Latest news with #SmartTravel
Khaleej Times
26-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
4-day holiday in UAE: Travel deals start from Dh1,999 as residents make Eid plans
Residents in the UAE will get a four-day weekend for Eid Al Adha next month, irrespective of when the moon is sighted. Now that the probable dates for the Islamic holiday have become more clear, many are flocking to book holidays and short trips. 'Ever since Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait announced their holidays, the probable dates for Eid holidays have become clearer to UAE residents,' said Safeer Mohammed of Smart Travel. 'Since then, we have received a lot of enquiries and bookings. Most of the travel is gravitating towards visa-free places like CIS countries.' Last week, Qatar announced a five-day break for Eid Al Adha, beginning on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, also known as Arafah Day — the holiest day in Islam. Sold out packages Many travel agents are seeing high demand for their Eid packages. Mohamed Kasim from Akbar Travels said that almost all their tours are now sold out. 'Some of the most popular destinations apart from CIS countries are Kenya and Egypt,' he said. 'In Kenya, a lot of people are traveling to see the Maasai Mara National Reserve." According to Kunaal Nanik from Marcopolo Holidays, he is seeing a 'clear shift' in the trend for Eid holidays. 'People are planning earlier and are better prepared, with a strong preference for longer trips." 'With Eid falling during summer, Europe continues to be a top choice — especially among travellers who applied early for Schengen visas, showing greater awareness of limited appointment availability. We're also seeing increased interest in the Balkans, where visa-on-arrival access is possible for those holding long-term multiple-entry US, UK, or Schengen visas.' Safeer added that many of their travellers preferred shorter trips lasting four nights and five days for Eid with prices being a major factor of consideration. 'For leisure travel, the most popular package we have seen is our trip to Baku which sold for Dh1,999,' he said. 'We had trips to Tashkent for Dh2,100 and a joint travel to Armenia and Georgia for Dh2,599.' Holidays in the UAE This year, Tuesday, May 27, will correspond to 29 Dhul Qadah. If the crescent moon is sighted on Tuesday evening, then May 28 will be Dhul Hijjah 1. This means, Eid would fall on Friday, June 6. If the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday, then Thursday, May 29, will be Dhul Hijjah 1. This means Eid would fall on Saturday, June 7. On Sunday, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia called on all its residents to observe the sky for the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on the evening of Tuesday. According to a UAE Cabinet resolution, the Eid Al Adha holidays last from 9 to 12 Dhul Hijjah — which is the day of Arafah and first three days of Eid Al Adha. On Sunday, an expert from the International Astronomical Centre (IAC), said the crescent for Dhul Hijjah is expected to be sighted on May 27.
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE travel: Families can save Dh250 per flight ticket this summer; here's how
With daily flights to India, Thailand, Bangladesh and other popular destinations, Fujairah airport is expecting to see a surge in passenger numbers this summer. Less crowds, attractive offers and lower airfares have contributed to the popularity. 'We anticipate a surge in passenger traffic this summer from June due to convenience of accessing our airport,' said Esmaeil M Al Baloushi, General Manager of Fujairah International Airport (FIA). Dubai-based travel agency Smart Travel recently signed an agreement with FIA and will open an office there next month to facilitate smooth experience for their customers. 'This summer, passengers flying to India can save an average of Dh250 per person on flight tickets if they opt to travel out of Fujairah airport as opposed to a more busy airport like Dubai,' said Safeer Mohammed, General Manager of Smart Travel. 'For larger families, this could translate into massive savings for their annual vacation.' Soaring ticket prices for flights from UAE to India during summer vacation has long been an issue for Indian expats. Ticket prices to certain cities sometimes double during peak travel season. He added that there are several attractive offers from Fujairah for this summer. 'There are flights to Phuket from Dh600 with a layover in Mumbai for just two hours,' he said. 'Such offers are becoming extremely popular among UAE residents.' Perks In addition to this, the airport is giving several perks including discounts and free shuttles to attract more flyers. 'We have several offers for our flyers,' said Esmaeil. 'There will be free shuttle services from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain to Fujairah Airport so that travellers can get to the airport smoothly. We are also offering a 20 percent discount on all duty-free purchases for our passengers.' In addition to this, there are some luggage allowances as well. Recently, Indian airlines IndiGo began operating daily flights from Fujairah to the Indian cities of Mumbai and Kannur. On the IndiGo flights, passengers and offered an allowance to take 5kg additional baggage to make travel more convenient. According to Esmaeil, there are plans to expand the offerings of the airport. 'Our airport offers flights to Mumbai and Kannur by IndiGo, and we are planning to expand flights to other Indian destinations by IndiGo, and adding more flights to other destinations,' he said. 'Our discussions with other airlines are progressing.' He added that Fujairah airport is planning to 'continuously improve' their facilities and services to better serve our passengers by 'offering multiple flights to various destinations and attract more people to Fujairah as a hub'.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
‘Get ready for your next getaway' with ‘ultimate' travel must-have says Dunnes Stores – and prices start from €15
HOLIDAYGOERS are sure to be delighted with a "must have" new travel item - and it costs just €15. The Travel Cubes are now available online and in 3 The item comes in two colours Credit: dunnesstores 3 The item is perfect for travel Credit: dunnesstores They're the perfect item for jetsetters who are trying to organise their suitcase. And for those who The cubes function by allowing you to divide your items and tuck them into individual spaces. It means that you can pack your tops in one cube, bottoms in another, and liquids in a different one. Read more in Dunnes Stores And the items come in multiple sizes so that you can organise your items by size. The pack comes in a set of five and costs €15. It's available in the colours black and stone although stone has sold out online. Most read in News Travel An official description of the item reads: "In a range of sizes, this set of five packing cubes makes organising your luggage effortless. "It includes designated bags for t-shirts and blouses, pyjamas, jeans and trousers, underwear and socks, and a separate pouch for cosmetics. "An essential for frequent travellers." Dunnes Stores fans go wild for t-shirt dresses just €15 The packing cubes aren't the only new travel item that Dunnes Stores have dropped. Shoppers are in a frenzy over the Smart Travel The clever laptop features laptop pouch, power bank and a USB port for charging on the go. The black item is the ideal item for slotting under your seat or sliding into the overhead lockers. And it saves travellers the hassle of having to drag a suitcase along. It can be used with the packing cubes to create an efficient travel experience. The bag is Dunnes bosses said: "This smart backpack features a built-in USB port, letting you charge your 'It includes two side pockets for water bottles and multiple compartments, including a separate laptop pocket. 'The adjustable straps ensure a comfortable fit, making it ideal for work, school, or travel.' 3 The travel cubes are available now Credit: dunnesstores THE HISTORY OF DUNNES STORES DUNNES Stores opened its first store on Patrick Street in Cork in 1944 - and it was an instant hit. Shoppers from all over the city rushed to the store to snap up quality clothing at pre-war prices in Ireland's first 'shopping frenzy'. During the excitement, a window was forced in and the police had to be called to help control the crowds hoping to bag founder Ben Dunne's 'Better Value' bargains. Dunnes later opened more stores in the 1950s and began to sell groceries in 1960 - starting with apples and oranges. The retailer said: "Fruit was expensive at the time and Ben Dunne yet again offered Better Value than anyone else in town. "Over time, our food selection has grown and that spirit of good value has remained strong. "Now we offer a wide range of carefully-sourced foods from both local Irish suppliers and overseas." The retailer's first Dublin store opened its doors in 1957 on Henry Street and a super store on South Great Georges Street was unveiled in 1960. They added: "In 1971, our first Northern Irish store opened, and many others soon followed. "Expansion continued in the 1980s in Spain, and later into Scotland and England." Dunnes now has 142 stores and employs 15,000 people.
Gulf News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf News
‘Unlimited Smart Travel': Dubai airport introduces new passport control initiative
Dubai: In a major leap towards a seamless journey, some passengers at Dubai International Airport can now travel without stopping for identity verification as part of immigration procedures. Coinciding with the ongoing Dubai AI Week, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) – Dubai has launched its latest passport control initiative in the First and Business Class lounges at Terminal 3. According to the GDRFA, the 'Unlimited Smart Travel' service integrates cutting-edge AI technologies for facial recognition and identity verification. 'This service has been developed in line with the Directorate's vision to improve the quality of life for travellers and enhance the efficiency and smoothness of travel procedures,' the GDRFA said in a statement. The Directorate noted that the service represents a 'qualitative leap' in smart mobility. 'It strengthens travellers' trust and reliance on smart systems, increases the throughput capacity from one traveller to 10 individuals simultaneously, and contributes to raising the satisfaction of both customers and staff, while reducing service steps and accelerating passage through travel gates.' Data from smart tunnel During the opening day of the AI Innovations Conference on Tuesday, Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, announced the new hi-tech upgrades that make the immigration process 10 times faster, though he did not provide further details. However, a senior official from the Directorate revealed that the new service leverages data from the smart tunnel initiative, first launched in 2020. 'From our experience with the first smart tunnel five years ago, we learned how to use AI to identify individuals and develop this system to significantly reduce processing time – allowing 10 people to pass through in just 14 seconds without waiting for their turn.' The service allows passengers to pass in groups rather than one by one. 'In this new phase, we are transitioning to an advanced system, which does not rely on documents or any other procedures – just facial recognition, using pre-existing data.' How system works? The service will see an area the lounges equipped with multiple cameras capable of capturing faces from any angle. 'This method has greatly simplified the process for us, especially with the expected 8 per cent increase in the number of travellers in the future,' the official said, noting that the service currently offered to departing passengers only. 'The future plan is to expand this system and include arriving passengers. Travellers will need to register just once, and their data will be saved.' Branded as 'Unlimited Smart Travel', the service shares similar features with the ' Travel Without Borders ' project unveiled at GITEX Global 2024.
