Dubai Destination Updates

At The Top - Sky

Dubai 360

In August 2014, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the launch of Dubai 360, which would eventually offer interactive 360-degree virtual tours of the city. Six months later, in January 2015, it was launched in full at www.Dubai360.com. Developed over an 18-month period and utilising 1,298 pieces of panoramic video and photo content, Dubai 360 is the world's largest and highest quality interactive city tour, offering a great way for visitors to explore the city from anywhere in the world.

At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY

At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY opened on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa in October 2014, setting a new Guinness World Record for 'highest observation deck'. The new attraction offers visitors an unrivalled view of Dubai as well as various additional elements such as information stations and visual displays to enhance the overall experience.

Jumeirah Corniche

October 2014 saw Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) open the Jumeirah Corniche in its entirety. The 14km-long beachfront stretches from the Burj Al Arab all the way to Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, and comprises a five-metre wide walkway, a four-metre wide jogging track, rest areas including retail kiosks and shaded benches overlooking the beach.

Dubai Tram

The much-anticipated Dubai Tram was officially launched on 11 November 2014 amidst a blaze of fireworks and celebrations. With one Gold cabin, four Silver cabins and two cabins for women and children, each tram has a capacity to carry 405 passengers.The tram is also integrated into the general transport network, connected with Dubai Metro at two stations in Dubai Marina and linked to Palm Jumeirah's Monorail.

Dubai International Writers' Centre

The Dubai International Writers' Centre (DIWC), the first of its kind in the Middle East, opened in Dubai's Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood in November 2014. Housed in a reconstructed wind-tower house beside the bustling Creek, the Centre offers creative workshops, writer-in-residence programmes, film nights, book clubs, recitals and lectures.

Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide opened the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai in November 2014. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite the Dubai World Trade Centre, the hotel is part of a three-tower, mixed-use development and boasts 474 guestrooms and suites, as well as 180 one- to three-bedroom serviced apartments.

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

The five-star Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach began welcoming guests in mid-November 2014. Set on a pristine, natural beach, the hotel offers 237 ultra-spacious guestrooms, including 49 suites. It's also home to ten restaurants and lounges, one of the city's most lavish spas, three swimming pools and fun family activities.

Pullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers Hotel & Residence

Accor's upmarket hotel brand, Pullman, opened its second property in the UAE at Jumeirah Lakes Towers in January 2015. The upscale 35-floor tower hotel features 278 elegant rooms and 76 luxurious suites and serviced apartments, as well as restaurants, 11 meeting rooms, a spa and rooftop pool.

Dubai Business Events - News Updates 2015

Dubai hosts SITE Executive Summit 2015

Dubai Business Events (DBE) hosted the SITE Executive 2015 at the JW Marriott Hotel February 9-13, 2015. Global incentive industry leaders including SITE's Board of Directors and the Foundation Board of Trustees held board meetings and educational seminars during the event. An educational programme on incentive travel was also held to broaden the local travel and hospitality community's understanding of the industry's unique needs and attendees also got to experience Dubai's premier business events offer first hand.

Congress ambassadors honoured for their efforts

Twenty-eight high-profile individuals and organisations were honoured by Dubai Business Events (DBE) for their ongoing efforts to attract and host international conferences in the emirate, further reinforcing its position as a global hub for knowledge exchange.

The combined efforts of the honourees at the 4th Annual Al Safeer Congress Ambassadors Programme's Recognition and Networking Event, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre on January 20, 2015, resulted in tens of thousands of leading global experts and thought leaders visiting Dubai last year to attend over a dozen major conferences, including the L'Oreal Business Forum, the International Tennis Federation's Annual General Meeting, the Asia Pacific Dental Congress and the World Engineering Education Forum.

DBE racks up key event wins in 2014

In addition to hosting key events this year such as the 23rd Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine and the 2015 International Dragon Award Annual Conference, Dubai Business Events (DBE) won an impressive 59 international business event bids in 2014 alone comprising association conferences, corporate meetings and incentive trips. DBE submitted a further 30 bids for major events to be held from 2015 onwards.

Coming up: Next 12 months

• The first phase of the 'Dubai Trolley', an electric hop on-hop off trolley tram, is set to open in early 2015, running on a 7km stretch in the Downtown area.
• New luxury property Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights will launch in March 2015. The hotel will overlook the Dubai Creek and offer 464 rooms, 76 luxurious suites and 405 private residential apartments.
• The Hard Rock Hotel Dubai Marina, located in Marina 101 tower, is set to open in mid-2015.
• The 150mx93m Dubai Frame project near Zabeel Park is expected to be ready in the second half of 2015. The attraction will offer a view of modern Dubai on one side and the older city on the other, with a viewing gallery at its top.
• Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts' first Middle East property is set to open on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah in the autumn of 2015.