Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, has announced Deepika Padukone as its newest regional brand ambassador. Deepika now joins her husband, Bollywood icon Ranveer Singh, who has been associated with the brand since 2023, making them the first Bollywood power couple to represent the destination together.

With a global fan base and strong appeal among audiences in India and abroad, Deepika will share her journey through Abu Dhabi and highlight the emirate as a destination filled with culture, creativity and memorable experiences for every kind of traveller.

The announcement of her ambassadorship was launched along with a new cinematic film series featuring Deepika and Ranveer. Each episode captures a different side of Abu Dhabi, from its heritage and artistic spaces to moments of joy, discovery and connection.

In Episode 1, the couple explored the city’s cultural icons, including the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the inspiring galleries at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Episode 2 followed them on a lively day around the city, featuring shopping, stylish dining and moments of togetherness.

The story continues with Episode 3: Art, Play & Paradise, the latest and final part of the film series. In this episode, Deepika and Ranveer enjoy a playful day at teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi before relaxing at the luxurious Bab Al Nujoom Hudayriyat Water Villas. The film highlights the creative and joyful spirit of Abu Dhabi, where every moment feels personal and full of possibility.

As brand ambassador, Deepika will lead upcoming campaigns that showcase the emirate’s wide range of experiences and seasonal highlights. Through engaging films and storytelling, she will invite travellers to discover Abu Dhabi in their own way, whether it’s a calm day spent kayaking in the mangroves or an adventure-filled itinerary with thrilling activities.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of the emirate’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries. The organisation focuses on economic progress and supports Abu Dhabi’s global ambitions by working with partners across the ecosystem. Its vision is rooted in the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape, aiming to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s identity as a place of authenticity, innovation and exceptional experiences.

Etihad Airways has secured a major global win this year, being ranked one of the top airlines in the prestigious 2025 AirHelp Score. With a strong overall score of 8.07 out of 10, the airline has jumped nine spots compared to last year, earning its place as the world’s second-best airline.

The AirHelp Score is known for being one of the most reliable airline rankings, measuring airlines on three important factors, on-time performance, customer opinion and claim processing. The 2025 results are based on flight data collected between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025, along with surveys from more than 11,500 passengers across over 60 countries.

Etihad’s rise comes during a year of fast-paced expansion. The airline has increased its modern fleet to 120 aircraft, grown its global network to more than 100 destinations and carried 19% more passengers year-on-year. Even with this growth, Etihad has maintained strong punctuality and guest satisfaction, which played a key role in achieving this ranking.

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Rising to one of the top two airlines in the world is an extraordinary achievement and a clear validation of everything we are building at Etihad. While rapidly growing our network, fleet and guest numbers, we have stayed laser-focused on what truly matters: getting our guests there on time, delivering thoughtful and genuine hospitality at every touchpoint, and standing by them when plans change. This ranking is proud recognition for every single member of our people who make that promise real, flight after flight.”

Sharing his views on Etihad’s achievement, Tomasz Pawliszyn, Chief Executive Officer of AirHelp, added: “Etihad Airways’ rise to second place globally, with an overall score of 8.07, is impressive. Climbing nine places in a single year reflects the airline’s strong commitment to the passenger experience, especially regarding on-time performance and customer satisfaction. As the aviation landscape continues to evolve, the 2025 AirHelp Score shows which airlines are keeping pace with modern passenger expectations. Today’s travellers expect honesty, accountability, and reliability. We’re pleased to see Etihad setting such a strong example for the industry this year.”

The ranking also highlights AirHelp’s unique scoring structure, which includes customer opinion on cabin crew, comfort, cleanliness, food and entertainment. The claim-processing score measures how fairly and efficiently an airline supports passengers when flights are disrupted.

Emirates is bringing a major upgrade to its services in Canada by deploying the Airbus A350 aircraft on the Montréal–Dubai route starting 1st February 2026. This marks the first time an Emirates A350 will operate in the Americas, introducing the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy cabin to Canadian travellers.

The A350 will replace the Boeing 777 currently operating the daily service and will offer customers a refreshed travel experience with modern interiors, advanced inflight technologies and thoughtful comfort enhancements. The aircraft features three cabin classes, including 32 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 28 Premium Economy seats with ample legroom and comfort, and 238 Economy Class seats designed for a relaxed journey.

The Emirates A350 will fly daily on EK243 and EK244 with the following schedule (local times):

• EK243: Departs Dubai at 02:45 and arrives in Montréal at 07:35.

• EK244: Departs Montréal at 10:40 and lands in Dubai at 08:00 the next day.

This deployment highlights Emirates’ strong commitment to Canadian travellers, offering more choice and elevated onboard comfort. Alongside Montréal, the airline operates its iconic A380 on daily flights to Toronto, giving passengers exceptional inflight experiences across its two gateways in Canada.

Through its codeshare agreement with Air Canada, Emirates customers can also access 37 additional destinations across Canada and the United States from Montréal and Toronto, making travel planning more seamless and convenient.

Passengers on the A350 can enjoy Emirates’ premium dining with regional flavours, as well as its award-winning entertainment system that features 6,500 channels in multiple languages. Bookings can be made on emirates.com, the Emirates App, retail stores, contact centres or through travel agents.