
Moscow sees surge in UAE tourists, plans to launch initiatives tailored for Gulf region
Moscow has witnessed a sharp increase in visitors from the UAE, rising from 18,000 in 2019 to 62,100 in 2024, according to Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. He emphasised Moscow's growing appeal to Gulf tourists, with expanded halal dining options and Arabic-language services across the city. New tourist information centres—staffed with English and Arabic speakers—have opened at key locations, including Dream Island amusement park and river stations. A recently launched Muslim-Friendly Guide offers curated recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and activities. E-visas have also simplified entry procedures, boosting accessibility for international travellers. This summer, Moscow is hosting vibrant cultural festivals and events to entice Middle Eastern travellers to the city for a seamless holiday experience.
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Al Etihad
a minute ago
- Al Etihad
Abdulla Al Hamed visits Huawei's R&D Centre in Shanghai
3 Aug 2025 14:09 SHANGHAI (WAM) Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, visited Huawei's Research and Development Centre in Shanghai as part of the preparatory tour for the BRIDGE 2025 Summit - the largest platform uniting media, cultural and creative content creators, leaders, and decision-makers to transform how the world communicates, set to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8–10, He was accompanied by Dr Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director-General of the UAE National Media Office, with the visit reflecting a commitment to exploring opportunities that shape the future of media, and of combining advanced technologies with a human-centred vision. The delegation was welcomed by several Huawei executives, led by Lv Yang Ming, President of the Huawei Cloud Media Service Product Department; Lu Zhen Yu, Expert in Huawei Cloud Media Service Products; Wharton Huang, Vice President of Government & Enterprise, Huawei Cloud UAE; and Lewis Tan, Head of Strategy and Marketing, Huawei Cloud UAE officials held several meetings with Huawei's leadership team to discuss cooperation in the fields of media, AI solutions, and their applications in digital broadcasting, big data, and 5G the discussions, Abdulla Al Hamed highlighted the importance of building bridges of cooperation between the UAE media institutions and international developers to deliver intelligent media solutions that support the Arabic language, promote knowledge exchange, and expand collaboration in digital broadcasting, smart education, and interactive visit included a tour of the Huawei Lianqiu Lake R&D Centre, which showcased its latest innovations in media and smart Hamed has noted that the BRIDGE Summit is a strategic incubator for responsible cooperation, and will serve as an open laboratory for developing new partnership models and joint investments shaping the future of media as a profession, of media as a driver of innovation, and as an effective tool for achieving sustainable development. The Shanghai visit is one of the preparatory stops for the anticipated BRIDGE 2025 Summit in Abu Dhabi, which will bring together decision-makers in media, technology leaders, and cultural and economic influencers in a space aimed at shaping a more balanced, innovative, and human-centred media future.


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Newcastle reject Liverpool opening bid to sign striker Isak, say reports
Newcastle have rejected Liverpool's opening bid to sign unsettled Sweden striker Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday. Isak has been training at his old club Real Sociedad this week after reportedly telling Newcastle he wants to leave St James' Park. The 25-year-old has been linked with Liverpool since the end of last season and the Premier League champions are now believed to have formalised their interest with an offer of around £110 million ($159 million) plus potential add-ons. But Newcastle, who reportedly value Isak at £150 million, remain keen to hold onto their prize asset and have rebuffed Liverpool's initial bid. Isak, who joined Newcastle in a £60 million move from Real Sociedad in 2022, scored 23 Premier League goals last season to help Newcastle qualify for the Champions League. He has three years left on his Newcastle contract, but did not travel to Asia for the Magpies' ongoing pre-season tour, with the club saying he had a minor thigh injury. On Thursday, Real Sociedad confirmed he was at their Zubieta facility with his own trainers. It was reported on Friday that Newcastle had told Isak he could agree a new deal containing a get-out clause for next year, but he responded by insisting he wants to move now. Liverpool manager Arne Slot has already bolstered his attacking options by signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz during the current transfer window. But the Reds are keen to make their forward line even more formidable by adding Isak as they look to win back to back English titles for the first time since the 1980s. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe struck a defiant note earlier this week when he said: 'He is still our player. He's contracted to us. 'We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. 'My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control.' Liverpool have spent over £250 million so far in the summer window, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili joining Wirtz and Ekitike at Anfield. Meanwhile, Premier League side Chelsea loaned teenage defender Mamadou Sarr back to sister club Strasbourg on Friday for the upcoming Ligue 1 season. The French club confirmed the loan move on its website, having sold the highly rated Sarr to Chelsea in June. Strasbourg is owned by the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in 2022. The 19-year-old Sarr is a France under-20 international. He was a regular last season, playing 27 league games as Alsace-based Strasbourg finished in seventh place to seal a place in the Conference League playoffs. He previously played briefly for Lyon. Chelsea won the Conference League last season and will play in the Champions League after finishing in fourth place in the Premier League. Strasbourg was bought by Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, in 2023. Chelsea said Sarr had signed a contract until 2033 but didn't disclose the transfer fee. Strasbourg opens their league campaign at Metz on Aug. 17. Elsewhere, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, the club announced on Thursday. Agencies


Broadcast Pro
2 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
Co-Production Salon returns to MIPCOM Cannes for second year
Co-Production Salon will debut the 2025 MENA Co-Production Guidebook, host curated in-person and virtual networking sessions, and launch a year-round Virtual Networking Lounge to connect Arabic producers with global partners and showcase key industry insights and projects. Co-Production Salon, a platform dedicated to nurturing co-production partnerships and investment channels involving the Arab world, is set to return to MIPCOM Cannes for the second year in a row. Scheduled to run from October 13 to 16, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals, the initiative will feature an upgraded presence at the MIP Creative Hub, strategically positioned along the Cannes beachfront. The event underscores Co-Production Salon's growing role in linking Arabic content creators and investors with international distributors, broadcasters, and financiers to develop globally marketable content. Heba Korayem, Founder of Co-Production Salon, said: 'CoProduction Salon was created to bridge worlds — bringing Arabic production houses and investors together with international partners to create meaningful, marketable content. MIPCOM gives us the stage to make more of those connections happen.' A recent Omdia report predicts the region's VOD market will grow fivefold to reach $8.4bn by 2029, while Parrot Analytics data points to a dramatic rise in demand for Arabic content — up 400% in Saudi Arabia, 300% in Morocco, and 200% in Iraq since 2020. Since its inception, Co-Production Salon has facilitated over $12m in partnership deals. For 2025, the platform is introducing several new initiatives aimed at deepening engagement and insight. These include the launch of the MENA Co-Production Guidebook (2025 Edition), offering in-depth analysis of market trends and investment opportunities, and a Networking Power Hour, designed to foster real-time, curated meetings between Arabic and international stakeholders. Additionally, a Virtual Networking Lounge will provide continuous access to industry data, professional connections, and project highlights throughout the year. The initiative invites participation from a wide array of industry players, from production companies and distributors to investors, broadcasters, OTT platforms, and advertising agencies, all seeking to tap into one of the fastest-growing, youth-driven content markets in the world. Participants will gain access to premium projects, vetted partnerships, and curated networking opportunities. The Virtual Lounge already features over 200 verified profiles from top-tier MENA content entities, including Saudi Broadcast Authority, Thamaniya, Sadaf Media Production, Rise Studios, Cedars Art and Pixitoon. The physical lounge at MIPCOM will serve as a key venue for face-to-face engagement with these and other leading industry names. With its enhanced presence and expanded programming, Co-Production Salon is positioning itself as a central force in the internationalisation of Arabic content. Visitors can connect with the team at PALAIS C12 HUB 6, explore ongoing projects, or join high-level networking events at MIPCOM. 'Our goal is to make those partnerships not just possible but profitable,' added Heba Korayem.