Etihad Airways announces 30% discount on flights to popular destinations
6 May 2025 12:47
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Etihad Airways has launched an exclusive Business Sale, with up to 30% on business class fares, offering travellers the chance to experience luxury travel at exceptional prices across its expanding global network.Available until May 8, the offer features Business fares to sought-after summer destinations including our new destinations launching later this year with Al Alamein at Dh3,595, Sochi at Dh5,995, Warsaw at Dh6,995, Prague at Dh9,995, and Taipei at Dh11,995 as well as seasonal routes to Mykonos and Santorini at Dh6,995, Antalya at Dh8,595 and Nice at Dh11,795.
These special fares are valid for travel between June 1 and September 30, 2025.Wei Jin, VP Revenue Management at Etihad Airways, said: "Summer is a time for unforgettable experiences, and we're making luxury travel more accessible with these exceptional Premium Cabin offers. These Business sale fares give travellers the perfect opportunity to turn their dream summer holiday into reality, enjoying the comfort, space and personalised service that defines Etihad's premium experience."The special promotion follows Etihad's reveal of its new A321LR aircraft cabins at the Arabian Travel Market last week, bringing luxury flight experience on its widebody fleet to short and medium-haul routes.
Premium guests across the Etihad network enjoy à la carte dining, access to dedicated lounges, and the airline's signature hospitality.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
7 hours ago
- Al Etihad
AI fluency an essential for CEOs to drive innovation, shape future-ready firms
3 June 2025 01:00 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHBAI)C-suite executives recognise the importance of adopting AI, but there remain gaps in their understanding of the technology — particularly in knowing its capabilities, limitations, and how it can effectively enhance operations and the workforce, an expert has said. Today's CEOs will require more than just education, said Abir Habbal, Data and AI Strategy & Consulting Lead at Accenture in the Middle East, in an interview with Aletihad . Habbal enumerated three key barriers to AI adoption at the executive level.'First, there is uncertainty about where to start. The AI space is evolving so fast, it is hard to separate hype from what is actually achievable. Second, alignment across the leadership team is not always there. If your CIO, CFO, and CHRO are not working from a shared understanding, AI initiatives often stall at the pilot stage. And third, many organisations simply are not ready.'To close these gaps, she recommended a full-immersion executive training programme.'When you bring CEOs and their leadership teams into a focused learning environment… you give them the space to step back, learn from experts, and engage in honest, strategic conversations."CEOs need AI fluency, Habbal said. This refers to 'understanding what AI can and cannot do, how to manage risks responsibly, how to redesign operating models around AI, and how to build a future-ready workforce'.The UAE Government is ahead of the curve in upskilling top officials across federal entities. Its recently launched Chief AI Officers' Training Programme aims to empower AI leaders and drive sustained progress in adopting and developing smart is just one among several initiatives that the country has rolled out to be at the forefront of AI development.'What sets the UAE apart is the clarity of its ambition and the speed of execution,' Habbal said. 'We are deeply aligned with Abu Dhabi's vision for becoming an AI-native government by 2027… not just by adopting technology, but by reimagining how services are delivered to citizens.' Impact of AI Literacy AI training programmes are not about 'turning executives into data scientists', the expert said. 'It is about giving them the tools to lead in an AI-driven world.'AI literacy fundamentally changes the dynamics between the C-suite and technical teams, Habbal said. 'That alignment helps sharpen priorities, streamline decision-making, and avoid the disconnects that often slow down execution.'Generative AI, she said, is becoming a powerful decision-support tool for executives. 'It is not making decisions for leaders; but it helps them make better, faster, more informed decisions,' Habbal said. "At the end of the day, the judgment still lies with the human. But generative AI helps cut through the noise, boost strategic thinking, and unlock time — so leaders can focus on what truly matters.' Differentiating Factors Asked about measuring the return on investment (ROI) from AI implementation, Habbal explained that it's not always about 'cost savings or headcount reduction'. The real impact, she said, would be evident from smarter decisions; teams that can make decisions on their own; better business outcomes; and the organisational statistics from Accenture studies, Habbal said 63% of leading performing companies see AI deliver measurable ROI within 3 years, but only 15% of the C-suite feel they are prepared to who lead in AI adoption invest twice as much in talent and responsible AI practices compared to their peers — enabling them to bring new products to market up to 50% faster, their research added. As teams get more AI fluency, collaboration improves and innovation speeds up, Habbal said.'AI training is one of the fastest ways to unlock innovation — because it gives people the confidence and know-how to actually use the technology,' she said. 'The companies that are winning with AI are the ones that treat it as a business transformation, not just a tech upgrade.'In line with UAE AI Strategy 2031, firms need to build AI fluency from within, the expert said. "The UAE's vision is ambitious, but it is also collaborative. Companies that lean in, upskill their leaders, and align their innovation agendas with the country's strategic goals will not only stay relevant; they will help shape the future of the region.'
Al Etihad
7 hours ago
- Al Etihad
‘It feels surreal': Thousands of Emirati pilgrims now in Makkah for sacred Hajj
3 June 2025 01:00 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Thousands of UAE pilgrims have arrived in the holy city of Makkah, ready to begin the sacred rites of Hajj after months of preparation and anticipation. Saudi Arabia announced that the annual pilgrimage will begin on June 4 upon the sighting of the Dhul-Hijjah crescent year, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat (Awqaf) approved a total of 6,228 UAE pilgrims for the 1446 AH / 2025 AD Hajj season, in accordance with the quota allocated by Saudi authorities. A significant 91% of the pilgrims are performing Hajj for the first time, while the rest include 'mahrams', companions, and supervisors from the UAE Hajj Affairs registration process for UAE residents was conducted between September 19 and 30, 2024, via the official Awqaf smart app and website. To be eligible, applicants had to be UAE citizens aged 12 or older and not have performed Hajj in the last five seasons. Priority was given to those who had never performed Hajj, especially people of determination, the elderly, and individuals with chronic tour operators in the UAE began preparations at the start of the year, with growing interest from eligible pilgrims until the final list was announced on February 5. 'Our pilgrims arrived in Makkah between May 28 and June 1,' Faisal Raheem, operations manager at a licensed Hajj and Umrah operator in Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad . 'After settling in, they performed Umrah right away. Now, they're resting, attending educational sessions, and preparing mentally and spiritually for the days ahead.' Peaceful and Surreal Abdullah, a 34-year-old Emirati pilgrim who is performing Hajj for the first time described his experience in Makkah as 'surreal'.'I'm now spending as much time as I can praying and making du'a,' he said. 'The heat is tough, but the spirit here makes you forget the discomfort,' he told Aletihad. Aisha Al Hammadi, a 41-year-old teacher from Sharjah, noted the importance of both physical and spiritual readiness ahead of the pilgrimage. 'I started preparing months ago,' she told Aletihad. 'I attended workshops, listened to lectures online, and walked daily to build stamina. But the most important part was preparing my heart and making peace with people.'Hamda, 25, is attending the pilgrimage with her father, sister, and aunt. 'It feels so surreal seeing this many people gather in one spot to worship Allah,' she told Aletihad. 'Although the place is very packed, the peacefulness of these great days is overwhelming.' Hajj Guide Hajj packages from the UAE are priced between Dh27,000 and Dh55,000, depending on hotel category, duration of stay, and proximity to the holy sites, according to Heba Ahmad, an agent at a licensed tour operator in Abu Dhabi. These packages include flights, accommodation, local transportation, and logistical support.'Our team arrives a day or two early to make sure everything is in place,' Ahmad told Aletihad. 'We also have staff who accompany the groups throughout the pilgrimage.'Pilgrims are encouraged to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' 'Twajudi' service to ensure easy communication and receive assistance in case of an emergency. Additionally, 62 supervisory personnel from the UAE Hajj Affairs Office are on the ground to oversee the delivery of top-quality services, adherence to health guidelines, and proper performance of religious rites.
Al Etihad
7 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi to get Dh40bn wellness island as Aldar bets big on lifestyle-led urban growth
3 June 2025 01:00 ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi's real estate ambitions just got a Dh40 billion wellness upgrade, with Fahid Island — Aldar's newest development — indicating that intent, rather than scale alone, has become a defining feature of the emirate's urban planning between Yas Island and Saadiyat, the 2.7 million square metre masterplan blends residential, recreational, and natural spaces, creating a mixed-use community where every resident lives within a five-minute walk of the sea and no more than 250 metres from green island, marketed as Abu Dhabi's first wellness-focused destination, includes more than 6,000 homes, a top-tier international school, retail and hospitality offerings, and 30% of the land reserved for green areas. 'Wellness is a mega trend, and for Aldar, that's not a new thing. Whether it's spa and hospitality, food and nutrition, sleep and breathing - it's everywhere,' Jonathan Emery, CEO of Aldar Development, said in an interview with Aletihad on Monday. 'The challenge for Aldar is, how do we bring that into a physical real estate solution? How do you actually make it real? Rather than just an experience, we have to build the stage for it, and that's what we're trying to do.' Designing for Wellbeing, Rooted in Community Fahid Island's masterplan builds on what Aldar has learned from years of work on Yas and Saadiyat. But Emery is quick to point out that this isn't a cut-and-paste version of previous he said, the project aims to respond to the new expectations of both local and international buyers, many of whom are looking for something different post-pandemic - more nature, less distance, and a quieter, more intentional way of a result, Fahid Island is being designed as a fully walkable and connected environment, with 15km of shaded pedestrian routes and bridges connecting both sides of the island to limit car use. It will also feature a 10km landscaped Berm Park, complete with cycling routes and running trails, and a 2km promenade.'We've learned how to optimise the natural benefits of the island,' Emery said. 'How to work with the mangroves, even with the wind, the sea, and the sun. Just understanding what those things mean to people.'The emphasis on proximity, ecology and liveability also ties into the UAE's current national theme, the Year of Community. In the case of Fahid Island, that has meant prioritising walkability, shared public areas and amenities that bring residents into contact with one another. Emery described this approach as rooted in the UAE's sense of 'generosity', not in scale, but in how space is shared.'It's about how we allocate space and how we create opportunities for people to meet. That's very much in line with the values of the UAE, and the kind of community we're trying to build.' Backed by Strong Funding and Market Momentum The first phase of Fahid Island, which includes the school and residential buildings, is expected to be completed by 2029. Later phases will be delivered over the following three developer acquired the land in early 2023 for Dh2.5 billion, initially estimating the site's gross development value at Dh26 billion, which has since grown to surpass Dh40 to Aldar, the project is already fully funded through a mix of corporate financing, bonds, sukuk, and projected sales. Sales are expected to begin shortly after the Eid Al-Adha, with one-bedroom units starting at Dh3.5 company is forecasting total development sales of between Dh36 billion and Dh39 billion in 2025, up from Dh33.6 billion last year, and Fahid Island is likely to play a substantial role in meeting those targets. Its launch comes amid a broader upswing in Abu Dhabi's real estate market, where demand for high-end, waterfront communities surged by 15% in 2024, according to a recent report by MPM Properties. Investor confidence received an added boost last month with the announcement of a Disney theme park on nearby Yas revealed that interest in Fahid Island has come from both international and local buyers, though the domestic market has shown particular strength. He attributes this resilience to a mix of ambition, talent, and the UAE's solutions-oriented approach.'The talent that now exists in the UAE is sort of unprecedented - it's an incredible place to be,' he said. 'It's an amazing talent pool that can help it achieve its ambition.' 'That, combined with a focus on quality and problem-solving, is what's driving the next phase of development.'
