Visit Qatar and Satguru Travel Sign MoU at ATM Dubai 2025 to Boost African Tourism
The MoU was officially signed by Mr. Saleh Al Nisf, Middle East and Africa Senior Manager – International Markets at Visit Qatar, and Mr. Prakash Lalchandani, Vice President of Satguru Travel Group.
As part of the collaboration, both entities will roll out integrated, multi-channel marketing initiatives, harnessing Satguru's expansive regional network. The partnership also includes sharing market intelligence to tailor strategies that resonate with African travellers.
This move aligns with Visit Qatar's broader strategy to diversify its tourism markets and solidify its position as a global tourism hub.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
16 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
DRCongo, Rwanda outline deal on mining, economic cooperation: US
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have reached an outline economic cooperation accord during their first talks since signing a peace deal, the United States announced. A peace agreement reached in June aimed to end decades of conflict in eastern Congo. It was overseen by Washington which has sought to increase its access to the region's vast mineral wealth. The 'economic integration framework' initialled on Friday is part of the peace accord, the US State Department said. It is designed, according to the peace deal, to introduce greater transparency into supply chains for critical minerals such as coltan and lithium and should be effective by the end of September. The State Department said the two countries had agreed to coordinate 'in areas including energy, infrastructure, mining, national park management and tourism, and public health', without giving further details. 'These milestones represent concrete progress in advancing security, economic cooperation, and the shared pursuit of peace and prosperity under the Peace Agreement,' Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump's senior advisor on Africa, posted on X. Eastern DRC, a region bordering Rwanda with abundant natural resources, saw a fresh surge of violence this year when the M23 armed group, backed by Rwandan troops, captured the key cities of Goma and Bukavu. After months of broken truces, the DRC and M23 signed a declaration of principle on June 19 reaffirming their commitment to a permanent ceasefire. Two days earlier, the Kinshasa government inked an agreement with US group Kobold Metals, which specialises in exploring for critical metals. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said in April he had met US envoy Massad Boulos to discuss access to minerals. Coveted minerals The DRC is the world's leading producer of cobalt. It also has deposits of gold and other valuable minerals including coltan, a metallic ore that is vital in making phones and laptops, and lithium, which is essential for electric car batteries. On Thursday and Friday, representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, alongside observers from the United States, Qatar and the African Union, held their first meetings in Washington since signing the peace deal. The US said the economic framework and a meeting on Thursday of the countries' peace deal monitoring committee were a 'significant step', saying the African neighbours were 'taking meaningful actions to advance security and economic cooperation'. The peace deal has been welcomed by the African Union and the United Nations, even if analysts remain sceptical about the chances of long-term peace while militias still hold sway in much of eastern DRC. The UN says thousands have been killed in the recent unrest and hundreds of thousands displaced. Rwanda denies providing military support to the M23 but says its security has long been threatened by the presence in the region of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), established by ethnic Hutus linked to the massacres of Tutsis in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Kinshasa and the M23 have given themselves until August 8 to start talks on a comprehensive peace accord, to be signed by August 17.
Gulf Insider
28-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
Why is Gold in Dubai Cheaper Than in India?
Dubai is a global citizen's paradise. Known for its modern architecture, luxury shopping experiences, vibrant nightlife and must-see landmarks like Burj Khalifa. Dubai also boasts of its world-famous gold souks that have earned it the nickname 'City of Gold'. As if this association with gold were not enough, there's another reason Dubai is very popular. Gold in Dubai is cheaper than it is in India. Is this really true? We will come back to this. First, let's understand Dubai's association with gold. It may surprise you to know that Dubai does not have a single gold mine of its own. Then, where does it get its gold? All that glittering gold that you see in Dubai is sourced primarily from African nations, Turkey, Switzerland and Russia. And who are the buyers? After sourcing from global gold mines and refining it, Dubai gold finds buyers in India and China, the two largest gold-consuming countries in the world. Now, before we compare India and Dubai gold prices, let us understand the carats and purity levels of gold available in Dubai. Carat or Karat is the term used to measure the gold content or purity. 24 carat gold is made up of 24 parts pure gold, whereas 22 carat gold is made up of 22 parts gold and 2 parts alloyed metals. Similarly, for 21 and 18 carat where other metals added constitute 3 and 6 parts. In the West, the karat is expressed in fineness. For example, 24 carat gold is expressed as 1,000 parts out of 1,000 pure or fineness 1.000. Similarly, 22 carat is expressed as 22 divided by 24, which will give you a fineness of . you multiply .9166 by 1,000, it gives 916.66 level of purity. Now, for calculating fineness of 21 karat, 21 is divided by 24 to arrive at .875 fineness and similarly, for 18 karat it is .750 fineness. The purity level for 21 karat and 18 karat gold is defined as Gold 875 and Gold 750. So, 22 carat gold can be depicted as fineness of .9166 or 916.66 level of purity. The Dubai Jewellery Group (DJG), a premier trade association for the Dubai jewellery industry, has a simpler and transparent way of disseminating real-time gold prices for consumers. Most jewellery outlets display the prevailing 'Suggested Retail Jewellery Price' on screen, which are digitally updated 3 times every day. As an Indian, you need to have the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) to buy gold in Dubai. At the current foreign exchange rate, you need Rs 23.50 to buy 1 AED. On July 23, one gram 24 carat gold was quoted at AED 405.25, approximately Rs 9,523. Comparatively, gold in India was trading higher at Rs 9,888. As the purity of gold falls, so do the price. 22K traded at AED 375.25, 21K at AED 359.75 and 18K at AED 308.50. If you are buying gold worth Rs 2 lakh (about 20 grams) in Dubai, it could help you save over Rs 7,000. Gold price today in India is Rs 99,450. For the first time in 2025 gold crossed Rs 1 lakh on July 23 to create an all-time high level. Bringing gold from Dubai may not be simple unless you stick to the laws of the land. I have written about this earlier. Just to recap… Gold can be transported in checked baggage up to one kilogram, with a minimum six-month overseas stay required for one kilogram, if disclosed and duty paid. Indian women are allowed to bring up to 40 grams of gold or up to a maximum value of Rs 1 lakh, while men are allowed to bring up to 20 grams of gold or up to a maximum value of Rs 50,000 without paying any duty. Got kids? Children under 15 can bring 40 grams of gold ornaments up to a maximum value of Rs 1 lakh without paying customs duty. And make sure that the weight of gold, including ornaments, should not exceed 1 kg. per passenger. Needless to say, keep all purchase vouchers handy at the airport. Gold in Dubai is cheaper than in India because of taxes. There's no GST on gold in Dubai. But, there's 5% of value-added tax (VAT). Not to worry. Dubai makes sure its tax-free shopping for you. You can claim a full refund of VAT. There are time limits to adhere to for such refunds. If you bring gold from Dubai or any other location, you will have to pay customs duty. The rate will depend on the quantity and the gender. Here are the customs duty rates on gold: 3% for 20 to 50 grams for males/ 40 to 100 grams for females and children 6% for 50 to 100 grams for males/ 100 to 200 grams for females and children 10% for over 100 grams for males/ over 200 grams for female and children For commercial use, gold imported into India is subjected to GST, Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST), all adding up to the final in-hand price for consumers. Indians visiting Dubai for vacation end up buying gold due to the significant price gap between the two countries. For Indians, 24-carat gold can be 5% to 7% cheaper in Dubai. But wait! You also need to ensure the gold you buy in Dubai is pure. So, just as Hallmarking is a must in India, ensure that gold purchased in Dubai has the Dubai Central Laboratory Department issued Bareeq Certification. Also read: Dubai Mallathon: Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Launches New Summer Fitness Programmes in Shopping Malls
Syyaha
21-07-2025
- Syyaha
Registration Now Open for Samla International – Qatar's Ultimate Endurance Race
Registration is now open for the first-ever international edition of the Samla Race, Qatar's most challenging test of endurance, set to take place on January 24, partnership with Visit Qatar, the Samla Race is expanding to the global stage, inviting elite male and female athletes from around the world to compete in a uniquely challenging test of strength and stamina across Qatar's diverse Samla International Race features four consecutive, high-impact disciplines: a 3-kilometre open-water swim, a 49-kilometre run, a 44-kilometre mountain biking trail, and a 4-kilometre kayaking can register through the official race website, where they will find a detailed race guide outlining participation criteria, safety requirements, and all relevant rules and regulations. A prize pool of approximately USD 300,000 will be awarded to top finishers in both male and female will be open from July 20 to August 9, participants will have a 20-day window to apply, providing them enough time to register. Submitting the registration form does not guarantee participation, as spots are limited. Confirmations will be sent via email after the official registration period closes, and only confirmed athletes will be required to pay a participation fee to secure their the launch of Samla International, Qatar continues to strengthen its reputation as a world-class destination for sporting events. As the race welcomes global competitors for the first time, it not only showcases the nation's distinctive landscape but also reflects Visit Qatar's ongoing commitment to advancing sports tourism and delivering exceptional, world-class experiences for athletes and fans from around the more information on the 2026 Samla International Race, visit: To register, visit:
