Jubail, a member of UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in Saudi Arabia, is set to host the sixth International Conference on Learning Cities from December 3rd to 5th. 

During the announcement on Thursday, Isabell Kempf, the director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, emphasized the unique position of UNESCO learning cities to instill climate consciousness and equip local residents with the necessary green skills for a sustainable society. 

The event will take place at the offices of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu in the Jubail Industrial City, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary. 

King Salman will be the patron of the conference, in keeping with his views on the importance of international cooperation in efforts to confront global challenges and achieve sustainable development through education. 

The conference provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas with cities around the world and develop joint action plans to enhance the role of learning cities in facing global challenges, especially climate change. 

Jubail was chosen to host the conference in recognition of its commitment to the event, the initiatives it has developed to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for all, and its active participation in the network since joining in 2020. 

In 2021, Jubail Industrial City received the UNESCO Learning Cities Award for its efforts to enhance sustainable development, boost entrepreneurship, and improve skills, in keeping with the spirit of the network. 

The theme of the conference will be “Learning Cities at the Forefront of Climate Action,” which aligns with the aims of the Saudi and UNESCO’s commitment to sustainable development. Middle East Green Initiatives launched in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Supreme Committee for Green Saudi Arabia.  

“The UNESCO Learning City pointed to national programs launched as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, such as the Human Capability Development Program, aimed at building a national strategy for the development of citizens’ capabilities,” the Institute for Lifelong Learning said.  

“Adopting a lifelong-learning perspective and involving the participation of government agencies, the private sector and the non-profit sector, this strategy stretches from early childhood through to general education, The upcoming conference in December will bring together municipal officials, people interested in the field of learning and education, and representatives of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. The goal of the conference is to exchange information, ideas, solutions, and best practices that promote lifelong learning, which includes university education, technical and vocational training, and continuous training.  

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is composed of 356 cities in 79 countries that promote learning within families and communities, facilitate learning in the workplace through modern technologies, and foster a culture of lifelong learning among member cities. This helps promote individual empowerment, social inclusion, economic development, cultural prosperity, and sustainable development.  

The Institute for Lifelong Learning said that during the conference, participants, including policymakers, learning city mayors, lifelong learning and sustainability experts, private-sector representatives, NGOs, civil society, researchers, educators, and United Nations entities, will work together to identify and strengthen lifelong learning policies for climate action, resilience, and the establishment of sustainable cities. 

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Muscat International Airport has been awarded the title of the best airport in the customer experience category for the Middle East region in 2023, for the 15-20 million passengers category. 

Meanwhile, Salalah Airport has won the award for the best airport in the Middle East region in customer experience for 2023, for the two million passengers category. 

These awards were presented by the Airports Council International (ACI) in partnership with Amadeus, a leading technology company providing software solutions for the global travel and tourism industry. 

Salalah Airport also won several other awards, including the award for the most dedicated airport employees in the Middle East in all categories, the award for the smoothest airport procedures in the Middle East for all categories, the award for the best pleasant airports in the Middle East, and the award for the best airports in the level of cleanliness, for all categories in the Middle East. The ACI’s performance measurement program is considered one of the most reliable programs in the world and relies on directly measuring the experience of airport customers on the same day of travel. 

This achievement reflects the efforts of Oman Airports to integrate with the endeavors being made by the government of the Sultanate of Oman under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for the air transport sector. 

This is one of the goals of Oman Vision 2040 and is in light of the unlimited support provided over the past years in strengthening the infrastructure of air transportation to and from the Sultanate of Oman, given its strategic location among the countries of the world. 

Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport’s achievement comes after an evaluation by travelers of the best airports in terms of customer experience within the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards. This year, the program highlights the number of airports participating in it, which exceeds 400 airports in the world. 

The same program is characterized by its unwavering commitment to a rigorous and scientific methodology based on direct research conducted through opinion polls administered directly to travelers at the airport, capturing their satisfaction levels on the same day of travel. 

ASQ surveys cover more than 30 performance indicators across key elements of the passenger airport experience, giving the most complete picture of the passenger experience journey. 

This methodology is known for its robustness, allowing for meaningful statistical inference and providing unparalleled insights into the passenger experience. 

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Dubai has been recognized as one of the best cities in the world for work and being livable.

According to the latest Global Expat Index, Dubai has secured the 9th spot with a score of 6.80, surpassing other popular destinations such as Toronto, Sydney, and Lisbon.

Additionally, the emirate has been ranked as the third most preferred city in Asia for expats, with a score of 6.81, while Abu Dhabi has landed on the 8th spot with a score of 6.09.

As per the report by Preply, an online language learning marketplace, Dubai is known for its luxurious lifestyle, however, its cost of living is relatively high, standing at $3,787 per month.

Nevertheless, the average tax-free salary in Dubai is the second highest among all Asian cities, with a figure of $3,894.

Moreover, the UAE’s favorable tax laws, which include no income tax, can benefit those earning more than $64,000 annually.

Dubai has also scored high on the safety index, with a score of 83.40, making it the third-safest city in the ranking.

Meanwhile, the average cost of living in Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s neighboring emirate, was $3,501, with the tax-free salary averaging $3,597.

Abu Dhabi has also been ranked as the safest livable city in Asia, with a score of 86.71.

Other top expat cities

Tallinn, Estonia topped the list with the highest overall expat score of 7.35 out of 10, making it the best city for work and living.

Estonia’s capital city also scored a high safety index of 77 out of 100, placing it among the top 10 safest cities for expats. Bern, Switzerland ranked second with a score of 7.32, followed by Singapore and Basel, Switzerland, jointly occupying the third spot with a score of 7.08.

Toronto and Sydney jointly ranked 11th on the list with a score of 6.76, while Lisbon was at 16 with a score of 6.54

On the Asia index, Singapore took first place as the ideal city for expats looking for the best-suited areas to move to in 2024, with a score of 7.20.

The top three positions were rounded off by Bangkok in second place with a score of 6.96, followed by Dubai at 6.81.

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Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates has been awarded the “Best Airport at Arrivals Globally” title by the Airports Council International at the 2023 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards.

The ASQ Award winners are selected based on the feedback provided by passengers in close to 600,000 surveys, making them the world’s best airports for customer experience.

Elena Sorlini, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Zayed International Airport, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the honor of being chosen by the passengers.

She thanked the airport’s team for their work in ensuring the passenger’s comfort and satisfaction.

The airport’s new terminal has been designed to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience to every visitor.

The passengers’ appreciation of the efforts taken by the airport team to enhance their experience makes them immensely proud, she added.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, the ACI World Director General, congratulated the team at Zayed International Airport for their success in the Airport Service Quality Awards.

He emphasized that the airport’s dedication to providing an excellent customer experience sets a benchmark for airports worldwide.

He also acknowledged that the airport journey isn’t just a transit at this airport but an experience crafted with care.

The ASQ initiative is the sole global benchmarking program in the airport industry that focuses on gauging passenger satisfaction during their time at the airport.

It operates across more than 400 airports globally and delivers an assessment of the quality of the customer service experience.

This program allows for a comprehensive analysis of the customer service experience at each participating airport.

Rudy Daniello, Amadeus EVP Airport & Airline Operations, suggested that airports have been using technologies like self-service and biometrics to improve the passenger experience across key airport touchpoints.

He added that the industry is now focusing on working collaboratively with airlines and other partners to manage the impact of disruption better, which is a defining issue for passengers.

He looks forward to working closely with the industry as it develops new approaches that deliver improved outcomes for passengers.

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Orfali Bros has taken the number one spot for the best restaurant in the Middle East for the second year in a row, it has also received the ranking of 46^th for the best restaurant globally.

Furthermore the restaurant has also received the What’s-On award of Homegrown Restaurant of The Year in 2022.

Located in Jumeirah 1, Dubai, which is a popular seaside location with a variety of options.

Dubai dominates the top 5 restaurants in the Middle East rankings, a ranking system made by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.

The restaurant was opened by 3 brothers who originated from Aleppo, Syria, Mohammad, Wassim and Omar.

The Restaurant was opened in 2021.

The oldest brother, Mohammad is the head chef, who was also a TV cook and restaurant chef.

The two younger brothers Wassim and Omar focus more on pastries, specifically French ones.

The restaurant mixes traditional Syrian food with global flavors to create new outcomes.

Orfali Bros Service:

Orfali Bros serves Lunch and Dinner from Monday to Sunday from 12-11:30 PM, with Saturdays being off.

The expected cost per person up to USD50 with the cheapest item on their menu being OB croquettes priced at USD5.72.

They offer a variety of menu items including for one, cold, hot, pide and deserts.

The cheapest Hot item on the menu is Adobo chicken wings priced at USD9.

The most expensive hot item is Halloub, which are braised short ribs, the dish is priced at USD36.7.

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