Emirates upgrades its fleet; codeshares with South African Airways

It has been a big week for Emirates Airlines, which has entered a new phase of refitting its aircraft and entered into a new deal with South African Airways.

Emirates' retrofit program sees 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s set to receive cabin innovations including next-generation, fully immersive in-flight entertainment systems and upgraded wifi connectivity.

Emirates will introduce the latest seating designs and a new onboard lounge on 60 A380s, paired with Panasonic's advanced Astrova inflight entertainment system.

“Emirates’ retrofit programme is about continuously elevating standards across our entire fleet," says Sir Tim Clark, the airline's president.

"Working with our long-standing partners, we're taking this commitment a step further with the aim of delivering product consistency at scale, in tandem with next-generation innovations in seating, entertainment, and connectivity being brought into service with our newly delivered fleet.

"Our customers expect an excellent experience every time they fly Emirates, and this investment ensures we deliver on that promise in the years to come, wherever they travel with us.”

Business class on both the A380 and Boeing 777s will receive a major upgrade while Emirates is installing fleet-wide Starlink connectivity.

Meanwhile, Emirates and South African Airways are working towards a reciprocal codeshare agreement, ahead of the busy peak travel season.

With single ticket fares and unified baggage handling, Emirates customers will be able to enjoy seamless access from Johannesburg to three domestic points in South Africa - Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), as well as a further thirteen regional points in Africa including Abidjan, Accra, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Windhoek, Lagos, Lusaka, Lubumbashi, Harare, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, and Mauritius.

The codeshare will enable Emirates to tap into feeder traffic from South Africa, and regionally alongside long-haul connecting passengers from the UK and US.

This builds on the existing codeshare partnership that provides South African Airways customers with access to Dubai on Emirates’ soon-to-be 56 weekly flights from three gateways.

Based in Dubai, Emirates is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates.

 

See emirates.com, flysaa.com or travel agents.

Luxury hotel brands offer new experiences in Dubai

Dubai, the always-evolving heartbeat of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the arrival of five major hotels arrivals in 2025
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Dubai’s tourism industry continues with the opening of a suite of accommodation options catering to families, luxury travellers, and visitors seeking affordable stopover stays, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) says.

 

The newcomers will be: 

Ciel Dubai Marina

Rising above Dubai Marina, the upcoming Ciel Tower (top image) will be the world’s tallest hotel. Stretching over 80 floors, this architectural gem will house over 1,000 rooms and suites, along with 10 diverse dining options. Guests will enjoy an exclusive Observation Deck on the 81st floor with views of the city, as well as a luxury spa, high-tech fitness centre, and sophisticated guest lounge. 

Mama Shelter

Recently opened, the affordable Mama Shelter brings a playful, design-led brand to Business Bay. Geared towards modern travellers, this lifestyle hotel has four stylish swimming pools, one featuring a semi-submerged bar, an outdoor cinema, and a rooftop DJ lounge. One for the young, or young at heart. Mama Shelter boasts a co-working space with five private ateliers. 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab

The brand new Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is the latest chapter in Jumeirah Group’s ultra-luxury evolution. The property features 386 rooms and suites, 82 luxury residences, an 82-berth superyacht marina, 11 dining experiences and a TALISE spa. Panoramic windows frame views of the Arabian Gulf and the iconic Burj Al Arab, while four sparkling outdoor pools provide leisure oases.

Delano Dubai

The Delano brand's Miami origins give a different accent to the Delano Dubai, which arrives in the UAE with 251 rooms and 84 suites; many designed with secluded balconies, high ceilings, and wellness-driven details. Set along 250 meters of beachfront, the Delano offers views of the Arabian Gulf and guests can unwind at the oceanfront pool, indulge in a range of retail, dining and entertainment options. 

Mandarin Oriental Downtown

Opening in June 2025, Mandarin Oriental Downtown will mark the brand's second hotel in Dubai and third in the UAE. Located in the striking Wasl Tower, this 303-meter skyscraper boasts the region’s tallest ceramic façade. Inside are 259 elegant rooms and suites, along with 224 residences. Guests can enjoy dining at Tasca by José Avillez, unwind in the 25-meter pool, or skip traffic with transport from the hotel’s helipad. 

The world's most popular shopping destination is about to get even bigger

Dubai Mall is billed as the world’s largest shopping centre - and was the most visited place on Earth in 2023. 

Now it is about to become even bigger. 

United Arab Emirates real estate developer Emaar Properties has just announced a redevelopment project that will include 240 new luxury stores and food and beverage outlets. 

The project represents an investment of 1.5 billion dirhams - or just over $610 million. 

The shopping centre, already the largest in the world by total area, is currently home to over 1,200 retail spaces and over 200 food and beverage outlets. This is complemented by the mall’s attachment to the Burj Khalifa, as well as a complete 155-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton, the world’s largest mall aquarium, an immersive digital art museum, an Olympic-sized ice rink and a 26-screen cinema complex. 

Dubai Mall had 105 million visitors last year, a 19% increase from the year before. 

“The new Dubai Mall expansion is a great addition to one of the most visited sites in the world," said Emaar Properties founder Mohamed Alabbar. 

"We extend our gratitude to our esteemed guests and loyal customers, as well as our partners, retailers, and government authorities for their unwavering support. This expansion reflects Dubai’s ambitious vision to remain at the forefront of global innovation and culture, further solidifying our city’s position as a top global destination. 

"Our mall embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and dedication to excellence, turning the leadership’s vision into a reality. Being an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation.”

Dubai unveils plans for the world's biggest airport

Dubai has unveiled plans for what will be the world's largest airport.

Once complete, Al Makhtoum International Airport will be capable of handling 260 million passengers per year. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai said.

It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, which is already ranked top globally for international passenger traffic, travel news portal Skift reported.

Dubai officials said airport operations would be switched from the current Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport “within the next 10 years.”

“Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The rulers has approved the designs for the new terminals and given the go ahead for the commencement of construction for the project. It is expected to cost $US35 billion.

The airport will be able to accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways, according to an official statement.

“DXB (Dubai International Airport) will continue to serve as the primary hub, meeting the needs of 100 million plus guests over the next few years as phase two of DWC (Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport) takes shape," Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

"We will be actively collaborating with our airline customers, our strategic partners, the Dubai Government, and our stakeholders to bring this visionary project to fruition.

“There isn’t really the space to be able to add additional runways or terminals at DXB so all eyes are on the potential future of another airport development at DWC.”

Dubai has also set an ambitious target of 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031.

“The new airport… will prepare the ground for the next 40 years of anticipated growth in Dubai’s aviation sector. It will respond to the Hub Airline ambitious plans in terms of fleet acquisition and passenger growth,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.