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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April 30- Residents in UAE spent a lot of money on traveling for business and pleasure despite the recession that hit the world last year, said the results of a study conducted by Market Vision, a research and consulting firm in Dubai. According to the details of the study, people spent an average of Dh7,806 on each trip that makes it an average of Dh514 per night. Outbound travelers from the UAE spent…
April 30 - Dubai Shopping Festival’s Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) will begin from June 17 with some of the best deals in 13 years on offer, said the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) yesterday. In this regard, a detailed plan has been drawn up pertaining to activities related to shopping and entertainment for the 52-day-long festival. "DSS marks its 13th edition this year and comes after…
April 30 - MSC Cruises has announced four Beirut Port calls for upcoming cruises that will increase tourism revenues for the city, it was learnt during a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut on Tuesday. The conference was held to launch Wild Discovery as the cruise liners’ new Lebanon general sales agent. The partnership was announced by Sandro J. Saadé, CEO of Wild Discovery and Achille Staiano,…
The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) has signed agreements with New Burma and Al Maarid, two municipalities in the Jerash Governorate. According to the agreement, the support will be provided to both municipalities by the former for the various on-going development projects in Dibeen (implemented by JRF). The current agreements are a continuation of the previous ones signed between JRF and JD Properties to…
Netherlands is planning to boost its tourism by setting up an ‘Arab village’ in the country, said Hans van Driem, Managing Director of the Holland Business Promotion Office on Wednesday. This will be an investment worth Dh39 billion, he added. This investment, he explained may bring the 2028 Olympic Games to Netherlands, 100 years after the last games took place in Amsterdam (1928). We want to develop sports…
Pearl Investment, one of the largest investment groups in Dubai, announced on Wednesday that it plans to open 10 hotels in GCC countries and India this year, an investment of Dh500 million in the next five years. Some of the GCC states where the group is planning to venture forth include Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah while the group's Flora Hotel in Kochi will open in December. According to the details, the…
Dukes Hotel, a five-star hotel in London’s St James area (and owned by a Dubai group Seven Tides), is targeting Middle Eastern business women as well as leisure guests by introducing adies-only Duchess Rooms. “We have always appealed to guests from the GCC, whether business or leisure, but we believe that our new rooms will particularly impress ladies from the Middle East looking for discretion and privacy,” said…
Jumeirah Group, the company responsible for the operations of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, has announced the launch of its new hotel brand, Venu Hotels. The decision has been made after considering the healthy numbers for average room rates from Feb-April 2010. "Coupled with the robust performance of our business hotels in London and New York this gives us renewed confidence in rolling out our growth strategy and in…
April 29 - Passenger traffic and aircraft movement at the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has gone up by 20.9 per cent and 13.9 per cent respectively in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period last year, said the Airport International Group (AIG) yesterday. According to the details, passenger traffic hit 1,097,400 in the first quarter with March reporting a record number of…
April 29 - Royal Jet, an international luxury executive flight services company, and Maximus Air Cargo have signed an agreement which allows the former to open its offices at Maximus’ facility in place at Stansted Airport, UK. The agreement was signed between Fathi Hilal Buhazza, Maximum Air Cargo President and CEO and Shane O' Hare, Royal Jet President and CEO. Speaking on the occasion, Buhazza said: "We…
April 29 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday that Middle East’s airlines have registered a traffic growth of 25 per cent last month as compared to the same period last year, the ‘strongest’ all over the world. However, the load factor in March was 76.2 per cent, lower compared to the global average of 78 per cent. International demand grew 10.3 per cent last month, while…
April 29 - Rolls-Royce, British engine maker, is showing caution despite the prediction venturing into aircraft programmes is going to double its revenues in the next 10 years. "Whilst we are seeing signs of stability and modest improvement in some parts of the global economy, the overall environment remains challenging," Rolls Royce Chief Executive John Rose said yesterday. Shares of the company that have been…
April 29 - Qatar Airways’ first flight to Tokyo, Japan, from Doha landed at the Narita International Airport on Tuesday night, making this the airline’s 89th destination and the second in Japan. The carrier is already flying to the Japanese city of Osaka. Tokyo is Qatar Airways fourth route to be launched this year. Talking about the launch of the new route, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker…
April 29 - Afghanistan’s national airline, Safi Airways, is hoping to double the number of destinations this year, said Claus Fischer, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer. The expansion plans will be revealed in the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) slated to be held from May 4 to May 7. The airline is the first of its kind in Afghanistan to operate according to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)…
April 27 - Two contracts for the expansion of Muscat and Salalah airports will be finalised by the end of this month, said Shaikh Mohammed bin Sakhr al Amri, the Under-Secretary for Civil Aviation Affairs in Oman. He explained that these contracts are part of the expansion and modernisation drives for Oman’s airports this year. Addressing the participants of the Oman Economic Forum at Shangri-La's Barr Al…
April 27 - Flydubai has announced that it will launch flights to Latakia, Syria, in June. This will be Flydubai’s third Syrian destination after Damascus and Aleppo and the airline’s fifth new route this month. Flights will operate four times a week and the service will begin from June 20, thus upping the airline’s network to 18 destinations. Prices for Latakia will start from Dh350 for one-way fare. "Thanks…
Dubai-based Emirates Airline is set to launch an initial public offering (IPO) once it receives approval from Dubai government, said the airline’s Chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum on Sunday. "We will always be ready, whenever the government takes such a decision," he said. The chairman also said that it would take about a year to float the IPO once a decision is taken in this regard. He also said that…
April 27 - The first commercial flight in 20 years between Baghdad and London landed at Gatwick airport given the delay it suffered owing to the volcanic ash cloud, said the airport in a statement released on Monday. The 10-hour-long flight IA237 carrying 30 passengers landed at 11:08 pm (2208 GMT) Sunday after coming via Malmoe in Sweden. Speaking on the occasion, Iraq’s civil aviation director Adnan Blebil…
April 27 - KMC- Bahrain announced on Monday that it has entered into a contract with Ishraq Gulf Real Estate, the company responsible for developing the Holiday Inn Express hotels in several GCC countries, to start construction of the same in Bahrain which will consist of 22 floors and 279 guest rooms at estimated cost of $22 million. The Holiday Inn Express Manama is the brand's first venture in Bahrain and…
April 27- The developers of the Legoland theme park in Dubai announced on Monday that the project will go ahead and will be complete despite the delays which are a result of the economic slowdown in the region. The project is a partnership between Merlin Entertainments (UK) and Dubailand developers Tatweer. The park was initially said to be open by 2011. “Given the current situation in the region work on the…
April 27 - Travellers from the UAE who want a Swiss visa will now be able to get one from the Swiss consulate general in Dubai from May 1. Gerhard Bruegger, Consul General of Switzerland, said that the move is “part of an overall restructuring to avoid duplication and take advantage of economies of scale, and it is in line with a general initiative by our head office to cut expenses while still maintaining an…
April 27 - Medical tourism in Jordan grew by 10 per cent last year, said the Private Hospitals Association (PHA) on Sunday. According to the details, 220,000 patients from around the world got treated in Jordan’s private hospitals, up from 200,000 in 2008. The highest number of foreign patients last year was represented by Iraqis followed by Palestinians and Saudi Arabians. "The quality and competitiveness of…
April 27 - Sea Cloud Cruise liners have their eyes set on the shores of Dubai, said the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) on Monday, adding that the government is holding talks with the Hamburg-based company to launch its services in the Middle East. "We have been approached by a number of cruise companies that are interested in extending their services to Dubai, of which Sea Cloud is simply one…
April 27 - The people in Middle East are inclined towards auctions once again, said Christie's Dubai on Monday. The world-famous auction house said there has been a 30 per cent increase in sale registrations from Middle Eastern clients this week. In fact, Christie’s is holding an auction of international modern and contemporary art today followed by a sale of jewels and watches on Wednesday. Reports indicate…
