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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Abu Dhabi, June 10th, 2010 -- Emirates Palace will open their Golden Goal World 3D Football Lounge tomorrow. This iconic hotel and landmark of Abu Dhabi, will provide the opportunity to experience unique 3D viewing of World Football in luxurious surroundings. Depending on matches the number of guests will vary per day. "With no entrance fee, Emirates Palace aims to provide a unique experience for our guests,…
June 10 - Etihad Airways has been ranked among the best three airlines in the world by Swiss business magazine BILANZ. The decision was based on the result of a frequent flyers’ survey in Switzerland. Etihad was also ranked number one in the ‘Onboard Service’ category and second in the ‘Business Class’ category. After winning Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) stated: “I am very…
June 10 - Gulf Air announced on Wednesday that it is focusing on improving its service and the staff’s interaction with customers. In this regard, the airline said that 22 of its staff members have been trained under the customer service training programme to become "Customer Service Champions". The course was 10 weeks long and took place in collaboration with UK’s Ontrack International Consultancy. Trained…
June 10 - Emirates Airline has appointed Al Handal Group as its general sales agent (GSA) in Baghdad, Iraq, it was learnt yesterday. Al Handal’s position as GSA is effective immediately. The move coincides with the airline’s upcoming route to Baghdad that will be launched from July 1. Emirates Senior Vice President for the Gulf, Middle East and Iran Ahmad Khoury said: "We are delighted with the appointment of…
June 10- As the FIFA World Cup is all set to begin in South Africa tomorrow, demand from the UAE for travel to the country remains low. Experts said fans do not want to go see the world cup with the steep price of Dh72,000 for a package. Around 30,000 premium match tickets are still unsold by sponsors which shows that people have yet to recover from the recession. One of the most popular FIFA packages is being…
June 10 - Oman’s Ministry of Tourism is stepping up preparations for the influx of tourists expected during the summer months, particularly to Salalah, the capital of Dhofar Province. Last year, around 300,000 local and international guests visited the city from June to September. "Aside from its numerous fascinating locations, Salalah also has cooler weather compared to other parts of Oman during the summer,…
June 10 - The Meydan Grandstand and racecourse that played host to the Dubai World Cup in March has been voted the second most important sports venue globally by Sports Pro magazine. The facility also scored high on innovation, originality and infrastructure, it was learnt yesterday. Published in the June edition of the magazine, the list is the first of its kind and has included venues from 13 different…
June 10 - Travelport has launched a leisure portal for travel agents, it was learnt yesterday. Known as Travelport Leisure, the portal is a newer version of the former Galileo Leisure portal launched in 2005. The portal includes new hotel, hostel, B&B and vehicle information and the option of adding localised content with respect to a particular country. The portal is free to use for all travel agents.
June 10 - The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is looking into building Aloft Hotel in London, slated to open just in time for the London Summer Olympics 2012. The hotel will have 252 rooms and will be part of London’s largest conference and exhibition venue ExCel situated in Docklands. “ADNEC is committed to innovation as evidenced by our decision to introduce a new hospitality brand to the UK,”…
June 10 - Dubai-based hospitality company Jumeirah announced plans of expansion into India on Wednesday. According to details, OM Tourism in Delhi will appoint two representatives for Mumbai and Delhi to look into Jumeirah’s brand positioning. The representatives will play a key role with regard to Jumeirah’s expansion into other countries including current operations in the UAE, UK, Germany, France, Russia,…
June 9 - Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday issued a law that will effectively increase the emirate’s first budget airline’s capital by more than double. "The new law amended a preceding law, which had set up Flydubai with a capital of Dh220 million. The amendment more than doubled the capital to Dh500 million to be fully paid by the…
Saudi Arabian Airlines’ (SAA) Cochin-bound flight developed a technical problem half way into the journey and had to return to the King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam on Monday morning. The flight carrying a large number of passengers took off from KFIA at 3:30am. An hour later, the pilot learnt of some technical malfunction and turned the plane back around. Meanwhile, a passenger said that it…
June 9 - The Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) is looking into meeting the increasing demand from Gulf tourists, particularly Dubai, and is stepping up efforts in this regard, said Director of Information and Public Relations, KAC, Naser Al-Oteibi, on Tuesday. Oteibi pointed out that the company will develop its services keeping in mind the resources available.
June 9 - Eighty percent of Saudis use highways for domestic travel, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). Prince Salman was speaking at the re-launch of Saudi Automotive Services Company (SASCO) service stations at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh. The Minister of Transport Jabara Al-Seraisry, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Research and Marketing…
Spanish hotel group Sol Melia will open its first hotel in the Middle East next year. The property will be named Melia Dubai and will have 167 rooms, it was learnt on Wednesday. The five-star hotel will be operated under a management agreement in Al Raffa, Bur Dubai and will feature restaurants, 24-hour coffee shop, sky bar, disco bar, business centre, and meetings and events facilities.
June 9 - Muriya Tourism Development (MTD) announced on Tuesday that the first phase of the Jebel Sifah Complex in Oman will be completed by early next year. "We are probably the only integrated tourism project that has not stopped work," said MTD Marketing Director Baha'a Kareem. The complex will span over 6.2 million square metres and will be surrounded by the sea and the Hajar mountain range, added Kareem.…
June 9 - The average occupancy rates for hotels in Beirut stood at 69 percent in the first quarter of 2010, the same as last year. These were the findings of an Ernst & Young’s survey of the Middle East hotel sector. Beirut’s occupancy rate ranked 14th among 18 markets in the survey, once again, the same as that of the corresponding period last year. As per the details of the survey, the average rate per room…
Barcelona, SPAIN – Qatar Airways, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, achieved yet another milestone yesterday as it launched daily flights between Doha and Barcelona – its 90th destination. With the touchdown of flight QR067 in Barcelona, where the aircraft was welcomed by a dramatic water salute and met by senior airport officials and local dignitaries, the airline reinforced its position as the…
June 8 - The Dubai Department of Tourism and Marketing (DTCM) has launched a rental system for self-catering hotel units that will be put to use later this year. According to the details, the system will allow the leasing of furnished residential units in specific areas and locations based on different criteria. The units will be managed by certified companies that operate in compliance with specific terms and…
June 8 - The United Arab Emirates and Switzerland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for mutual exemption of visa for holders of diplomatic or private passports. The MoU was signed by Dr Abdul Rahim Yousef Al Awadi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, and Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE. The agreement will strengthen ties between the two nations and…
June 8 - Hajj costs for Egyptians have gone up by 14 per cent this year given the rise in the price of accommodation in Makkah, said officials in Egypt in charge of Hajj. Officials explained that the increase in rates are mostly because Hajj service providers as well as hotel and apartment owners around the Haram have hiked prices up for this season, prices which have been approved by the Saudi Commission for…
June 8 - Moroccan based airline Royal Air Maroc had to make an emergency landing on Sunday soon after it took off from Amsterdam Schiphol airport after an engine problem, said the Dutch air control service. “Royal Air Maroc which had a problem with one of its two engines after taking off, turned around back to Schiphol and landed safely," said the airport’s spokeswoman Marjolein Weiting, adding that she did not…
June 8 - Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) has announced an extra charge of SR15 on local tickets issued by travel agencies as well as the airline. "Tickets issued electronically will be free of charge but tickets for domestic flights issued by travel agencies or SAA offices will have an issuance charge of SR15," said an official of the airline, adding that all international airlines are bringing changes to their…
June 7 - An Emirates flight flying from Dubai to Karachi was forced to turn back as Cyclone Phet battered the Pakistani port city, causing flooding in low lying areas and leaving about half the city without power. An airline spokesman said “Emirates flight EK606, travelling from Dubai to Karachi, had to return to the emirate after it was unable to land in Karachi due to adverse weather conditions caused by…
