Life

It’s official: the world’s largest passenger plane by Emirates is back in the skies today.
Having been grounded since March, the Dubai-based airline has relaunched services with the A380 superjumbo to Paris and London Heathrow.

The four-month hiatus was broken after the superjumbo departed from Dubai International Airport this morning on its way to London and was set to land today at 12pm local time.
However, that’s not the only A380 to have been in the skies today, another superjumbo departed for Paris-Charles De Gaulle airport which is set to land in the French capital at 2pm local time.

The last A380 passenger service that ran before its suspension was from San Paulo, Brazil to Dubai on March 25.

The Emirates @Airbus A380 returns to the skies with flights to @HeathrowAirport & @ParisAeroport. Emirates will also deploy a daily A380 to Amsterdam @Schiphol & a second daily A380 service to @HeathrowAirport from 1 August. https://t.co/8yWrLHSXHy#FlyEmiratesFlyBetter @DXB pic.twitter.com/MEY140hjHP
— Emirates Airline (@emirates) July 15, 2020

While the majority of air travel has been on hold for the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over the last month or so Emirates have relaunched services to destinations across the globe, with their network now reaching 58 cities.
Coinciding with the relaunch of the superjumbo services to Paris and London, the Dubai-based airline has announced that on August 1 its daily A380 service to Amersterdam will resume, as well as a second daily service to London Heathrow.
It’s yet another positive sign things in the region are returning to a resemblance of normality, especially given as the Dubai borders recently opened to tourists.
Last week the emirate welcomed tourists with open arms as borders reopened, with visitors receiving a new sticker on their passports was unveiled reading, “A warm welcome to your second home.”
Speaking on borders reopening to visitors, Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said tourists were “always welcome”.
“We welcome all tourists and visitors to the country through Dubai Airports,” he said. “They are always welcome in their second country and we are ready to facilitate their procedures based on the highest levels of safety.”
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Emirates Instagram  More

A very big happy birthday is in order for HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as he turns 71 today.
Of course, plenty of birthday wishes have been sent to His Highness from the public and government entities, as well as some of his family members.

One of Sheikh Mohammed’s daughters, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, even posted a sweet throwback photo of the Dubai ruler.
“Happiest Birthday to the best Dad anyone could ever wish for,” Sheikha Latfia captioned the image of her father as a young boy.

Sheikh Mohammed’s son, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, also posted a happy birthday to his father on Twitter.

كل عام وأنت بخيرHappy Birthday pic.twitter.com/NFA9luUudp
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) July 15, 2020

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for the UAE also sent a message to His Highness to mark his birthday, also congratulating him on the upcoming launch of the Hope Probe which was set to take off today, but has been delayed due to bad weather at the launch site in Japan.
“Today, we live in a place that is a source of pride for us all, and today we mark a date of achievement and excellence,” the government authority’s Twitter post said. “It is the birthday of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which coincides with the approaching launch of the Hope Probe to Mars, which bears the UAE’s name that strives for excellence.”
Happy 71st birthday to Sheikh Mohammed!
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Sheikh Mohammed Instagram More

Meghan Markle, along with many other strong and notable women including Priyanka Chopra and Michelle Obama, are taking part in the Girl Up Leadership Summit, which is taking place from the July 13 to 15.
On Monday, the former First Lady of the USA opened the event on behalf of the Girls Opportunity Alliance with a message to young female leaders and gender equality activist.

And now the Duchess of Sussex, who is currently residing in Los Angeles with husband Prince Harry, has delivered her empowering keynote speech, a first for her since stepping down from royal life.
In her speech, the former Suits star addressed the “young women around the world who aren’t just poised to change the world, but have already begun changing the world”.

Meghan Markle shares a special message with the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit ✨ pic.twitter.com/MRkcz8fqqU
— L. (@duchessmeghn) July 14, 2020

“I want to share something with you,” she said. “It’s that those in the halls and corridors and places of power — from lawmakers and world leaders to executives — all of those people, they depend on you more than you will ever depend on them. And here’s the thing: They know this.
“They know that all of you, at a younger age than any modern comparison, are setting the tone for an equitable humanity. Not figuratively, literally. This is a humanity that desperately needs you. To push it, to push us, forcefully in a more inclusive, more just, and more empathetic direction.”
The Duchess of Sussex went on to encourage those watching and beyond to “keep challenging, keep pushing, make them a little uncomfortable” in order for change to happen.
“Because it’s only in that discomfort that we actually create the conditions to reimagine our standards, our policies, and our leadership; to move towards real representation and meaningful influence over the structures of decision-making and power,” she added.
Meghan noted the force for change to create better communities would be a step-by-step process, but encouraged everyone to look at the “big picture”.
Ending her speech on a personal note she said, “I will be cheering you on, so will my husband, so will Archie, as you all continue marching, advocating and leading the way forward.”
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Getty More

While it’s safe to say the global COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone, in many ways it has brought people closer together.
It’s something HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has seen throughout the last few months and has praised the Dubai community, which also includes citizens and residents, for coming together during the pandemic.

In a recent statement, the Crown Prince of Dubai said he has been in awe of the “remarkable cohesiveness” that has emerged.
“The solidarity displayed by various social stakeholders in Dubai in the face of the COVID-19 crisis will be remembered by generations to come,” he said. “The remarkable cohesiveness demonstrated by the community and their commitment to meet their social responsibilities is something the world will recognise as an example of how a progressive society should respond to a crisis like this.”

.@HamdanMohammed: The remarkable cohesiveness demonstrated by the community and their commitment to meet their social responsibilities is something the world will recognize as an example of how a progressive society should respond to a crisis like this.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 14, 2020

Along with this, Sheikh Hamdan also gave thanks to those who took part in the Community Solidarity Fund Against COVID-19 which, according to WAM, has channelled more than Dhs343 million into humanitarian efforts to support those most affected by the pandemic in Dubai, whether that be socially, economically or for health reasons.
“We thank all those who contributed to this collective effort including individuals, corporates, charities and various other organisations that helped weather the challenges brought by the crisis,” he said.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Images: Sheikh Hamdan Twitter More

As she prepares to become a grandmother for the first time, it appears Yolanda Hadid is getting nostalgic.
The Dutch-American TV personality recently took to Instagram to share an adorable throwback photo with her three supermodel children – Gigi, 25, Bella, 23, and Anwar, 21.

In the sweet photograph, the mum-of-three is seen holding a baby Anwar on her lap with a young Gigi and a young Bella on either side of her.

Hadid also sweetly captioned the photo saying that motherhood was her “greatest accomplishment in life”.
The 56-year-old is set to become a grandmother for the first time in a matter of months as her eldest child Gigi is expecting her first child with boyfriend Zayn Malik.
Back in April, Hadid told Dutch broadcaster RTL she was “thrilled” about becoming a grandmother.
“I can’t wait to become a grandmother,” she told the outlet, and also added her supermodel daughter was due to give birth in September.
“It is quite special, since I lost my own mother so recently,” she added. “That is the beauty of life: one soul is leaving us and another is coming. We feel very blessed.”
The news about Gigi’s pregnancy was leaked by the press. During an appearance The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon a couple of months ago, the supermodel admitted she would have liked to reveal the news on her “own terms”, but also thanked everyone for their congratulations.
“Obviously, we wish we could’ve announced it on our own terms, but we’re very excited and happy and grateful for everyone’s well wishes and support,” the 25-year-old said.
It’s been reported Gigi and Zayn, 27, are expecting a girl, but neither of them has officially confirmed the gender.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Image: Yolanda Hadid Instagram, Feature Image: Getty More

As the world of travel has been largely frozen for the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things for the industry beginning to pick up not only here in the UAE, but around the globe.
Many countries in Europe including Spain and Italy have opened their borders and regularly scheduled flights are also increasing.

In another sign of good news for travel in the UAE, it appears there’s plenty of people around the globe keen to visit the region.
According to new data which was analysed by luxury travel group Kuoni Travel, which is based in the UK, the UAE ranked number one on the most-searched-for destinations around the world.

“To uncover 2021’s most dreamed of destinations, we reviewed data for 131 countries around the world, including the UK, to discover which countries travellers are searching for on Google for next year,” the travel group stated.

The #UAE is 1st on a ranking of the world’s most searched-for destinations globally, showing the most popular holiday destinations for 2021, according to worldwide data analysed by UK-based luxury travel group @KuoniTravelUK. pic.twitter.com/fuLPrOP58k
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 12, 2020

While the UAE came out on top, it was followed by Canada, the USA and Qatar which all ranked joint second in the google search rankings analysed by the luxury travel group. Completing the top five most searched countries was Egypt.
In perfect timing with the UAE’s top-ranking, Dubai recently opened its borders to tourists.
Dubai is welcoming tourists with open arms as borders reopen, with visitors receiving a new sticker on their passports was unveiled reading, “A warm welcome to your second home.”
Speaking on borders reopening to visitors, Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said tourists were “always welcome”.
“We welcome all tourists and visitors to the country through Dubai Airports,” he said. “They are always welcome in their second country and we are ready to facilitate their procedures based on the highest levels of safety.”
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Visit Dubai Instagram More