
Qatar: QIC expects Eid travel surge as more travelers secure insurance
QIC's internal analysis of travel insurance purchasing behavior indicates a 50% increase in the number of outbound travelers who have already purchased travel insurance from QIC for their trips during the Eid holiday period until the end of the first week of April 2025, compared to the Eid al-Fitr holiday in 2024.
Europe is the preferred destination among QIC policyholders this Eid, with over 55% considering at least one of the 29Schengen countries. Poland is the top trending Schengen destination this Eid, followed by France, Germany, Croatia, and Portugal. Outside the Schengen zone, the United Kingdom remains the preferred destination for QIC-insured travelers this Eid.
As for visitors arriving in Qatar this Eid, QIC's data shows that nationals from Saudi Arabia, India, Algeria, Turkey, and the United States are among the top purchasers of travel insurance for visiting Qatar this Eid, including both inbound travel insurance and QIC's mandatory visitors' health insurance.
Ahmed Al Jarboey, QIC's Chief Operating Officer - Qatar Operations, said: 'The Eid al-Fitr break is a preferred travel period for many citizens and residents of Qatar, and an ideal occasion for international visitors to come and experience Qatar's festive celebrations during this joyous time. At QIC, we take pride in offering a diverse range of insurance plans that cater to every traveler segment, ensuring worry-free journeys for everyone. Our travel insurance solutions are carefully designed to protect travelers against unexpected financial burdens, and we are confident that Qatar-based travelers and international visitors will once again enjoy worry-free trips this Eid with QIC.'
QIC offers a range of travel insurance plans, including the Worldwide Plan, which provides coverage for medical emergencies, flight delays, and lost luggage and passports during global travel. The Fly Europe Plan provides up to $50,000 in medical coverage for Schengen and other European countries, while the Regional Plan covers travel accidents, medical expenses, and legal costs for trips to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the GCC.
© Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
The Peninsula Newspaper
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


What's On
15 hours ago
- What's On
New UAE public holiday law: more time off with smarter planning - What's On
Dubai (and the rest of the UAE) made work-life balance a lot more promising. Earlier this year, a new law, Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024 Concerning the Public Holidays in the State came into place that allows many public holidays that fall on a weekend to be transferred to a weekday, so if, say, a celebration lands on Friday or Saturday, you'll often still get a day off during the week. This is a game-changer for planning long weekends and meaningful breaks without eating into your annual leave. So what stays the same? The UAE's two biggest religious holidays, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, are still fixed in place and won't be shifted if they clash with a weekend. Plus, if a holiday overlaps another or touches a weekend, it doesn't become transferable either. But for key celebrations like New Year's Day, National Day, the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Birthday, and Islamic New Year, the rule gives you breathing room when dates fall unhelpfully. Why this matters for you Better work-life flow: No more losing out when a big holiday falls on a usual day off. Easier trip planning: A six-day getaway using just a couple of leave days? Totally possible. Ask HR early: Not all companies automatically apply the transfer so check your employer's policy to be sure. Leave smart: pro tips to maximise time off Know your contract's leave type: If your annual leave is counted in calendar days, public holidays during your break may count against your leave. If it's based on working days, you often get bonuses when those holidays overlap. Plan your breaks strategically: A holiday transfer plus a weekend? That's a pre-booked staycation or desert road trip waiting to happen. Communicate early with your team: Some companies treat transferred holidays as discretionary. Raise your plans well in advance so you're not stuck advising someone else stories on the day. Use tech: Add federal and lunar-based holidays into your calendar app. That way, you're always ahead of curveballs like Eid shifting. Wrapping it up 2025's policy update isn't just bureaucracy, it's a nudge to rest, recharge, and design a schedule that works for you. With the ability to transfer key public holidays, UAE residents can craft longer escapes and more restful interludes, without burning through leave days. So bookmark those dates, sync them up as your next mini-adventure might be closer than you think. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in


Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi welcomes over 4.3mln guests in H1 2025
ABU DHABI: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi witnessed a significant increase in visitor numbers during the first half of 2025, welcoming a total of 4,346,831 guests, marking a 5 percent growth compared to the same period in 2024, reaffirming the mosque's position as a leading religious and cultural destination on the global stage. The guest count included 1,948,482 worshippers and fasting guests, 2,355,165 visitors from various nationalities, and 43,184 users of the Mosque's Jogging Track. The mosque hosted 127,672 worshippers during Friday prayers, 346,671 during daily prayers, and 575,372 during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. Notably, the mosque recorded its highest number of worshippers on the 27th night of Ramadan (25 March 2025), with 72,710 worshippers, including 11,483 for Taraweeh prayers and 61,050 for Tahajjud prayers, in an atmosphere of serenity and spiritual reflection. As part of the 'Our Fasting Guests' initiative, the Centre collaborated with the Erth Zayed Philanthropies and its strategic partner Erth Hotel to distribute Iftar and Suhoor meals. The hotel prepared approximately 2.6 million meals, of which 898,767 were distributed at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, 442,345 at Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Al Ain, 1,160,000 in labour cities across Abu Dhabi, and 105,935 in various areas of the Emirate. During the Eid Al-Adha holiday, the mosque welcomed 96,497 guests, including 41,385 worshippers—12,740 of whom performed Eid prayers—54,751 visitors, and 361 Jogging Track users. The number of vehicles that used the mosque's parking facilities reached 988,411. According to the Centre's statistics, 82 percent of visitors came from outside the UAE, while 18 percent were UAE nationals and residents. This reflects the mosque's growing prominence as a global cultural tourism landmark. In terms of regional distribution, Asia accounted for 49 percent of visitors, followed by Europe with 35 percent, North America with 10 percent, Africa with 3 percent, South America with 2 percent, and Australia with 1 percent. The top visiting countries were India (20 percent), China (9 percent), Russia (8 percent), USA (7 percent), Germany (4 percent), followed by France, UK, Italy, Philippines, and Poland, each contributing 3 percent of the total visitors. The Centre's Cultural Tour Specialists conducted 2,363 cultural tours, introducing guests to the mosque's message of peace, tolerance, and cross-cultural dialogue. The Centre also received 826 official delegation bookings, including 196 high-level delegations. These included visits from 6 Heads of State, 1 Vice President, 6 Prime Ministers, 4 Parliament Speakers, 1 Deputy Speaker, 3 Governors, 4 Sheikhs and Princes, 44 Ministers, 16 Deputy Ministers, 25 Ambassadors and Consuls, 52 Military Delegations, and 34 delegations from various official entities. To enhance the visitor experience, the Centre provided over 70 electric vehicles to transport worshippers from parking areas to prayer halls, prioritising the elderly and People of Determination. Additionally, more than 3,515 comfortable seats were provided for their comfort and 50 wheelchairs were made available to facilitate movement within the mosque. The Centre continued to enrich its offerings with innovative experiences, including public cultural tours, 'Unseen Glimpses' tours via electric vehicles, Souq Al Jami', the Jogging Track, and Night Cultural Tours (Sura Tour) available 24/7. The 'Sura' experience was designed specifically for transit passengers and those with limited time during their stay in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the Centre offers 'El-Delleel', a multimedia guide device that provides virtual cultural tours in 14 languages, including a sign language tour for the hearing impaired and child-friendly tours, ensuring an inclusive and enriching experience for all visitors.


Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi welcomes over 4.3 million guests in 2025
17 Aug 2025 11:33 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi witnessed a significant increase in visitor numbers during the first half of 2025, welcoming a total of 4,346,831 guests, marking a 5 percent growth compared to the same period in 2024, and reaffirming the mosque's position as a leading religious and cultural destination on the global guest count included 1,948,482 worshippers and fasting guests, 2,355,165 visitors from various nationalities, and 43,184 users of the mosque's jogging mosque hosted 127,672 worshippers during Friday prayers, 346,671 during daily prayers, and 575,372 during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid the mosque recorded its highest number of worshippers on the 27th night of Ramadan (25 March 2025), with 72,710 worshippers, including 11,483 for Taraweeh prayers and 61,050 for Tahajjud prayers, in an atmosphere of serenity and spiritual part of the Our Fasting Guests initiative, the centre collaborated with the Erth Zayed Philanthropies and its strategic partner Erth Hotel to distribute Iftar and Suhoor meals. The hotel prepared approximately 2.6 million meals, of which 898,767 were distributed at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, 442,345 at Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Al Ain, 1,160,000 in labour cities across Abu Dhabi, and 105,935 in various areas of the the Eid Al-Adha holiday, the mosque welcomed 96,497 guests, including 41,385 worshippers—12,740 of whom performed Eid prayers—54,751 visitors, and 361 jogging track users. The number of vehicles that used the mosque's parking facilities reached 988, to the centre's statistics, 82 percent of visitors came from outside the UAE, while 18 percent were UAE nationals and residents. This reflects the mosque's growing prominence as a global cultural tourism terms of regional distribution, Asia accounted for 49 percent of visitors, followed by Europe with 35 percent, North America with 10 percent, Africa with 3 percent, South America with 2 percent, and Australia with 1 top visiting countries were India (20 percent), China (9 percent), Russia (8 percent), USA (7 percent), Germany (4 percent), followed by France, UK, Italy, Philippines, and Poland, each contributing 3 percent of the total centre's cultural tour specialists conducted 2,363 cultural tours, introducing guests to the mosque's message of peace, tolerance, and cross-cultural centre also received 826 official delegation bookings, including 196 high-level delegations. These included visits from 6 heads ofstate, 1 vice presidents, 6 prime ministers, 4 parliamentary speakers, 1 deputy parliamentary speaker, 3 governors, 4 Sheikhs and princes, 44 ministers, 16 deputy ministers, 25 ambassadors and consuls, 52 military delegations, and 34 delegations from various official enhance the visitor experience, the centre provided over 70 electric vehicles to transport worshippers from parking areas to prayer halls, prioritising the elderly and People of Determination. More than 3,515 comfortable seats were also provided for their comfort and 50 wheelchairs were made available to facilitate movement within the centre continues to enrich its offerings with innovative experiences, including public cultural tours, Unseen Glimpses tours via electric vehicles, Souq Al Jami, the jogging track, and night cultural tours (Sura Tour) available 24/7. The 'Sura' experience was designed specifically for transit passengers, and those with limited time during their stay in Abu Dhabi. The centre also offers 'El-Delleel', a multimedia guide device that provides virtual cultural tours in 14 languages, including a sign language tour for the hearing impaired and child-friendly tours, ensuring an inclusive and enriching experience for all visitors. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi