Applications
Alike and DCT Abu Dhabi join hands to launch the Abu Dhabi Pass app
Mumbai: Alike, a pioneering global social travel marketplace and tech innovator has recently announced the launch of the Abu Dhabi Pass app, an innovative digital system designed exclusively for the prestigious Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The launch demonstrates the commitment to offer visitors an enhanced experience, whilst promoting Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination for leisure and business expeditions.
Officially unveiled during the ongoing Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) 2024, the Abu Dhabi Pass app has emerged as the most convenient and cost-effective alternative to explore the unique attractions of the bustling city. By simply booking their preferred experiences, users get access to a myriad of exclusive benefits to further enhance their travel journey in the emirate. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.
“We are thrilled to partner with DCT Abu Dhabi and support their visionary approach to create an immersive experience for all tourists visiting Abu Dhabi. The launch of the Abu Dhabi Pass app is a testament to our continued commitment to the travel space. We look forward to witnessing Abu Dhabi visitors benefiting from the app by exploring the rich and diverse offerings of Abu Dhabi with convenience and value,” said Alike co-founder Ashish Sidhra.
Available for both iOS and Android users, the app features over 75 top experiences in the city, ranging from cultural and historical landmarks such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, to thrilling adventures, like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. Furthermore, the app makes it easier for travellers to plan their trip to Abu Dhabi by providing essential travel services including local commute, UAE Visa, and travel sims.
Boasting convenience and value for the guests, the Abu Dhabi Pass app makes use of a single QR code system, which allows them to access all their booked experiences with a single QR scan, saving them the hassle of managing multiple tickets. The app offers attractive discounts that go upto 40 per cent on the regular prices of the experiences, making it a great deal for travellers who want to get the most out of their Abu Dhabi visit.
The app’s launch will be accompanied by the market availability of a dedicated partner app for experienced providers. The partner app will provide easy guest check-in capability for experience providers, by simply scanning the guest ticket QR code. It will also offer many additional features, such as live reporting dashboards and individual guest executive logins.
The app is currently showcased at the Abu Dhabi Pavilion at Arabian Travel Mart being held at the world trade career, Dubai, where visitors can learn more about the app features, and benefits and can download it for free.
Applications
Inshorts Group chief Deepit Purkayastha joins IAB video council for Southeast Asia and India
The co-founder and chief executive of the short-form content platform has been inducted into the IAB SEA+India Video Council, giving India a stronger voice in shaping digital video frameworks
NOIDA: India has long been the world’s most chaotic, multilingual and mobile-first digital market. Now, one of its most prominent short-video executives is getting a seat at the table where the rules are written.
Deepit Purkayastha, co-founder and chief executive of Inshorts Group, has been selected as a member of the IAB SEA+India Video Council for 2026. Run by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the council brings together senior leaders from Southeast Asia and India to shape standards, best practices and measurement frameworks for the fast-evolving video and digital advertising ecosystem.
The timing is pointed. According to the IAMAI-Kantar Internet in India Report 2025, over 588 million Indians are now consuming short-video content, with growth increasingly driven by rural and non-metro audiences. India’s active internet user base has crossed 950 million, with 57 per cent of users now coming from rural markets. Yet the frameworks that govern how video consumption is measured and monetised were largely designed for single-language, Western markets and have struggled to keep pace with the scale, diversity and complexity of India’s digital landscape.
Purkayastha is no stranger to these debates. He already serves on the AI Council at Marketing and Media Alliance India and as co-chair of the Digital Entertainment Committee at the Internet and Mobile Association of India. His induction into the IAB SEA+India Video Council extends that influence into the global video standards arena.
Inshorts Group sits squarely at the intersection of these forces. Its flagship product, Inshorts, India’s highest-rated short news app, reaches 12 million active users with 60-word news summaries. Its sister platform, Public App, reaches 80 million monthly active users across more than 700 districts and 12 languages, serving communities that most global platforms barely register.
Purkayastha said the opportunity was about building something more representative. “India today sits at the centre of the global video ecosystem, but the frameworks that define how value is created and measured have not always kept pace with the realities of our market,” he said. “Being part of the IAB SEA+India Video Council is an opportunity to contribute to a more representative and future-ready approach, one that accounts for diversity in language, context, and user intent.”
As a council member, Purkayastha will contribute to shaping regional standards across video advertising, measurement and platform governance, with a focus on frameworks that are native to India’s multilingual, mobile-first ecosystem rather than imported from global benchmarks designed elsewhere.
For years, India has been content to play by rules written for other markets. Purkayastha’s induction is a signal that it is done waiting to be consulted and ready to start writing them.
