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Air Arabia plans to double fleet expansion in a year

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Air Arabia has revealed its plans to double its current fleet capacity within the next 12 months, in a step that aims to support Abu Dhabi’s leisure and business tourism market and its growing aviation needs.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said, “Tourism is one of the key pillars of the UAE economy. Abu Dhabi is an Emirate with solid destination appeal and our enhanced fleet size will continue to support the current robust inbound tourism, in line with the Emirate’s long-term vision of growing regional and global visitor numbers.”

“In 2022, a record 15.9 million guests travelled through Abu Dhabi, nearly threefold the number of visitors in 2021 at 5.26 million. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, which complements Etihad Airways’ services from the UAE capital, is contributing to this remarkable growth by catering to the growing low-cost travel market segment in the region,” Al Ali added, highlighting Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s contribution to the capital’s tourism growth.

Air Arabia is bullish on their growth plans for Abu Dhabi and the outlook for aviation generally for 2023.

“Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is supporting the UAE capital’s growing prominence as a global tourism and business hub. Doubling the fleet strength will be crucial to meet growing passenger demand for low-cost travel as the city records a new wave of growth in tourism, driven by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to attract 23 million tourists annually by 2030.”

Sharing his expectations for the travel and aviation sector at the regional and global levels, Al Ali noted that “despite the continued economic challenges and geopolitical concerns, 2023 continues to be an extraordinary year for the airline industry. It marked the return of the global aviation industry to near normality as travel restrictions eased, leading to strong passenger demand for air travel.”

“The industry is now recovering from its supply chain challenges and the pent-up demand for travel worldwide is continuing to drive growth,” he said in conclusion.

  • WAM

Business

UAE bank penalised over anti-money laundering lapses

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The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has hit a bank operating in the country with a financial penalty. This comes under the rules set out in the Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations.

The fine was imposed after a review by the CBUAE found that the bank wasn’t following the required Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism policies and procedures.

The CBUAE takes its role in overseeing the financial sector seriously, ensuring that all banks and their staff stick to UAE laws and regulations. This is to maintain the integrity and transparency of the UAE’s banking system.

(Source: Wam)

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Pro Panja League is set for international debut as it goes global with UAE Cup 2025

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Pro Panja League, India’s premier professional Arm Wrestling tournament, is set to mark a significant moment in the league’s journey, making its international debut on April 19th at the India Club, who are also the venue partner for the tournament in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The ‘Pro Panja UAE Cup’ is the first-ever occasion when the league is organizing an international event. The event will bring together some of India’s best arm wrestlers alongside the best arm wrestlers from around the world.

The event is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and will technically be overlooked by the Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation. Actor and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Mr. Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood Star and President of the People’s ArmWrestling Federation India , Mrs. Preeti Jhangiani will be making a special appearance at the event, alongside Mr. Raz Khan, who is the representative for Pro Panja League in the UAE.

A total of five matches will be played at the event, with the huge India-Pakistan headline clash being between India’s Mazahir Saidu (110 kg), who is India’s Number 1 and also the captain of Kochi KD’s in the Pro Panja League, and Pakistan’s Omer Jamshaid (105 kg).

In the 90 kg category, Arjun Menon from India will take on Talal Ali from Bahrain, while another Indian, Umesh Kattuparambil (80 kg) will compete against Ameer Alturkumani (85 kg) from UAE. In the other three matches at the landmark event, Prasad Kanhangad (75 kg) of India will be pitted against UAE’s Rambo (80 kg), while India’s Asker Ali (85 kg) will fight it out against Ali (90 kg).

Speaking about the international debut, Parvinn Dabass, Co-founder of Pro Panja League, said, “The Pro Panja UAE Cup is a natural progression in our vision to make arm wrestling a mainstream, globally recognized sport. The UAE has emerged as a hub for combat sports and we are thrilled to bring the energy and excitement of Pro Panja to such an enthusiastic audience and I thank our UAE partners especially India Club and Mr Faisal Alzaabi for their support .”

Sharing her enthusiasm for the same, Bollywood Star, Preeti Jhanghiani added, “Having seen the Pro Panja League up close, I have to say it’s a superb mix of sports and entertainment and Bollywood masala, everyone who watches falls in love with Pro Panja and now I’m honoured to be meeting my UAE fans through this platform .”

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Dubai Airport retains title as world’s busiest for international travel

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Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again soared to global prominence, maintaining its crown as the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic in 2024, according to newly released data from Airports Council International (ACI) World.

The airport’s unwavering lead underscores Dubai’s pivotal role in connecting the globe, a feat achieved amid a steady recovery in global aviation.

A Surging Comeback for Air Travel

Preliminary figures from ACI World reveal that nearly 9.5 billion passengers traveled through airports worldwide in 2024 — a robust 9 per cent increase over 2023, and a 3.8 per cent rise compared to 2019, just before the pandemic upended travel norms.

Among the top 10 busiest airports, Dubai ranked second overall, following Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but held firm as the world leader for international traffic. Dallas Fort Worth International rounded out the top three.

Collectively, these 10 aviation hubs processed around 855 million passengers, representing nearly 9 per cent of global traffic — a clear indication of recovery and growing global mobility.

Why Dubai Continues to Lead

DXB’s success isn’t just about numbers, it reflects the city’s enduring position as a global crossroads for travelers, airlines, and cargo alike. With top-tier facilities, world-class connectivity, and its role as a hub for Emirates Airline, Dubai has cemented itself as the go-to gateway for Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In terms of air cargo, global volumes jumped 8.4 per cent year-over-year, reaching over 124 million metric tonnes, further highlighting aviation’s resurgence.

A Testament to Resilience

“Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines,” said ACI World Director-General Justin Erbacci. “These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity.”

He added, “As air travel grows, ACI World stands ready to support its members, ensuring the smooth flow of people and goods that drive global economic, social, and cultural progress.”

(Source: Wam)

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