During the first three months of 2023, the monarchy welcomed roughly 7.8 million visitors.
As the country tries to draw more tourists from abroad and diversify its economy away from oil, tourism revenue in Saudi Arabia increased by more than three times in the first quarter of 2023 to 37 billion Saudi riyals ($9.86 billion).

As more people visited, incoming tourism revenue surged by 225% as compared to the first quarter of 2022, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), a state-run news agency.

The kingdom welcomed 7.8 million tourists in the first three months of 2023, its best quarterly performance and a rise of 64% from the same period in 2019, before to the pandemic.

According to the SPA, the increase in revenue caused the kingdom to report a balance of payments surplus for the tourist industry in the first quarter, totaling 22.8 billion riyals, as opposed to a loss of 1.6 billion riyals in the same period previous year.
The National tourist Development Strategy’s goals are aligned with the Ministry of Tourism’s “efforts to strengthen the tourism sector and its role in the growth of the national economy,” according to the agency.

The kingdom’s tourism policy has established objectives such as bringing in 100 million new visitors, having the tourist sector contribute 10% of the gross domestic product, and creating 1 million new jobs by 2030.

According to data released in May by the World Tourism Organization, Saudi Arabia became the second-fastest growing tourist destination for the first quarter of 2023.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the country’s travel and tourism industry will expand by an average of 11% annually over the following ten years, making it the Middle East’s fastest-growing market.

According to a report from July 2022, by 2032, the sector might account for over 635 billion riyals of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, or 17.1% of the country’s whole economy.

Over 93.5 million tourists — 77 million local and 16.5 million foreign — traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, stated during an investment summit in Paris in June of this year that the country hopes to bring in 30 million tourists this year.

“The pandemic is over… We anticipate significant growth this year,” he stated at the time. He stated that it is “very doable” to reach the goal of 100 million visits by the end of the decade.

Additionally, he urged investors to seize “amazing opportunities in a market that remains untapped with a high rate of expansion over the next decade or two.”

The Saudi Tourism Investment Company, or Asfar, was founded in July by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to aid in the sector’s expansion.

According to the PIF, the company would make investments in new tourism projects and create tourist destinations including lodging, attractions for tourists, retail, and food and beverage options in towns all around Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest economy.

Asfar will seek to provide a supportive environment for regional suppliers, contractors, and small and medium-sized firms to construct tourism projects in addition to providing co-investment opportunities to the private sector.

In order to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to accommodate the anticipated amount of foreign visitors over the next ten years, the kingdom is additionally making investments in the aviation industry.

By 2030, the new national airline Riyadh Air hopes to have connections to more than 100 locations worldwide. It will start flying in 2025.

The national airline of Saudi Arabia, Saudia, and its low-cost affiliate, flyadeal, are both situated in Jeddah.

In November of last year, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the opening of a new airport in the nation’s capital, Riyadh, with six parallel runways and the capacity to handle 120 million passengers annually by 2030.

Despite global macroeconomic headwinds, the UAE’s non-oil economy expanded strongly in the first half of the year, which helped the country’s real estate market perform well across all sectors.

According to consultant CBRE’s most recent market report, average prices in Dubai’s market increased by 16.9% in the year to June 2023, while the residential market in Abu Dhabi registered 4,737 sales transactions in the first half of the year, up 88.6% yearly.

The hospitality industry was supported by UAE hotels, which saw an increase in average occupancy rates of 4.1 percentage points during the first half of the year.

Despite what appears to be diminishing global financial challenges, the outlook is still generally favorable, according to the UAE Real Estate.

The impact of rising interest rates, the effect on consumers as a result of rising property costs, particularly in Dubai, and lastly the overall effect of a falling US currency are the main downside risks that we are keeping an eye on.
The second-largest economy in the Arab world, the UAE, increased 7.9% last year, the most in 11 years, following growth of 4.4% in 2021. This growth was aided by the non-oil sector as the nation advanced its diversification policy.

According to the UAE Central Bank, its GDP is projected to increase by 3.3% this year, with the non-oil sector rising by 4.5%.

The non-oil private sector’s business activity grew as new order growth reached a four-year high in june.

From 55.5 in May to 56.9 in June, the seasonally adjusted S&P Global purchasing managers’ index reading increased. This was significantly higher than the neutral 50-point line separating growth from contraction.

Every one of the previous 31 survey periods has seen an improvement in the non-oil private sector’s health.

The government’s measures, such as residency permits for retirees and remote employees, have helped the country’s real estate market recover quickly from the downturn brought on by the coronavirus.

The expansion of the 10-year golden visa program, the financial benefits of Expo 2020 Dubai, and increased oil prices all contributed to the sector’s expansion.

Rise of the residential market
According to CBRE, average villa prices rose by 15.1%, while average apartment prices jumped by 17.2% during the course of the year in Dubai’s residential sector.

According to the report, the average price of an apartment in June was Dh1,294 per square foot, while the average price of a villa was Dh1,525 per square foot.

The survey revealed that while average villa prices are already 5.5% over this peak and some areas have long beyond 2014 levels, average apartment sales rates are still 13.1% behind the highs records of 2014.

The study stated that the number of transactions in the first half of the year was 57,738, which was the “highest total over this period on record” and represented a rise of 43.2% annually.

A total of 16,499 residential units were finished and delivered in the first two quarters of 2023, with Downtown Dubai, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Business Bay accounting for 44.6% of this current supply.

Although part of the stock may not be delivered as scheduled, an additional 45,380 units are anticipated to be finished by the end of this year, according to CBRE.

In contrast, rents were stable for the fifth month in a row in June as tenants decided to extend their current leases.

According to CBRE, average apartment and villa prices in Abu Dhabi’s residential market increased by 0.9% and 1.7%, respectively, year over year in the second quarter.

When only transactions from the second quarter were taken into account, the average price for an apartment was Dh14,873 and the average price for a villa was Dh11,232.

According to the research, the market saw 4,737 sales transactions in the first half of the year, a growth of 88.6% yearly, supported by a rise in off-plan market sales of 151.1% and a rise in secondary market sales of 10.5%.

At the halfway point of the year, 1,265 units have been finished in Abu Dhabi, with 65.8% of this supply going to Al Raha.

Over the final two quarters of the year, an additional 4,538 units are anticipated to be finished, with Al Maryah Island set to get 49% of this new supply. The average rent for apartments in Abu Dhabi grew modestly by 0.1% in the second quarter, while the average rent for villas increased by 1%.

According to registrations for rentals in the second quarter, the average rent for apartments was Dh66,259 and the average rent for villas was Dh166,248.

Tourism boom supports the hospitality industry

According to the survey, the reopening of the European travel market is now helping the UAE’s hospitality sector.

According to CBRE, travelers are being enticed to arrange a stopover in the nation, which is boosting demand and profitability during the traditionally slow summer season.

According to CBRE, the average hotel occupancy rate in the UAE improved by 4.1 percentage points in the year to June, while the average income per available room—a crucial indicator of the hotel industry’s performance—rose by 3.6% annually.

According to the report, the industry is anticipated to keep expanding throughout the year as a result of a number of significant upcoming events, including the Cop 28 summit, the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, and the steady restoration of important supply markets that reopened after the pandemic.

According to CBRE, the nation’s commercial, industrial, and retail real estate sectors all saw growth in the first half of the year.

Despite ongoing global economic challenges, the Middle East’s tourism industry has experienced the strongest post-pandemic recovery worldwide, according to HSBC.

According to the bank’s latest Jet, set, go! research study, the area, which is home to the largest Arab economy in Saudi Arabia and the global commercial and leisure center of the UAE, is exceptional in that it saw a “total recovery” in terms of visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2023.

In comparison to the same period last year, the number of visitors increased by 15% in the first three months of this year.

The Middle East’s tourism industry recovered to a much greater extent than Europe, which came in second place and saw 90% of global visitors.

Top international tourist destinations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Turkey saw large increases in tourist spending.

“The Middle East region experienced the strongest growth in terms of rebound in tourism and is the first region in the world that has grown beyond pre-pandemic numbers,” said Maitreyi Das, an economist at HSBC Securities and Capital Markets who prepared the research.

According to the first quarter of 2023, “Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the best growing tourist destinations globally.”

One of the key pillars of Middle Eastern countries, particularly the six-member economic bloc of the GCC, that are attempting to diversify their economies away from oil is the development and expansion of the tourist sector.

In order to reach its goal of 100 million visitors annually by 2030, Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars in the growth of its tourism industry.

Asfar, the Saudi tourist Investment Company, was established in July to aid in the expansion of the travel and tourist industry by the kingdom’s sovereign fund, the Public Investment Fund.

According to a statement released at the time by the PIF, Asfar would invest in new tourism initiatives and create tourist hotspots around Saudi Arabia with hospitality, attractions, shopping, and food and beverage options.

The PIF-owned AlUla Development Company began operations earlier this year with the goal of making the city a popular travel destination on a worldwide scale.

A fully owned subsidiary of the PIF, Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), said in November that it intended to invest 50 billion Saudi riyals ($13.3 billion) to build 21 integrated entertainment destinations across 14 Saudi cities.

The second-largest economy in the Arab world, the UAE, is making significant investments to grow its tourism industry.

The vice president and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said in May that Dubai had the greatest visitor expenditure in the region, at Dh121 billion ($33 billion), up 70% from the previous year.

We have set a goal of welcoming 40 million visitors within the next seven years, and we want the tourism industry to contribute Dh450 billion more to our GDP than it does currently.

According to HSBC, the Middle East has the highest percentage of global GDP derived from tourism, at 5%, indicating that “the region may benefit from the ongoing recovery in the year ahead.”

It said, “Asia Pacific is second, with more than 4% of the region’s GDP coming from tourism.

Additionally, international tourism receipts increased to $1 trillion last year, up 50% from the level recorded in 2021.

Comparing each region’s recovery, Europe experienced the most dramatic improvement (87% of pre-pandemic levels), followed by Africa (75%), the Middle East (70%) and the Americas (68%).

“Asia destinations earned about 28% of pre-pandemic revenues last year due to prolonged border shutdowns, likely to be up sharply in 2023,” HSBC added.

Turkey ranked fourth globally among regional travel destinations last year, with tourism receipts exceeding (by 104%) those from before the pandemic.

The rate at which air traffic seat capacity has expanded is one of the elements determining how quickly the tourism industry recovers, according to the HSBC report.

According to perceptions, 40% of individuals believe that the Middle East has already seen a tourism revival, while 20% believe that this will happen by the end of 2023.

As the company tries to get “more exposure” to Emirates and flydubai airlines, bond sales and increased stock are anticipated to fuel company growth.
Through the issuance of dollar-denominated bonds and increased owner equity, AviLease, a plane lessor controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is on course to more than triple its expansion to $20 billion by 2030.

According to AviLease’s CEO Edward O’Byrne, the sovereign wealth fund section intends to grow at a $3 billion per year rate, with bond issuances ranging from $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

According to Mr. O’Byrne in the interview on Wednesday, the Riyadh-based company anticipates receiving an investment-grade credit rating by the end of 2024.

“Over the next ten years, Saudi Arabia is expected to experience growth on a truly remarkable scale. We’re talking about more than doubling cargo volume and tripling passenger travel, he said.

We are considering allocating the additional equity that PIF has committed to the balance sheet over the course of the next seven years.

This week, AviLease announced that it would pay $3.6 billion to acquire Standard Chartered’s aviation finance division.

The Saudi firm will purchase a portfolio of 100 narrow-body planes and take on the role of service provider for an additional 22. 167 aircraft will be owned and operated by the merged platform.

After the acquisition is complete, the PIF-backed company will emerge with a balance sheet of $6 billion and 167 aircraft, with plans to grow to $20 billion and 300 aircraft by 2030, according to Mr. O’Byrne.

According to Mr. O’Byrne, AviLease will “have a lot of capacity” to purchase wide-body aircraft following the acquisition of the narrow-body jet portfolio.

new airline company To handle long-haul flights, Riyadh Air, which is also supported by the PIF, ordered 39 Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft with options for 33 more.

After beginning operations in early 2025, Riyadh Air is expanding its fleet of aircraft in order to reach 100 destinations by 2030.

In Saudi Arabia, wide-body expansion will continue, although daily bids on wide-body assets are made on the international market, according to Mr. O’Byrne.

According to him, AviLease is frequently in communication with operators in the area and aims to increase its customer base of airlines to 100 from the present 47.

We aim to develop the Middle East as an aviation center since we are friendly neighbors. We are aware of flydubai, and we want to learn more about it and Emirates, the man added.

AviLease, established in June 2022, is a PIF initiative to expand the aviation industry in the kingdom.

As part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, Saudi Arabia wants to increase the number of tourists it receives and improve its aviation industry.

According to the Saudi Aviation Strategy, actions must be taken to increase the number of destinations from 99 to 250 and to triple the annual passenger volume to 330 million by 2030.

$100 billion in investments from the public and commercial sectors support this goal.

The 500 square meter facility provides remedies influenced by Middle Eastern and old Eastern practices.
The most opulent hotel in Abu Dhabi has presented its brand-new luxury spa.

At the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental has begun operations.

The spa is tucked away within the hotel’s well-kept grounds, and it is surrounded by water features and wall mosaics created with local inspiration. There are nine private treatment spaces available within its 500 square meters.

Visitors to the health sanctuary have a variety of treatments and therapies to select from, some of which draw on Middle Eastern and North African customs while others are inspired by old Eastern healing traditions.

Additionally, there is a royal hammam where therapist will carry out three rituals using Moroccan, Turkish, and modern methods.

For those who prefer to have spa treatments outside while listening to the waves lapping, Hideaway Spa Cabanas will be located on the hotel’s own beach.The Essence of Abu Dhabi, a two-hour treatment that pays homage to Cleopatra, and Terrain Treasures, a luxurious treatment encouraged by the Rub’ al Khali desert and Arabian Gulf waters, are just a few of the standout treatments offered at The Spa. Oriental Qi, a treatment inspired by Chinese medicine, balances mind, body, and soul.

For male visitors, the Acqua di Parma Barbiere treatment blends the fine skill of shaving with high-end supplies from the exclusive Italian company.

The spa, which aims to be a haven of peace and tranquility, will feature visiting wellness experts and guest therapists from some of the top facilities around the world all year long.According to Michael Koth, general manager of Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, “We are looking forward to welcoming guests to take advantage of The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, which seeks to build upon the hotel’s distinctive legacy while introducing unparalleled wellness experiences and therapies.”

Corporate wellness will also be emphasized, with areas for thoughtful meetings and corporate group gatherings.

A trip to the spa will soon be a family event as starting in September, treatments specifically designed for children above the age of six will be offered using organic and chemical-free products.

In February of this year, the renamed Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, held its formal opening. The 18-year-old facility has already received a number of novel innovations from the Hong Kong-based hotel chain, including the region’s first vegan bedrooms and Episodes Afternoon Tea.

Dubai International Airport, the busiest airport in the world for international travel, reported serving 41.6 million passengers on Tuesday, exceeding numbers for the same period in 2019 when visitors resumed flying following the coronavirus pandemic’s lockdowns.

The airport in Dubai, which is the long-haul airline Emirates’ home base, has long acted as a gauge for the global aviation business. The International Air Transport Association’s statistics, according to which global traffic is at 94% of pre-COVID levels, are reflected in the new numbers at the DXB airport.

“Dubai International Airport has once again confirmed that it is the world’s busiest international airport for the ninth year running with a very, very strong first half,” Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports.

The most crucial element of that is that we have attained all of our pre-pandemic levels, which were the same levels seen in the first half of 2019.
Due to the airlines’ newly operational additional planes and routes, the 41.6 million passengers represent an increase of about 50% above the 27.9 million passengers seen at this time last year.

India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan are the airport’s usual travel destinations, and they have mostly led passenger traffic this year. Russia has also been a significant market because Dubai is one of the few locations that still welcomes Russians despite Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine.

One of the first places to reopen to tourists following the outbreak was Dubai. The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and the opulent, sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab hotel served to bolster the city-state’s tourism business by luring tourists and transit customers away from airport lounges.With 8.55 million foreign tourists, Dubai topped its pre-pandemic, half-year tourism numbers this year. During that time, Dubai hotels experienced an average occupancy rate of 78%, placing it among the top travel destinations in the globe.

Pre-pandemic, we observed 60% transit and 40% point to point, but that has since been reversed, according to Griffiths. “As of right now, 40% of that traffic is transit and 60% is point-to-point traffic. That makes for a pretty noteworthy statistic that supports the appeal of Dubai as very strong destination for tourist.

Globally, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport continues to be the busiest airport for passengers.

In 2022, Emirates experienced its most prosperous year ever, earning $2.9 billion thanks to a resurgence in demand for its long-haul Boeing 777s and double-decker Airbus A380s. At DXB, the average amount of passengers per flight has increased to 214 since the A380’s return, according to Griffiths.According to Griffiths, the airport has increased its estimated passenger numbers for 2023 to 85 million, narrowly falling short of the 86.3 million passengers it saw in yearly traffic in 2019. Before the pandemic, 2018, when 89.1 million people used the airport, it was the busiest year ever. In 2022, 66 million people traveled via DXB.

However, the quick commerce also brings to light a significant problem that Dubai International Airport had forgotten about during the pandemic—it is surrounded. The airport is located in the northern part of Dubai, bordered to the east and west by two major thoroughfares and huge residential areas to the north and south. This makes it impossible to increase the size of the two-runway airfield.

“We are landlocked on all four sides,” Griffiths said of DXB, “because I remember back to the ’60s when this airport was a very modest single runway field, no one really recognized at that time the massive expansion” coming.” “I think it’s a credit to the work we’ve done that we were able to generate real estate within that landlocked site, which has grown to be the busiest international airport  worldwide.

He said that the airport had plans to invest up to $2.7 billion on its three terminals’ expansion and modernization as well as an increase in the number of distant aircraft parking spots on the apron. According to him, these advancements “will probably keep us in good shape for the next 12 to 13 years.”
Massive works at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the city-state’s secondary airport located some 28 miles away in its far southern regions, would most likely be delayed as a result. The second airport, which opened in 2010, primarily handles freight and private aircraft flights, despite being used by commercial carriers when Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Currently, 104 countries and 257 destinations are served by Dubai International Airport.

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures and experiences. It is a stunning city with futuristic architecture and excessive luxury. Despite having well-known landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah, Dubai also has a wealth of lesser-known hidden jewels that are just waiting to be discovered. Going off the beaten road and learning about this enchanted city’s essence is a completely other experience, filled with enticing art galleries and peaceful oasis.

Shopping at Dubai Mall, admiring the Dubai Frame, strolling along the Dubai Marina, and spending the day at the renowned Dubai Museum are just a few of the well-known experiences that can be had when visiting Dubai. There are a number of lesser-known activities in Dubai that you absolutely must do, which are highly recommended for experiencing as many as you can.

1. Dubai Coffee Museum

   Coffee lovers will find paradise at the Dubai Coffee Museum, which is located in the Al Fahidi district. Explore the museum’s artifacts and exhibits as you enjoy the delectable flavor and alluring aroma of this renowned traditional beverage. Discover the history of the best coffee in the world, from traditional Emirati coffee to coffee from Ethiopia.

   Learn about the history of coffee, the many brewing methods, and the significance of coffee in Emirati culture. After the tour, relax with a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee in the museum’s little café to get a feel for the true Arabian hospitality.

2. Art Galleries In Dubai – Alserkal Avenue

   Beyond its gleaming skyscrapers, Dubai has a bustling art scene. Get lost in a world of expression and creativity by visiting the city’s many art galleries. A must-see location for art fans is Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, where a number of modern art galleries present cutting-edge works by national and international artists.

   These galleries provide a singular window into the creative energy of Dubai, showcasing anything from thought-provoking installations to engaging exhibitions.
   Discover emerging artists, attend captivating shows, and unite with the vivacious atmosphere that permeates this haven for the arts.

   While touring the vibrant Al Quoz area, stop at Alserkal Avenue, an innovative arts and cultural district that has transformed old warehouses into creative spaces. Dubai’s abundance of contemporary art galleries, design studios, and live performance spaces to promote innovation.

3. Al Qudra Oasis & Al Qudra Lakes

   Al Qudra Oasis is a place in Dubai that is outside the city. In stark contrast to the skyline of the city center, it offers a tranquil and soothing environment. Take a leisurely stroll down the roads that are bordered with date palm trees and flowers to take in the peace and quiet that nature has to offer.

   The Al Qudra Lakes are a pair of man-made lakes in the shape of hearts that are close to an oasis that attracts migratory birds. Despite being artificial, these lakes offer a tranquil setting close to the bustling city life. The unusual man-made lakes, which are fashioned like two intertwined hearts, lend a charming touch to the barren desert landscape. The Dubai Municipality also protects the desert in very environment friendly way.

4. Indoor Ski Resorts – Ski Dubai

   At Dubai’s indoor ski slopes, you can escape the desert heat and revel in a winter paradise. Ski Dubai, a thrilling experience for both novice and experienced skiers, is located in the Mall of the Emirates. Put your boots on, grab some skis or a snowboard, and hit the slopes for this below-freezing adventure.

   Ski slopes in Dubai provide a distinctive diversion from the sweltering heat of the metropolis, with activities like skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, and even encounters with penguins.

5. Dubai Ladies Beach ClubDubai Ladies Club, often known as DLC, is a women-only beach club in Dubai that offers a ladies-only gym, spa, swimming pool, and even a room for beauty treatments. Additionally, this beach club frequently conducts activities for members only, such as fashion presentations, beach parties, and charity events.

6. Iranian Mosque

   The Iranian Mosque, also known as the Imam Hussein Mosque, is the ideal place to get away from the hectic city. Beautiful Persian-inspired structures with exquisite tilework and calligraphy can be found in this well-kept secret area in Al Bastakiya, which is situated between Dubai Creek and Bur Dubai.

   Enter to soak in the spiritual atmosphere and the serene atmosphere. Whether you’re seeking solace or are merely interested in architectural marvels, visiting the Iranian Mosque is a tranquil and instructive experience.

7. Dubai Miracle Garden

   Prepare to be amazed by the Dubai Miracle Garden, a special paradise brimming with stunning floral displays and brilliant hues. Over 50 million flowering flowers are housed in this one of Dubai’s best-kept secrets, and they are arranged in fascinating patterns and shapes.

   Take a stroll through these hidden gems, navigating the expertly planted gardens, admiring the larger-than-life floral sculptures, and becoming lost in the breathtaking beauty of nature.

On an artificial island on the edge of the Persian Gulf, Dima Tutkov feels safe.

There are none of the anti-Russian attitudes that he hears about in Europe. He has noticed no potholes or homelessness, unlike what he saw in Los Angeles. And even as his ad agency turns big profits back in Russia, he does not have to worry about being drafted to fight in Ukraine.

“Dubai is much more free — in every way,” he said, sporting an intricately torn designer T-shirt at a cafe he just opened in the city, where his children are now in a British school. “We are independent of Russia,” he said. “This is very important.”A year into a historic onslaught of economic sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s rich are still rich. And in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest city, they have found their wartime harbor.Among the city’s waterfront walkways, palatial shopping malls and suburban cul-de-sacs, Russian is becoming a lingua franca. Oligarchs mingle in exclusive resorts. Restaurateurs from Moscow and St. Petersburg race to open there. Entrepreneurs like Mr. Tutkov are running their Russian businesses from Dubai, and opening up new ones.

Dubai’s new Russian diaspora spans a spectrum that includes multibillionaires who have been punished with sanctions and middle-class tech workers who fled President Vladimir V. Putin’s draft. But to some extent, they share the same reasons for being in the Emirates: It has maintained direct flights to Russia, staked out neutral ground on the war in Ukraine, and, they say, displays none of the hostility toward Russians that they perceive in Europe.

Why do business somewhere that they’re not friendly to you?” says Tamara Bigaeva, who recently opened a two-story outpost of a Russian beauty clinic that is already welcoming longtime clients. “In Europe, they clearly don’t want to see us.”

Indeed, a major draw of Dubai is that it is apolitical, according to interviews with Russians who have settled there. Unlike in Western Europe, there are no Ukrainian flags displayed in public and no rallies of solidarity. The war itself feels far away. Anyone in Dubai harboring anti-Russian sentiments would most likely keep them to themselves, anyway; protests in the Emirates’ authoritarian monarchy are effectively illegal, and freedom of assembly is severely limited.

The presence of wealthy Russians in Dubai at a time when they have been largely cut off from the West shows how Mr. Putin has been able to maintain the social contract that is key to his domestic support: In exchange for loyalty, those close to power can amass enormous riches.

In fact, one political scientist, Ekaterina Schulmann, said Mr. Putin has been signaling to businessmen that he is prepared to remove still more obstacles to enrichment. A recent law, for example, frees lawmakers from having to make public their income and property.

“Yes, we’ve cut you off from the First World, but things won’t get any worse for you,” Ms. Schulmann said, describing how she sees Mr. Putin’s revised contract with the elite. “First of all, there are many other countries that are friendly to us. Second, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get even richer, and we will no longer prosecute you for corruption.”

Seeking a new neighborhood? Would you like to learn about all the newest bars, pubs, and beach clubs in Dubai? If you want to know where the action is in the city, then look at this list of recent openings.

In 2023, Dubai’s nightlife is already tremendously vibrant, and things are just going to grow better.

Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of the best bars, pubs, and beach clubs for you to visit.

As an alternative, browse our listings of the top bars, pubs, and beach bars in Dubai.

New bars in Dubai

1. 7 Tales7 Tales is a brand-new bar in Grovesnor House that draws its inspiration from Japanese society and is managed by Jason Atherton. The establishment, which bills itself as a “Izakaya-styled speakeasy bar,” approaches mixed beverages in a playful and creative manner.

2. Alma BarThe Alma Bar from Soho, London, has relocated to DIFC. Alma Bar, a mixed drink and dining establishment housed in Sucre, aspires to represent its British roots and embrace Middle Eastern culture. The nights of Monday and Wednesday will feature live music. Six days a week, starting at 6 p.m., Alma Bar is guaranteed to draw people searching for a classy post-work drink after a long day at the office.

3. MEDA Tapas + BarMEDA is a brand-new tapas restaurant and bar that is housed in the Taj Dubai. The bar serves fruity mixed cocktails and inventive light nibbles to go with your sips, and it has a stylish Mediterranean aesthetic.

4. Boom Battle BarBoom Battle Bar, which offers axe throwing, crazy golf, and karaoke, has recently opened in Dubai after being imported from the UK. A night out here comes with a side of planned entertainment and is located in the DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai.

5. SoiréeThe same group that opened Bluewaters’ restaurant Vaga and Opus by Omniyat’s SFUMATO also opened the new grape bar Soirée. A large grape menu and mixed beverages are available at this establishment, which calls itself a sophisticated social club.

   New beach bars in Dubai

   Gallery 7/40

   

Eva, Playa, and San have joined Gallery 7/40 at The Club Palm West Beach. The location is defined as a place where culinary arts produced in a show kitchen converge with sculpture, photography, and painting. The oceanfront restaurant and bar has its own pool and was designed in the modernist style by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.

Ría Restaurant and Beach Bar

R’a Restaurant and Beach Bar opens its doors to the public in place of Breeze Beach Grill. Ra Restaurant and Beach Bar is an upscale Mediterranean restaurant that’s ideal for evening cocktails and a casual supper by the beach. It was created by the team at Addmind (who are also behind Bar du Port, Clap, and White Beach).

UMA Bar & Lounge

UMA Bar & Lounge is a seaside bar that can be found on the deck of the famous Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Several different seating arrangements are available; each has a minimum purchase requirement. Located on the Burj Al Arab’s ground floor. You can reserve a high chair and taste the restaurant’s beverages for up to four people starting at Dhs250 per person.

Bungalow34

In Pearl Jumeira (near Nikki Beach), the well-known restaurant chain Tasha’s has launched a seaside restaurant with a permit. It is open all day with relaxed outside dining and a view of the beach. Along with the Gulf views, this restaurant is popular for its Mediterranean menu, which includes fresh seafood, spaghetti, and pizza.

The sparkling skyline, several ultra-luxurious hotels, twisting souks, man-made islands, renowned retail malls, and the vast, empty desert that surrounds Dubai make it one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the world. All types of travelers will find it to be a wonderland.

If you’ve never had a trip there, you might want to put it on your bucket list. Dhow cruises and desert safaris are two activities you shouldn’t miss when in Dubai. Both will be briefly discussed in this article, so you’ll understand why you shouldn’t miss them.

Saharan Safari

The desert must be Dubai’s most significant and distinctive travel attraction. You haven’t been to Dubai if you haven’t gone on desert adventures there.

You may ride in a massive land cruiser on a desert safari in Dubai to take in the desert’s undulating crimson dunes. Anyone will enjoy participating in this ideal activity with their friends, family, and coworkers. There are many different types of desert safaris, including early-morning, late-night, and overnight excursions. An Oasis Palm Tourism Desert Safari typically consists of welcoming beverages, about 30 minutes of dune bashing, free camel riding, sand boarding, Arabic dress-up, and more.

Quad riding is a very well-liked desert activity that can be included in your desert safari experience, but if you have reserved a conventional safari package, you could have to pay additional costs. There are VIP desert safari packages that include quad biking at no additional cost. You can enjoy driving in the difficult desert terrain while quad biking in Dubai and go around however you choose. With the thrill and adventure of desert driving, you may still enjoy a comfortable driving experience with the help of strong mini ATVs called quad bikes.

Boat Cruise

For any traveler, Dubai’s skyline must be the most horrifying feature. And floating in the Dubai Marina is the ideal way to view the skyline of Dubai. Due to its lofty structures and lively atmosphere, Dubai Marina is regarded as the most talked-about waterfront in the entire globe. You may eat some wonderful food while taking in Dubai’s sparklingly decked skyline on a dhow cruise from Dubai Marina.

A typical 2-hour dhow cruise includes welcome drinks, unlimited water and soft drinks, open-air seats on the upper deck for the greatest views of the Dubai cityscape, air conditioning on the lower deck, soothing music, and, most importantly, a continental and Arabic buffet meal. In actuality, it is a floating restaurant that provides visitors with a chance to enjoy food in amazing ambiance.

For all of these reasons, going on a dhow boat supper in the Dubai Marina should be a must-do event for everyone who hasn’t had the chance. If you have ever participated in these two well-liked pastimes in Dubai, you are aware of their importance. Be careful to complete them if you haven’t already.