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 26 - The Shoura Council on Sunday announced that a new international airport outside of Makkah will be established soon. The decision came after the annual report of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) was revealed at the eighth ordinary session of the Shoura Council presided over by Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh. The Secretary-General of the Council Mohammed Al-Ghamdi added that the decision…
April 26 - The aviation industry is showing signs of improvement as airport operators are considering investment plans for this year, said Ara Fernazian, Group Exhibition Director of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the organisers of the 10th Airport Show in Dubai. The three-day show was inaugurated by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai…
April 26- The Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has reported a 26.1 per cent increase in duty free sales in the first quarter of 2010. The announcement was made yesterday at the Airport Show 2010 in Dubai. ADAC said that this shows that consumer confidence in Abu Dhabi’s travel retail sector is returning after the global financial crisis that hit last year. Speaking on the occasion, ADAC’s Huraiz Almur Bin…
April 26 - More construction work is expected for the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), Jordan, this year, it was revealed in the annual report issued by the Airport International Group (AIG). Even though 2009 was the year of the global financial meltdown, QAIA recorded a 6.5 per cent rise in passenger traffic, to 4,770,000 people, with 20 airlines expanding or adding new services. “QAIA is building on…
India’s Kingfisher Airlines has announced the launch of two new international routes out of Dubai – Delhi and Mumbai. Also, a third international route from Delhi to Kathmandu was also launched by the airline. With the launch of these 2 new routes, Kingfisher Airlines now flies to a total of three destinations from Dubai with daily flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. The flights on all these routes are…
An Emirates passenger flight en route to India from Dubai on Sunday went down 200 feet (60 metres) owing to air turbulence. As a result, 20 passengers were injured. The flight that had 350 passengers on board landed safely in Cochin, South India, soon after the incident. The plane "encountered a short period of heavy turbulence while cruising at 35,000 feet," Majid Al Mualla, Emirates Senior Vice President,…
April 26 - A hot air balloon carrying 14 people crashed near Sweihan, a desert area some 80km east of Abu Dhabi on Sunday, killing a Frenchman and an Indian national, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said. Two other people were injured in the crash, said the statement issued by GCAA. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the operating tourist company, Dubai-based Balloon…
April 26- ABB, a power and automation technology group, is implementing the Room Master solution in the Movenpick Hotel, Riyadh. The hotel will be completed in 2011 and is going to be first one in Riyadh to have the ABB system. The device is known as Room Master will allow guests to control all applications inside their hotel room, including lighting, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, as well as room…
April 26 - The Emirates Palace hotel, Abu Dubai, will be showcasing its high-end products and services at the 17th Arabian Travel Market (ATM) scheduled to be held from May 4-7 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will see the participation of industry professionals and travel agents, and will serve as a useful platform for travel-business networking. According to a statement…
April 24 - Elham Al-Qasimi reached the North Pole, arriving 90 degrees latitude on April 23, 2010 at 13:15. Elham is the first Arab woman to set foot at the northernmost tip of the world, making the trek ski-assisted and unsupported. She arrived in Longyearbyen, the northernmost inhabited area in the world, last week and from there continued her journey Northwards via Russian plane, sleds and skis. An…
April 25- Emirates Airline speeded up its repatriation of passengers from Dubai in the aftermath of the volcanic ash flight disruption. In addition to the extra flights that have been put on to London Gatwick over the past few days, including an additional flight today, the airline is also boosting services on its Asian routes. Two extra flights are heading to Bangkok today. Richard Vaughan, Emirates’…
April 25- British Airways has speeded up its efforts to send its passengers who got stranded in Dubai back home, in the aftermath of the volcanic ash incident. A Boeing 767 departed from Heathrow Airport on Thursday to get passengers from Dubai while another is scheduled to arrive on Sunday morning. Passengers are also being advised to register with British Airways via a web form to speed up rebooking. Speaking…
April 25- has signed an agreement with global engineering group Cavotec MSL. The signing ceremony took place at Bahrain Airport Company's event hall, on their premises in Muharraq. The contract allows for the introduction of Cavotec's technology of complete ground support equipment which includes the pre-conditioned air system (PCAir), 400 Hz power supply, portable water supply and blue water supply…
April 25- Around 500 British Muslims remained stranded at the King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah and complained of getting little or no help from the government or airline officials, said Charge d'affaires Roddy Drummond on Friday. Drummond said that diplomats were working round the clock to help get the pilgrims on extra flights back to Britain after being stranded at the airport for days given the shutdown of…
The prices of plane tickets will not increase after the reopening of European airspace, said top industry personnel in the UAE. However, several airlines are charging two to three times the normal fare to European cities. For example, the ticket for KLM is costing Dh10,125 while another one for Lufthansa is Dh7,050. Meanwhile, Emirates President Tim Clark said the carrier will try to maintain prices after…
April 24- Najaf Airport reopened on Thursday following a two-week closure of the facility in the wake of Al-Qaeda threats. "The head of Iraq's civil aviation and the ministry of transport decided from today to reopen the airport to internal and international flights, after all security measures were taken to prevent Al-Qaeda attacking the Shiite shrines with aircraft," Provincial Councillor Khaled al-Jashami…
April 24- French holiday group Club Med cancelled a cruise to Lebanon on Thursday after Jewish groups were outraged given the ban imposed on passengers with Israeli groups. Earlier, the company had announced that all those passengers with either Israeli visas or passports could not board its boat, the Club Med II, for the Lebanon leg of the cruise given restrictions imposed by Lebanese authorities. As a…
April 23- Bahrain International Airport reopened its runway after the tyres of a Gulf Air aircraft were damaged thus resulting in the airport’s closure for two hours and thirty minutes. Emergency measures were put in place and the passengers were transported to the terminal. Inbound flights were briefly diverted to neighbouring airports. Flights, said officials at the airport, were diverted to Doha…
April 23- A number of hotel chains in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are considering expanding and renovating their properties along with developing new projects. According to sources in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), several hotels are eager to renovate and expand their properties. "This is due to increasing demand from year-round Umrah visitors, as well as from both business and leisure…
April 23- The Middle East Cruise Forum will be held in Bahrain next month, it was learnt on Thursday. The highly anticipated event will bring together experts and leaders from the industry to deliberate on ways to increase cruise tourism in the region. Starting on May 11, the conference will cover significant topics related to cruise tourism and Hassan Ali Al Majed, director general of the General of the…
April 23- The Ministry of Tourism on Thursday announced that Egypt’s tourism sector is growing this year after witnessing a year of severe decline. According to the figures released, Egypt's tourism revenues witnessed a 24 per cent increase during the first quarter of 2010, that is, $2.7 billion for the three months ending March. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals rose 29 per cent to 3.46 million visitors.…
April 23-The 2,500 passengers who were stranded in Abu Dhabi for almost a week because of the suspension of flights in the aftermath of Iceland’s volcanic ash cloud were given complimentary tours of Abu Dhabi’s favourite tourist spots. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), various hotels and Etihad Airways put together guided tours of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort,…
April 22- Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments announced they have invested $42 million to enter into a joint venture with the Dead Sea Touristic and Real Estate Company in Jordan. The joint venture company will own a convention center in the Dead Sea Valley of Jordan and soon begin building a hotel to be managed by a leading hotel corporation. Aabar, which is based in Abu Dhabi and listed on the Abu Dhabi stock…
April 22- The hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia is set to grow as major hotel chains begin moving forward with plans to renovate, expand, and develop new properties. The major cities in Saudi Arabia - Riyadh, Jeddah, and Damman, already have scores of hotels ranging from three stars to five stars. Major hotel chains are showing a renewed enthusiasm to renovate new properties and expand existing properties,…
