Connect with us

Travel/Tourism

Dubai Unveils Dazzling New Attractions

Published

on

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Ever evolving and growing, Dubai continues to surprise and amaze with stunning new attractions and world-class developments opening almost every week. 2017 saw a host of exciting new additions to the city’s must-visit list, and looking ahead there’s plenty more to come in 2018.

Read on for our picks of the top sites and attractions that rounded off last year in style and those are set to capture travellers’ imagination in the coming year.

NEWLY OPENED

Bulgari Resort Dubai

The newest five-star hotel to join Dubai’s luxury hotel scene is the world’s fifth Bulgari Hotels and Resorts property, and it’s now open at the exclusive seahorse-shaped Jumeirah Bay Island, just off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Road. Bringing elegant Italian style to the Middle East, this private island retreat is the perfect contrast to the city’s skyscraper hotels, boasting a Mediterranean-style design that welcomes guests through the world’s first Bulgari Marina and Yacht Club. The luxury 1.7 million square foot marine complex is framed by lush landscaped gardens and features 100 rooms and suites, 20 residential villas and a marina, all accompanied by a full range of luxury amenities. The resort celebrated its launch with a star-studded affair that welcomed Bulgari brand ambassadors and VIPs, model Bella Hadid, Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander, model and actor Jon Kortajarena, and model Jasmine Sanders.

Renaissance Downtown Hotel

With 298 guestrooms including 65 sprawling suites, along with a thoughtful design that incorporates elements from local artists, there’s plenty for the stylish traveller to explore at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel. Restaurants include David Myers’ Bleu Blanc, which resembles a Southern French farmhouse, BASTA!, an urban interpretation of a Roman trattoria, and BHAR, a Middle Eastern-style brasserie whose name means ‘spice’. Chef Masaharu Morimoto also opened the first UAE branch of his eponymous restaurant, mixing traditional Japanese techniques with Western twists. In addition, the hotel boasts a first-of-its-kind, all-suite spa concept from the renowned Six Senses brand.

XLine Dubai Marina

Currently standing as the world’s longest urban zip line, extending a full kilometre from a height of 170 metres to ground level, the XLine Dubai Marina is now open to the public. The line features an incline of 16 degrees and reaches an average top speed of 80 kilometres per hour. Building on the original XLine over The Dubai Fountain launched in 2015, this new edition is twice the length of its forerunner and features two zip lines running adjacent to one another. Also new is the Superman-style harness, suspending daredevils horizontally as they zip from one of the Amwaj towers in JBR down to the terrace of Dubai Marina Mall.

Dubai Safari Park

Dubai Safari Park is a massive wildlife project that spans over 119 hectares just a short drive from downtown. The park is divided into different sections – Asian Village, African Village and Open Safari Village – and recreates the different habitats suitable for its varied and unique wildlife, including 2,000 animals of 250 different species from around the world. It’s also home to a 1,000-seat theatre, a garden for children, a botanical garden, a butterfly garden and an amateur golf course, in addition to restaurants and a food court in the park’s Valley and Children’s Park. It features the world’s first drive-through crocodile park, the UAE’s largest aviary and the country’s only drive-through hippo and tiger exhibit. The park is also set to offer a zoo-keeping course, which will make it the first place in the UAE to offer such training.

Dubai Frame

Rising 150 metres high and 93 metres wide, Dubai Frame is an impressive and imposing architectural landmark that unites the city’s past, present and future. Its two vertical towers are connected by a 100-square-metre bridge that features a 25-square-metre glass panel in the centre, offering a great 360-degree view of the city. The bridge serves as an observation deck providing uninterrupted views of Old Dubai to the north and New Dubai to the south. Visitors begin their journey by learning about the history of Dubai in the Past Gallery, with picturesque projections depicting Bedouin life, camels and the infinite sands of the desert. Visitors then move on to augmented reality-activated screens on the Sky Deck level that showcase present-day Dubai, before walking through a specially designed ‘vortex tunnel’ to a virtual metropolis representing the future of Dubai.

OPENING SOON

The Opus by Zaha Hadid

Designed by the late renowned Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, The Opus consists of two glass towers linked by a ground-floor podium and a steel and glass bridge towards the top. The architectural wonder, developed by Omniyat Properties, artfully integrates futuristically stylish interiors with exquisite detail, and features 56,000 square feet of office space, a club, restaurants and ME Dubai, a boutique hotel.

Gevora Hotel

The property, which is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2018, will have 528 rooms spread right up to the 75th floor. At 356 metres high, it will be the world’s new tallest hotel. To put its huge stature in perspective, Gevora Hotel will be more than three times taller than London’s Big Ben, 56 metres taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower, and around equal to the length of three football pitches. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road in the Trade Centre area, the hotel will feature four restaurants, swimming pools for adults and children, a Jacuzzi facility, a health club, a luxury spa and gymnasiums.

W Hotel, The Palm

A second W Hotel will open in Dubai in March, located on the beautiful shores of the western crescent of Palm Jumeirah. Built to resemble the letter W, the world-class hotel resort and residential complex will feature a spa, pool areas, water features and other amenities, as well as approximately 100,000 square metres of accommodation including 350 guest rooms and 45 super luxury duplex, triplex apartments and penthouses. Restaurants, retail outlets and function facilities will mostly be located on the ground floor of the hotel wing, with a destination bar and restaurant at a high level to take full advantage of the dual aspect views.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Library

The world’s largest library, overlooking Dubai Creek, will open to the public in the first quarter of 2018, spread over 66,000 square metres. Designed in the shape of an open book on a Rahle (the Arabic lectern), the larger-than-life, seven-storey library will be home to 4.5 million print, audio and electronic books and will include several areas for interaction, events, activities and educational and cultural festivals.

Dolce Sky

A concept like no other is coming to Downtown Dubai’s Address Boulevard Hotel. Located in Downtown Dubai, the hotel boasts a breath-taking panorama of nearby icons; from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, to the award-winning Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Opera District. Dolce Sky is located on the 70th and 71st floors of the hotel; a five-star hospitality location that will boast a glass stage housing a grand piano above diners, and aerial performers – welcoming global visitors to a delectable variety of cuisines, while promising unique experiences with every visit. The two floors will bring together a chic lounge and rooftop terrace, as well as two first-rate restaurants: the French cuisine of ‘La Vie’ served from a floating kitchen; and the Japanese-inspired ‘Takumi’, led by acclaimed chef Hide Yamamoto, featuring a sushi bar and a lounge specialising in Japanese beverages. It will also include the private, members-only Ellecti Lounge.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Travel/Tourism

Digital Integration in the 2026 Global Travel Sector

Published

on

Global Travel Sector

The manner in which international travel and digital entertainment intersect has experienced a massive transformation in the current year. As the volume of international travel continues to rise to unprecedented levels, the technological potential to access a 1xbet giriş from any point in the world has become the benchmark by which the efficacy of a given system or network should be judged. In 2026, more than 65% of international travel hubs have completely integrated standalone 5G connectivity, providing the environment that is required to enable high-stakes sports viewing. This means that regardless of the position that the sports aficionado finds themselves in, at the top of a mountain or at the coast, the nature of the information that flows will remain the same. The modern-day traveler expects nothing but the best, and that includes the manner in which they will be able to engage with the digital hobbies that they have been able to cultivate during the course of the year.

The way in which the experience is felt has also been improved through the efficiency of the software that is used to power the mobile experience. If the user has opted to install the 1xbet apk file on the 2026 flagship device, the user is able to experience the new “Travel-Adaptive” coding that reduces the background data usage by 30% when traveling internationally. This is an important aspect of the experience because the user may find themselves in transit for an extended period of time without the ability to plug in and charge the device. As the statistics show for the first half of the year, the user of the mobile The application is able to experience a 25% reduction in data usage when traveling compared to the user who makes use of the mobile web browser in order to experience the sports entertainment the user has grown accustomed to. It is a more relaxed experience where the main aspect is the thrill of the game.

The Role of Mobile Betting in Modern Tourism

It should be noted that the modern betting process concerning sports is considered to be one of the most effective ways to get entertained during a long flight or when staying at the airport. Mobile betting is considered to be a unique opportunity for a tourist not just to view a sporting event, but also to become an active participant of that sporting event that is taking place on the other side of the world. Thanks to the speed of modern applications, it is possible for a tourist to react immediately to the changes in the score and adjust the predictions accordingly during an excursion or when staying by the pool. Such an event is considered to be an adventure in bright colors.

Apart from the entertainment that such modern platforms offer, they also present a great number of analytical data that allows the tourist to get engaged in the process. One of the main purposes of such tourism is to get satisfaction from the accuracy of one’s prediction, as well as competition. Such platforms pay great attention to the safety issues, reminding the tourist that “betting should be an additional positive experience of your trip.”

Network Benchmarks for the Connected Traveler

The sports enthusiast who is always on the go would find that the line which separates an enjoyable experience from an unenjoyable experience of sports betting is measured in mere milliseconds. In fact, the world average of mobile latency for tourist destinations has been reduced to mere 16ms in 2026, which is an important consideration for sports enthusiasts who enjoy sports betting for games such as tennis and basketball.

The table below shows the current standards for mobile network performance for the most prominent tourist destinations around the world:

Network Metric Global Average 2026 Satisfaction Rate Primary Use Case
Download Speed 195.6 Mbps 88 percent High-definition streaming
Signal Latency (5G) 16 ms 92 percent Real-time Live updates
Roaming Cost 1.15 USD / GB 74 percent Continuous background sync
App Load Time 1.8 seconds 85 percent Rapid market entry
Connection Stability 99.8 percent 91 percent Uninterrupted viewing

As per the latest research findings on the subject by the research company named Statista, it has been identified that the need for high-speed mobile data for the tourists is rising by an increase of 40%. This is mainly because the tourist would like to experience a form of ‘multi-layered’ entertainment. The definition of ‘multi-layered’ implies that the sports enthusiast would like to view a live streaming event, access his or her social media account, and place a friendly bet on the event simultaneously. Therefore, as long as this infrastructure is in place, this would thrive.

The Evolution of Mobile Betting as Travel Leisure

In the year 2026, mobile betting for sports would be considered a fun way of spicing up the entire travel experience. This is because it would be able to provide a new dimension to a sporting event that an individual is witnessing while traveling in a pub or a train. It would be able to provide individuals with a way of having a personal stake in a world event. Thus, the hours that an individual spends in a train or an airport would be able to pass quickly with a fun way of gamification of sports viewing.

In the year 2026, modern mobile betting has turned out to be a full-fledged way of socializing for travelers. This is because many individuals use the co-watching features of the application and group betting features of the application in order to compete with their friends back home or connect with other sports fans of the sport that they are watching while visiting pubs around the world. It is because it would be able to provide individuals with a new dimension of traveling. It is no longer just about traveling to a new destination; it is about becoming part of a new world community where talking about the probabilities of winning or forward performance of a team is considered to be the universal language of communication. It is no longer just about betting; it is about getting the rhythm of the world of sports wherever an individual is located—from the cozy European roads to the futuristic cities of Asia.

Popular Mobile Sports Activities for People on the Move

Individuals who travel in 2026 have managed to come up with their own ways of having fun through sports without missing out on their sightseeing targets. There has been a new trend of “micro-betting,” which refers to betting on a game that will happen in the near future.

The following is a list that points out the best mobile sports-related activities for traveling individuals for the current year:

  • Predicting the total points scored in one quarter of the basketball game while in short transit stops.
  • Tracking the sports player that is most likely to score the next goal in the football game while in a cafe.
  • Determining the total number of games in one set in the tennis game while in downtime at a resort.
  • Viewing the percentage of ball possession for a particular team through the use of graphical overlays.
  • Predicting the exact number of free throws scored in a game while in downtime at a hotel.

The activities will be perfect for the downtime in the traveling schedule as they will provide the individual with a dose of excitement without making the individual glued to his/her screens for hours. This way, the individual will be able to appreciate the digital world as well as the beauty of the world he/she is in.

Security and Responsible Habits Abroad

However, with the introduction of mobile transactions during travel, the factor of security has been regarded as a major factor. In fact, in the current scenario, 94% of the total mobile sports platforms provide multi-factor biometric authentication. This means that the security of your account is ensured even when you are accessing the internet through a public source of internet connectivity, such as Wi-Fi. Moreover, the majority of the platforms provide “Smart Limits” that are location and time zone-based. In this way, an individual can develop a habit when they are traveling. All of this has been done in a way that the overall experience remains a positive one. This is because betting is something that an individual chooses for his or her entertainment.

The innovations in the field of technology, such as the introduction of technology through eSIM, allow an individual to remain connected. This means that an individual does not face “bill shock” when they are using roaming.

Continue Reading

Travel/Tourism

FG Adopts Hybrid Access Gate Payment System at Airports

Published

on

faan-toll-gates

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The federal government has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to adopt a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.

This system is to be used until the introduction of a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at the airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, disclosed that these decisions were reached after reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed.

FAAN had earlier commenced an electronic payment system last week, but it was suspended by President Bola Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created.

Yesterday, the Aviation Minister met with officials of FAAN and senior officials of the Ministry, and it was agreed to engage concessionaires for the introduction of a fully automated or electronic system.

Mr Keyamo, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Tunde Moshood, said motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.

It was also resolved that other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available, while members of the public and road users were encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the organisation continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.

Continue Reading

Travel/Tourism

Tinubu Suspends Cashless Airport Toll Gate Payment System

Published

on

airport toll gate

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The cashless airport toll gate payment system introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

At the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Tinubu directed the agency to immediately return to the status quo, pending the development of a more efficient system.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who announced the suspension after the FEC meeting today, said the action followed gridlock that trailed the new system, which caused passengers to miss their flights.

FAAN had commenced the cashless payment system for airport toll gates across the country in a bid to block revenue leakages and adopt an electronic payment system instead of cash.

But this policy caused traffic gridlock at several airports, especially those in Lagos and Abuja.

“Mr President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were losing their flights, missing their flights.

“So, Mr President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock, and Nigerians are suffering as a result of it,” Mr Keyamo informed newsmen.

“The major reason why Mr President took this decision is to eliminate the present gridlock that we are experiencing, especially at both the Lagos and Abuja toll gates leading to the airport.

“That’s the major reason, not that the President is happy with the cash system,” he added.

The Minister further said the President directed stakeholders to “go back and, if possible, even engage the private sector to ensure that we establish an electronic system by which we can collect these revenues for the federal government at the gates, to the extent that it will not create the gridlock that we are having right now.”

“We are going to do a hybrid system whereby we can collect cash temporarily and, of course, use the cards that they have collected temporarily for now,” Mr Keyamo added.

Continue Reading

Trending