ROYAL palaces, grand monuments and art collections, world-renowned classical music, appealing parks and gardens, top sporting events, fabulous shopping and its proximity to the stunning Bavarian Alps all combine to make Munich worth visiting.

The region is well served by Munich Airport (MUC) which won “Europe’s Best Airport” title in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2011.

This convenient European hub is at the same time an “airport city” with spa facilities, hotels, public events, 200 shops and eateries including a garden restaurant, meeting and conference facilities, a child-day care and a visitor’s park. Due to the increasing number of flights, Munich Airport has turned into an important “Gateway to Europe and the Alps” for passengers from the Middle East.

Etihad Airways operates daily from Abu Dhabi, Emirates serves Munich twice daily from Dubai. Oman Air offers flights from Muscat four times weekly, and Qatar Airways now operates 12 weekly flights from Doha to Munich. The German carrier Lufthansa offers daily flights from Dubai and three flights weekly from Riyadh to Munich.

Royal Jordanian has just increased to three weekly frequencies from Amman to Munich and Tunis Air serves Munich twice each week from Tunis. Egypt Air serves Munich on a daily basis from Cairo.

In addition to being perfectly connected, service at Munich Airport does not end upon touch-down. The airport puts great effort into welcoming and accommodating Arab-speaking passengers and aims to make Munich Airport the so-called “Gateway Arabia” – especially in Terminal 1 (Hall C) where the majority of all Middle Eastern carriers operate.

The service portfolio includes Arabic signs and announcements to guide arriving passengers to the baggage claim, the lounges and around the airport.

Right after immigration and baggage claim, guests will find an information counter with Arab-speaking staff to help out with any request. Alternatively there is an airport guide in Arabic that includes lots of great ideas and opportunities about what to see in and around Munich.

When departing from Munich Airport newly installed interactive Info screens in Terminal 1 and in the Munich Airport Centre help passengers to find their way. These “InfoGates” connect passengers directly with airport staff via video conference. By scanning the boarding pass at any of the numerous interactivedisplay monitors and pressing the Arabic button, passengers will find a description of the shortest way to the gates or any place desired within the airport – in Arabic.

To make a culinary experience at the airport truly delightful for Muslim guests, all eateries in Terminal 1 (Hall C) and the airport’s brewery “Airbräu” have marked their menus – identifying vegetarian dishes and all meals containing pork. Inviting prayer rooms are the airport’s newest highlight. A smaller one is located in the public area of Terminal 1 (Hall C), near the check-in area, while a more spacious and comfortable prayer room is located inside the non-public area, close to the boarding gates and across from the airport lounges. The separate prayer rooms for men and women offer beautiful Arabic carpets and separate footbaths.

In order to improve the intercultural understanding immigration officers are being trained on the demands of Middle East passengers. Munich Airport’s service initiative “Arabian Gateway” is meant to develop and grow constantly. Long term planning even foresees play rooms for children and Muslim meals in the airport’s restaurants.