Middle East

Aman Resorts to expand Middle Eastern presence with new Dubai hotel

Aman Dubai will be an all-suite hotel with a first for the city, a nine-acre park in hotel

Turkey increases focus on wealthier clients with new strategy

The strategy aims to elevate Turkey as a world-class cultural, sports and adventure destination

Stansted gains new four-times-weekly service to Jordan's capital Amman

Royal Jordanian’s Stansted route took off on Sunday

Ryanair suspends Tel Aviv flights following airport costs row

Budget carrier’s decision comes after the city’s main airport, Ben Gurion International, shut its low-cost terminal

Virgin Voyages cancels Australian season due to Red Sea tensions

“To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement,” Virgin Voyages said

Club Med unveils plans for 23 new openings and renovations

Resort operator hails 2024 a ‘milestone year’ for the business as it embarks on a new pipeline after completing a 10-year upscale programme across its 70 resorts globally

Virgin Atlantic extends Tel Aviv flight pause into September

Carrier says it remains committed to serving Israel from the UK in the future

Virgin Voyages plots new course as Middle East conflict escalates

Resilient Lady repositioning voyage in March to steer away from skirmishing in the Red Sea, with the line promising to protect agent commissions where clients decide not to sail

Celebrity hands Stirrup expanded role as part of efforts to grow EMEA footprint

The new EMEA sales team – under Claire Stirrup’s leadership – would help the line ’drive best practice, improve efficiencies and accelerate growth’, Celebrity said

Carnival Corp changes multiple Red Sea sailings amid escalating tensions

Sailings operated by 12 ships across seven Carnival Corp brands have been changed, the cruise giant said

Dorchester Collection makes debut in Dubai

Dorchester Collection’s The Lana has launched in Dubai, with the first Dior Spa in the UAE to follow

‘We don't send our guests to war zones – but we can give partners there hope’

‘Regent has over the years pioneered travel to lesser-trodden paths around the world – and despite the complex situation in places like Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, we will never abandon our partners on the ground’

AE Expeditions expands BDMs' remits as line focuses on new markets

Senior business development manager Andy Tait will assist agents in the Middle East and Africa as well as Europe and the UK

Red Sea threat prompts MSC to cancel three cruises

MSC Cruises has cancelled three positioning cruises due to the ongoing danger in the Red Sea posed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to shipping

One&Only expands upwards in Dubai

One&Only has expanded its collection to include a new city resort in Dubai set on multiple floors in new skyscraper One Za’abeel

Travel Counsellors achieves two record sales days in a row as peaks bookings soar

Tuesday (9 January) and Wednesday (10 January) entered the agency’s top 10 best sales days in the company’s history.

The homeworking giant has made 14 bookings over £50,000 this month, while 26 TCs have achieved total sales of more than £100,000. One TC has made an £84,000 booking this month.

TC Heather Lee, who has 24 years’ experience, said: “I have already achieved 50% of my last January sales in the first week, with much more on my desk.

FCDO updates travel advice to Middle East after Yemen air strikes

Foreign Office warns of potential “short notice” changes in advice to nearby destinations

Silversea to disembark passengers to avoid Red Sea ports amid rising tensions

The line is in the process of organising flights home for the passengers impacted by its decision

A&K plans to launch new-build vessel on Nile next year

The luxury tour operator will add to its Nile-based river fleet in autumn 2025

Kempinski doubles Dubai portfolio with Address rebrands

Kempinski has revamped two former Address hotels in Dubai and reopened them under its luxury brand

Celestyal to move to year-round operations with new Persian Gulf programme

The line will operate seven-night Desert Days itineraries from Doha from 9 November

Virgin Atlantic to increase winter sun capacity next year

The airline has ramped up services to the likes of Barbados, Dubai and the Maldives

Lufthansa to close Liverpool and Bristol routes in 2024

German carrier will axe two UK routes early next year, removing connection opportunities at Frankfurt

Regent Holidays retains Israel and Palestine trips for 2024

Specialist will continue offering Middle Eastern destinations despite Israel-Hamas conflict