Latest news with #VisitDubai
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma finds new surprises in familiar Dubai
HighlightsThe Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing has launched a new campaign titled 'Dubai, Ready For a Surprise', featuring Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. The campaign film showcases Kohli and Sharma exploring Dubai's unique experiences, highlighting the city's vibrant culture, culinary offerings, and thrilling adventures, while emphasizing their personal connection to the destination. Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, stated that Kohli and Sharma's genuine affection for Dubai makes them ideal ambassadors for promoting the city. The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has unveiled its new campaign – 'Dubai, Ready For a Surprise' – starring Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma . Kohli and Sharma share a personal connection with the city, inspiring them to embark on their first-ever destination-focused collaboration. Marking the first phase of this partnership, the film at the heart of the campaign highlights Dubai as the perfect destination for all travellers, as Kohli and Sharma unveil a series of surprises while exploring the city's diverse experiences. The film ends with a twist leaving the audience wondering if there's more to discover. Rich in colour, culture and energy, the campaign film encapsulates the vibrant essence of the city through a blend of varied culinary experiences, spontaneous cultural interactions, thrilling adventures and musical interludes. The story begins with Kohli planning a thoughtful and personalised experience for Sharma, creating memorable moments that go beyond the expected. He reveals a new side of the city – one that matches her vibe, emotions and preferences. He chooses each experience to align with her wishes, creating a deeper and more intimate connection with Dubai. As long-time friends of Dubai, Kohli and Sharma's fondness for the destination emerges naturally on screen as they wander through hidden corners, laugh together, explore and uncover experiences that reveal the city's soul in new and surprising ways. Whether it's an intimate moment admiring the Dubai skyline or the thrill of parasailing over beaches, the campaign film showcases a side of Dubai that even seasoned visitors like them find delightfully surprising. Kohli said, 'Dubai holds a special place for Sharma and me –This campaign has let us see the city through fresh eyes, and we can't wait for others to do the same.' Sharma said, 'We're happy to be a part of this collaboration with Dubai and to uncover fresh, exceptional experiences and personalised ways to fall in love with the city.' Issam Kazim, chief executive officer of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), said, 'This collaboration with Kohli and Sharma is a natural fit – their genuine affection for Dubai and the way they engage with audiences make them ideal champions for the city.' The campaign's hero film is supported by a 360-degree rollout across social media, digital platforms and targeted offline activations. Watch the video here:
TECHx
12-05-2025
- Business
- TECHx
Dubai Launches Shared Digital Channels Under Digital Dubai
Home » Latest news » Dubai Launches Shared Digital Channels Under Digital Dubai Dubai has launched the Shared Digital Channels Initiative in collaboration with multiple government entities. This marks a major step towards a unified, user-centric digital government model under the leadership of Digital Dubai. The initiative aims to simplify access to government services for residents, businesses, and visitors. It offers seamless, integrated digital platforms that serve various sectors and needs. The launch took place in the presence of Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital Dubai. This milestone follows the approval of the initiative in February 2025 by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He is the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The initiative provides government services through seven unified platforms: Dubai Now for individuals for individuals Invest in Dubai for businesses for businesses Visit Dubai for tourism for tourism Four other platforms covering transport, justice, construction, and trade Digital Dubai is leading the project. It aligns with the mandate to oversee shared digital channels and supports the city's digital strategy. It contributes to the goals of the 360 Services Policy, aiming for 100% unified, integrated digital platforms. Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti emphasized that the initiative is guided by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan. The focus is on proactive, future-ready service experiences. These efforts reinforce Dubai's global standing in digital service delivery. He said the initiative reflects the government's commitment to seamless digital services through round-the-clock, dedicated platforms. It also boosts Dubai's status as a tech-driven, innovation-first hub. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General of the RTA, stated that digital channels are the primary means for customers to access services. The initiative supports platform unification, reducing the need for multiple service windows. He highlighted the Shared Mobility Channel. It provides access to all mobility services, public or private, through one interface. Public transport, shared mobility, and taxis served 747.1 million riders in 2024. Dubai now has 2.5 million registered vehicles and 39 million active nol cards. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said the initiative is a strategic leap. It builds trust, saves time, and opens up opportunities for individuals and businesses alike. He noted the move is aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The initiative supports systems that help businesses grow, simplify life for residents, and attract global talent. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori of Digital Dubai said digital channels have been key to past achievements. He emphasized the need to move forward with bold, transformative initiatives using AI and advanced tech. He added that a well-defined roadmap is in place. It aims to simplify lives, enable economic growth, and push Dubai's digital ecosystem into its next phase. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, noted the initiative supports a future-ready city model. Integrated services and data exchange will enhance the user experience and boost efficiency. Prof. Saif Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Dubai Courts, said that easy access to services is essential for quality of life. He called this step a clear expression of Dubai's forward-looking leadership. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World, said unified service channels boost economic activity. The logistics and trade channel will streamline commercial operations and support cross-border trade. He linked the initiative to the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which targets AED 25.6 trillion in external trade over the next decade. Approved by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan, the initiative is a milestone in building a future-ready digital ecosystem. It enhances life quality, attracts global enterprises, and fosters innovation in service delivery. It also aims to: Deliver personalised, proactive services through a unified customer profile Integrate public and private sector services via interoperable platforms Maintain high standards of cybersecurity and data governance The Shared Digital Channels Initiative will create smarter, seamless digital experiences. All Dubai government services will eventually be offered through these seven platforms, eliminating the need for multiple access points. Other goals include better operational efficiency, reduced redundancy, and sustainability through resource optimisation. Data insights will help anticipate trends and improve service delivery. This digital shift, under the Digital Dubai vision, is designed to simplify life and accelerate growth across all segments.
Al Etihad
11-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Dubai launches Shared Digital Channels Initiative, advancing integrated user-centred digital governance
11 May 2025 18:50 DUBAI (WAM) Dubai has launched the Shared Digital Channels Initiative in collaboration with various government entities, marking a transformative step towards a unified, user-centric digital government initiative aims to simplify access to services for residents, businesses, and visitors through seamless, integrated launch took place in the presence of Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital milestone follows the approval of the initiative by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, in February initiative envisions the provision of government services through seven specialised and unified platforms: Dubai Now for individuals, Invest in Dubai for businesses, Visit Dubai for tourism, alongside four sector-specific platforms covering transportation, justice, construction, and Dubai is leading this initiative in line with its mandate to oversee Shared Digital Channels. The initiative supports the city's strategy to digitalise life and strengthen Dubai's position among the world's top three cities in digital, human-centred service delivery, and contributes to achieving the goals of the 360 Services Policy by transforming service delivery channels into 100 percent unified and integrated this occasion, Al Basti affirmed that the government work system—guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council—places the customer at the heart of comprehensive and continuous development. This is achieved through the design of proactive service experiences that anticipate future needs and meet evolving expectations, reinforcing Dubai's position as a global leader in government added, 'The 'Shared Digital Channels' initiative, approved by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed earlier this year, reflects Dubai Government's commitment to delivering a seamless, integrated digital experience through dedicated, round-the-clock platforms—cementing the emirate's status as a global hub for technology and innovation in service of people and in attracting high-quality investments.'Commenting on the initiative, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Mattar Al Tayer, stated, 'Digital channels have become the primary means through which customers access a wide array of government services and process their transactions. This underscores the critical importance of developing shared digital platforms and advancing integration among government entities. Customers increasingly perceive the government as a single, connected entity capable of fulfilling their needs through one or a small number of unified platforms, without the need to navigate multiple channels and service windows.'He added, 'The Shared Mobility Channel, Dubai's Unified Gateway for City-Wide Mobility Services, ensures seamless access to all modes of transport, whether public or private. Mobility services remain a cornerstone of government offerings with public transport, shared mobility, and taxis serving 747.1 million riders in 2024. The city is home to 2.5 million registered vehicles, while nol cards have surpassed 39 million in circulation. The new platform enhances the customer experience by providing streamlined access to both government and private sector services through a single, intuitive interface that supports integration and leverages emerging technologies.'Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Helal Saeed Almarri, said, 'Dubai's digital transformation reflects the foresight of our leadership and the clarity of vision that has consistently placed our city ahead of global trends. This journey is not only about adopting technology—it is about creating time, building trust, and unlocking opportunity at every level of society and the economy.'The launch of the Shared Digital Channels Initiative marks a strategic leap forward—ensuring that government services are not only world-class in functionality, but seamlessly integrated into daily life, fully aligned with the leadership's ambition for a digital- first, human-centred future.''As we advance the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, our focus remains on creating systems that are intuitive, scalable, and responsive—designed to enable businesses to grow faster, residents to enjoy greater convenience, and talent to thrive in an environment defined by innovation. This is how we reinforce Dubai's position as the global epicentre of opportunity, and the best place in the world to live, work, and build the future.'Al Mansoori commented, " Digital channels have consistently been a key driver of our success in recent years, an achievement made possible by the collective efforts of all stakeholders. Inspired by our leadership, we believe that every success should serve as a stepping stone towards even greater progress. Today, we are called to innovate and introduce initiatives that drive a transformative leap in Shared Digital Channels, reinforcing the vision of a fully integrated digital lifestyle. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, we can deliver services and digital city experiences that are proactive, predictive, and seamlessly integrated."Al Mansoori added, "We are currently advancing the development of Shared Digital Channels guided by a well-defined roadmap, to enhance their impact in simplifying people's lives and driving the digital economy. Our goal is to capitalise on the technologies, ideas, and accumulated expertise at our disposal, while creating new solutions and initiatives that position the shared digital ecosystem as a flagship initiative of the next phase of transformation. This will simplify people's lives and propel the digital economy forward in support of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. I am confident that what lies ahead will exceed all that has come before, driven by the enduring spirit of collaboration and unity that has always defined our journey—and will continue to guide us into the future.'Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, highlighted the importance of shared digital channels in building a comprehensive digital stated, 'Today, Dubai — guided by the vision of its leadership and the collaboration of its institutions — presents to the world a model of future cities that inspire and delight both residents and visitors, offering an attractive environment for living, working, and investing. Shared digital channels play a vital role in this context, facilitating access to services in a coordinated and seamless manner through integrated data exchange within an interconnected government framework. We are confident that enhancing this experience will mark a significant shift in service delivery across Dubai, capitalising on advanced digital technologies and the extensive expertise of Dubai's skilled workforce in various sectors.'Director-General of Dubai Courts, Prof. Saif Ghanem Al Suwaidi, affirmed that the shared digital channels add a vital dimension to the quality of life in Dubai. He stated, 'The ease of access to services is a key criterion for modern and future cities. Dubai, which has long excelled in this area through its pioneering journey, is now advancing to a new and advanced phase through this initiative. This step is a clear expression of the leadership's vision and proactive efforts to anticipate and shape the future in a manner that serves people across all sectors — with justice and judiciary at the forefront, benefiting from cross-sectoral integration within a unified and comprehensive government system.'Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DP World, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, stated, 'Unifying service and digital experience channels is essential to accelerating economic activity in Dubai. It streamlines processes, saves time and resources, and drives greater efficiency and productivity across sectors. At a broader level, this milestone enhances Dubai's attractiveness to investors by providing a robust and supportive ecosystem for economic and commercial growth. Developing the Shared Digital Channels Initiative is a key priority, and we are fully committed to contributing meaningfully, in line with our role in enabling and facilitating trade and commerce across Dubai.'He added, 'The unified logistics and trade channel marks a significant advancement in strengthening Dubai's competitiveness in the cross-border trade and logistics sectors. This can be accomplished through collaboration between government agencies and private sector companies and establishing a comprehensive digital ecosystem that covers every stage of commercial and logistical operations within a unified framework. This initiative supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to increase the emirate's external trade volume over the next decade to Dh25.6 trillion, while reinforcing Dubai's position as one of the world's top five logistics hubs.'Approved by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the initiative represents a significant milestone towards building a future-ready digital ecosystem for the city — one that improves quality of life, attracts global enterprises, and fosters innovation in service delivery—creating smarter, more seamless digital experiences that simplify life for individuals and businesses initiative aims to deliver personalised, proactive services by creating a unified digital customer profile across aims to streamline user journeys through process optimisation, offering seamless and interactive focuses on integrating public and private sector services, ensuring full interoperability across digital channels, while maintaining the highest standards of cybersecurity and data Shared Digital Channels Initiative is envisioned to set a new benchmark in customer experience—offering high-quality, accessible, and frictionless digital services powered by advanced technologies such as artificial initiative supports the development of an exceptional digital service ecosystem, making it easier for all user segments to access a wide range of all services provided by the Government of Dubai will be delivered through these seven unified channels—eliminating the need to navigate multiple platforms or key objectives include enhancing operational efficiency, promoting sustainability by optimising resource usage, eliminating redundancy, and leveraging data-driven insights to anticipate trends, address issues proactively, and streamline service delivery.
Campaign ME
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
Visit Dubai casts Barış Arduç in romance-led Turkish campaign
Visit Dubai has unveiled a new Turkish-language campaign, 'Dubai. Aşkla Güzel', translating to Dubai. Beautiful with Love, targeting Turkish travellers – especially couples and families – through a story-led film that casts Dubai as a destination of emotion, adventure and modern charm. Fronted by acclaimed Turkish actor Barış Arduç, the campaign film takes viewers on a cinematic-style journey across the city. Through the lens of romance and discovery, Arduç explores contrasting sides of the city – from the stillness of Al Qudra Desert to the sleek, urban energy of Downtown Dubai; from colourful stretches of Kite Beach to the heritage-laced waterfronts of Al Seef. The production doesn't list tourist attractions outright. Instead, it uses symbolism, small gestures and ambient storytelling to position Dubai as a place to connect, explore and feel. In the film, Barış Arduç follows visual and emotional cues across the city – travelling by camel, classic car, boat and electric scooter – mirroring the rhythm of an unfolding relationship. He described the experience of filming as feeling more like a holiday than a production, adding that Dubai made every moment feel like a scene from a movie. Shot at recognisable landmarks including Burj Park, Jumeirah Al Qasr Hotel and Balloon at the Palace, the campaign builds visual resonance to back its emotional tone. The result is a highly curated snapshot of the city's duality – offering both escapism and cultural richness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit Dubai (@ Director Engin Erden, making his first visit to the emirate for the project, reflected on Dubai as a place that naturally lends itself to cinematic storytelling. He described the shoot as an unforgettable experience and is already anticipating a return. Writer and creative director Kaan Ertüz noted that although the campaign doesn't explicitly show 'love,' it carries its presence in every frame, echoing the emotional undertones of each location and moment. The multi-platform campaign is currently live in Turkey, with a MENA-wide rollout to follow. It spans outdoor, digital, social media and print channels. Behind-the-scenes footage and content assets offer a supporting layer of discovery and relatability. The campaign was produced by Big Kahuna Films, with creative direction and script by Kaan Ertüz and direction by Engin Erden.
Trade Arabia
07-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
DET summer deal offers 30% off on Dubai hotel stays
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has announced a limited-time Flash Sale offering travellers visiting Dubai from the region and beyond an exclusive 30% discount on hotel bookings across the city this summer. Valid for reservations made from May 6 till May 15 2025, the special offer invites visitors visiting Dubai from the region and beyond to experience Dubai's hospitality, with a wide range of participating hotels and resorts from vibrant city stays to beachfront escapes and more, offering discounted stays with a minimum of three nights or more, between June 1 and September 30, 2025. From the ultra-luxurious One&Only The Palm and Address Beach Resort Hotel to family favourites such as Grand Hyatt Dubai, the Flash Sale caters to every type of traveller – whether seeking a relaxing escape or a memorable family getaway. Travellers booking through Visit Dubai's official platform can enjoy peace of mind with the Price Match Guarantee, ensuring they receive the best possible rate. If guests find a lower price on the hotel's official website within 48 hours of booking, Visit Dubai will not only match that rate but also provide an additional 5% discount, a DET statement said. Visitors planning their Dubai holiday can browse and book these exclusive offers through the official Visit Dubai website at
