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 16 - A travel fee imposed by the UAE government for GCC citizens, including Oman, has irked Omanis who frequent the country. The fee imposed is Dh105 (RO10) for arrival and Dh25 (RO2.5) for departure. The worst hit residents in this regard are those living in Buraimi, Suwaiq, Sohar Saham and Ibri since they usually get items of daily necessity from mostly Dubai instead of Muscat. The UAE is also a…
June 15 - Emirates Airline’s flight EK776 that took off from Durban's King Shaka International Airport on Friday experienced a technical malfunction while in air and then returned back to Dhurban, an airline official stated. The pilot was forced to shut down the engine on the right side after noticing low oil pressure. "All of the passengers were accommodated in a hotel while a recovery aircraft was…
June 15 - Nasair celebrated the first anniversary of its flights between Kuwait and Riyadh, and Jeddah and Madinah, by organising a ceremony in Kuwait. The Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Abdulaziz Al Fayez and top airline industry figures and travel agency representatives were present on the occasion. The ceremony was hosted by Dr Maria Hanne, Chief Commercial Officer of Nasair. Dr Hanne said that Nasair is…
June 15 - Atlas Hospitality is considering expansion in the Middle East as the hospitality sector in the region appears to be recovering, said the company’s Managing Director Siegfried Nierhaus on Monday. "We are focusing our development in the UAE and want at least three new hotel projects in the pipeline during the next three years. We are watching the economic indicators and they are heading in the right…
June 15 - Work on the much-delayed Salam Yiti project in Muscat being developed by an investment unit of Dubai Holding and the Omani government will pick up in the “next few months,” said Wael Al Lawati, CEO of the Omani tourist development arm, Omran, on Monday. Earlier this month, it was learnt that work on the $1.7bn Salam Yiti project had come to a halt as Sama Dubai, the overseas investment firm of Dubai…
June 15 - Hotel occupancy rates and revenues in Jordan during the first quarter registered an increase, according to a report released by the tourism ministry on Sunday. The number of guests in good hotels rose by 23 per cent to 555,210 in the January-April period, up from 450,253 last year. The report also said that revenues from tourist sites rose from JD5.465 million in the first quarter of 2009 to…
June 15 - Aldar Properties said on Sunday that it would establish a water park on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, at an estimated cost of Dh40 billion. The park will span over 16.4 hectares and will have over 40 rides and attractions including four rides that have never been featured in a water park before. Aldar has already received the planning approval from the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and has…
June 15 - Sharjah’s tourism department launched road shows in Kazakhstan and Ukraine yesterday in a bid to tap into the tourism markets and promote Sharjah as an ideal place for vacation. The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) arranged for these road shows in collaboration with Air Arabia. The road show will go on till June 17, said Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director General, SCTDA,…
June 14 - The Port Ghalib project will have 23 internationally renowned hotels by the end of the second phase, said Kuwaiti based M.A. Kharifi Group on Monday. The project is being developed at a cost of $2 billion. At the moment, there are four hotels operating at Port Ghalib, including The Palace by Intercontinental, The Oasis and The Sands by Crowne Plaza and The Marina Lodge. "The tourism industry in…
June 14 - The Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, is on track, said some of its bidders on Sunday, adding that the stadium that has been put on hold is the one on Sir Baniyas Island. "I have been receiving numerous calls on this rumour but the project is going ahead as scheduled," said one bidder. "The project in question is the football stadium on the Sir Baniyas Island, which is under Musanada as the…
June 14 - Emirates Airline will launch its non-stop flights to Spain in just six weeks, it was learnt at a press conference in Madrid on Thursday. Richard Vaughan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations Worldwide; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Europe and Russian Federation, and Peter Sedgley, Senior Vice President of Cargo (Commercial…
June 14 - The only radar at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina that guides pilots to the runway is out of order. The radar was purchased at a cost of SR60 million six months ago. According to airport officials, the radar had stopped functioning several times in the past, once for six hours straight. "The Civil Aviation Authority found it necessary to go back to the traditional tower…
June 14 - The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said that the estimated tourism revenue for this year for the kingdom is about SR66 billion, which means a growth rate of 4.76 per cent in comparison with its revenues in 2009. In the conference held at the Cityscape Exhibition in Jeddah last Monday, the Commission's Vice President for Investment, Dr. Salah Al-Bakhit said that SCTA hopes…
June 13 - The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment has announced highlights of this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), which include international shows, musicals, and shopping and promotions throughout Dubai. The 13th edition of DSS has a budget of Dh 60 million, starts on June 17th and runs for 52 days until August 7th. Modhesh World, the biggest indoor edutainment venue in the region will be a major…
June 13 - More than 40 old houses near the core of the emirate in Ajman’s Al Nakheel 5 and 6 areas will be restored as part of an ambitious project to transform the area into a tourist attraction by the first quarter of 2011. Mohammed bin Omair Al Muhairi said work on a project to re-organize the two areas and turn them into tourist attractions is under way. Al Muhairi, who is Head of Planning and Survey…
June 13 - The spa industry in Dubai has played a small role in generating hotel revenue in the past but it is now gradually helping luxury hotels lessen the impact of the global economic slowdown. The Ernst & Young Spa Benchmark for the first quarter of 2010 shows that aggregate revenues for Dubai hotel spas increased 45.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Aggregate spa revenues are comprised…
June 13 - Qatar has purchased the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo which overlooks the River Nile. The move is thought to be Qatar’s strategy to consolidate and enhance its investments in Egypt. Around $250 million has already been paid to the First Arabia Company that owns the Four Seasons in Cairo. The hotel currently operates 269 rooms and connects to one of the largest shopping centres in Cairo.
June 13 - Tour operators in Qatar hope to do more business this year – around 10 to 15 per cent more than in 2009. Industry experts are hopeful that the large number of expatriate families that are eager to travel this summer will bring in more business. Most families prefer to visit their home countries in the summer but this trend seems to be changing since those belonging to the high-income bracket want to…
June 12 - The Egyptian Arab Land Bank (EALB) arranged for a free Umrah trip for its employees in a bid to strengthen its relationship with staff members. Hazem Yousef, Regional Manager, said: "The social committee at EALB organised a trip to perform the Umra in May for a number of employees who won a raffle and have been working at the bank for at least 10 years. It is important for us to show our appreciation to…
June 12 - Orange Jordan, one of the largest telecom private sector companies in the country, arranged its tenth annual Umrah trip this week in which more than 90 employees participated. The drive kicked off last Saturday from the company’s training centre in Na’our. According to media reports, the trip will be eight days long and pilgrims will pay homage to religious sites in Madina and Makkah. Orange Jordan…
June 11 - Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways celebrated the first anniversary of its services to Athens as flight EY91 from Abu Dhabi touched down at Athens International Airport. The Athens route achieved average seat factors of more than 70 percent and this figure is expected to hit 90 percent in the summer period. Starting off with three flights a week, Etihad increased the frequency to five per week in…
June 11 - Yafamic Touristic Company, majority owners of Emirates Heights, held a press conference today and said it will work to increase residential tourism in Egypt through its project in the North Coast. Emirates Heights has seen a steady increase in the number of units held by foreigners, reaching 5,000 by the end of 2009, and aims to tap into this sector's potential. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism has been…
June 11 - Gulf Air’s restructuring plans are nearly complete and will dramatically transform the airline into a regional airline serving primarily major and secondary cities within a few hours flying time from Bahrain. Chief executive, Samir Majali explained tat all unprofitable routes will be cut and orders with Boeing and Airbus are currently being renegotiated to bring the airline on sound financial…
June 11 - Air India’s parent company, National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) held a special board meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to address problems in the Gulf region.Decisions were made to replace aging aircrafts flying in the Middle East. Standby aircrafts and special technical support will also be deployed to handle delays and problems affecting the airline’s service. UAE based businessman…
