Tag Archives: exclusive
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
DLD underlines commitment to sustainable building
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has reiterated just how important it is for developers to embrace green building techniques.Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities on the planet and its rapid expansion over the years has caused concerns among environmentalists.However, the government has been keen to address the situation and it has introduced a number of regulations to ensure construction companies do all they can to build in a sustainable way.Director general of the DLD Sultan Butti Bin Mejren delivered a speech during the launch of the Sustainable Real Estate Conference at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, in which he focused on just how crucial it is that Dubai's natural resources are preserved.In order to do this, Mr Bin Mejren insisted that firms need to be mindful of how much water and power they are consuming and how they can make better use of the land. He also underlined the importance of meeting international green standards.”Under wise leadership, the UAE has created a thriving real estate environment, one that has brought on confidence and increased the magnitude of investment in the country,” he remarked.”[This] has all the ingredients for success in terms of advanced infrastructure and legislation, and an environment of security and stability – all of which have transformed it into an investment capital.”Dubai's real estate market has really bounced back from the economic downturn and sales have risen sharply in the last 12 months.Last month, Mr Bin Mejren predicted that prices would continue to rise, as the demand for luxurious properties in the most exclusive parts of town soars.Figures released by the DLD showed the value of property sales in Dubai increased by 63 per cent in the first quarter of 2013, as 32 transactions were completed every single hour.Developers are responding to this incredible demand by erecting a plethora of new buildings and this means investors will be spoilt for choice when looking for exciting plots in the coming years.Looking for property investments in Dubai? Make The First Group your first port of call 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
