Hajj pilgrims pray on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Postcard from Cannes: How the French Riviera turns Gulf in July
The restaurant on Cannes' La Croisette boulevard didn't require reservations, just first-come, first-served. Except for one table. A group of five men arrived and took their seats at that lone reserved spot, chatting easily with the waiter. It was a former senior Gulf politician and his family. The mood in the restaurant reflected how Cannes, and a handful of cities along the French Riviera, feel in July: the coastal summer escape speaks fluent Gulf. Across town, another restaurant, famous for its open-air ambience, tucked into the almost-Italian alleyways of old Cannes, was packed on a Saturday night. Nearly every table was taken by Gulf guests. 'I came here at the beginning of July to escape the heat and enjoy the summer,' said Aya from Saudi Arabia. 'After two weeks, a wave of fellow Gulf tourists arrived. 'We come every year, but this year feels different. It's like the whole Gulf moved here,' she added, holding up her phone case showing the flags of Saudi Arabia and France side by side. The Gulf presence isn't just felt in restaurants. It stretches to the beaches. At one family-friendly beach club just before sunset, the calm sea was filled with swimmers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and other neighbouring states. Six different groups stood waist-deep in the water, chatting in various Arabic dialects, with only one French couple nearby. 'Are we in Cannes or in Bahrain?' one man joked to his friends, laughing as he realised he was surrounded by people from his region. Each summer, tens of thousands of Gulf tourists escape the searing heat back home for cooler destinations like France, the UK, and Spain. The French Riviera remains one of their favourites. Mediterranean escape Gulf visitors are known for their high spending power, filling five-star hotels and crowding luxury boutiques along the famed Croisette beach. In 2024, travellers from GCC countries made approximately 24.4 million outbound trips, spending about $75.4 billion abroad, according to Gulf figures and VisitBritain's market data. With more airlines launching from the Gulf and competition intensifying to win over travellers, the GCC outbound tourism market is projected to grow to $81 billion in 2025 and could reach between $139 billion –$198 billion by the mid-2030s, according to travel experts. France alone welcomes more than 100 million international visitors annually, generating tens of billions in tourism revenue. GCC nationals form a growing slice of that, though exact numbers for July visits are not publicly available. In Antibes, 20 minutes from Cannes, two men sat on one of the Riviera's most exclusive beaches, gazing at the multicoloured blue sea framed by green hills and dotted with boats. 'I love this view,' one of them said in a Saudi dialect. 'But it's a little too calm being here. I don't want to just relax, let's go somewhere else.' The nearby old town of Antibes bustles with tourists in summer. Its narrow streets are packed, and its cafes buzz around the clock with people from all over the world. But Gulf visitors stand out. In nearly every cafe, Arabic can be heard, and some waiters have even learnt a few Arabic phrases to use with regulars. 'The South of France is Mediterranean, and it feels closer to our hearts,' Aya said. 'I wouldn't want to live here, but coming every summer for a few weeks makes life more exciting. I randomly bump into neighbours and people I haven't seen in years. I feel at home.'
Gulf Business
17 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Saudi Arabia: How many have arrived for Umrah since June 12?
Image credit: Saudi Press Agency /Website The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that more than 1.2 million pilgrims have entered Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah since the beginning of the current season, which started on Dhu Al Hijjah 15 (June 12) and continued through the end of Muharram 30. Pilgrims have arrived from 109 countries, underscoring the global significance of the pilgrimage. Read- The ministry reported a 30 per cent increase in the number of pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the number of Umrah visas issued rose by 27 per cent. To support this influx, over 4,200 contracts have been signed between Umrah companies and international agents, bolstering operational capacity to accommodate the growing demand, Improved services and digital transformation The current Umrah season officially began on Dhu Al Hijjah 14, 1446 AH, with the issuance of visas through the Nusuk platform, which aims to streamline the pilgrimage experience as part of broader goals under Saudi Vision 2030. The ministry noted that this season follows a successful Hajj marked by seamless coordination, enhanced procedures, and the development of advanced technical infrastructure. It emphasised that preparations for the Umrah season began well in advance in collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and organised experience for all pilgrims. In addition, the ministry has expanded awareness campaigns and digital services in multiple languages. These efforts reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, ensuring the highest standards of comfort, safety, and satisfaction for worshippers.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Zawya
Saudi's Eastern Region unveils plans for 'Global City Dammam'
Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region Municipality has unveiled plans for the establishment of "Global City Dammam", a major and distinctive investment project in cooperation with a Thai investor, said a report. This project marks a significant step in the landscape of entertainment, cultural, and tourism projects in the region, said a Saudi Press Agency report. Eastern Region Municipality spokesperson Faisal Al-Zahrani said the project features a modern and innovative design that integrates entertainment, tourism, culture, and commerce. The city will include dedicated pavilions for 16 countries, each showcasing its unique culture and traditions. Every pavilion will include a restaurant offering cuisine representative of that country, providing visitors with a rich cultural and culinary experience. Al-Zahrani said that the city will be centered around an artificial lake, enhancing its aesthetic and tourism appeal. It will include a floating market built on the lake and an open-air theatre with a seating capacity of 7,000, expandable to 10,000 to accommodate major events. The project will also feature a fully equipped entertainment zone covering over 17,000 sq m. In addition, it will include a large open-air skating plaza, several international restaurants, and family-friendly activities, making it a major entertainment destination in the region. The Global City will span more than 600,000 sq m, divided between land and water areas. The investment in the first phase will be SAR200 million, and the total value of the project is expected to reach SAR650 million upon completion of all phases, according to studies conducted by the municipality in collaboration with the investor. Al-Zahrani stressed that the project is poised to become a major tourism destination for visitors from within the Kingdom and abroad, leveraging Dammam's strategic location near Gulf countries. Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
