Category: Entertainment

DUBAI, Emirates, the Premier Partner and Official Airline of Expo 2020 Dubai, today revealed a head-turning A380 livery dedicated to further carrying the global event’s messages worldwide.

A bold departure from the airline’s traditional white and gold paint scheme, this bright blue aircraft livery features large-scale graphics in vivid green, orange, pink, purple and red, which run across the fuselage and all the way up to the tail and fin interlaced with the distinct ring-shaped Expo 2020 Dubai logo. Special ‘Dubai Expo’ and ‘Be Part of the Magic’ messages run across both sides of the A380 fuselage. The engine cowls also carry the Expo 2020 Dubai messages and dates of the event.

In addition, the brave Burj Khalifa stuntwoman who appeared in the recent viral Emirates ad, carries an invitation to visit the event on both sides of the aircraft, holding a message board that says: ‘See you there’ and ‘Dubai Expo Oct-Mar 2022’.

The iconic Emirates red belly branding, which can be only seen when the aircraft is flying overhead, has been replaced by the opportunity themed orange ‘Dubai Expo’ branding, further increasing the event’s visibility and awareness as it flies to the airline’s A380 network over the course of the next 6 months.

The new A380 livery was designed, painted, produced and installed in-house by the teams at Emirates. The livery was not just a decal, but a complete paint project, and is by far the largest one the airline has ever embarked on. A great deal of planning and ingenuity was involved to ensure the distinct livery design was brought to life and flawlessly executed.

The paint on A6EEU, the aircraft chosen for the livery, was completely stripped. After that, eleven colours were applied on the aircraft in a careful, methodically sequenced manner. A ‘wild spray method’, electrostatic spray guns and conventional cup guns were used to put on the different colours, using over 2,500 sqm of tracing and masking material. All of the stencils and tracing guides were produced in-house by the airline’s UV printer and graphics workshop, and took numerous hours to fabricate and complete. The Emirates Engineering Aircraft Appearance Centre teams skillfully worked through the challenges of fine-tuning the outlines and masking to convert the designs onto a three dimensional aircraft, in addition to managing the contrasting colours and intricate background shades in this unique livery.

Decals were then applied on the engine cowls and, as well as the image of the Emirates Cabin crew holding the message boards adjacent to the aircraft’s exits.

The process of painting the livery design and applying the decals took 16 days and 4,379 man-hours to complete.

The new Expo 2020 Dubai livery will appear on three Emirates A380 aircraft to help visually tell the story and reaffirm the themes of one of the largest global events to take place since the onset of the pandemic. The distinctive blue Expo aircraft will join the 40 other special liveries dedicated to Expo 2020 Dubai, which have collectively flown to over 130 destinations across the Emirates network since 2018.

The new livery will wow travellers and drive the Expo 2020 Dubai message when it heads to Los Angeles on 29 September.

Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo ever hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and will run from October 2021 to March 2022. Its six-month program is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans as well as food and technology enthusiasts can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more. Visitors can also drop by their national pavilion for a taste of home or experience the 190 other country pavilions. Emirates will be showcasing its own pavilion focused on the future of commercial aviation.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Etisalat is ready to enthrall visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai with state-of-the-art digital experience making it one of the smartest, fastest and most connected site on earth.

Expo 2020 Dubai is Etisalat’s first commercial 5G enterprise customer in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region to access 5G services. This sets a benchmark for the region and globally, positioning UAE as an innovation leader in technology and infrastructure.

Etisalat and Expo 2020 senior executives earlier inaugurated the exclusive Etisalat Digital Lounge at the Expo 2020 Dubai site, showcasing Etisalat’s readiness to provide Expo 2020 Dubai participants and visitors with a superior network and digital experience.

Mohammed Al Hashmi, Chief Technology Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate the Etisalat Digital Lounge at Expo 2020 Dubai. Together with Etisalat and our other technology partners, we are not only setting new benchmarks in speed and connectivity on a global scale, but also creating a blueprint for the future, with cutting-edge technologies that will transform how we manage cities and optimise everyday living. We look forward to opening our doors to the world, and welcoming visitors to enjoy the innovations that will offer an enhanced way of living for generations to come.”

Masood M Sharif Mahmood, CEO, Etisalat UAE, said, “We are proud to connect Expo 2020 Dubai, the largest global event ever held in the region, with the most advanced 5G network and technology solutions that will bring innovation and transformation to the country and industry. This milestone is in line with Etisalat’s vision to ‘Drive the digital future to empower societies’ and its continuous efforts to enhance the reputation of the UAE as a leader in innovation, infrastructure and development.

“Expo 2020 Dubai will allow visitors to witness history in the making with its unique celebrations throughout the entire period. When the doors open to the World Expo visitors will enjoy a seamless, cutting-edge, immersive digital experience with a state-of-the-art network built exclusively to serve the requirements of Expo 2020 Dubai, the participating pavilions and visitors.”

Etisalat has built a dedicated modern network for Expo 2020 Dubai to meet it’s exclusive requirements and provide telecom services for the millions of visitors expected from around the world throughout the six-month event.

People visiting Expo 2020 Dubai will enjoy a network that is secure and reliable with low latency covering the area of 4.38 sq km. This was possible due to the deployment of over 8,500 mobile access points, over 8,000 Wi-Fi access points, 700 km fiber optic connectivity, more than 800 km cabling for mobile indoor and Wi-Fi network across exhibition and pavilion areas providing the highest throughput, capacity and seamless smart connectivity.

With a fiber network extended to every corner of the site, Expo 2020 Dubai visitors will experience seamless uninterrupted services with best-in-class download and upload speeds, high-quality content and minimal latency.

Etisalat’s network is also the backbone for the country, with the UAE having the highest fiber to the home (FTTH) penetration of all its global counterparts with 98.3 percent fiber connectivity coverage.

Etisalat has put in special efforts and consideration in maintaining the aesthetic value of Expo 2020 Dubai by reinventing the way the telecom network and infrastructure is built and integrated in line with the main theme of the Expo 2020 Dubai site, without compromising network performance.

Etisalat will play a major role in connecting visitors and participants with a cutting edge, seamless and immersive digital experience that brings Expo 2020 Dubai themes to life setting a benchmark for future World Expos.

Etisalat Digital has designed solutions and services to address international participants’ specific Information Communication Technology (ICT) needs and is working with the Expo 2020 Dubai team to ensure that an event of such a global scale has a secure, efficient network that is up and running 24/7. The business unit is managing Expo 2020 Dubai’s multi-cloud hosting infrastructure and is also providing a range of services to the 192 countries with pavilions to meet their requirements for scalability, flexibility, responsiveness and reliability.

Smart services and solutions have been deployed across the site to facilitate site operations and security through CCTV cameras with live feeds over the 5G network to ensure visitor and workforce safety.

A significant part of the project with Expo 2020 Dubai was providing a smooth digital experience, in collaboration with Accenture, Etisalat Digital is Expo 2020 Dubai’s Digital Services Premier Partner responsible for the delivery of a number of digital initiatives including Expo 2020 Dubai’s official portal and mobile app. Etisalat Digital is also delivering Expo 2020 Dubai’s ticketing platform for B2B and B2C ticket sales as well as the overall Command and Control platform. The solutions for visitors are designed and implemented to provide a seamless ticketing journey across the event’s digital channels.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai Airshow 2021 is set to host pitch competitions in partnership with major local and global aerospace entities, including Etihad Airways, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Boeing Applied Innovation.

The partnerships aim to provide disruptive startups with an opportunity to showcase their innovative technologies and creative ideas, in support of initiatives launched by the aerospace entities.

The VISTA pitch competitions will run across three categories covering areas that are key for the continued growth of the industry: sustainability, space, and innovation. Startups will be offered the opportunity to present their solutions to the aerospace ecosystem, tech leaders and investors, across two days of live pitches, in a bid to work with the industry’s leaders.

The sustainability challenge, held in conjunction with Etihad Airways, targets startups who can provide solutions that can lead to the reduction of indirect emissions, which occur throughout the entire supply chain of Etihad Airway’s ground and air operations, including cargo. The winner will be given an exclusive opportunity to pilot their idea live on Etihad’s Ecoflights plus 3 return business class tickets to any destination served by the Etihad Greenliner. The space challenge held in conjunction with MBRSC and AWS, invites startups to develop an end-to-end deep learning or machine learning model to automatically detect all the palm trees from RGB aerial imagery, with efficient computational time. The winners of the space challenge will be given AWS credits starting from the value of US$2,500 up to US$25,000. In addition, the VISTA Innovation Cup, invites ground-breaking startups from across the globe to pitch their product or solution to have a chance to win the title of the most Innovative Startup at Vista 2021.

Tim Hawes, Managing Director at Tarsus F&E LLC, organisers of Dubai Airshow 2021, said, “Through collaborating with some of the biggest names in the aerospace industry for holding the VISTA competition, we provide startups with an unparalleled opportunity to learn from industry leaders. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to take part in supporting projects launched by global aerospace players, taking part in shaping the future of the aerospace industry, and paving the way to burgeoning their emerging startups.”

Ayal Somech, Director at Boeing’s Applied Innovation team, the Strategic Sponsor for VISTA, said, “The aerospace and defence industries thrive on innovation and Boeing is committed to finding and funding startups with the potential for developing ground-breaking technology. As a sponsor of VISTA, we look forward to meeting with and mentoring startup teams that represent the future of our industry; the innovative work they do is vital to the future of aerospace.”

The judging panel for the competitions represent global industry experts, including: Mariam AlQubaisi, Head of Sustainability and Business Excellence at Etihad Aviation Group; Terence Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand and Marketing at Etihad Airways; Alya AlMaazmi, Head of Remote Sensing Applications Unit at MBRSC; more details can be found by the Dubai Airshow website.

VISTA, co-located within Dubai Airshow 2021, is the region’s only event dedicated to aerospace startups. Launched by Dubai Airshow 2021, in partnership with Boeing Applied Innovation, VISTA will provide entrepreneurs with an unrivalled opportunity to connect with investors, partners, and mentors to launch, scale and grow their startups, and bolster the growth of the aerospace and defence industries.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The UAE will celebrate World Tourism Day on 27th September, held this year under the theme, “Tourism for Inclusive Growth,” as the country remains a comprehensive and inspiring model in addressing the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has become one of the fastest recovering countries from the crisis.

The UAE is expecting a promising tourism season as Expo 2020 Dubai, which is one of the most important and momentous events in the world, transforming the country for six months into a leading global destination that will attract millions of visitors from over 190 countries.

The UAE has gradually resumed regular activities in the tourism sector and started welcoming tourists from around the world. It also announced that fully vaccinated tourists will be allowed to enter the country.

The high occupancy rate of tourism establishments underscores the recovery of the country’s tourism sector and the significant trust in its procedures, aimed at ensuring the highest levels of health and safety for tourists.

Industry statistics have shown a significant increase in the total revenues of hotels, as well as their occupancy rates, reaching AED11.3 billion and 62 percent occupancy in the first half of 2021, compared to AED8.6 billion and 53.6 percent in the first half of 2020.

The total number of hotel guests in the first half of 2021 amounted to 8.3 million from around the country, a 15 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year, while local hotel guests in the first half of 2021 numbered 2.3 million, compared to 1.3 million in the same period of 2020.

The UAE’s tourism sector is a key income source for its diversification policy, contributing over AED161 billion to GDP, which is expected to rise to AED234.2 billion in 2027. Domestic tourism contributed AED41 billion to the national economy last year with expectations that it will continue to increase.

The UAE recently adopted several decisions and procedures aimed at modernising the tourism and travel sector and accelerating its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch of long-term and multiple entry visas.

The UAE also launched a joint action plan between the Ministry of Economy and local tourism departments and authorities, aimed at increasing the number of international tourists and opening new tourism markets by launching widespread promotional campaigns promoting promising destinations.

Coinciding with the countdown to Expo 2020 Dubai, hotel reservations around the country witnessed a surge in demand, with many hotels located near the event having a 100 percent occupancy rate.

For the first time, the UAE recently obtained the support of member states of the World Tourism Organisation Regional Committee for membership in its Executive Council.

The impact of COVID-19 on tourism will cost the world economy US$4 trillion. Developing countries will be among the most affected ones, according to World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive social and economic impact. Both developed and developing economies have been hit. And marginalized groups and the most vulnerable have been hit hardest of all. The restart of tourism will help kickstart recovery and growth. It is essential that the benefits this will bring are enjoyed widely and fairly.

Tourism is a recognised pillar of most – if not all – the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), particularly Goals 1 (no poverty), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 10 (reduce inequalities).

On this World Tourism Day, the COVID-19 pandemic represents an opportunity to rethink the future of the tourism sector. Tourism has a unique ability to make sure nobody is left behind, as recognised by the Second Principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has highlighted the pivotal role played by global hospitality partners in accelerating the city’s tourism recovery.

At a meeting with the General Managers of Marriott International hotels in Dubai, Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Tourism shared a positive industry overview underlined by the steady growth in international visitation and high occupancy levels in the first seven months of 2021. He highlighted the fact that Dubai was ranked second globally ahead of London and Paris in terms of hotel occupancy with hotels enjoying 61 percent average occupancy levels from January – July 2021.

Kazim also emphasised the importance of leveraging all efforts to attract more international visitors, especially benefiting from the Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE Golden Jubilee celebrations.

With the hospitality sector employing a local and expatriate workforce that boasts unrivalled service excellence, Dubai Tourism also stressed the need for hotels to use the Dubai Way online platform created by the Dubai College of Tourism, which is aimed at ensuring that hotel staff impart standardised information and instructions and provide exceptional guest relations.

Kazim commented, “The growing industry momentum is the result of a robust strategy that was developed to manage the pandemic under the visionary leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. We are also heartened by the commitment of our stakeholders and partners like Marriott International to stay the course and convey to the world that Dubai remains open and safe for global travellers. We are proud of the enormous contribution hotels have made with their own strategies and initiatives in the true spirit of collaboration during these extraordinary circumstances, and we are also grateful to their support in ensuring that the industry enjoys continued success.”

Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, Marriott International said, “All signs show there is a huge pent-up demand for travel and we believe Dubai will continue to be a top destination for tourism, especially with the upcoming Expo 2020. We are honored be a part of the growth of this amazing destination and remain committed to supporting the efforts of Dubai Tourism.”

Participants at the meeting were also provided a brief overview of the marketing initiatives launched by Dubai Tourism in international markets including the latest global campaign, Dubai Presents featuring Hollywood stars Jessica Alba and Zac Efron, which was screened at the meeting. Following the launch of the first two cinematic trailers, Spy Action and RomCom, the campaign generated over 200 million views.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, With the launch of the long-awaited largest international event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), as the Official Culture Supporter of Expo 2020, announced its readiness to welcome the exhibition’s visitors at all its facilities and assets across the emirate.

The authority has prepared various cultural projects and initiatives that will enhance the emirate’s creative scene and enrich this leading global event’s cultural and creative content.

Hala Badri, Director-General of Dubai Culture, confirmed that Expo 2020 constitutes an ideal platform for the authority to introduce millions of visitors and residents to the city’s rich culture and creative economy, It would enrich their experience through various interactive events and activities and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, a thriving hub for talent and as the global capital of the creative economy.

Badri added, “Dubai is a city whose bright present is based on its authentic past and rich cultural content; the emirate is headed towards a more prosperous future. At Expo 2020, which brings together the world’s cultures and creativity to chart the features of a better future for humanity, we will celebrate this rich content and inspire the whole world with the extraordinary ambitions of our leadership and people.”

In line with the strategic roadmap 2020-2026, the authority is committed to making culture accessible to everyone through the historical, heritage and cultural assets that it manages in the emirate. Dubai Culture also enables and supports many annual events that have become an integral part of the emirate’s cultural agenda. It is keen to ensure that all facilities affiliated to the culture and heritage sector, such as museums, libraries, heritage sites, and art galleries, among others, are operating at optimal degrees of readiness to welcome visitors to Expo 2020.

Badri stressed that the authority was also keen to train all its teams to welcome Expo 2020 visitors and present an exemplary cultural experience.

Expo 2020 Dubai, taking place from 1st October, 2021, to 31st March, 2022, is the first international expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, and promotes the UAE. More than 25 million visitors are expected at the exhibition, which greatly benefits the UAE and the region.

Source: Emirates News Agency