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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May 20- UAE airlines continue to operate normally to and from Bangkok despite the spate of violence and bloody protests in the city which have spread throughout parts of Thailand. Some carriers report passenger loads that are nearly 50 percent lighter. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last night imposed a 10 hour curfew, between 8 pm and 6 am (Bangkok local time) for the next three days. James Hogan, Etihad…
May 20 - The Iraqi government is looking into upgrading all airports around the country to attract more airlines into starting new routes there. Plans for the expansion of Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) has been in talks since 2005 but the government needs to approve the master plan, said Dr Adnan Blebil, director-general of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. The plan doubles the size of the current…
May 20 - Emirates Airline’s A380 superjumbo will return to New York on October 31, the airline announced on Wednesday. The decision was made after huge revenues were reported for the Americas in 2009-10, representing a year-on-year rise of 8.1 percent. Given the growth in the Americas, the airline got a profit of AED3.5 billion (US$ 964 million), while 27.5 million passengers flew with Emirates over the last…
May 20 - British Airways (BA) has announced that its flights will be taking off as scheduled over the weekend, given London High Court’s decision to suspend a strike of cabin crew. "Come Friday or Saturday, they're expecting things to be back to normal,” said an airline spokesperson. A Bahrain flight had been cancelled but was reinstated at the last minute given the rulings issued by courts on Monday night.…
May 20 - Middle East Airlines (MEA) has announced that it will take strict measures if pilots insist on carrying out a strike, said sources from the airline on Tuesday. “MEA management will definitely not treat the second pilots’ strike as it did the first. This decision has been adopted on the highest levels,” they added. However, they failed to say what kind of action will be taken. Almost all political…
May 20 - The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Resort on Saadiyat Island has been completed and the official inaugural ceremony took place on Wednesday. Saif Mohammad Al Hajri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), attended the ceremony. The first resort on the island was completed at a cost of Dh730 million. Al Hajri said: "Tourism has advanced in the city of Abu Dhabi, thanks to the vision of President His…
May 20 - There may be a drop in hotel rates this year as almost 200,000 will be ready soon, said Khalid bin Sulayem, Director-General of the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) at The Hotel Show that began on Tuesday in Dubai. "There are between 16,000 and 20,000 hotel rooms ready to enter the Dubai market by the end of the year, which will contribute to producing lower room rates and attracting more…
May 20 - Destination management companies (DMCs) have expressed their concern regarding the new ruling from Dubai Airport that prevents the former from meeting and greeting their clients at the airport. Instead, they are required to pay a fee to Marhaba - part of the Emirates Group - to carry out the service on their behalf. The new law came into place on April 1 and DMCs say the regulation will adversely…
May 19 - Etihad Airways has launched an online visa-processing service, the airline announced yesterday. The service has been launched in collaboration Indian-based TT Services, which has already been contracted as a visa outsourcing service provider in India, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Sweden, Russia and the UAE. “The service allows citizens and residents of the country where it is available, travelling on…
May 19 - The Royal Jordanian airline has announced that services to Kuala Lumpur will resume from June 2. The resumption will take place after a seven-year-long gap. Services were suspended in 2003 owing to the weak economic feasibility of the route. Talking about the move, the airline’s President/CEO Hussein Dabbas said that the route was being restarted given Malaysia’s economic revival and growth of its…
May 19 - The One & Only Palm resort will be opened on October 10 this year, it was learnt yesterday. The resort will open on the Palm Jumeirah Crescent where many such projects are currently underway. "We're confident that we'll meet the date. The completion from the outset was planned to be around this time. We have 1,700 workers on-site and experienced no delays," said Michael Payne, General Manager of the…
May 19 - The global financial meltdown has adversely affected the hotel rates in GCC states, said the organisers of The Hotel Show in Dubai that kicked off yesterday. "There are between 16,000 and 20,000 hotel rooms to enter the Dubai market by the end of the year, which will contribute to producing lower room rates and attracting more visitors to Dubai," said Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)…
May 19 - Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, has opened its doors to the first occupants of its much-touted Armani Residences. "From 'History Rising,' to 'A Living Wonder,' Burj Khalifa has now truly come to life with the first residential community in the luxurious Armani Residences,” said Mr Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, Emaar Properties, UAE. "Already, with the opening of Armani Hotel Dubai,…
May 19 - The Kerala Tourism Board has launched a new tourism campaign in Dubai titled ‘Dream Season', which will includes holiday packages during the cooler and rainy months in Kerala, India, that is, May to September. "It's the best time to enjoy the lush greenery and picturesque views of rain-soaked plants and trees when the backwaters are full," said Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Kerala's Minister of…
May 19 - Some 94,000 Saudi nationals visited Britain in 2009, said Visit Britain’s Chief Executive Sandie Dawe in Dubai last week. "In 2009, some 94,000 people from the Kingdom visited the United Kingdom, compared to 80,000 during the previous year,” she said, adding that this year the number may hit 100,000 She also said that visitors to the UK from the Gulf countries stood at 589,000 in 2009, while Saudis…
May 19 - The 7th Oman Travel Mart (OTM) began on Monday at the Oman International Exhibition Centre under the patronage of Ahmed bin Sulaiman al Maimani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The exhibition has some 50 companies participating in it. The fair is being attended by many local as well as foreign dignitaries and is expected to boost tourism and travel in the region. In fact, many…
May 18 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) yesterday said growth in demand for business and first class seats continued to grow in March. Iata said demand for premium class seats in March increased 10.8 percent compared to the same month last year, and 25 percent at an annualized rate in the first quarter of the year compare to the same period last year. Iata said in its latest premium…
May 18 - Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry urged its citizens not to travel to Thailand because of the critical situation there. Humoud Al- Rhoudan, Director of the consulate department said in a statement to the press “The Foreign Ministry calls upon citizens not to travel to Thailand because of the critical security situation in the country at the current time.”
May 18 - The Bahrain Interior Ministry confirmed that 16 people were detained for allegedly trying to enter Bahrain using fake passports. Two Iranians were held on May 8 for trying to enter Bahrain with forged UK passports, and a day later 12 Chinese and 2 Singaporeans were also detained for trying to enter Bahrain International Airport with fake passports. Public Prosecution, British, Chinese, Singaporean,…
May 18 – Expedia, the US-based online travel reservation website, said that demand for three star hotel properties increased 70 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. However, data shows that three star hotels accounted for only one third of new properties added in the Middle East last year. The STR Global Construction Pipeline Report shows that luxury hotels continue…
Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways has begun cargo operations using its brand new Boeing B777 Freighter, with the plane’s first flight departing from Doha for Amsterdam early Tuesday morning. The new cargo freighter was delivered to the airline’s hub at Doha International Airport over the weekend following a non-stop flight from Boeing Everett factory in Seattle, Washington. The B777F is the latest addition to the…
May 18 - Doha's new international airport, built at an estimated cost of $14 billion, will be completed by the end of 2011, said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker has said. Baker said that the main terminal structure as well as runways are ready and the airport will have a capacity of 24 million passengers in the initial opening phase. Talking to reporters at the Bahrain International Travel Expo (BITE), Al…
M ay 18 - Real estate recovery will be immense in the MENA markets including Dubai, said a report released by Jones Lang Lasalle. According to details, the hotel investment market in the region is at “tipping point” with the sector moving from being development-led to investment-led this year. "2010 is expected to mark a new beginning for the MENA hotel market...the sector is showing signs of reawakening, which…
May 18 - The GCC states are set to spend over $1 billion on hotels this year, said the results of a study by Proleads. According to the details, the estimated amount to be spent on hotel projects under construction in 2010 will be more than $1.17 billion. The UAE will be spending the most amount of money in this regard -- $463.8 million. Oman will spend more than Saudi Arabia this year -- $269.2 million as…
