Khaleej Times

Explore UAE on an Ajman seaplane

- afkarali@khaleejtim­es.com Afkar Abdullah Photos by M. Sajjad

sharjah — The maiden Ajman seaplane flight soared into the skies, amid huge excitement and fanfare. The flight, launched by the Ajman Tourism Developmen­t Department (ATDD), took off from Al Zorah Marina I on Wednesday.

The flight that attracted visitors and tourists was inaugurate­d by Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of ATDD.

Regular flights on the Cessna 208 Caravan Seaplanes, which can be pre-booked on a per person basis, will take passengers on a tour of the most scenic sites of the emirate. The 9-seater plane will fly from Ajman to Dubai Creek every day. It will cost Dh995 per passenger. Additional­ly, residents and tourists can make special bookings to fly to any place in the UAE.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, top government officials and members of the press, boarded the inaugural seaplane for an aerial tour of Ajman’s stunning landmarks and sites, including the Al Zorah Mangrove Reserve, Marina and Ajman’s City Centre.

Al Nuaimi said: “Ajman is increasing­ly offering exciting visitor attraction­s for our growing market of local, regional and internatio­nal tourists. We have introduced a slew of new projects. Ajman has much to offer holidaymak­ers and local visitors looking to try something new and different. With the launch of the seaplane, those interested can now get a unique, bird’s eye view of the emirate and travel to Dubai Creek in style.

“It can also offer tours to all the different emirates in the country.”

Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director-general of ATDD, said: “Our aim is to ensure that Ajman is among the most attractive holiday destinatio­ns in the region, off-ering a variety of options for the discerning traveller and local residents. These seaplane tours add to our growing portfolio of high quality tourist excursions and we look forward to the creative packaging of different attraction­s giving our customers the best experience possible.”

Omar Ahmed bin Omair Al Muhairi, director-general of the public transport corporatio­n in Ajman, and executive director of the Civil Aviation Department, said that the seaplane launch is an important project, as Ajman plans to boost the transport sector.

Imad Dana, CEO of Al Zorah Developmen­t Company, said: “We are delighted to offer residents and tourists an opportunit­y to experience Ajman from an extraordin­ary perspectiv­e with our new seaplane tours at Al Zorah. Guests can now enjoy the picturesqu­e views of the city with Seawings.”

Stuart Wheeler, CEO of the seaplane operator Seawings, said: “We offer a range of packages for pas-

Dh995 is the cost per passenger on the seaplane from Ajman to Dubai. Our aim is to ensure that Ajman is among the most attractive destinatio­ns in the region.” Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director-general of ATDD

sengers — including tourist, corporate and golf — with tours that fuse scenic flights with other luxury activities. Exclusive charters are also available on request to various destinatio­ns around the UAE. Offering pre-booked excursions over Ajman adds a prestigiou­s new dimension to our portfolio.”

The Ajman seaplane follows the launch of new eco-tourism excursions in Al Zorah Mangrove Res-erve last month, in collaborat­ion with Quest for Adventure. Watersport­s and eco-tourism options are now available in Al Zorah Marina 1, including wakeboardi­ng and kayaking, along with informativ­e tours of the mangroves housing over 100 local and migratory species. This year, edutainmen­t tours — called the Pearl Journey — were also started from Al Zorah Marina 1. The tours combine live demonstrat­ions about the history of pearl diving in the area with a boat trip around the mangroves.

 ??  ?? A panoramic view of the Sheikh Zayed road skyline in Dubai as seen from the seaplane during the media tour. As the inaugural flight took from Al Zorah Marina 1 in Ajman towards Dubai, the hopes of an emirate to boost its tourism offerings and high...
A panoramic view of the Sheikh Zayed road skyline in Dubai as seen from the seaplane during the media tour. As the inaugural flight took from Al Zorah Marina 1 in Ajman towards Dubai, the hopes of an emirate to boost its tourism offerings and high...
 ??  ?? Ships docked off Deira Island offers a view of Dubai’s commercial bustle on the last leg of the seaplane tour from Ajman.
Ships docked off Deira Island offers a view of Dubai’s commercial bustle on the last leg of the seaplane tour from Ajman.
 ??  ?? Flights are offered on the nine-seater Cessna 208 Caravan seaplanes, which can be pre-booked per person at Dh995.
Flights are offered on the nine-seater Cessna 208 Caravan seaplanes, which can be pre-booked per person at Dh995.
 ??  ?? The Dubai Frame in all its glory and part of the emirate’s skyline is seen during the seaplane ride on Wednesday morning.
The Dubai Frame in all its glory and part of the emirate’s skyline is seen during the seaplane ride on Wednesday morning.
 ??  ?? A birds’ eye view of Garhoud Bridge from the seaplane, which will make daily flights from Ajman to the Dubai Creek.
A birds’ eye view of Garhoud Bridge from the seaplane, which will make daily flights from Ajman to the Dubai Creek.
 ??  ?? The densely populous emirate of Sharjah paints a busy backdrop against calm waters, as seen from the seaplane en route to Dubai.
The densely populous emirate of Sharjah paints a busy backdrop against calm waters, as seen from the seaplane en route to Dubai.
 ??  ?? Ajman coastline in contrast to its sprawling urban developmen­t. The seaplane is the latest new attraction from the emirate.
Ajman coastline in contrast to its sprawling urban developmen­t. The seaplane is the latest new attraction from the emirate.

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