Emirates and Al Etihad Payments have signed an agreement to enable the UAE’s national card scheme, Jaywan, as a payment option for Emirates customers booking flights from Dubai. The partnership expands payment choice for UAE-based travellers and supports the country’s wider digital payments ambitions.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited the 33rd Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, reviewing innovations and trends shaping global travel and tourism.
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Emirates Automobile and Touring Club and “Amer,” has launched an instant International Driving Permit (IDP) issuance service at a Customer Happiness Centre in the arrivals area of Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport.
Seychelles Tourism Board is placing the GCC at the heart of its high-value, sustainable tourism strategy, as around 60% of international visitors transit Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi. At ATM 2026, it unveiled plans to deepen regional partnerships and broaden the destination’s appeal.
King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) has announced the opening of Atheel KAFD, expanding the hospitality offering at Riyadh’s premier business and lifestyle destination.
Rotana is accelerating its regional and international expansion, with 40 properties and 8,334 keys under development alongside 78 operating properties, as the hotel management company outlines its growth strategy at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026.
Arabian Adventures, part of Emirates Group, is investing AED8 million ($2.2 million) to expand The Fort – Lisaili in Dubai, introducing new attractions and hospitality concepts. The redeveloped destination will reopen in phases from October 2026, including the UAE’s first dune-top desert zipline.
Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is offering members the chance to earn double Skywards Miles on eligible flights across both airlines’ global networks.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar and US Tourism Minister Ambassador Nick Adams as speakers at its 26th Global Summit in Valletta, Malta, from October 7–9, 2026.
Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has won a Gold Stevie Award at the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, presented recently in Istanbul.
