Tag Archives: visuals-news
Why Dubai’s Hotel Classification Scheme is so important
A senior figure at Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has explained why a new Hotel Classification Scheme could be so important to the city's hospitality sector.Majid Al Marri told Hoteliermiddleeast.com the system will give people a better idea about the quality of resorts across the region.Dubai is renowned for its multitude of glamorous hotels and it seems that more investors are now pouring money into the emirate's hospitality sector.Like many other parts of the world, Dubai was badly affected by the economic downturn and some developers were forced to shelve plans to build new hotels in the sheikhdom.However, many of these projects have been resurrected in the last 12 months and there are some impressive structures starting to emerge in popular areas like Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah. Mr Al Marri said the Hotel Classification Scheme introduces new categories for university campuses and hostels, while also providing a new buffer between standard and luxury accommodation.”We found there was a gap in this area, which is why there is also a new category for serviced apartments,” he was quoted as saying.The law was first introduced in 1998 and this latest update is aimed at increasing transparency across the sector, thus allowing visitors to see which resorts offer the best facilities.Mr Al Marri said there are 18 new “designators” – including optional extras like rooms with a sea view or spa and wellness services – which hotels can add to their rating.This, he added, will help hotels to market themselves and will ultimately aid the DTCM in its quest to attract 20 million tourists to the city annually by 2020.It is certainly a good time for investors to add Dubai-based hotels, apartments and villas to their property portfolios, as the demand for accommodation in the emirate has soared in recent months.In fact, Mastercard recently hailed Dubai as a “city to watch” in the coming years, with more and more people expected to take a holiday in the city in the near future. Continue reading
Dubai Metro express service to become permanent
An express train that was introduced on the Dubai Metro's Red Line in October 2012 is set to become a permanent feature, it has been confirmed.The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) launched the service on a temporary basis and it has proven to be a big success.Speaking to Emirates 24/7, director of the RTA's rail operations Ramadan Abdullah revealed the train – which runs between Rashidiya and Jebel Ali in the early hours – will continue to operate on a daily basis.”The express service has been made a permanent service. The number of daily users is between 700 and 800, more than we initially expected,” he was quoted as saying.Extra trains were laid on from 05:30 and 05:40 local time in order to cater for the large number of commuters who need to move around the city every morning. Regular services start at 05:50 each day.Journeys between the two stations usually take between 60 and 70 minutes, but the express service manages to cut this down considerably by missing out 14 stations.A number of popular stations are included on the route, including Emirates Towers and Dubai Internet City, which perhaps explains why the trains have been such a success.The RTA has been working hard to ensure Dubai's public transport network is able to accommodate the growing number of people moving to the city.Plans are in place to expand the Metro and the organisation has also launched new bus services, some of which will provide links to railway stations.The RTA has been showcasing Dubai's latest transport developments at the 60th International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Congress and Exhibition, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland between May 26th and 30th.As well as highlighting the impressive work that has gone into making Dubai one of the best connected cities in the Middle East, the RTA also outlined plans for the UITP Congress in the Middle East & North Africa 2014 – an important event that will take place in Dubai. Continue reading
Arsenal trio visit Emirates Aviation College
Three Premier League footballers were given a special challenge when they visited the impressive Emirates Aviation College in Dubai.Arsenal trio Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were asked to land one of the airline's huge A380 planes at Dubai International Airport.Of course, the talented youngsters were not tasked with landing an actual plane, but they did take to the cockpit of an incredibly realistic flight simulator.Emirates' chief A380 instructor Warren Coles was on hand to guide the footballers through the mock descent into the second busiest airport on earth and it was Oxlade-Chamberlain who was first to take control.The 19-year-old England striker managed to bring the plane down smoothly, although his teammate Gibbs was not quite so astute.”I don't think I'll be a pilot anytime soon,” the fullback remarked after a somewhat hairy landing.His effort was still better than Jenkinson's, who managed to bounce the A380 down the runway after getting a little carried away.”I was more excited to be honest going in there, but then, when I was actually in the seat, I was yeah quite nervous to be honest,” the 21-year-old former Charlton Athletic defender commented.Arsenal have a sponsorship agreement with Emirates and the three stars also held a special training session at a soccer school during their stay in Dubai.Emirates is one of the fastest growing airlines on earth and the firm recently unveiled a brand new training centre at the Dubai Silicon Oasis.The state-of-the-art facility was launched by the company's chairman and chief executive His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the event was attended by customers and officials from all over the world.It is the latest joint venture between Emirates and flight simulator specialist CAE, who have been working together for a decade. The two organisations have invested a total of US$260 million (£172.7 million) in the region to date and the partnership is really blossoming. Continue reading
