Wego partners with Waves to elevate luxury travel experiences across the region
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Wego announced its partnership with Waves, the innovative experience app and aggregator that seamlessly connects users with yachts and chalets. This collaboration brings an unparalleled luxury experience to travelers looking to explore coastlines, indulge in water activities, or celebrate special occasions in style. With this partnership, Wego customers can now easily book family friendly yacht trips ranging from 2 to 6 hours, accommodating an average of 25 guests for bespoke journeys across Dubai, Kuwait, Jeddah, and Qatar. Whether it's a tranquil coastal escape, an adventurous boating experience, or an exclusive celebration, Wego and Waves together offer the perfect setting for unforgettable moments at sea. Mr. AbdulRahman AlSaadoon, CEO of Waves added: 'By integrating Waves with Wego, we are bringing our world class yacht experiences to a broader audience. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to redefining travel by seamlessly connecting land and sea.' Waves has quickly established itself as a regional leader, beginning its journey in Kuwait before expanding to Qatar during the World Cup and further into Saudi Arabia and Dubai. The platform is known for its hassle-free booking experience, ensuring reliability, convenience, and premium service for all users. Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: 'We are excited to partner with Waves to offer our customers exclusive luxury experiences. This partnership enhances our mission of providing travelers with unique, hassle-free travel options that go beyond conventional tourism.' Through Wego's extensive reach and seamless technology, travelers now have easier access to Waves' fleet of luxurious yachts, making premium water experiences more accessible than ever. The collaboration aligns with both companies' missions to enhance travel convenience and elevate experiential tourism in the region.
Travelers can now access Waves' premium yacht rental services through Wego's platform, allowing for smooth and effortless reservations. Whether planning a relaxing family outing, a corporate event, or a luxurious getaway, users can browse and book their dream experience within minutes.
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Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Jordan fans hope to travel to North America to support their team at 2026 World Cup
Euphoric Jordanian expats in the UAE are hoping to take the long flight to North America following their team's historic Fifa World Cup qualification. Jordan last week became the first Arab team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup which will be played in the US, Canada and Mexico. Twelve years after their heartbreaking defeat to a star-studded Uruguay team in the inter-continental playoffs which denied them a chance to play in the 2014 World Cup, Jordan's greatest footballing dream has finally come true. 'As a Jordanian and as an Arab seeing our national team qualify for the World Cup is a moment of indescribable pride,' said Sharjah resident Osama Alrefaee. 'I was surrounded by friends and family, and as soon as the final whistle blew, we burst into cheers, hugs, and happy tears.' Alrefaee says it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to cheer for his team in North America next year. 'If I have the chance, I'll be there waving the Jordanian flag with pride. Supporting the team in person on such a global stage would be a dream come true,' he said. Passion for football Abu Dhabi resident Hiba Al Mubarak knows what it's like to be in a World Cup, having attended a few matches in Qatar 2022. But now supporting Jordan from the stands next year in North America will be the greatest moment of her life. 'Every Jordanian is so proud that we have become the first Arab team to qualify for the next World Cup. I am sure the whole country would want to be at the World Cup next year,' she said. 'But going to a World Cup is very expensive, not every family can afford it. I was in Qatar for a few matches in 2022. It's not easy.' Having said that, Hiba admitted that some of her compatriots could be inspired by what a lot of Argentinian fans did at the Qatar World Cup. 'I met a few Argentinian fans and I was truly amazed by their passion for the game. A lot of them said they took loans and some of them even sold their personal belongings to be able to travel to Qatar,' she said. 'They are so passionate about football. For them, it's more than a game. And as a Jordanian, I know that our people are also very passionate about football. So, you never know, a few of them can do the same to watch the World Cup in North America next year.' Only Jordan Until the 2022 World Cup, Dubai resident Hamza Raqqad had only supported one team, England. 'I have always supported them because my mother is English. But my father is Jordanian,' said Hamza who watched Jordan's decisive win over Oman in the qualifier last week at a Jordanian café in Dubai. Now next year, Hamza will support only Jordan even if they are drawn in the same group with England. 'There will be no England next year for me. Only Jordan,' he said. 'I was raised in Jordan and it's difficult not to be emotional now. When they put the national flags of the qualified teams on the Fifa website, I saw the Jordanian flag and it filled me with so much pride.' Unlike the other Jordanian expats, Fahed Zoumot's perspective was different. The 40-year-old Dubai resident was a former international cager, having played for the Jordanian national basketball team. 'I know the responsibility you have on your shoulders when you wear the national team jersey and the sacrifices it takes to give your best in every match and every training session for your country,' said Zoumot who admired the dazzling skills of Brazilian football icons Romario and Ronaldinho. 'Basketball is popular in Jordan, but football is massive. So what this team has done is just incredible because it was such a tough qualifying campaign. To be able to enjoy this moment is so special now, especially after that 2013 heartbreak against Uruguay,' he said. Yasser Abdalrahman was at the stadium in Amman when Uruguay broke Jordanian hearts in 2013 by beating them 5-0 in the playoff. 'I was at the stadium and almost in tears after our team lost. It was heartbreaking. So now after all the years of hurt, I cannot express my joy of seeing my team reach the World Cup,' said Yasser, an influencer who socializes with Ali Alwan and Yazan Al Naimat, two of the stars of the team that made history. 'I know a lot of the players, they are my friends. So I am hoping that I can travel next year to the US and cheer them on.'
Broadcast Pro
3 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
Fuelling a new era in sports broadcasting
Global media tech giant NEP Group recently unveiled its first large-scale IP-based OB trucks for the Middle East. Speaking exclusively to Vijaya Cherian, senior executives highlight how these agile machines, powered by NEP's broadcast platform, are set to revolutionise the region's content production industry. A veteran in live production, NEP has powered the broadcast infrastructure for some of the world's most iconic events, including the Olympics, the World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL). With more than 150 OB vehicles supporting sports, entertainment, news and other major productions and events in the Americas, Europe and Australia, NEP boasts the largest OB fleet in the industry. This February, the group unveiled its first large-scale OB vehicle in the Middle East. The ME-01 OB truck made its debut at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov, the first UFC event ever held in Saudi Arabia. 'Our use of the new ME01 OB unit for UFC Saudi Arabia elevated our production capabilities, delivering the same top-tier innovation and engineering we've come to expect from NEP worldwide. Now that level of excellence is accessible locally in one of the fastest-growing production markets in the world,' says Greg Louw, Director of Technical Operations for the UFC. ME-01 went on to support the production of the Saudi Cup and Power Slap 11 championships in Riyadh, as well as the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four event in Abu Dhabi. ME-01's launch was bolstered by the unveiling of ME-02, NEP's second state-of-the-art IP unit for the region, at CABSAT 2025. Although the trucks are designed for the Middle East, their manufacture is the result of extensive collaboration between NEP's teams in Australia, Europe and the Middle East. 'For NEP, these trucks are truly a labour of love. Our CTOs from three continents contributed years of operational insights to elevate ME-01 and ME-02 into hallmarks of NEP's next-generation OB fleet,' explains Marc Segar, Chief Technology Officer for NEP Australia, New Zealand and Japan, who led the project. 'It's this spirit of collaboration that makes these OBs truly amazing.' For Louw, NEP's expansion into the region marks a pivotal moment in content production. 'The Middle East is solidifying its status as a premier destination for global media projects. With two fully IP-based broadcast facilities now operating here, powered by NEP's TFC platform, it's a true game-changer for the region's production community.' Fabrication began in March 2024 when NEP acquired two purpose-built OB coaches from Tomassini Style in Perugia, Italy. 'The trucks underwent complete redesign to meet the needs of the Middle East market,' explains Segar. 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Both OB trucks use SMPTE ST 2110 broadcast facilities, with no baseband cabling except for the tailboard edges. Key hardware has been provided by Grass Valley, Cisco, Arkona, Manifold Technologies, EVS and Lawo. Features include 30 LDX-150 camera chains, seven EVS XT-VIA servers, multi-format support, a Grass Valley K-frame with Kayenne panel, LAWO audio consoles and an RTS intercom system. Notably, ME-01 and ME-02 are format- and frame rate-agnostic. TFC at the helm Beyond being fitted with advanced equipment, the twin units are powered by NEP's TFC (Total Facility Control) broadcast orchestration platform, which enables the seamless integration of hardware and software from multiple vendors into one interface, simplifying control, automating tasks and standardising workflows. 'TFC has been instrumental in simplifying the complexity of SMPTE ST 2110 and bringing the familiarity of baseband workflows into the IP domain,' says Segar. 'It's a powerful unifying platform that allows broadcasters to harness the full potential of IP without sacrificing usability or control.' Interestingly, TFC's creation was not a planned operational strategy. Rather, it was born out of necessity to solve the day-to-day operational challenges faced by the company's engineering team. In 2018, NEP's engineering team in Australia began working with SMPTE ST 2110. As early adopters of IP-based production, they faced two major challenges. While IP offered powerful flexibility, there was a clear gap in the number of broadcast engineers with deep IP expertise. Secondly, there was an absence of a comprehensive control system to facilitate the transition effectively. 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Technology-agnostic, it enables broadcasters to transition from baseband to IP at their own pace by supporting hybrid environments. The platform doesn't require any system upgrades and simply adapts to existing infrastructure. This seamless integration with minimal disruption delivers multiple benefits – from cost efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint due to minimal hardware waste, to enabling content producers to focus on creative output rather than technical system integration. TFC is also vendor-agnostic, allowing broadcasters to bring together a wide range of technologies within an IP-based broadcast environment. A web-based platform, it provides a simple touchscreen interface that enables operators, whether in an OB truck or a fixed facility, to easily manage and orchestrate all connected devices and systems, regardless of manufacturer. The platform is widely used across the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and is now available in the Middle East with the launch of the ME01 and ME-02 OBs. To date, TFC has been used in over one million productions globally, including the Paris Olympics, the World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Masters, the PGA Tour and Eurovision. Building a stronger presence Since the launch of ME-01 and ME-02, four other NEP trucks have been deployed in the region, three of them 4K/HDR capable. Additionally, NEP's pool of internationally deployed flypacks is available for regional broadcasters and producers. Last month, NEP provided the full range of media services for the Arab League Summit held in Baghdad. As NEP's first production in Iraq, it included the supply of OB trucks and speciality cameras. 'Broadcasters, rights holders and streamers continue to expand and enhance their projects in the Middle East, reaching new audiences with amazing live sports and entertainment content. And we're meeting them right here, supporting their productions with NEP's global ecosystem of media services and solutions,' says Mohammad Hammoud, Chief Commercial Officer for NEP Middle East and Asia. Much like its OB fleet, NEP's TFC platform has expanded its reach globally too. The software was initially only available on productions where NEP served as the media services provider, supporting events that had the group's OB units, centralised production facilities, cameras and other infrastructure. Other broadcasters, drawn by its advantages, soon began approaching NEP to integrate TFC into their own workflows. In response to growing demand, NEP announced at the 2025 NAB Show that TFC would now be available industrywide as a licensed software service. Despite TFC's ability to simplify complex broadcast systems, the search for qualified professionals remains a critical challenge. 'Finding staff with deep IP experience isn't unique to NEP or this region. It is a global and industry-wide issue,' remarks Segar. 'We have a very successful engineer apprentice programme at our global headquarters in Pittsburgh. We have set up a training academy in India and also run an internship programme in Singapore to create a talent pipeline for the industry.' NEP's significant investment in the Middle East is a testament to the region's growing significance on the global media map. With the use of new tech such as TFC, ME-01 and ME-02 in local productions, the region's media sector is poised to enter a new era of production.
The National
5 days ago
- The National
Palestine prepare for vital Oman clash and hope a little Jordanian World Cup magic rubs off on them
The spectacular drone show that filled the skies above Amman last Thursday evening with messages of love and support for the Jordan national team may have gone, but the excitement of qualifying for a first World Cup still lingers on in this ancient city. Almost all of the billboards – digital and analogue – that frame the winding roads, display images of the team, messages of congratulations from the king or the star player Musa Al Taamari as well as Ali Olwan, the hat-trick hero from that 3-0 win over Oman that sealed the deal in Muscat. On Sunday evening in a busy shisha bar, just a long goal kick from the old Roman theatre, locals were watching Portugal beat Spain on penalties in the final of the Uefa Nations League, but among the smoke there was talk of how Jordan will do next summer in North America. For the fans, the habit of drinking lots of coffee and staying up to watch games past midnight will be a useful one in 2026. The team are also preparing – starting against Iraq on Tuesday evening. A week ago, it promised to be a tense, tight and potentially traumatic winner-takes-all affair, but now it is going to be more of a celebration following Jordan's win over Oman and Iraq's defeat to South Korea. Instead, the big match in Asia, the only one of any real meaning left in the third round of qualification, will kick off at exactly the same time just a few kilometres away. Suddenly, Palestine against Oman is the game to watch. A win for the 'home' team at the King Abdullah II Stadium – and it should feel like a home game as it is in the east of the city and near the biggest of the Palestinian refugee camps – would keep the most amazing football dream alive and send 'the Fedayoon' into the fourth round of 2026 World Cup qualifying, where six teams will compete for two more direct spots. In short, Palestine need the same result against Oman that Jordan managed. 'Jordan are an Arab national team and we are very proud of them,' Palestine coach Ihab Abujazar told The National. 'It is a big success for them, they are a strong team. They played well against Oman and now it is our turn. It is obviously an important match for us. We hope to translate all that we have been doing on to the pitch and win to get to the fourth round and bring happiness to the Palestinian people all over the world.' If Palestine can follow Jordan's example on the pitch, then they will be able to experience some of the same excitement off of it. 'The feeling here has been great for the past few days, especially as it was a little unexpected as most thought it would go down to the final game,' Palestine fan and Amman resident Omar Yousef told The National. 'I hope it inspires Palestine but the team doesn't need it, we have been close to going out of qualification a few times but when we needed to, we got a .result.' The latest was last week's gritty 2-0 win away in Kuwait, one that showed how far the team has come. Last year, Palestine finished second behind Australia in the second stage to join the last 18 in the third round where there have been two draws with the mighty South Korea. There is now a chance to move to within genuine touching distance of a World Cup. Considering the continuing devastation at home and playing all games away, just to get that close would be an achievement at least as impressive as Jordan's direct entry. 'We were so happy to be here and have a chance to play against teams like South Korea and their big stars but we showed that we can match them and that we deserve to be here.' said Yousef. 'Now we want more. If we can draw with South Korea in Korea then we can beat Oman in Amman, and then who knows?' A second night of World Cup celebration in Amman in the space of five days would be unprecedented in the city's long history. 'The mood here has been a little happier and brighter since Jordan qualified,' added Yousef. 'That spirit is making us dream.'
