Saudi Arabia is leading the way when it comes to on-time flights while Arab travellers departing Munich can hire the services of personal shoppers at the airport. Hilton has made its debut in Nepal with an eye-catching hotel complete with Himalayan mountain views and wildfires in Canada continue to cause disruption and destruction.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Hilton debuts in Nepal with Hilton Kathmandu – the capital’s tallest hotel
Hilton has opened its newest hotel in the capital of Nepal.
In the Kathmandu Valley, the towering hotel is the tallest in the Nepalese city and comes with unrivalled views of the surrounding Himalayan mountains.
Blending Nepal’s heritage with contemporary design, the hotel is the only one in the region with a glass facade. An imposing cantilevered entrance sets the scene for travellers checking in, and the hotel's guestrooms are inspired by the colourful prayer flags found throughout Kathmandu.
Views of Langtang Valley abound, from guestrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the hotel. Traditional Dhaka fabrics have been used for staff uniforms and in the hotel lobby.
“Hilton Kathmandu is a stunning addition to our portfolio and every aspect of the hotel has been meticulously crafted to immerse guests in this unique destination and allow them to experience Nepal’s rich history and culture against the dramatic backdrop of the Langtang mountains,” said Alexandra Jaritz, Hilton's senior vice president of brand management for Asia Pacific.
Travellers checking in to the hotel can expect personalised service, including flexible check-in and check-out times, and unique experiences, including Sherpa-led trekking.
On the rooftop, a temperature-controlled pool offers panoramic vistas of Kathmandu city and the surrounding peaks. The hotel also has a spa and fitness centre and five dining venues, including Asa, which has live cooking stations, and Orion, the rooftop bar named after the constellation visible from Kathmandu.
About a 10-minute drive from Tribhuvan International Airport, which is also within walking distance of the bustling Thamel district, famed for its cafes and bars. Cultural treasures, including the Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Durbar Palace, are within easy reach.
Canadian Rockies town blighted by wildfires remains closed to tourists
Weekend rain in Alberta has helped to slow wildfires burning in the Canadian Rockies, but fires continue to blaze in some parts of Jasper.
Travellers should continue to stay away from the alpine town which remains under evacuation orders.
“Jasper National Park and the town of Jasper are currently under an evacuation order due to wildfires. While we were looking forward to welcoming you to town, unfortunately we are unable to do so at this time,” reads the latest information from the town's tourism board.
At Jasper National Park, the largest in Canada and one of the country's most-visited tourist destinations, all reservations have been cancelled between now and August 6.
The Unesco World Heritage Site attracts more than two million visitors annually and is known for its plethora of wildlife which includes elks, moose and bear.
“Reopening dates will be confirmed when available and any further cancellations communicated as required,” said Parks Canada in a statement.
Much of Jasper has been destroyed by the wildfires, which began on Wednesday. About 5,000 residents and 20,000 tourists were forced to evacuate as strong winds propelled the blaze through the alpine town.
According to Parks Canada, 358 of the town's 1,113 structures have been destroyed. The authority confirmed that critical infrastructures, including schools and hospitals, have survived the fires.
Saudi Arabia leads the world for on-time flights in June
Travellers hoping to reach their destinations on time can relax when flying with Saudi Arabia's national airline.
Saudia has been named the world's most punctual airline in June by aviation analytics company Cirium.
More than 88 per cent of Saudia's flights in June arrived at their destination on time, the highest punctuality performance in the world ahead of second-placed Aeromexico, which saw 86.18 per cent of its flights reach destinations on time.
Colombian Latam Airlines is the third most punctual in the world, according to the report, followed by Japan's JAL, Brazil's Azul and All Nippon Airways or Ana.
Qatar Airways also ranks in the top 10, with 81.01 per cent of the Doha airline's flights arriving on time. No other Middle Eastern airlines ranked in the global top 10 for June 2024.
And when it comes to on-time performances for airports, Saudi Arabia also leads the way with Riyadh's King Khalid Airport scoring 85.60 for on-time departures, the highest globally.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi also performed well, ranking sixth globally for on-time departures in June. No other regional airlines ranked in Cirium's top 20 list.
Airport personal shoppers for Arabic-speaking travellers in Munich
Arabic-speaking travellers flying from Munich International Airport can now make use of a complimentary personal shopping service.
Travellers visiting the Bavarian city this summer will have access to a dedicated team of Arabic-speaking shopping assistants when departing from Terminal 1.
Versed in both the language and the Arab culture, personal shopping assistants will showcase a range of products available at Munich Airport's MyDutyFree shops.
This includes a curated selection of halal and alcohol-free products, regional confectionery and other culinary items. Luxury shopping is also available with accessories from brands such as Coccinelle and Longchamp, as well as a wide range of exclusive perfumes and cosmetics.
"We are excited to introduce this specialised service, further cementing Munich Airport's reputation as the preferred choice for Arab travellers," said Sven Zahn, chief executive at Eurotrade Flughafen Munchen Handels-GmbH at Munich Airport, which operates about 50 shops inside the airport.
In addition to providing guidance on halal products, shopping assistants can also guide travellers on any restrictions they need to know concerning taking items onboard flights. The new scheme is geared towards travellers from several airlines across the Middle East, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Gulf Air and Kuwait Airlines.
Free of charge, the pre-bookable service is available from Monday to Sunday until the end of September, when the busy summer travel season typically draws to a close.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
UAE Rugby finals day
Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai
2pm, UAE Conference final
Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers
4pm, UAE Premiership final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons
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The specs
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Company%20Profile
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Persuasion
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
