Lufthansa Special Valentine Fares To Europe And North America From UAE And Oman

Lufthansa German Airlines launched special Valentine fares from the UAE and Oman to Europe and North America. A round-trip flight from UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) to Europe is starting from AED 2175 all inclusive and to North America from AED 4015 all inclusive. A round-trip flight from Muscat/Oman to Europe is starting from OMR 228 all inclusive and to North America from OMR 452.

Mr. Peter Pollak, General Manager UAE & Director Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan Lufthansa German Airlines said, “We have introduced very attractive Valentine fares in the U.A.E and Oman as they are of key strategic importance to Lufthansa. This Valentines, we are confident that our Special fares offer will benefit our U.A.E and Oman customers to fly to their favorite destinations in Europe and North America combined with our large network provides all our customers an excellent service, fast connections and reliability.”

Customers can book their tickets by February 13, 2011 and customers travelling to Europe are required to commence travel latest by June 30, 2011, while customers travelling to North America are required to commence travel latest by May 15, 2011. Hence, Lufthansa is also offering a very long travel period. This gives customers the opportunity to buy now at unbelievable low fares and travel in the coming months, either for a special Valentine escape, leisure, business, Easter and even a summer vacation.

The Special fares offer quoted above for UAE and Oman are available if booked online at www.Lufthansa.com. The above fares are all inclusive per person. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit our website or contact the Lufthansa office in Dubai on 04 373 9100, in Oman on 00968-2479-6692, or your local designated travel agencies.

Lufthansa serves nine destinations in the Gulf region, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait and Muscat. Further destinations served in the Middle East include Beirut, Amman, Tehran and Erbil in Iraq. In the Middle East Lufthansa serves 13 cities in 10 countries.

From 31 October, 2010, Lufthansa offers flights to 197 destinations in 85 countries.
The other four carriers in the Lufthansa Airline Group – Austrian Airlines, bmi, Brussels Airlines and SWISS – also launched their winter schedule on 31 October, 2010. Together, the five airlines now serve 258 destinations in 107 countries on four continents from their hubs at Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Munich, Vienna and Zurich, and also augment each other’s frequencies with numerous codeshare flights.
 

Hawkamah And The International Centre For Financial Regulation Join Hands To Advance On Corporate Governance And Financial Regulation In The Middle East And North Africa Region

Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance (Hawkamah) today, at the sides of the GCC Regulators’ Summit, announced a partnership agreement with the International Centre for Financial Regulation (ICFR), a not-for-profit organization focused on best practice in all aspects of financial regulation internationally.

ICFR joins a growing number of reputable institutions showing their support for an independent, private sector initiative that is improving the understanding and practice of corporate governance in the Middle East and North Africa—and backed by major international and regional organizations. ICFR’s support to Hawkamah is an investment in building sustainable and credible institutions for the region.

Hawkamah and ICFR will work together on important initiatives such as the development and implementation of national legal and regulatory frameworks affecting corporate governance, in cooperation with both the public and private sectors. The joint partnership will aim to increase the training capacity of regional institutions, helping them to inform and train regulators, investors, directors, managers, and other stakeholders on good corporate governance.

Dr. Nasser Saidi, Executive Director of Hawkamah, outlined the significance of this partnership: "The financial crisis has shown us that a strong regulatory environment—with regulators willing to question overly-risky behavior among corporate actors—could have played a role in mitigating the crisis. This partnership between Hawkamah and ICFR is a very encouraging development. Both institutions understand the need to develop the capacity of regional regulators to play a critical role in bringing trust to the region’s markets, ensuring greater transparency, disclosure and accountability within our region and assisting in the further development of the region’s capital markets.”

Charles Taylor, the Chief Operating Officer of the ICFR, commented:
“We are delighted to announce this exciting new partnership which will help to consolidate the work that we do in terms of events, research and training on corporate governance. It is undeniable thatgood governance is an essential component of good regulation.

One of the immediate priorities for the new partnership will be to promote best practice and training for both private and public sector bodies across the region.”

Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the UAE, Dominic Jermey CVO, OBE commented: "I am really pleased that this MOU between the ICFR and Hawkamah has been signed today at the 5th GCC Regulators and Compliance Meeting here in Abu Dhabi. It is a positive outcome of the financial crisis that our nations are working increasingly more closely on regulation and we are pleased that the ICFR is able to play its part in the development of financial services professionals here in the UAE".

 

North Americans Crown Park Hyatt Dubai Top Hotel In The Middle East

Park Hyatt Dubai took top honours at the prestigious 23rd annual Conde Nast Traveler 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards held in New York last week. The uber-luxury property, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in August this year, was named “Top Hotel in the Middle East” ahead of The Four Seasons, Doha and David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem. The Readers’ Choice Awards survey is unique for both its size and the unfiltered results that reflect the opinions of 25,916 of the most discerning travellers in the US – readers of Conde Nast Traveler. The results of this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards will be reported in the November issue of the magazine.

“With 915 hotels and resorts among the 2010 Readers’ Choice Award winners, the Park Hyatt Dubai team is ecstatic to have been named the ‘Top Hotel in the Middle East’ by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Accolades such as this are testimony to the hard work of our entire team,” said Mr. Adrian Slater, general manager of Park Hyatt Dubai.

“We understand from Conde Nast Traveler that the average rating of the hotel winners was an astonishing 87.9, which is an unbelievably high achievement, and evidence that standards in the hospitality industry are continuing to rise as we strive for excellence,” he added.

According to the Dubai Department of Commerce Marketing, the Emirate of Dubai welcomed more than 508,479 visitors from North America in 2009, a number which is expected to grow.

“Currently, visitors from North America account for some 10% of our annual business and we see great potential for this market, which comprises both business and leisure travellers,” said Mr. Slater.

According to Mr. Slater, many travellers seeking luxury products remain undaunted by current economic woes. “Despite tougher times, people will always continue to travel, seeking out the highest levels of service, and discovering new destinations and unique experiences.”

This comment is echoed by Conde Nast Traveler Editor in Chief, Ms Klara Glowczewska, who said: “The big news is that our readers’ appetites for travel have proven to be undeterred and indestructible, and their standards are more exacting than ever.”

Park Hyatt Dubai is a luxury waterfront retreat adjacent to the world-famous Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Located just minutes from the city centre, world-class shopping and prime business districts, Park Hyatt Dubai is a haven of tranquil elegance in the vibrant city of Dubai.

All 225 guestrooms at the hotel offer stunning views across Dubai Creek from their balconies or terraces. Each of the guestrooms and 35 suites is graciously and luxuriously appointed. Featuring state-of-the-art open-plan kitchens, Park Hyatt Dubai brings drama and theatre to dining, both indoor and al fresco, with a selection of six restaurants and bars that serve an array of world-class cuisines. The hotel’s award-winning day spa retreat, Amara, offers a wide range of beauty and holistic treatments unrivalled in Dubai. Along with the eight unique private treatment rooms, Amara features a 25-metre outdoor pool with built-in palm islands. All spa suites feature a private garden with an outdoor rain shower for the ultimate in relaxation.

To celebrate this accolade, Park Hyatt Dubai is offering the terrific Pamper at the Park package to feed the body and mind. The package includes luxurious accommodation for two, buffet breakfast at Café Arabesque and US$150 worth of credit that can be applied to either an Amara spa ritual or food and beverage. Package rates start at US$600 per night, with a minimum length of stay of two nights required. Advance reservations are required and are subject to availability, telephone +9714 602 1234.

Truth in Travel is the guiding principle for all content published in Conde Nast Traveler. Other travel publications often accept complimentary travel and accommodations, whereas Conde Nast Traveler does not. The magazine always pays its own way and, as much as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously. By doing so, they experience the world, both the good and the bad, just as other travellers do, and their reports are fair, impartial and authoritative.

Speaking about the Conde Nast Traveler readers, Ms. Glowczewska said, “They are an army of trusted judges, and their votes and evaluations have rendered the Readers’ Choice Award one of the highest encomiums in the entire travel industry.”
 

Emirates Expands North Africa Footprint

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has announced to introduce its Airbus A340-500 on Tripoli route from 1st August 2010.

The Emirates will offer a total of 3612 seats per week between Tripoli and Dubai representing increases of 9 percent in passenger capacity.

Haitham Al Battawy, Emirates Manager Libya said: "Demand for our services to Libya has been steadily building and we are delighted to now offer our customers an even better experience when travelling on this route. The introduction of the highly acclaimed A340-500 will facilitate travel for scores of Libyan nationals who reside in Dubai and Australia and visit home each year. The aircraft enhancement will also offer travellers from North Africa markets smooth connections to Far East, GCC, Indian subcontinent destinations and Australian points via Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, designed for optimum travelling comfort" "Not only will customers enjoy the very latest Emirates in-flight product, including our multi award-winning ICE entertainment system, but thanks to the increased seat capacity provided by the A340 aircraft, passengers will also enjoy more flexibility in planning their journeys." Emirates’ A340 aircraft offer 12 First Class Suites, 42 Business and 204 Economy class seats, alongside 15 tonnes of cargo-carrying capacity.

Emirates’ SkyCargo division transports a range of goods into Tripoli such as mobile phones, spare parts, pharmaceuticals and electronic goods from the UAE ; drilling equipment from the US and electronic goods and spare parts from the Far East. Exports from Tripoli to Dubai include oil well equipment, spare parts and tools for onward distribution across Middle East.

Emirates currently operates daily flights to Tripoli utilising an Airbus 330-200; offering 12 seats in First Class, 42 in Business and 183 seats in Economy. EK 746 leaves Tripoli at 1520hrs and arrives in Dubai at 2310hrs. EK 745 departs from Dubai at 0920hrs and arrives in Tripoli at 1320hr.

 

YAL-UAE Spotlights Dubai in Aftermath of Global Financial Crisis to Students of North Carolina State University

The Dubai experiment has shown the Arab world a new vision of the possible, enabled by a new generation of empowered and educated Arab youth. This demographic segment may set the stage for a better tomorrow with a generational ripple of change that transcends the Dubai laboratory to reach the whole region, according to Shehab Gargash, CEO, Daman Investments and Member of Young Arab Leaders-UAE Chapter (YAL-UAE).

Gargash’s comments were addressed to visiting students from the North Carolina State University (NCSU) in the US. The delegation comprising 40 students from the university’s Middle East Studies Program is on a six-day tour of the UAE, from 18 – 23 June. The visit comes as part of an endeavor to expose the students to the New Middle East that is emerging in the GCC.

In his presentation, Gargash said: "Sound economic decisions have contributed to the resurgence of Dubai as a hub for finance and commerce. We have the modern, expensive and efficient infrastructure here, and the city is built and continues to remain open for business.

"Previous nay-sayers have bet against Dubai’s resilience and lost. The ’Dubai Factor’ will prevail. The global economic table has grown in size, and with it opportunity comes to those who snatch it, enabling ambitions of many places like Dubai to be realized."

Pointing out that there are new doors opening for new ambitious entrants on the world stage, he said the ’freshmen’ need to better assess the responsibilities that accompany the call to international glory.

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Chairman, YAL-UAE, said: "Through our focus on education and entrepreneurship, YAL-UAE aims to serve as a voice for the Arab world on the global landscape for the implementation of pilot projects that serve community needs under its multi-pronged strategy.

"With our regional reach in the GCC, Middle East and North Africa, YAL-UAE continues to prove an effective platform for the re-building of social, economic and business ties with the US. We welcome more such visits from overseas students for enhanced cultural and academic exchange."

Globally recognized for its science, technology, engineering and mathematics leadership, NCSU’s Middle East Studies Program provides interdisciplinary courses on Arabic, Farsi, Middle Eastern history, religion, architecture and politics. It also offers a minor in Middle East Studies, and will commence a bachelor’s program in Middle East Studies in the forthcoming academic year.

The NCSU delegation’s visit included discussions with political, business and cultural leaders as well as meetings with university students. YAL-UAE also organised tours to institutions and landmark cultural sites, sampling of local cuisine, experiences in public spaces, and other activities that collectively contributed to enriching the students’ understanding of this region.

A non-political organisation, Young Arab Leaders (YAL) is keen to share resources and build long term relationships with organizations and ensure the development of communication mechanisms. Under its ’Education’ agenda, YAL aims to drive internship exchanges and business fellowships for enabling the Arab youth take on the challenges of the regional and global markets.