August 2024
Greetings Partners! Welcome to the Dakkak Newsletter, a curated resource crafted exclusively for our valued partners to explore updates, gain insights, and embark on extraordinary journeys through our exceptional destinations.
Dakkak Jordan
News & Events:
– New UNESCO World Heritage Site: Umm Al-Jimal added on the UNESCO list.
– Jordan International Food Festival 2024: Culinary delights and entertainment all in one place over five days, happening August 7-11.
New UNESCO World Heritage Site Umm Al-Jimal
46th meeting of the World Heritage Committee
During the 46th meeting of the World Heritage Committee, which was held in India, the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the addition of Umm El-Jimal as the seventh Jordanian site on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which also includes:
- Petra
- Qasr Amra
- Umm Al-Rasas
- Wadi Rum
- Baptism Site of Jesus Christ
- Al Salt
About Umm Al-Jimal
The village is near the Jordanian-Syrian border, 86 kilometres (53 miles) north of the capital Amman, and is known as “the black oasis” due to the prevalence of black volcanic rock in the area.
Umm El-Jimal is the third Nabataean city after Petra and Umm al-Rasas, which represented an extension of Nabataean rule in the north and a witness to the ability of the Nabataeans to build a smart, sustainable system despite the scarcity of water, and represents the resilience that the people of the region enjoyed at that time and until today
The village was first settled by the Nabataean peoples in the first century AD and later occupied by the Romans, becoming an important agricultural and commercial village.
Photo credit: Ali Barqawi UJAP
Jordan International Food Festival 2024
The Jordan International Food Festival (JIFF 2024), a global culinary event celebrating Jordanian cuisine, culture, and community.
Organized by the Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourism Board, JIFF promises an immersive experience from August 7 – 11, featuring curated tastings by Michelin-starred chefs, live demonstrations, cooking workshops, music concerts, local markets, and family entertainment—all enriched with Jordanian hospitality.
Held in the heart of Amman on August 7th at King Hussein Business Park, the festival spans 50,000 square meters across different zones catering to a variety of tastes, interests, and ages. Check our schedule to find out what’s in store, and book your Tickets today for an unforgettable experience for your taste buds
Dakkak UAE
News & Events:
– UAE hospitality sector posts robust growth in H1
– Dubai Airport: New baggage service center now open
– Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque hits record visitor numbers (4 Million people in 2024)
UAE hospitality sector posts robust growth in H1
- Abu Dhabi 12.3%
- Ras Al Khaimah 10.7%
- Dubai 4.6%
- Sharjah 3.9%
- Ajman 1.7%
- Fujairah 0.6%
Compared to 2023. -TTN news
New baggage service center in Dubai Airport now open
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque hits record visitor numbers
One of the world’s largest mosques and a leading UAE cultural attraction Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has had a record-breaking first half of 2024 with 4,379,258 visitors.
The numbers are up 31% on the same period last year. Previously, the mosque, which has 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, welcomes around 5 million visitors per year.
According to data, 81% of visitors are coming from outside the UAE. Asia leads the pack with 52% of visitors, followed by Europe at 34%. India tops the list of countries, contributing 22% of the total visitors, with China and Russia following close behind.
Cultural tour specialists conducted 2,958 tours for 41,957 visitors, offering insights into the mosque’s stunning architecture and its message of tolerance. They also hosted 823 official delegations, including three heads of state and numerous ministers.
Recently, the mosque was named as the top tourist attraction in the Middle East – and the 10th best in the world in Tripadvisor’s list of the World’s Top 25 Tourist Attractions. -CT News
Dakkak Saudi Arabia
News & Events:
– AlUla Dar Tantora & Sharaan Nature Reserve: Featured in TIME’s Magazine for “World’s Greatest Places 2024”
– Flynas: Saudi Arabian airline Flynas orders 160 Airbus aircraft
– World Cup 2034: Saudi Arabia bid to host the World Cup in 5 cities and 15 stadiums.
TIME Magazine: 2024 World’s Greatest Places
To compile the 2024 list, TIME solicited nominations of places—including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more—from its international network of correspondents and contributors, as well as through an application process, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences. While last year’s list featured 50 cities, this year they decided to explore even more—and more specific—establishments that stand out in their field, and the world.
The result: 100 extraordinary destinations to visit and stay this year.
TIME’s Featured 1: Dar Tantora
AlUla Old Town is one of the most impressive heritage sites in Saudi Arabia (it was named one of the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization’s 2022 Best Tourism Villages), but within the town itself is Dar Tantora The House Hotel, the first and only lodging option built directly out of the over 800-year-old mudbrick houses that were once a pivotal stop along the incense trading route through the Arabian Peninsula.
Designed by Egyptian architect Shahira Fahmy and opened in May, the hotel features 30 rooms that incorporate a mix of traditional materials with modern engineering that helped preserve the mudbrick frames of every room along with original historic art that adorns walls throughout the property.
Doors are heavy and wooden, ancient-styled rugs and antique pottery abound, and the rooms, hallways, and common areas are lit with 1,738 candles (bathrooms have electricity). A pool, spa, cigar lounge, and two restaurants (Joontos features regional Saudi cuisine in an upscale courtyard setting, and Maqha is a more laid-back cafe) make this a comfortable place to stay, but the idea behind Dar Tantora is to really feel the area’s history.
The hotel offers traditional Bedouin experiences such as:
– Ancient breadmaking
– Coffee ceremonies
-Storytelling sessions
-Ageless beauty treatments with healing Saudi oils and balms.
Dar Tantora also wants you to experience AlUla itself, ushering you around the city in vintage Mercedes’ and Rolls Royces to archaeological sites like Hegra, where a new hotel, Chedi Hegra, will be the first to open within the UNESCO World Heritage Nabataean site this fall, and to more modern spots like Design Space, a new global design center hosting exhibitions and events.
TIME’s Featured 2: Sharaan Nature Reserve, AlUla
A short flight northwest of Riyadh lies the mesmerizing Sharaan Nature Reserve in AlUla. Here, luxury off-road vehicles take travelers on a unique desert adventure through stunning red-rock canyons.
Spotting a single ibex amidst the dunes signifies the ongoing rewilding efforts. The reserve, home to Idmi gazelles, red-necked ostriches, red foxes, and soon the Arabian leopard, offers a glimpse of nature’s resilience.
Guides, descendants of Bedouins, share tales of djinn (spirits) and point out ancient rock carvings depicting hunters, camels, and horses. These petroglyphs, along with Thamudic inscriptions, connect visitors to a rich history spanning thousands of years.
AlUla’s untouched beauty and raw natural history make it a must-visit destination. As you explore, you’ll feel like a spirit passing through a land of wonder and timeless charm.
Saudi Arabian airline Flynas orders 160 Airbus aircraft
Saudi Arabia-based low-cost airline Flynas has signed a landmark agreement with Airbus, placing an order for 160 new aircraft at this year’s Farnborough Airshow in the UK.
The purchase includes 30 wide-body A330neo aircraft and 130 narrow-body A320 family aircraft, taking the carrier’s total orders to 280 aircraft.
The signing ceremony was attended by Flynas CEO and Managing Director Bander Almohanna; CEO of the Airbus Commercial Aircraft Christian Scherer; Airbus Executive Vice President Commercial Transactions Paul Meijers, and Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Al-Duailej added: “This deal is pivotal for achieving the National Civil Aviation Strategy’s goal to connect the Kingdom with more than 250 international destinations and increase passenger traffic to 330 million annually by 2030.”
Currently, Flynas operates more than 70 domestic and international routes with more than 1500 flights a week, serving 78 million passengers since its launch in 2007. -CT News
Saudi Arabia bid to host World Cup 2034 in 5 cities and 15 stadiums.
The current social media trend to support the bid #Saudi2034bid
We hope you enjoyed our newsletter & Thank you for choosing Dakkak DMC as your partner!
Dakkak DMC Previous Newsletter (July 2024): https://www.dakkakjordan.com/July-2024-newsletter