Middle East
PCMA’s Convening EMEA set for Lausanne link up
International meetings industry association PCMA’s Convening EMEA conference takes place in Lausanne, Switzerland, 17–19 October with organisers saying the event will be one of celebration and exploration. The agenda promises to show a pathway forward for business events. The Convening EMEA programme will explore and interconnect three key themes: Talent, ROI and Future of the Business Events Indu...
ASM Global secures contract to operate two venues in mixed-use development in Saudi Arabia
Global venue operator ASM Global has announced its appointment as the managing operator for two venues within a grand mixed-use destination in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Situated in the heart of Jeddah, adjacent to the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), the Airport City project is set to become one of the very few airport city destinations in the world. SARH Real Estate Investment...
Abu Dhabi introduces updates to E-learning programme
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is marking the first anniversary of its Abu Dhabi Specialists E-learning Programme by introducing new modules and markets for the training scheme. The programme, launched as part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s response to Covid-19, saw all forms of physical promotional offers, workshops and training courses shifted onto virtual platforms. The e...
UAE launches Global Media Congress for 2022
The UAE has announced, 15 August, the launch of the first edition of the Global Media Congress (the Congress), to be held in Abu Dhabi from 15-17 November 2022. It will be organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) in a strategic partnership with the Emirates News Agency (WAM). H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs ...
Sharjah turns a new page for business
With Expo 2020 Dubai looming into view and the Emirates positioning themselves to take advantage of global business events reopening, CMW hears from H.E. Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah: How have you coped in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from a business events point of view, over the past 15 months? Even though the world is still struggling with the cor...
Fully vaccinated travellers to Qatar no longer need to quarantine on arrival
Qatar has reopened its borders to international travellers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with vaccines approved by the Qatar Ministry of Public Health. Qualifying travellers to the country no longer need to quarantine. All visitors – vaccinated or non-vaccinated – will be required to undertake a PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure. International visitors must register and...
Dubai Association Conference to add Expo 2020 experience for delegates in February
The Dubai Association Conference will return for its third edition on 21 February 2022 at Dubai Exhibition Centre, within the Expo 2020 Dubai site The association is running a series of smaller online events in the lead up to the February big date to maximise the impact and address key topics delegates may wish to explore further at the main conference in person. The first of these online sessions...
ADNEC launches its own DMC, under major new holiding company Tourism 365
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), part of ADQ, has launched ‘Tourism 365’, a new holding company designed to support and create experiential travel opportunities for visitors to the emirate. The launch of the company is in line with ADNEC’s new broader role to support the growth of Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination and extending visitors’ stay in the UAE’s capital. The new operation...
Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ set to push through mega merger of hotels company ADNH with its ADNEC brands
Gulf media report that Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ has submitted an offer to Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company to merge it with its Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) and create one of the largest hospitality, events and catering groups in the region. The combined group would have assets of approximately Dh20bn ($5.45bn) and comprise 28 owned and operated hotels with a total of 6,700...
Ancient meets modern
Saudi Arabia has, in recent years, reached out to the world of leisure and business tourism with international campaigns. it is a destination looking to make a mark, a sentiment reflected by its stunning Mirror building in Al-‘ula. Saudi Arabia is the second biggest tourism destination in the Middle East, although most has been religious tourism. Advertising and marketing campaigns, allied to some...
Hilton launches carbon neutral business meetings in the UK
Global hospitality company Hilton has partnered with social enterprise South Pole to offset the carbon footprint of meetings and events across almost 30 properties in the UK. Initially launched in The Netherlands in May, the offer has been extended to approximately 60 hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with plans to roll out further in the coming months. The initiative has be...
Saudi Arabia to host World Combat Games
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been awarded the 2023 edition of the World Combat Games (WCG). The WCG is an international multi-sport event featuring 15 combat sports and martial arts which are members of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The WCG aims to establish bridges between elite sport and local communities through initiatives encouraging youth participatio...