Top 3
Etihad Rail sets 2026 launch for UAE’s first passenger network
Etihad Rail has revealed details of its upcoming 900km passenger network, set to launch in 2026, connecting Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, and Fujairah, and eventually Sohar in Oman. The line will offer high-speed travel of up to 200 km/h, with journeys such as Abu Dhabi-Dubai in 30 minutes, and Abu Dhabi-Fujairah in 1 hour 45 minutes.
Trains, built by Spain’s CAF, will carry over 400 passengers across First, Business, and Economy classes, featuring dining, charging ports, and infotainment. Stations will include lounges, family zones, and retail outlets with Dubai’s RTA managing ticketing integration.
Qatar and St. Regis look to the Red Sea
Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, is preparing to launch a major Red Sea tourism development in partnership with St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, according to Qatari Ambassador to Egypt Tariq Faraj Al-Ansari. The project is part of Qatari Diar’s wider Egypt expansion strategy and will be built on a 29 million sqm coastal site between Makadi Bay and Sokhna Bay, which was first acquired in 2006.
While full investment details remain undisclosed, the development aligns with a surge of regional megaprojects transforming Egypt’s Red Sea coast into a world-class tourism hub. Al-Ansari also confirmed progress on Qatari Diar’s $3.5 billion North Coast project, due for announcement before year-end.
Miral’s ‘Atheer’ to drive next-gen storytelling on Yas Island
Abu Dhabi-based Miral has unveiled Atheer, a new hybrid communication and production platform designed to advance digital storytelling and innovation across Yas Island. Atheer means “radiance” in Arabic, and serves as a creative hub for collaboration, digital production, and community initiatives. The platform integrates AI and data analytics to enhance content creation, audience engagement, and storytelling impact.
It will be managed by a dedicated in-house team, and will host networking events, webinars, and live sessions, while amplifying Miral’s sustainability and social impact programmes.
Noteworthy:
- Ajman Department of Tourism Development kicked off a multi-city France roadshow (Nice, Paris, Lyon) led by DG Mahmood Alhashmi to deepen trade ties and promote Ajman’s nature, heritage, and hospitality. The mission targets long-term partnerships and sustainable growth, tapping rising French interest in Gulf destinations.
- Ferrari World Yas Island is bringing back the ‘Roof Walk’ over the world’s largest Ferrari logo. Visitors can suit up and walk across the iconic red roof with daily slots and tickets from AED 85 (park visitors) and AED 125 (non-visitors). This adds to the existing 43 rides and simulation experiences at the park.
- RSG has opened Saudi Arabia’s first island golf course. Shura Links on Shura Island debuts a par-72, 7,400-yard coastal links course designed by Brian Curley and managed by Golf Saudi. Incorporating mangroves, dunes, and Red Sea shoreline, facilities include a beachfront clubhouse, practice range, short-game area, PGA coaching, and a family adventure putting course.
- Saudi Falcons Club has signed a conservation MoU with Red Sea Global. The agreement advances habitat protection, joint awareness programs, and wildlife sustainability, anchored by the Falcons Club’s Hadad Program to return falcons to the wild. It includes tracking migration routes and mapping release/nesting sites to bolster scientific monitoring.
- Egypt’s Dr Khaled El-Enany has become the first Egyptian to be elected as the UNESCO Director-General. He won 55 of 57 votes and comes at a time when the region is making big strides in global heritage and education with recent museum projects.
- Japan and Tunisia are commemorating their 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties with a heritage exchange in Japan. “Tunisia: Pathways in Cultural Exchange with the World” runs through January, showcasing crafts, contemporary art, and tourism highlights, with sales of authentic Tunisian products. Programming features JICA talks, UNESCO-site lectures, kids’ workshops, Arabic calligraphy, and live music.
- Riyadh Season 2025 has unveiled a mega lineup launching 10 October with a grand parade. The sixth edition spans 11 zones, 15 championships, 34 exhibitions/festivals, and partnerships with 2,100+ companies. It’s now valued at $3.2bn, and highlights include WWE Royal Rumble (first outside North America), MrBeast’s 200,000m2 “Beast Land,” and the Joy Forum with global sports and entertainment figures.
- VOX Cinemas and seven lifestyle brands will open at Diriyah Square, including Saudi’s first standalone Shiseido store plus flagships for lululemon, Crate & Barrel, and Abercrombie & Fitch, alongside AllSaints, CB2, and. The partnership supports Diriyah’s pedestrian-first luxury district, part of the wider national heritage and lifestyle giga-project.
- Expo City Dubai has hosted its first-ever Iraq Fest, drawing 15,000 expats and members of the Iraqi community as a cultural celebration organised by Emirates Loves Iraq. The event honoured prominent Iraqis for their contributions and featured traditional food, art, and music, marking a major moment of unity for generations of Iraqis abroad.
- Al Gharif is bringing sustainable agricultural tourism to Dhofar. Spanning 25,000 sqm, the project has been developed by Omani entrepreneurs with Dhofar Municipality’s support, and is redefining eco-tourism through a modern revival of traditional farm life. It features cafes, tropical fruit kiosks, walkways through banana plantations, and cultural events year-round, and plans for a honey house, natural pool, and adventure area.
