A roundup of the most interesting travel news from around the UAE and Middle East this week:
Staycations may cost more
Hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi are getting more expensive. In the first eight months of 2023, average room rates have increased 24%. This comes as Abu Dhabi is on track to welcome 24 million tourists to the emirate by the end of the year.
Etihad’s award-winning streak continues
Etihad has continued its recent streak and picked up two new awards in the last week. For the third year in a row, the airline has been rated as a Five-Star Global Airline by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).
Etihad Airways’ collaboration with Armani/Casa has won a Gold Good Design Award for outstanding product design and innovation. The Armani/Casa dining wear and bedding are now onboard all Etihad Airways long-haul flights in Business Class.
DXB Terminal 3 to go totally biometric
Passengers travelling through Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport will soon be able to use biometrics and facial recognition to complete check-in, immigration and boarding. The switch is expected to happen sometime in November or December.
This move parallels the new Terminal A at Abu Dhabi Airport. It will also offer a totally touchless travel experience when it opens in November.
Emirates extends preordering service
After a successful trial on flights to the UK, Emirates is extending its Inflight Meal Preordering Service across Europe. It will now be available to passengers travelling to and from Warsaw, Venice, Rome, Bologna, Prague, Vienna, Moscow, Istanbul, Dublin, Hamburg, St. Petersburg, Brussels and Madrid, as well as to and from Seychelles and Mauritius.
The preordering service allows Business Class passengers to preselect their main course between 14 days and 24 hours in advance of departure. This ensures more passengers get their first meal choice as well as helping to reduce food wastage.