hotel Group Announces First Wyndham Hotel in the U.A.E.
World’s largest hotel company with over 7,000 hotels aligns with British developer The First Group DUBAI (May 5, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,380 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced plans for the first Wyndham® Hotels and Resorts property in the United Arab Emirates following the signing of an agreement with Sigma III Limited, a subsidiary of British-owned developer The First Group, to manage its impressive 33-storey building in the Dubai Marina. Currently under development, the Wyndham Dubai Marina is expected to open within the next three years with 497 guest rooms including 251 luxurious suites. The hotel will also comprise nearly 6,800 square feet of food and beverage outlets, including all-day-dining and speciality restaurants, as well as a coffee shop, an executive lounge and a bar. Alongside meetings and conference space, the hotel will also offer almost 2,500 square feet of spa and leisure facilities including a gym and outdoor pool with a pool bar. “We’re very excited to be bringing our namesake Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand to Dubai, following its successful introduction to the region through the spectacular Wyndham Grand Regency Doha,” said Rui Barros, senior vice president and managing director Europe, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group. “I have no doubt that Wyndham Dubai Marina will be another superb addition to the brand, which we are already growing in key cities throughout the Middle East.” In addition to the Wyndham Grand Regency Doha, which opened in 2011, Wyndham Hotel Group has already announced the development of two Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties in the Middle East. The Wyndham Grand Manama and Wyndham Grand Riyadh are both anticipated to open by the end of next summer. This will further strengthen the hotel group’s diverse portfolio throughout the Middle East which already consists of more than 30 hotels and over 6,100 rooms ranging from economy right through to upper-upscale. “The First Group is proud to be collaborating with such a renowned name in the global hotel industry on one of our most prestigious hotel developments to date,” commented Danny Lubert, co-founder and joint chairman of The First Group. “We are excited to be partnering with Wyndham Hotel Group on the first Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property in the U.A.E.” “We are delighted to have Wyndham Hotel Group on board and are certain this partnership will be a huge success,” agreed Gary Shepherd, co-founder and joint chairman of The First Group. “Wyndham Dubai Marina adds to our dynamic portfolio of hotel projects across the U.A.E. and Africa and we look forward to watching this stunning project take shape.” The Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand is also experiencing strong growth outside of the Middle East. On March 01, 2013 alone, Wyndham Hotel Group added eight hotels under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts flag in major markets across the U.S. through a deal with FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. as well as opening 11 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties across Germany as part of a strategic partnership with Grand City Hotels, with seven more hotels still set to join the brand. This partnership will see a total of 43 hotels and more than 5,400 rooms rebranded under Wyndham Hotel Group flags in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands over the next two years. About Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, offers upscale hotel and resort accommodation throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and China. All Wyndham® hotels are either franchised by the company or managed by Wyndham Hotel Management, Inc., one of its affiliates or through a joint-venture partner. Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by visiting www.wyndham.com. About Wyndham Hotel Group Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,380 hotels and 631,800 rooms in 66 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham® Hotels and Resorts, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inn & Suites® by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham®, TRYP by Wyndham®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has licence agreements to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream® and Night® brands and provide management services globally. All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and TRYP by Wyndham hotels as well as certain international Ramada, Days Inn and Super 8 hotels, which may be managed by one of the affiliates of Wyndham Hotel Group. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, N.J., United States. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com or email development.EMEA@wyn.com. About The First Group The First Group is an internationally acclaimed British-owned global property development company based in Dubai, specialising in delivering property solutions to meet the demands of the international property investor market. The group has a proud history of over 25 years’ experience and success and offers innovative and unparalleled hotel and property investment opportunities in the U.A.E. and Africa. With offices spanning Dubai, Moscow, Almaty, Kazan, Astana, Abuja and Lagos, The First Group continues to produce and develop bespoke property investments in some of the world’s most desirable locations. For more information visit www.thefirstgroup.com. About The First Group Asset Management (TFG Asset Management): The First Group’s Asset Management is dedicated to dealing with every aspect of a completed development, to ensure investors enjoy maximum returns on their property. Once a project is complete, the TFG Asset Management team takes over from Client Services to manage the entire rental process, including marketing, tenant liaison, guaranteed leasing, contracts and finances, whilst also working in partnership with hotel management companies such as Wyndham Hotel Group. # # # Continue reading
