News

NEOM Announces Luxury Tourism Destination Epicon

The glistening coastal tower will be situated on the Gulf of Aqaba and is billed as “a gateway to the future”.

Published

6 months ago

November 16, 2023

Nour Nasir

NEOM

Planners of NEOM, the sustainable urban development being built in northwest Saudi Arabia, have announced a new addition to the project named Epicon, a luxury coastal tourism destination on the Gulf of Aqaba.

Epicon will “set new standards of hospitality and architecture”, according to a recent NEOM press release. Rising from the desert like a glistening mirage, the facility will feature two huge towers, one 225 meters tall and the second a massive 275 meters. The towers will house 41 ultra-premium hotels and luxury residences comprising 14 suites and apartments. A short distance from the hotel, a separate resort complex will blend “tranquility with indulgence” with another 120 rooms and 45 residential beachside villas.

In the press release, NEOM officials describe Epicon as a place “designed as a gateway to the future [providing] an opportunity to escape the stresses of the every day”. Whether relaxing at the beachside club, taking a wellness treatment at the luxurious spa, or exploring the surrounding nature, the coastal tower resort will offer guests an unparalleled experience, along with a wide array of culinary options from its many restaurants and bistros.

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Epicon will also offer residential apartments, giving unrestricted access to world-class facilities and views of one of the most desirable shorelines in the region. Amenities will include a state-of-the-art gym, high-tech workspaces, a library, swimming pools, and club lounges.

News of the Epicon facility follows the recent announcement by NEOM of Leyja, a sustainable tourism destination situated in a beautiful natural valley. Overall, it appears that the development of Saudi Arabia’s northwest region will soon make it one of the world’s most desirable tourist locations.

News

Joby To Establish All-Electric Air Taxi Ecosystem Across The UAE

The comprehensive agreement with Abu Dhabi’s government includes a training program, infrastructure development, and a manufacturing presence.

Published

16 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Nour Nasir

joby to establish all-electric air taxi ecosystem across the uae

Joby Aviation

All-electric aircraft company Joby Aviation has secured three separate agreements with departments of Abu Dhabi’s government that lay the groundwork to develop and scale air taxi services in the Emirate and beyond.

The deal was signed at the recent DRIFTx thought-leadership and exhibition platform and gave Joby exclusive rights to not only operate air taxi services in Dubai but also unlock inter-emirate services between Abu Dhabi.

joby air taxi partnership abu dhabi

Joe Ben Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, said: “Today’s agreement demonstrates the incredible momentum behind the adoption of clean flight across the UAE. We’re looking forward to delivering a fantastic experience for our future customers in Abu Dhabi and we’re excited to be unlocking the potential for zero-emissions flight between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We’re grateful for the support and collaboration of our governmental partners and the entire ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and we remain deeply impressed by their commitment to building out a world-class aviation ecosystem in the Emirate”.

Joby’s all-electric aircraft went on display for the first time in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina at the DRIFTx event. The air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers and can reach speeds of 200 miles per hour (321 km/h). The zero-emission craft is said to have an extremely low acoustic footprint and can travel a maximum of 100 miles (161 km) on a single charge.

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Once operational, Joby’s air taxi fleet would enable fast, clean travel across the UAE, with journeys between Abu Dhabi to Dubai taking just 30 minutes compared with two hours by car during peak times.

Joby continues to work closely with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to help the Emirates become a world leader in the introduction of air taxis. Additional testing and analysis will be required before inter-emirate travel becomes a reality, but the cutting-edge technology already appears to have great potential.