Meridien boosts facilities
JEDDAH: Le Jeddah Meridien has deployed state-of-the-art equipment to boost conference and business facilities.

“It is our objective to be recognised by our customer as the leading business hotel in Jeddah,” said general manager Dietmar Kielnhofer. Le Jeddah Meridien has added two function rooms in its current banquet room configuration of two divisible ballrooms and six multi-purpose function rooms.

Foreign carriers to operate Haj flights
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is to allow foreign airlines to operate Haj flights to Madinah for the first time this year, it was reported.
Previously, pilgrims from abroad landed at airports in Riyadh or Jeddah and travelled to Makkah and Madinah overland.
Makkah has no airport. Madinah airport director-general Abdul Fatah Atta, quoted by the Arab News, said the new move would facilitate the travel of pilgrims by making better use of available resources.

Dubai Mall to have ‘waterworld’
DUBAI: A magnificent three-storey aquarium will be part of ‘waterworld’ attractions being planned by Emaar Properties in the giant Dubai Mall project.
“Featuring glass tunnels filled with sharks, sting-rays and other exotic marine life, the Aquarium will give visitors a unique shopping experience,” said Ibrahim Al Hashemi, executive director of Emaar Properties retail and leasing department.
The Dubai Mall mall itself, over 50 [PS1]soccer pitches in size, will be the largest single shopping space in the world, ahead of both Edmonton Mall, Canada, and the Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota.