This recent missile launch adds to a series of aggressive maneuvers by the Houthis, including strikes on both commercial and navy ships in international waters …reports Asian Lite News
Yemen’s ongoing conflict took a dangerous turn as Houthi militants launched a ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, prompting concern from the US military. Despite this escalation, no coalition or commercial vessels reported being struck by the missile.
The Houthi militia, backed by Iran, has been intensifying attacks on Yemeni government forces across the nation. While the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for fresh assaults on Monday, their pattern suggests acknowledgment of such actions in the days following.
This recent missile launch adds to a series of aggressive maneuvers by the Houthis, including strikes on both commercial and navy ships in international waters near Yemen and the Indian Ocean. These attacks, purportedly in support of Palestine, have seen the deployment of ballistic missiles, drones, and drone boats since November.
In a concerning incident, a Greek-owned oil tanker narrowly avoided being hit by a Houthi ballistic missile in the Red Sea on Saturday. This near-miss underscores the grave threat posed by the ongoing conflict to maritime security in the region.
Meanwhile, the toll on Yemeni government troops continues to rise, with four soldiers killed in clashes with the Houthis in Taiz province on Monday. This brings the total number of government soldiers killed in Houthi attacks to 11 in less than a week, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing fighting.
In Sanaa, the Houthi militia held a military burial procession for two of their fighters killed in clashes with government forces. Such events have become tragically routine since the UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022.
Despite these grim developments, efforts for peace persist. Yemen’s Defense Minister met with the UN Yemen envoy’s military adviser in Aden to discuss Houthi attacks, peace initiatives, and the smuggling of Iranian weapons to the Houthis through Hodeidah port.
Meanwhile, UN experts called on the Houthis to release five members of the Bahai religious minority and cease persecution of religious minorities under their control. The Houthis have held these individuals captive for a year, despite international pleas for their release.
Saudia, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, purchased specifically the A320neo and A321neo models of Airbus aircraft…repors Asian Lite News
The Future Aviation Forum started in Riyadh with Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurating the three-day event.
The first day of the forum witnessed the announcement of the largest aircraft purchase deal globally, by Saudia, which bought 105 aircraft from Airbus, specifically the A320neo and A321neo models, to expand and modernise its fleet and enhance air connectivity with countries worldwide.
The forum will showcase investment opportunities in the Kingdom’s aviation sector with a value of some $100 billion. It is expected to witness the signing of more than 70 agreements and deals worth some $12 billion, with announcements of several agreements with major global companies during the event.
The forum, organised by GACA, brings together over 30 government ministers, 77 heads of civil aviation authorities and of international air carriers. More than 5,000 aviation industry experts and leaders from over 120 countries are also participating.
In his opening address, Al-Jasser highlighted Saudi Arabia’s “major and unprecedented renaissance” in various sectors, driven by its wise leadership, and emphasized the “promising opportunities” for both domestic and international investors in the Kingdom’s aviation and air transport industries.
“This forum, in its third edition, embodies the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the global aviation industry,” he said, stressing that the activities, agreements, and deals at the forum will be instrumental in “strengthening efforts to meet new challenges” in the aviation sector.
Al-Jasser said the event will focus on key areas for the future of aviation: sustainability, innovation and technology, expanding business opportunities, and investing in human capital.
He highlighted a string of achievements in the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector in the past two years, which directly align with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), and the Kingdom’s significant leap in global recognition. Saudi Arabia climbed to the 13th place in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Air Connectivity Index.
The number of passengers also saw a remarkable surge. In 2023, the sector counted a record-breaking 111 million passengers, a 26% increase compared to 2022, which surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
The government announced new economic policies specifically designed for the civil aviation sector, he said. These policies encompass regulations for airports, ground services, air freight, and air transport services.
Al-Jasser also pointed to the establishment of Riyadh Air, whose goal is to connect Riyadh with over 100 international destinations, and the master plan for the King Salman International Airport project in Riyadh, which will increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate 100 million passengers by 2030.
President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council Salvatore Sciacchitano highlighted the significant role of the aviation sector in supporting economic growth and achieving sustainable development.
Sciacchitano praised Saudi Arabia for hosting the third edition of the Future Aviation Forum, saying that the Kingdom is sending a clear message to the international aviation community that it genuinely focuses on the future and on enhancing global connectivity, a central theme of discussion in the coming days, along with setting aviation policies that foster cooperation and partnerships, develop skills and capabilities, and commit to sustainability and leveraging technologies.
He added that these are crucial to enhancing global connectivity, and support the economic and social development of countries.
GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej reviewed in the event’s first session the significant challenges and transformations the sector is witnessing globally, achievements, and the growth in the number of passengers, flights, and air cargo in the Saudi civil aviation sector. He also highlighted the role of the aviation strategy in supporting sustainable growth.
The Future Aviation Forum and the accompanying exhibition will be held over three days; the 120 speakers at the event will share their expertise in the most prominent issues facing the global aviation sector today, which include growth and investment, airports and air connectivity, supply chain management and resilience, air cargo and logistics, air traffic and the future of aviation, technology, digital transformation and safety, human capital, and sustainability.
Several events will accompany the forum this week.
تابعوا الجلسات اليومية لمؤتمر مستقبل الطيران!
يواصل #مؤتمر_مستقبل_الطيران في اليوم الثاني استكشاف الابتكارات التكنولوجية والممارسات المستدامة والاستراتيجيات وآخر التوجهات في صناعة الطيران. شاهدوا كيف تعيد الأفكار الرائدة تعريف السماء، وتشكيل مستقبل للطيران.#رؤية_السعودية_2030
— Future Aviation Forum | مؤتمر مستقبل الطيران (@FAF_Saudi) May 21, 2024
FAF 2024: 47 deals worth $19b on Day 1
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The first day of the Future Aviation Forum 2024 witnessed the announcement of 47 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), agreements, and deals worth $19 billion.
These included aviation services, aircraft purchase orders, cargo and logistics services, advanced air navigation, human resources development, and information technology, in addition to agreements related to maintenance, repair, and renovation.
The third annual forum is being held with the participation of over 30 ministers, 77 leaders of civil aviation authorities, CEOs of airlines worldwide, 5,000 aviation industry experts, and leaders from more than 120 countries.
The forum discusses issues related to growth, investment, airports, air connectivity, supply-chain management, resilience, human capital, and sustainability.
On the first day of the forum, the GACA signed multiple aviation services agreements with Mozambique, Eswatini, Cambodia, and Brunei Darussalam.
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) entered a deal with Airbus to purchase 105 aircraft of the A320-Neo and A321-Neo models to expand and modernize its fleet, enhancing global air connectivity with various countries.
During the forum, the GACA also launched the first edition of the Kingdom’s aviation sector report, which highlighted the civil aviation sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s economy, amounting to $53 billion and providing 958,000 jobs across various regions.
The GACA also issued a roadmap for general aviation, aiming to develop the business aviation and private aircraft sector in the Kingdom, with the goal of increasing its size tenfold by 2030. This plan involves allocating six airports for general aviation and 9 lounges in commercial airports, with an expected contribution of 35,000 new jobs.
Set to run from 20th to 26th May at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the alternative film festival will also feature discussions with directors….reports Asian Lite News
CineMAS, the annual independent film festival, returns this May for its sixth edition with a captivating line-up of award-winning films from the UAE, the region and around the world.
Curated by Oscar-nominated filmmaker and visual artist Scandar Copti, the festival showcases thought-provoking films across a variety of genres, including drama, comedy and documentary. Set to run from 20th to 26th May at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the alternative film festival will also feature discussions with directors.
A celebration of the best in independent cinema, CineMAS 2024, each film is carefully chosen for its compelling storytelling and artistic merit and provides a window into the human experience, transcending borders and bridging diverse communities.
This year’s edition will kick off with Emirati filmmaker, Humaid Al Suwaidi’s feature film ‘Dalma’, which follows the story of Dana, an Emirati woman who moves to Dalma Island upon inheriting a decrepit house from her recently deceased father. The film, which had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, takes viewers on an emotional journey of self-exploration.
The film festival will also feature an evocative Oscar-nominated environmental documentary, ‘All That Breathes’ by Academy Award-nominated Indian filmmaker, video artist and film scholar, Shaunak Sen; a moving sci-fi documentary, ‘Lyd’ by directorial duo Sarah Ema Friedland and Rami Younes; and the Sudanese drama ‘Goodbye Julia’ by the emerging talent Mohamed Kordofani’s.
The festival also includes a retrospective of a film series by artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan and an incredible selection of short films, including a Golden-Bear-winning short by filmmakers Michelle and Noel Keserwany, ‘Les Chenilles’.
Scandar Copti, the curator of this year’s edition of CineMAS, is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and visual artist. His first feature film ‘Ajami’ won the Camera d’Or Special Mention at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category. Copti teaches filmmaking at New York University Abu Dhabi. He is also working on the post-production of his upcoming feature film ‘Happy Holidays’, and developing his forthcoming documentary ‘A Childhood’.
Dubai Airports said that the total passenger traffic for the quarter reached 23,052,060 guests, with January recording the highest traffic at 7.9 million…reports Asian Lite News
Dubai International (DXB) made a stellar start to the year by recording its busiest quarter in history, with 23 million guests passing through its terminals, marking an 8.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dubai Airports said that the total passenger traffic for the quarter reached 23,052,060 guests, with January recording the highest traffic at 7.9 million.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of DXB, commented, “The robust growth trajectory at DXB continued in the first quarter of the year, with the hub recording some truly impressive numbers. Thanks in part to the proliferation of cities being added to our network by our home base carriers, Emirates and flydubai, in recent months. As Dubai emerges as a global leader in attracting talent, businesses, and tourists from across the globe, our focus remains on sustaining growth momentum and enhancing the overall airport experience for every guest passing through our terminals.
“With a strong start to Q2 and an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year, we have revised our forecast for the year to 91 million guests, surpassing our previous annual traffic record of 89.1 million in 2018.”
With connections to 256 destinations across 102 countries through 90 international carriers, DXB strengthens Dubai’s position as a global business and logistics hub.
India remained DXB’s top destination country, with passenger traffic reaching 3.1 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia (2 million), the UK (1.5 million), and Pakistan (1.1 million).
The top cities by passenger numbers include London with 961,000 guests, Riyadh (795,000), and Jeddah (669,000), followed by Mumbai with 637,000 guests.
The first quarter saw 109,238 total flight movements, an 8.3% increase year-on-year increase, with load factors reaching 79.1% in Q1. DXB managed 26.8 million bags.
Picture shows UAE aid plane at Benina Airport in Benghazi city in Libya, carrying rescue teams and urgent relief & medical aid. (Photo: WAM)
UAE airports see record 36.5m passengers
The UAE’s civil aviation sector recorded remarkable growth in the first quarter of 2024, welcoming a staggering 36.5 million passengers, according to the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
This figure marks a 14.7% increase compared to the same period last year and highlights the sector’s remarkable growth trajectory.
The breakdown includes 10,723,639 arrivals, 10,874,232 departures, and 14,944,466 transit passengers.
The air cargo sector also witnessed a significant 32% growth in Q1 compared to the same period last year, handling a total of 1.1 million tons of cargo in Q1 2024. This volume comprised 269,526 tons of imports, 119,490 tons of exports, and 714,446 tons of transit goods. Notably, national carriers spearheaded approximately 68% of the total air cargo movement during this period.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of GCAA, attributed this success to the collaborative efforts between the Authority and its partners at both federal and local government levels.
Al Suwaidi highlighted that these growth rates underscore the sector’s strength, competitiveness, and potential for continued advancement.
The strategic opening of new markets for national carriers, facilitated by 189 air transport agreements with countries worldwide, has been instrumental in fostering international partnerships and promoting the open skies policy.
Expressing his condolences on the demise of Iranian leaders, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said, ‘May God have mercy on them’….reports Asian Lite News
Condolences from world leaders continue to pour in after Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were killed in a tragic helicopter crash on Sunday in northwestern Iran.
Expressing his condolences on the demise of Iranian leaders, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said, ‘May God have mercy on them’.
“As we send you and the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Iran our deepest and sincere condolences, let us ask God Almighty to cover them with His vast mercy and forgiveness, and to grant them peace,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted his statement as saying, according to Al Jazeera.
“May his soul rest in peace. We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, too, offered his condolences on the demise of Raisi, and Amirabdollahian, and other Iranian officials.
“The president of the Arab Republic of Egypt prays that the deceased Iranian president and the departed may rest in God Almighty’s mercy, and grant their families patience and solace, expressing the solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt with the Iranian leadership and people in this terrible incident,” a statement read, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also sent a cable to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, expressing “deep regret and condolences” over the helicopter crash, according to state media.
“We will always remember his visit to Syria as an important milestone in this path, and all the visions and ideas that he presented to enrich relations with everything that benefits the Syrian and Iranian peoples,” Al Assad said, according to Al Jazeera.
Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei announced five days of national mourning in Iran, according to Press TV.
Khamenei declared the same in a message on Monday, and stated that he received the “bitter news” of the death of his “companions with great sorrow.”
“Dear Raeisi did not know fatigue,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the Iranian nation lost a sincere and valuable servant in this tragic incident, according to Press TV.
According to Article 131 of the Constitution, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber assumes managing the executive branch, the Leader said.
Drexel President John Fry said the encampment had disrupted campus life and “cannot be allowed to remain in place….reports Asian Lite News
Drexel University in Philadelphia threatened to clear an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday as arrests linked to campus demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war surpassed the 3,000 mark nationwide.
Drexel President John Fry said the encampment had disrupted campus life and “cannot be allowed to remain in place.” Fry called on protesters to leave immediately but said in a statement Monday night that he had authorized “all necessary steps to clear the encampment safely.” He did not say when that might happen.
Classes at Drexel were held virtually on Monday as police kept watch over the demonstration on the school’s Korman Quad. Many Drexel employees were told to work from home.
Students and others have set up tent encampments on campuses around the country to press colleges to cut financial ties with Israel. Tensions over the war have been high on campuses since the fall but demonstrations spread quickly following an April 18 police crackdown on an encampment at Columbia University.
More than 3,000 people have been arrested on U.S. campuses over the past month. Campuses have been calmer recently, with fewer arrests, as students leave for summer break. Still, colleges have been vigilant for disruptions to commencement ceremonies.
At Drexel, which has about 22,000 students, Fry said protesters “have created a hostile, confrontational environment by subjecting passersby to antisemitic speech and by issuing several ‘demands’ that have unacceptably targeted individual members of our faculty and professional staff” as well as Jewish groups on campus. He previously threatened disciplinary action against Drexel students participating in the protest.
The Drexel protesters’ demands ranged from the university administration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and divesting from companies that do business with Israel, to abolition of the Drexel police department and termination of the school’s chapter of Hillel, the Jewish campus organization, and another Jewish campus group, Chabad.
The Drexel Palestine Coalition had no immediate response to Fry’s ultimatum. The protest organizers said on Instagram in response to an earlier statement from Fry that “it is slander to accuse the encampment of ‘hateful’ or ‘intimidating’ actions when we have done neither.” The group accused Drexel and city police of harassment and intimidation. A pro-Palestinian group of faculty and staff also blasted Fry on Monday for shuttering campus facilities and said the encampment was “not disruptive to learning.”
Drexel planned a “phased return” to normal operations on Tuesday, with labs and some other classes to be held in person and lecture classes to stay remote.
Elsewhere, graduate students at the University of California, Santa Cruz, went on strike Monday as part of a rolling, systemwide protest over how administrators have responded to pro-Palestinian encampments, including arrests of protesters at the Los Angeles, San Diego and Irvine campuses.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, meanwhile, declined to charge four University of Pennsylvania protesters who were among 19 arrested Friday night, citing a lack of evidence submitted by campus police. Krasner’s office approved misdemeanor charges against three others. The remaining 12 arrested Friday night were given citations for failing to disperse.
Penn’s main commencement ceremony was held Monday under tightened security and a ban on flags and signs. There were no disruptions.
University of California academic workers strike
Graduate students at the University of California, Santa Cruz walked off their jobs and went on strike Monday, the first campus to do so as part of a systemwide protest against a public university they say has violated the speech rights of pro-Palestinian advocates.
United Auto Workers Local 4811 represents 48,000 graduate students who work as teaching assistants, tutors, researchers and other academic employees on the 10-campus UC system. Organizers said the campuses will not strike all at once, opting instead for rolling strikes, to protest the arrests and forcible ejection by police of union members who participated in demonstrations calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
Rebecca Gross, a UC Santa Cruz graduate student in literature and union leader, said at least 1,500 people were on strike Monday and had no plans to return to work until the union reaches a deal with the university. Students and researchers are not teaching, grading or working in their labs, and they are withholding data, she said.
“Police were unleashed and given the go-ahead to arrest protesters,” at the Los Angeles, San Diego and Irvine campuses, she said.
University officials say the strike is unlawful and in violation of the union’s contract, which prohibits work stoppages. Both sides have filed unfair labor practice complaints with the California Public Employment Relations Board.
The union is demanding amnesty for all academic employees, students and faculty who face disciplinary action or arrest due to the protests. It’s also seeking divestment from UC’s investments in weapons makers, contractors and companies aiding Israel in its war against Hamas, among other issues.
Tobias Higbie, a labor historian and director of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at UCLA, said it is not unusual for unions to flex their muscle over broad workplace issues that are not narrowly tied to wages and benefits.
“They’re not everyday events, and maybe not even every year events,” he said. “But they’re not unheard of.”
The union’s action may be surprising to some, but so was what happened at UCLA earlier this month, Higbie said. On May 1, police in riot gear ordered the dispersal of more than a thousand people gathered on campus to support Palestine, and warned that those who refused to leave would face arrest.
The night before, police had waited to intervene as counter-protesters attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment, causing injuries. California Gov. Gavin Newsom denounced the delay.
Scott Hernandez-Jason, an assistant vice chancellor with UC Santa Cruz, said afternoon classes are being conducted remotely Monday.
“Our primary goal is to minimize the disruptive impact, especially given the many educational and research challenges that have affected students and researchers in recent years,” he said in an email. “Academic and operational continuity is essential to the University of California’s education and research mission and a core responsibility to our students.”
US president insists Israel and Hamas cannot be compared after ICC seeks warrants over alleged Israeli war crimes…reports Asian Lite News
President Joe Biden has defended Israel against war crimes charges in the world’s top courts.
Biden’s remarks came after Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), said he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed during the war in Gaza.
“Let me be clear, we reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders,” Biden said at a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House on Monday, the same day Khan announced he was applying for the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes.
“There is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” Biden added. Hours earlier, he had issued a strongly-worded statement saying that the ICC warrants were “outrageous”.
Israel is also facing a separate case on alleged genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which was brought by South Africa. Biden said that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza.
“Contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), what’s happening in Gaza is not genocide. We reject that,” Biden said in his speech.
In January, the ICJ ruled there was a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza, ordering Israel to take a series of provisional measures, including preventing any genocidal acts from taking place.
While Biden’s defence of Israel was met with warm applause at the White House event, his election campaign has been marred by pro-Palestinian protests across the US, with some antiwar advocates labelling the president “Genocide Joe”.
The ICC prosecutor outlined specific charges against Netanyahu and Gallant, including “starvation of civilians as a method of warfare” and “extermination”, although he said his full investigation was ongoing.
Khan also applied for arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders – Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (also known as Deif) and Ismail Haniyeh – for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extermination and murder, the taking of captives, torture, rape and other acts of sexual violence.
The charges were supported by evidence prepared by a panel of experts that included international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.
In a statement issued on the report prepared by the experts, Clooney wrote, “I do not accept that any conflict should be beyond the reach of the law, nor that any perpetrator should be above the law.”
“My colleagues and I look forward to make sure neither Khan, his associates nor their families will ever set foot again in the United States,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton wrote on X.
The ICC is the world’s first permanent international war crimes court and its 124 member states are obliged to immediately arrest the wanted person if they are on a member state’s territory.
The US is not a member of the ICC and its “biggest leverage” could be to pressure its allies – mostly European nations which are signatories to the ICC – to not act on the warrants, said Al Jazeera’s Heidi Zhou-Castro, reporting from Washington, DC.
Lawmakers seek sanctions to “punish” ICC
United States lawmakers are contemplating imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
“In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they proceed. If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, ours could be next,” the US House Speaker said in a statement on Monday (local time).
He further said “The ICC has no authority over Israel or the United States, and today’s baseless and illegitimate decision should face global condemnation.”
Republican lawmakers on Monday called for the United States to impose sanctions on the ICC.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik told the New York Post that “The ICC is an illegitimate court that equivocates a peaceful nation protecting its right to exist with radical terror groups that commit genocide”. Stefanik met with Netanyahu on Monday morning as the warrants were announced.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a statement called the warrants “shameful and unserious.”
Earlier this month, Representative Texas introduced the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act to revoke visas for ICC officials who investigate or prosecute US officials or American allies.
Meanwhile, human rights attorney Amal Clooney is among the experts who advised the ICC prosecutor to seek the arrest warrants.
The wife of actor George Clooney in a statement said explained how she had found herself advising ICC chief prosecutor Khan.
“I served on this panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives. The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict,” Clooney said in the statement shared on the shared on the Clooney Foundation for Justice website.
The year -to-date data to March 2024 demonstrate the sustained strength of visitation in the UAE. …reports Asian Lite News
CBRE Middle East, the global leader in commercial real estate services and investments, released its latest edition of the UAE Hospitality Market Review for the first quarter of 2024.
Globally, during the first quarter of 2024, the average number of flights stood at 118,689, surpassing the 2019 pre-pandemic baseline by 11.5%, and registering a year-on-year increase of 11.0%. In March 2024, data from IATA revealed that the global Passenger Load Factor (PLF) reached 82.0%, marking an increase of 1.0% from the comparable 2023 figure. The available seat kilometers (ASKs) registered a year-on-year increase of 12.3%.
The year -to-date data to March 2024 demonstrate the sustained strength of visitation in the UAE. Abu Dhabi witnessed a remarkable surge in the total number of hotel guests, recording an increase of 22.0% compared to the previous year, with a total of 1.30 million visitors. Similarly, Dubai experienced robust growth with a total of 5.18 million international visitors during the same period, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.9% and a 9.1% rise from the 2019 level.
In the year-to-date to March 2024, the UAE witnessed a marginal increase of 0.9 percentage points in the average occupancy rate compared to the year prior. Over the same period, the country’s ADR increased by 5.6%, resulting in an overall 6.8% rise in the average Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR).
In the year to date to March 2024, the UAE’s ADRs stood at 24.9% above the 2019 comparable figure. This growth has been underpinned by higher ADRs in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah, which have recorded increases of 27.9%, 24.0%, 18.0%, 11.1%, and 1.9%, respectively. As a result, we have seen these cities’ RevPARs outperform their 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 34.3%, 22.3%, 19.7%, 40.6%, and 3.0%, respectively. In terms of citywide occupancy, the majority of locations have exceeded their 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Strong performance is expected to continue in the UAE’s hospitality sector over the remainder of the year, as the elevated visitation levels will likely be maintained given a number of key upcoming local and regional events.
Taimur Khan, Head of Research MENA in Dubai, comments: “The UAE’s key performance indicators continued to showcase resilient performance in the first quarter of the year, largely supported by the elevated visitation levels. Over the remainder of the year, we expect that visitation will see a marked increase owing to several events, which are expected to continue to drive occupancy and rates to record levels.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday declared five days of national mourning over the incident, according to a statement published on his website…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian Vice-President for Executive Affairs, Mohsen Mansouri, has said that the body of President Ebrahim Raisi would be buried on Thursday in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
He made the remarks on Monday while elaborating on the planned measures for the holding of the mourning ceremonies of Raisi and members of his accompanying team, who all died in a helicopter crash in the East Azerbaijan province on Sunday, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.
He noted that given the frequent requests by people in different provinces to attend the mourning ceremonies, the Iranian Education Ministry had cancelled all students’ exams from Tuesday to Friday, adding nationwide closure had been announced for Wednesday to better hold the mourning ceremonies, Xinhua news agency reported.
The funeral ceremonies would be held for Raisi in Tabriz, Qom, the capital Tehran, Birjand, and Mashhad from Tuesday to Thursday, and the President’s body would be buried in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on Thursday night.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday declared five days of national mourning over the incident, according to a statement published on his website.
On Monday afternoon, a large number of people gathered in Tehran, mourning the tragic deaths of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, and Iran’s supreme leader’s representative to East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem.
The crash occurred on Sunday in Varzaqan County as Raisi, along with his accompanying team on board three helicopters, was on his way from Khoda Afarin County, where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of a storage dam along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev earlier on Monday, to the provincial capital Tabriz.
The members onboard Raisi’s helicopter lost their lives.
UN Mourns Death of Iran’s President and Officials
Members of the UN Security Council have observed a minute of silence to mourn the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other passengers in the helicopter crash late last week.
At the beginning of a Security Council meeting on Monday morning, Mozambique’s UN ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso, who chaired the meeting, asked all those present in the Security Council chamber to stand and observe a minute of silence for the tragic loss of life and to present condolences and sympathy to their families and the people of Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.
He said the minute of silence was requested by Russia, China, and Algeria.
During the meeting, the participants also set the schedule for the election processes, including the formation of executive delegations, the registration of candidates, and the launch of electoral campaigns, according to IRNA…reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s government has decided that the country’s 14th presidential election will be held on June 28, the media reported.
The election date was determined in a meeting attended by Iran’s First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber, currently assuming the presidency, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as well as Vice-President for Legal Affairs Mohammad Dehqan and representatives of the Iranian Constitutional Council and Interior Ministry, the report said on Monday.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and some members of his accompanying team, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were confirmed dead on Monday morning as the wreckage of the helicopter carrying them was found following its crash in bad weather on Sunday near Varzaqan County, nearly 670 km away from Tehran.
According to Article 131 of Iran’s Constitution, the first Vice-President will take the helm of the executive branch if the President is unable to perform duties. Also, the interim President is duty-bound to make arrangements for the election of a new President within a maximum of 50 days, Xinhua news agency reported.
During the meeting, the participants also set the schedule for the election processes, including the formation of executive delegations, the registration of candidates, and the launch of electoral campaigns, according to IRNA.
Based on the schedule, the registration would be conducted from May 30 to June 3, following which candidates would have to conduct electoral campaigns from June 12 to 27, the report said.
According to IRNA, the Constitutional Council has initially consented to the schedule.
