United Arab Emirates Travel Guide
Tags: Etihad Airways / Golf Travel / Airline News / → All Tags
Etihad Airways' New Golf Club is More Than Just a Putting Green
Business travel and golf go together like airlines and fees. We’ve already seen putting greens in airport lounges, but one airline is going a step further with their passion for golf. Etihad Airways is actually launching their very own golf club—a club for golf, not like the physical club.
With Etihad Golf Club, they want to provide their frequent flyers with access to different sporting events around the world, and they want to ensure exclusive events related to all things golf are just a phone call away. There will be vacation packages designed around the airline’s destinations including trips to London, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. Experts are even around to give online tutoring to make sure your game is up to par—ha—when you finally hit the links.
Through their Etihad Guest program they are really trying to attract some high spenders; however, you’re more than welcome to spend frequent flyer miles on these golf related services and packages. That way you can save some of your scratch to buy a round following the eighteenth hole.
Related Stories: [Not a photo of an Etihad Airways golf course: eMaringolo]
· Etihad Airways Launches Golf Club [AsiaTravelTips]
· Etihad Slowly But Surely Getting The Word Out About Abu Dhabi [Jaunted]
· Etihad Airways coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: Dubai Travel / Seaplanes / Hotels / Adventure Travel / → All Tags
Skip the Burj Khalifa Observation Deck For a Seaplane Ride Above Dubai
Ever since the new Burj Khalifa opened and then rapidly closed it's 124-floor observation deck, we haven't really trusted it. Instead, we'd be more likely to just hop on a seaplane to zoom above the building itself, and kill a few other birds with the same stone by continuing our flight around other Dubai landmarks.
This type of airborne sightseeing adventure is exactly what a new tour from Seawings Dubai offers. For $333 per person (the plane seats up to 9), you'll buzz in the Dubai skies in a seaplane, passing by these spots on the 40-minute flight: The Jebel Ali Palm, Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah, the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Creek, The World Islands and of course the Burj Khalifa building.
It might seem pricey, but remember that just showing up at the Burj Khalifa and wanting a ticket up to the observation deck costs you $109, and you don't even get to go in a seaplane! And then, there's the toll to even cross the causeway to visit the Burj Al Arab Hotel, so we think this is pretty much worth every penny.
Related Stories:
· Seawings [Official Site]
· Seawings Launches Burj Experience Flight [AsiaTravelTips]
· Dubai's Trouble Deepens [Jaunted]
· Dubai Travel [Jaunted]
[Photo: seawings.ae]
Tags: Dubai Travel / Dubai / Aquariums / Scuba / → All Tags
Forget Boring Offices, Because Dubai's 'Underwater Zoo' Wants Student Interns Too
Dubai's Burj Khalifa's 124th-floor observation deck may have shut down, but college students have another excuse to travel to the city: a highly sought-after internship at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Oh, to be frat-age again.
To be eligible, students have to be at least 16 years old and the preference will go to those studying marine science, teaching or a tourism-related subject. Students from all over the world are encouraged to apply.
Tags: Skyscrapers / Dubai Travel / Landmarks / Travel News / Tourism / → All Tags
Dubai's Trouble Deepens: Burj Khalifa Closes and QE2 Ship Up For Sale
Remember a couple years ago when all the cool news was coming out of Dubai, like they had all the money in the world and were using to build the adult playland of the future? Well, Dubai is still turning out all the news, but it's just that the headlines have gone sour, and this week has brought another rush of bad news for the showy Emirate.
First, the newly opened 124-floor Observation Deck in the Burj Khalifa building has closed. The reason they're giving for the closure is that they've had far too many electrical problems, and with people paying $27 in advance or $109 on the spot for the privilege to simply look out their windows, they can't afford to have any hiccups. Really—they can't afford it. Maybe they also can't afford to keep the lights on right now too?
Tags: Shopping Travel / Festivals / Dubai Travel / Events / → All Tags
Dubai's Annual Month-Long Shopping Festival Begins!
Even though it's mired in financial woes, Dubai refuses to scale down the excess. The city's hosting its 15th annual Dubai Shopping Festival, which is best described as a non-stop 32-day party.
Despite its name, the Dubai Shopping Festival is all about entertainment. It features mini festivals, including an international jazz fest, a bike festival, a pet show, a weight-loss conference and a food festival—hopefully the latter two aren't near one another. On each day of the fest, the DSF is raffling off a Lexus LS 460 and an AED 100,000 cash prize ($27,225) , and on the weekends, you can win a custom-edition LX 570.
After the jump, even Bob the Builder gets some action
Tags: Observation Decks / Skyscrapers / Dubai Travel / Architectural Travel / → All Tags
What to Expect at the World's Highest Observation Deck in Dubai's Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, opened its observation deck this month in Dubai and we did some digging to see what the experience is supposed to be like. Perched on the 124th floor, the observation deck is supposed to give an airplane-like view of the area.
To get to "At the Top," the observation deck's, you have to enter through The Dubai Mall’s lower-ground level. Before you pop your ears on the elevator up, brush up on your knowledge of Dubai and the building with multimedia displays like "Dubai Then and Now," "From Earth to the Sky" and "From Vision to Reality." You'll also see a big illuminated model of the Burj Khalifa, formerly called the Burj Dubai, where you can learn about the skyscraper.
A video of the view, after the jump.
Tags: Celeb Travel / New Year's Travel / Rihanna / Abu Dhabi Travel / → All Tags
Abu Dhabi Takes First Rihanna-fied Steps To Becoming Party Capital
Well, at least she kept her thighs under lock and key...
The New Years holiday is the time for celebrities to scatter themselves all around the globe, from the ski slopes to the beaches of St. Barths, but if you're a celebrity entertainer, then the odds are that you've got a very well-paying gig you'd rather not miss.
Such was the case with Rihanna, who did a very hyped, very controversial concert in Abu Dhabi at the Emirates Palace for 10,000 fans, followed by fireworks. Although the girl raked in $500,000 for a few songs—and no doubt had a private, paid-for jet to get her through the crazy airport security of the weekend—the controversy came when they asked her to cover up a little more than usual for the performance.
Abu Dhabi as party capital?...
Tags: Skyscrapers / Dubai Travel / Landmarks / Travel News / Tourism / → All Tags
The Burj Dubai's 124th Floor Observation Deck Opens Today
See that ridiculously tall building pictured above? That, my friends, is the Burj Dubai, a 200+ story building just completed in the United Arab Emirates that is celebrating its official birthday today. How old is it, you ask? Well, it's 0 years old really, since today is only its official opening to the public, although not all 160 accessible stories are ready for occupancy.
The only piece seeing public footsteps today is the 124-floor observation deck—because Dubai is in a tourism and property slump and knows that any way of digging extra cash from the pockets of locals and visitors is a great thing. Actual tenants won't begin moving into the Burj until February, when the owners of the Armani residences move in, to be followed by the guests of the world's first Armani Hotel in March.
And even when everyone is settled in and the workers in the business floors are typing away at their tasks, the Burj won't be full; occupancy rates may only reach 75% this year thanks to Dubai's slump, and many of the condo buyers are purchasing simply for investment. So for those of you anxious to take the elevator to the 124-floor, you'll just be visiting a husk of hope.
Related Stories:
· Dubai Opens Tallest Tower, partially leased in slump [BizWeek]
· The Impossibly High Burj Dubai Will Have 124-Floor Observation Deck [Jaunted]
· Dubai Travel [Jaunted]
[Photo: jasab]
Tags: New Routes / Etihad Airways / Abu Dhabi Travel / → All Tags
Etihad Slowly But Surely Getting The Word Out About Abu Dhabi
Dubai, Dubai, Dubai. The Middle Eastern city on everyone's lips these days is still Dubai, despite the economic beating they're currently taking. Nonetheless, inch by inch Abu Dhabi is eeking its way up there, and Etihad Airways is majorly helping the Emirati capital to capture the world's attention.
In the last few years, Etihad has scrambled up to serving 58 destinations, with a goal of 70 worldwide by 2010. Is it a ploy for world domination or what? Our guess is that Etihad just wants to make a profit, since they haven't yet. Here's the next few routes we can expect from this growing Abu Dhabi giant:
Tags: Etihad Airways / Pilots / Women / Airline News / → All Tags
Etihad Now Comes Complete With Women Pilots
From a region of the world not exactly renowned for recognizing women in the work force, Etihad Airways is keen to let the world know that they have just graduated their first local female pilots from their flight training program.
Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi and has only been up and running since 2003—and their pilot cadet training program has only just taken on its 100th trainee, so the female-male ratio is not too tragic, especially since they've got four more local women still in training now.
Tags: Dubai Travel / Landmarks / Travel News / Recession Travel / → All Tags
In Dubai, It's The End Of 'The World'
In order for Dubai to survive the worldwide recession and nurture their burgeoning reputation as a must-visit destination, the weak and frivolous projects must suffer in favor of things that actually contribute to the city. Thus, we are only somewhat surprised to learn of the failure of the multi-billion-dollar project of man-made islands called "The World."
After all, the islands were only due to be accessibly by the richest of the rich, with no dynamic plans for the future after the many moneyed residents built their homes on the islands. The Burj Dubai and Dubai metro system will however positively impact both locals and tourists—that's why they get the go-ahead during these rough times while The World ends.
Tags: Dubai Travel / Landmarks / Travel News / Tourism / Skyscrapers / → All Tags
The Impossibly High Burj Dubai Will Have 124th-Floor Observation Deck
To tell you the truth, we're torn on the issue of tourism in Dubai. Is it a theme park of a city that caters to tourists versus travelers, or is it worth the visit for the unique experiences? Who knows when we'll find out since the place is so firmly out of budget anyways.
Just in case you also like to entertain the thought that a trip to Dubai is in your future, you'll either be delighted or scared shitless to learn that the famous Burj Dubai skyscraper is due to have its observation deck on the 124th floor. Of course the 160+ story building needs to be completed first, and that won't be happening until early December. In the meantime, the building is readying to open the world's first Armani Hotel in the first 37 stories. But let's hear a little more about that vertigo-inducing observation deck, shall we?
