PORTS-

Rak Ports is now PMSC certified: UAE’s Rak Ports, a group of five ports in Ras Al-Khaima, has become the first in the region to achieve compliance with the UK’s port marine safety code (PMSC), Marine Link reports. The compliance statutes were confirmed following an audit by UK-based marine consultancy ABPmer, which assessed the ports’ adherence to PMSC principles and the effectiveness of their marine safety management system.

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AVIATION-

#1- Syria resumes flights to the UAE: Syria’s Damascus International Airport resumed international flights yesterday for the first time since the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime on 8 December with a flight to Sharjah, Syrian state news agency Sana reports. Qatar Airways also resumed flights to Damascus following a 13-year hiatus, while flights to Dubai were also set to resume as of yesterday, AFP reports.

#2- Air Arabia adds Ethiopia flights: Air Arabia is launching non-stop flights to Ethiopia’s capital starting 30 January, the Sharjah-based budget airline stated. The new route will connect Sharjah International Airport with Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, running three weekly flights in both directions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

  • Iraq-Syria border to reopen: The main border between Iraq and Syria is expected to reopen within 10 days, following weeks of closure with the collapse of Syria’s Assad regime. Officials say traffic will resume given the improved stability on the Syrian side and the absence of significant security concerns. (Middle East Monitor)
  • Iranian cargo vehicles exempt from Uzbek transit fees: Uzbekistan has revised its transit fee structure for 2025, exempting Iranian cargo vehicles and charging Afghan vehicles USD 50. The rate for other countries will remain at USD 400. (Trend30)
  • Etihad Cargo lands in Paris: Etihad Cargo has added Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport as the 12th destination in its freighter network, with the inaugural flight landing yesterday. The new weekly service provides over 100 tons of additional cargo capacity, offering main deck connections via Abu Dhabi to major hubs such as Ezhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Zhengzhou. (LinkedIn)
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