Latest news with #Dh9
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
India, Pakistan flights: One-way ticket to UAE for Dh9,100 as expats rush back after ceasefire
Airfares from Pakistan and some Indian cities have seen a massive increase as UAE residents stuck in their home countries reschedule their return dates following the ceasefire between the two neighbours. Travel agents in the UAE said they are witnessing a lot of enquiries and demands from the UAE residents who went to India and Pakistan for holidays before the military escalation and want to return early, fearing flights may be suspended again if the situation escalates. Following the ceasefire initiated by US President Donald Trump, Pakistan and India has reopened airports and announced the resumption of flights. Reschedule return date Pakistani national Ijaz Khan, a businessman in the UAE, has been stuck in his home country due to the war. 'I'm trying to move ahead my return to the UAE during this ceasefire. I'm trying to arrange my return as soon as possible because I don't know what the situation will be with regard to commercial flights,' said Khan. Saleem Akhtar, currently in Lahore on vacation and looking to return to the UAE, said airfares are quite high over the next few days only. 'Those people whose flights were cancelled over the past 3-4 days are rebooking now. Therefore, airfares have spiked this week till May 17. We see airfares on May 18 and beyond are normal,' he said. Dh3,900 India-UAE one-way fare One-way airfare from Delhi to Dubai for Monday flight on a full-fledged carrier reached Rs44,670 (Dh1,920) due to the closure of airports in the Indian Punjab during military escalation, resulting in a large number of residents opting to fly from Delhi airport. However, the one-way airfare drops steadily and will reach just around Dh910 by Friday. Meanwhile, Delhi-Abu Dhabi airfares stood at Rs51,600 (Dh2,230) for Monday and Rs90,300 (Dh3,900) for Tuesday. Meanwhile, airfare on a budget carrier on Delhi-Sharjah flights ranged between Dh1,360 and Dh1,180 over the next few days due to high demand. Dh9,100 Pakistan-UAE one-way fare Similarly, for Monday, Lahore to Dubai airfare on UAE carriers touched as high as nearly Rs700,000 (Dh9,100) but dropped to around Rs390,000 (Dh5,100) on Friday. A local carrier website showed seats on Lahore-Abu Dhabi almost sold out till Wednesday due to heavy passenger traffic with airfares reaching Rs540,000 (Dh7,050). Meanwhile, one-way airfares on Pakistani airlines reached around Dh2,350 for Monday and Tuesday. Hundreds of flights from Pakistan were cancelled over the past few days due to the closure of airspace. This has created a massive backlog for the airlines to deal with. If the ceasefire continues to hold, travel industry executives suggested that airfares will take at least 4-5 days to return to normal levels due to exceptionally high demand. 'There is a strong demand from people stuck in India and Pakistan because they want to return to the UAE as soon as possible,' said Mir Wasim Raja, manager of International Travel Services (ITS). 'Because of strong demand, airfares have gone up by 20 per cent as flights are operating at full capacity,' Raja told Khaleej Times in an interview. Summer holiday rush Avinash Adnani, partner at Neo Travel and Tourism, also confirmed that there are many inquiries from people stuck in India and Pakistan due to the military escalation. 'There were regular daily flights from Chandigarh and Amritsar airports to the UAE. However, due to the closure of airports in these two cities, passenger traffic has been diverted to Delhi. Therefore, airfares from Delhi to Dubai have rocketed,' said Adnani. 'In India, schools are closed, and people are waiting for clarity on the military situation. We hope the situation will be clearer in the next 48 hours.' For Pakistan, the UAE and Pakistani carriers have resumed flights between the two countries as Pakistan reopened its airspace for commercial flights. 'Once Chandigarh and Amritsar airports reopen for commercial flights and UAE carriers begin full-scale operations to Pakistan, airfares are likely to normalise within a few days from the two countries,' he added.
Al Etihad
06-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
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 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, 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.
Khaleej Times
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Sharjah to grant over Dh9 million in annual bonuses to owners of old taxi licence plates in 2024
Owner of old taxi licence plates in Sharjah can look forward to a promising 2025, with the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) unveiling an exciting bonus initiative. The authority on Saturday revealed that a total of Dh9,372,000 will be allocated as an annual bonus for owners of old taxi plates for the year 2024. This reward will be distributed among eligible recipients. This initiative comes in accordance with the directives of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and the Ruler of Sharjah. In a related development, the Sharjah Police recently launched new vehicle number plates featuring a modern design and enhanced quality. Vehicle owners will have the opportunity to replace their old plates with the updated versions starting March 3. This update is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance the services offered to both citizens and residents in Sharjah.
Khaleej Times
18-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Haj 2025: Fine of 10,000 riyals, deportation for violating regulations in Saudi Arabia
As the Haj season approaches, Saudi authorities are reminding citizens, residents, and visitors of the strict penalties in place for violating Haj regulations. These measures remain active through the end of the pilgrimage season. The Kingdom's Ministry of Tourism reminded that anyone caught transporting pilgrims without a valid Haj permit will face a fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyals, approximately Dh9,700. This penalty applies to citizens, residents, and visitors. The ministry also warned that individuals who transport multiple pilgrims without permits will face fines per violator. For example, if someone is caught transporting 15 unlicensed pilgrims, the 10,000-riyal fine will be multiplied 15 times — one for each violator. In addition to the fine, violators may face imprisonment for up to 15 days. Vehicles used to transport pilgrims illegally will be confiscated by court order. Authorities have also stated that violators will be publicly named, as part of a wider effort to deter others from breaking the law. For residents who violate Haj regulations — whether by attempting to perform Haj without a permit or by transporting unauthorided pilgrims—the consequences are even more severe. Offenders will be deported after serving their sentence and barred from re-entering the Kingdom for a specified period, in accordance with Saudi law. As part of these tightened regulations, all hospitality facilities in Makkah have also been prohibited from accommodating visitors who do not hold a valid Haj permit or an approved entry permit for work or residence in the city. This directive, issued by the Ministry of Tourism, will be in effect from Dhul-Qi'dah 1, 1446 AH (April 29, 2025) and will remain valid until the conclusion of the Haj season.
Khaleej Times
07-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE hustle: Dubai-based PR Consultant Yvonne Mtengwa second job is designing exclusive African safari tours
It's almost too glamorous to call it a side hustle, yet that's what it is. Yvonne Mtengwa, the owner of a boutique PR consultancy in Dubai, also organises curated luxury safari tours across Africa for individuals or small groups of travellers. Her journey into the world of bespoke travel experiences began organically, as her constant travels to Africa for client work (her main job) sparked growing interest from her social media followers. 'People would see the content I was creating and say, 'When is your next trip to South Africa? Can we join you?'' Mtengwa recalls. 'It just became this low-hanging fruit that I couldn't ignore.' Mtengwa's focus is on showcasing the hidden gems — boutique lodges, luxury camps, and off-the-beaten-path destinations that capture the true essence of Africa. 'I only work with brands that I've experienced myself,' Mtengwa emphasises. 'If I'm not there to oversee it, I need to know my clients will be well-taken care of. The level of service and attention to detail is paramount.' This commitment to quality has earned her a loyal following, particularly among Dubai's expat community. Her curated safaris, hiking adventures, and wellness retreats range from $2,500 to $7,000 (Dh9,181 to Dh25,708) per person for all-inclusive, multi-day experiences. Her company, Travel Essence Getaways, schedules customised trips. 'If I have a destination and a budget, I can tailor an end-to-end experience that's as exhilarating as much as it is transformative.' If I have a destination and a budget, I can tailor an end-to-end experience that's as exhilarating as much as it is transformative" Yvonne Mtengwa One recent example was a trip Mtengwa organised for a Dubai-based entrepreneur who owns a popular African restaurant in the city. The brief was simple: incorporate the owner's love of golf into a safari experience in Zimbabwe. So, she curated a seven-day itinerary that included drives in Hwange National Park, rounds of golf, a sightseeing trip to Victoria Falls and immersive cultural experiences — all captured by a professional film crew to create content for the client's social media. 'It was a win-win. The client had an unforgettable trip, and I was able to leverage my network and storytelling skills to produce high-quality content that showcased the destination,' adds Mtengwa. 'Social media is a big part of what I do. It's not enough to just have a licensed business these days — you have to know how to package and promote yourself.' She sees her travel side hustle evolving to perhaps become her main hustle one day. 'I built this as a lifestyle business, and it's really starting to take on a life of its own,' she muses. 'The goal is to keep expanding my network, curating more unique experiences, and sharing the magic of Africa with as many people as possible.' Her target regions are eastern and southern Africa, where she has toured extensively and built strong relationships. These include Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. 'These are your hotspots in terms of safari experiences, and your hotspots in terms of luxury travel.' When it comes to the luxury travel market, standards are understandably high, and so too are the expectations. This traveller wants abundance, attention to detail, a seamless experience from start to finish and the element of surprise, but it can't be overbearing. 'They like options,' Mtengwa explains. 'So, if you're going to say where we're eating breakfast, they want to be given 10 options — they can have breakfast at the beach, at the riverside, on their deck, by the pool, or in a tree.' Along with Africa, she also sees a strong demand for tours in the UAE. 'If you're going glamping, there are some amazing glamping sites and products that surround that theme that weren't here 10 years ago.' But the product (the luxury boutique hotel or venue) is not enough on its own. 'You have to consider service and staff training.' Mtengwa, who has lived in the UAE for 12 years, had just landed in Dubai from a trip to Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve (taking four flights to return home), and was flying off to Zimbabwe a few days later when I interviewed her. Now that's what you call jet-setting.
