Airline, airport, hotel, destination, visa, and Muslim travel updates from Irhal.
The airline marks Philadelphia as its 14th destination in North America NEW YORK, NY, USA – Qatar Airways has reconnected Doha and Philadelphia with the launch of a daily non-stop flight between Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), its 14th destination in North America, which resumed on 1 August 2026.
Read full storyThis summer, Central Shopping Centers invites international visitors to experience the best of shopping, dining, and leisure with Summer Holiday 2026, running from 20 July – 30 September 2026. Created exclusively for international tourists, the campaign offers shopping privileges across Thailand’s five world-class shopping malls: centralwOrld, Central Park…
Read full storyThe Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board, in cooperation with tourism associations, have launched the integrated digital platform "Ahlan Jordan" as part of measures to support the tourism sector and address the impact of regional circumstances on travel activity.
Read full storyflydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has increased its daily operations between Dubai and Naples and is set to boost its flights to Milan-Bergamo to a double-daily operation from 31 July, enhancing passenger connectivity to Italy.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – July 28, 2026: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum of modern and contemporary art, will open its doors on 11 December 2026 at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the region's largest indoor theme park, is inviting guests to place themselves in the hands of one of DC's most iconic Super-Villains, as Kryptonite Collider officially opens.
Malaysia Retains No. 1 Position in Global Muslim Travel Index 2025, Offering GCC Travellers a Summer of Festivals, Culture and Discovery.
The Dubai-based carrier announces the start of daily flights to Aleppo from 20 July, reaffirming its connectivity to opening underserved markets Aleppo becomes the carrier’s second destination in Syria alongside Damascus
What if the most valuable thing you brought home from a trip wasn’t an object, but a story? Northern Thailand is home to dozens of ethnic communities who have carried their identities across mountains and borders for centuries – and many of them welcome curious, respectful visitors.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launched the search for the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World, a global initiative designed to identify and celebrate the landmarks and buildings created since 1801 that have had the greatest impact on Travel & Tourism, local communities and economic development, and continue to redefine the future of destin…
Luxury travel today is no longer measured by how much you can see in a few days, but by how deeply you can experience a destination. At Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort, guests are invited to embrace this philosophy through Long Stay Beach Escape, an exclusive package designed for travelers who wish to enjoy more of Phuket's culture, wellness, and f…
Read full storyTwo hotels, three ways to stay, and one summer campaign inviting guests to choose their own scene across Paramount Hotel Midtown and Paramount Hotel Dubai
Read full storySharjah Museums Offer an Integrated Summer Experience Blending Culture, Science, and Discovery for All Community Members
Read full storyNew five-day programme empowers young people to build confidence, resilience and lifelong skills while embracing active lifestyles
Read full storyAcross Five Museums with Interactive Museum Programmes Enriching Children’s Knowledge
Read full storyOceans of Lights Festival returns to SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in its third edition to offer a summer program full of activities and new experiences
Read full storyJuly 2026, Yerevan, Armenia: Armenia has extended its temporary visa-free entry arrangement, keeping the country within easy reach for eligible travellers from across the Gulf for a further year. The arrangement now runs until 1 July 2027.
Read full storyJuly 2026, Yerevan, Armenia: The competent Armenian authorities announced the extension of the temporary decision exempting eligible travelers from GCC countries from prior visa entry for an additional year, making the decision effective until July 1, 2027. This decision aims to facilitate travel procedures and tourism movement and exchange between Armenia and the Arab Gulf region, allowing travelers…
Read full storySet within Khalid Lagoon, the island shows how Sharjah brings art, nature and design into everyday public life.
Read full storyBlending cultural discovery with elevated wellness and leisure experiences, World of Hyatt summer destinations offer GCC travelers seasonal getaways across the GCC, Africa and Europe.
Read full storyAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – June 30, 2026: Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi has officially been awarded the Guinness World Records™ title for the most waterslides in a waterpark, featuring a record-breaking collection of 55 slides.
Read full storyExperience the Colours of Malaysia at Citrawarna 2026 This Summer
Read full storyGermany is an ideal destination for friends traveling together, thanks to its creative neighborhoods, vibrant markets, street food culture, and stunning natural retreats
Read full storyFollowing the launch of its first collaboration in 2025, the Jacquemus brand returns this summer to the Monte Carlo Beach Club with a new design that reimagines the coastal atmosphere with a contemporary spirit. The design evokes the spirit of 1950s beach clubs, where elegance meets the calm Mediterranean lifestyle.
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June 27 - The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced yesterday that it will manage a new luxury city centre hotel and serviced apartments in Qatar’s capital city, Doha. The property, which is being developed by DohaLand, is scheduled to open in 2014. Mandarin Oriental, Doha will be the Group's second hotel in the Middle East following its announcement earlier this year that it will open Mandarin Oriental, Abu…
June 26 - Saudis deliberately avoid destinations popular with tourists from the Kingdom, according to travel agents. With the summer vacation approaching, many Saudi families are choosing locations where the number of Saudi and Gulf tourists is very low. Once popular locations, like Cairo and Kuala Lumpur, are not favoured anymore by those from the Kingdom because of the increasing number of Saudi tourists…
June 26 - The Jumeirah Group has signed an agreement with Shanghai Zendai Himalayas Real Estate to manage the Venu Himalayas Hotel Shanghai. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2011 in the heart of the Pudong district of Shanghai . The Jumeirah Group announced its new contemporary lifestyle hotel brand, Venu, at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in April 2010. A group spokesman said: "Guests of the…
The number of short-term holiday accommodation has registered a decline in Dubai, said UK-based travel company Holiday-Rentals. The number of Dubai properties listed on their website has been reduced by 18 percent in the last year. “The number of Dubai properties on our site has gone down in 2010, which usually means that the owners have either sold their properties or are no longer renting out. Due to last…
June 25 - Emirates Airlines is talking to local and international banks to finance the purchase of new aircrafts that are to be delivered after May 2011, said a senior airline executive. The airline has already arranged for the money for deliveries by May 2011 but it needs financing for deliveries beyond that date, said Brian Jeffery, Emirates' Senior Vice-President for Commercial Treasury. "We have…
June 25 - Dubai’s budget carrier, flydubai has launched its fourth destination this week when its inaugural flight to Sri Lanka landed at the Colombo airport. Flydubai’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith expressed his delight at the airlines expansion into the subcontinent and was certain of the growth potential flydubai will have in this market: "We're delighted to be able to expand our range of destinations in the…
June 25 2010 - The Hariri International Airport in Beirut, has registered a growth in air transport activity in the first five months of this year, said Bank Audi’s Lebanon Weekly Monitor. The number of passengers, planes, and loaded and unloaded freight has grown significantly since the start of this year. Air traffic movements increased by 22.9 percent while passengers at the airport went up by 18.8…
June 24 - Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan on Wednesday criticised the competition, particularly those who have accepted subsidies from the government. “We have been very different,” he said while addressing an Australian business group in Abu Dhabi. “Unlike many of the original flag-carriers, which ran for decades on Government hand-outs, subsidies and support, our shareholder has been very clear about the return…
June 24 - UAE airlines flying to and from the region will be required to meet insurance guidelines by July 1 or they will face suspension of operations, said the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Wednesday. The regulation that was announced earlier this year came into effect from February 1. It will be implemented in three phases, said the authority. The third step will be implemented in January…
June 24 - Emirates Airline has postponed the launch of its Baghdad route for operational reasons, said an airline spokesperson on Wednesday. The route was supposed to have been launched from July 1, 2010. "Due to operational reasons, Emirates has temporarily postponed the July 1 Baghdad route launch to sometime later in the year," said the spokesperson. "Emirates will liaise with the affected passengers…
June 24 - President Michel Suleiman and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) inaugurated the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut on Tuesday, June 22. The hotel is to be managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts with KHC holding a 47.5 per cent share in it. Prince Alwaleed saw the opening as promising for the Beirut tourism industry: "Our support for Lebanon on…
June 24 - From April 6 to June 14, 2010, cruise ships brought 26,580 visitors to Dubai, according to figures released by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). Guests came to the Dubai Cruise Terminal operated by DTCM at Port Rashid. Among the cruise liners that contributed significantly to the increase in cruise trips are the Silver Whisper with 227 passengers; the Seabourn Odyssey with 293;…
June 24 - The government of Bahrain is looking into promoting cruise tourism with 100 visits from liners in the coming season. Bahrain’s cruise season, said sources, runs from October to May and attracted more than 150,000 visitors in 2009-10, with nearly 70 ships docking at its port. "A passenger ship with 2,000 tourists makes Bahrain richer by [an average of] Dh1 million [$274,000]. With more than 70…
June 24 - The contract for the Louvre Museum project in Abu Dhabi has been postponed to August 1. There has been no update on the contracts for the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Fosters+Partners-designed Zayed Museum. "We expect that the main contract for the Louvre will be awarded around August 1. It has witnessed a one-month delay," said a source. "There is still no news on the…
June 24 - Lebanese Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud warned airport authorities of dire consequences if the tourism police were not allowed inside Beirut international Airport to provide support to tourists. “If we don’t reach any satisfying results in this regard during the few coming days, I will be holding a press conference to announce the problems I have faced since I came to the tourism ministry,” he said.…
June 23 - The Abu Dhabi International Airport hopes to hit a growth rate of 11 per cent this year, said Ahmed Mohammed Al Haddabi, Senior Vice President, Airport Operations of Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC). "Last year our growth rate was about 7.3 per cent handling nearly 10 million passengers in 2009. This year we will cross the milestone of ten million passengers by significant levels,'' said Ahmed at…
June 23 - Royal Jordanian (RJ) announced on Sunday that it has increased the number of daily flights from 100 to 110. This is in response to thegrowing demand for travel during the summer months. Seat bookings during July and August show record figures for the first time in RJ’s history, said the statement, adding that initial bookings for July are more than 320,000 and are still growing. Daily flights…
June 23 - Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai has joined hands with Emirates Airline’s frequent flyer programme, Skywards. Guests at the Atlantis will earn miles across the resort and will be able to enjoy numerous other benefits. Guests in the hotel will receive one mile for each $1 spent when booking through the Atlantis website. As part of the summer promotional package, members will be able to earn triple…
June 23 - Bangkok’s Lebua Hotels & Resorts is holding talks with investors from the UAE to consider funding the group’s expansion plans around the world, said an official of the company. If the talks are successful, Lebua Hotels will form a joint venture company with the investor, said Deepak Ohri, Chief Executive of Lebua Hotels & Resorts. "We are currently in talks with Middle East investors - mainly…
June 23 - The Alexandria Arab tourism festival, organised by Kuwait's Ministry of Information and Alexandria Governorate starts today, said the head of the ministry's delegation to Alexandria, Nawaf Abduallah Al-Enizi. The festival will be inaugurated by the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Dr Rasheed Al-Hamad and the Governor of Alexandria General Adel Labib. The 10-day festival will consist of a book fair…
June 23 - Representatives of the Elaf Group of Hotels from Saudi Arabia paid a visit to Bahrain to promote their Haj and Umrah services. Around 120 representatives of local travel agencies were present at a meeting organised by the Elaf Group in which the special hajj and umrah facilities were discussed. Talking about the visit, Ziyad Ahmed Bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group, said: "This visit is in line with…
Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways today announced its expansion programme was continuing with vigour with plans to launch six new routes in Europe and Asia from October 2010. The Doha-based airline will phase in the route expansion over a four-month period with daily flights to Phuket – after Bangkok, its second destination in Thailand – kicking off the growth drive on October 11. The new flights will…
June 22 - Dubai World Central Al Maktoum Airport opened for cargo yesterday with the first Emirates Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft arriving from Hong Kong. The airport is the largest in the world and will officially open its first phase of cargo operations on June 27 while passenger operations will begin next year. The airport has been designed to accommodate more than 12 million tons of cargo and 160…
June 22 - Dubai’s low-cost carrier flydubai debuted its first flights to Latakia (Syria) and Karachi (Pakistan) yesterday. Flydubai is now flying to three separate cities in Syria while Karachi is its first Pakistani destination. Speaking on the occasion, flydubai’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: "We're very pleased to be able to provide another flight to Syria and we are confident that the vibrant port of…
