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 15- Hotels in the Middle East are getting more and more comfortable with the idea of using social networking sites to promote their business. Previously, hotels in the region were reluctant to jump on the social networking bandwagon. "Social networking sites are still in their relative infancy and we don't know how they are going to grow up. What we do know is that social networking is generating a large…
April 15- Budget hotel Premiere Inn began construction of its first hotel in Abu Dhabi. The Dh120 million development should be finished by September 2011. The 242 room hotel, located within the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center, will be Premiere’s fourth property in the UAE.
April 15- Emirates Airlines cancelled many flights from Dubai to the UK after volcano eruptions in Iceland. Airspace in northern Europe, including Scotland were closed by aviation authorities ‘until further notice’ because an ashcloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland was moving across Europe. The airline released a statement that said “Emirates continues to liaise with UK and European authorities to monitor…
April 15- Etihad Airways issued a press release Wednesday announcing it achieved a 25.4 percent growth in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) in the first quarter of 2010, far higher than the industry average. RPK is an important indicator assessing an airlines’ revenue levels. Etihad said it may achieve a 22 percent growth in another key indicator, available seat kilometers in the first quarter of 2010. The…
April 15- The Diala Investment Commission (DIC) has signed a contract to build what will be one of the biggest tourist resorts in Iraq. The DIC chairman said “The contract was signed with an Iraqi investor, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, to establish a tourist resort in the region between Hamrien Mountains in Khanaqin and al-Azeem district in Khales.” Raseem Ismail said 25 companies will carry out the…
April 15- Dubai Airport Freezone new investments grew an impressive 55 percent in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period last year. Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airport Freezone, said expansion was led by 16 European and American companies who have increased their activities in the region as they search for new markets. He said “This strong 55 percent growth in investments…
April 15 - Air movements in UAE airspace grew almost 12 percent in the first quarter of 2010 it was announced by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) yesterday. GCAA also reported high growth rates across all air activities and operations in March 2010 compared to March and February 2009. Air traffic movements were highest in Dubai at 24,778, nearly 46 percent of all UAE air traffic movements in…
April 14- Oman Air Holidays is offering various summer packages to Salalah, Oman, this year. These five-star packages include: Pay-for-2-and-Stay-for-3-nights for RO109 per person at Hilton Salalah Resort, for RO124 per person at Crown Plaza Salalah and RO111 per person with three free dinners at the Salalah Marriott Resort. Other Pay-for-2-and-Stay-for-3-nights options are at the 3-star Samharam Tourist…
April 14-Kuwaiti-based Jazeera Airways will start its flights to Lahore from May 12, it was learnt on Tuesday. There will be three flights a week to Lahore and online bookings for this route have already been launched and the cost of a round trip will be KD75 (Dh954.8). When contacted, however, Jazeera officials refused to comment saying that a statement in this regard would be released soon.
April 11- The Royal Jordanian (RJ) has announced the signing of a new marketing alliance agreement with Jordan Kuwait Bank (JKB), thus launching the "Fly and Plus", a co-branded MasterCard credit card. According to the details, Fly and Plus card holders will be able to add points to their RJ frequent flyer programme whether they are traveling via RJ or any of the 10 members of the global aviation…
April 14- , located south of Baghdad, has been closed over security concerns and a row with the Kuwaiti company responsible for its passenger operations. Najaf airport, 150 km south of the Iraqi capital, was shut on April 7 on orders from the transport ministry, causing daily losses of $100,000. Transport Ministry spokesman Akeel Kawthar said the decision had been taken on safety grounds after the Kuwaiti…
April 14- The row between Egypt's aviation authority and General Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) over landing rights has intensified as GACA decided to limit the number of flights coming from Egypt to Madinah. Earlier, GACA announced that as of March 31, Egypt Air is allowed to operate one flight a day to Madina instead of four. The carrier would not be allowed to increase the number of flights till the Egyptian…
April 14- The Saudi Aviation Flight Academy (SAFA) will soon be launched in Jeddah to train commercial and private pilots, it was learnt on Tuesday. The academy is being developed in collaboration with the Saudi Aviation Club and the Saudi Bin Laden Group. With an estimated cost of SR300 million the academy will be housed over 50,000 square metres and will be built on the Thumamah airfield near Riyadh. The…
April 14- Travelport, a global distribution system (GDS) provider, has announced the launch of Travelport Opinions, an online networking tool for the travel agent community in the Middle East. The networking site has been developed in collaboration with travel technology software provider Vinivi. The launch follows close on the heels of the launch of a similar website for UK and Ireland in March and in France…
April 14- Despite rioting in issued by the Emirates, travel to the country from the UAE remains unaffected, said industry sources on Tuesday. However, a significant decrease in tourists from the UAE is expected if the ‘red shirt’ protests in Thailand continue "We have had no cancellations or rescheduling of flights since the protests started last week in Bangkok," Manu Mehrotra, General Manager of Al Tayer…
April 14- The Oetker Hotel Collection (OHC), part of a German conglomerate, is holding talks with investors in the Middle East for constructing hotel projects in the region. The group, which announced its first project in Abu Dhabi in February this year, is negotiating with at least three investors or owners for management contracts, with Dubai, Beirut, Bahrain and Doha. "We have plans to set up about 15 hotels…
April 14- The Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), in a ceremony on Monday, announced facilitating the Summerland Hotel project manager Walid Abu Saab with a contract that allows full tax exemption on income and distribution of dividend for 10 years. The package includes exemptions from real-estate registrations and reducing work permit fees for Summerland Hotel staff. The project, to be built at…
April 13- Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance, Hamoud Al-Hattar has called on Saudi Haj and Umrah companies to do business with his country, adding that problems that previously prevented them from entering the Yemeni market no longer exist. "We've been working with Haj and Umrah agents and companies with the support of the Ministry of Haj to tackle the issue of Yemeni pilgrims overstaying in the Kingdom…
April 13- The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has announced the opening of a tourism and antiquities office in Wadi Al-Dawasir, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, President SCTA. Wadi Al-Dawasir is situated near the Empty Quarter and has a great deal of potential with regard to tourism, he explained, adding that it is also alongside a road that is used by holidaymakers from all over Saudi Arabia…
April 13- The Chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Prince Abdullah bin Saud, has announced the launching of new system for the licensing of recreational centres and tourist resorts along the Corniche. "The new system will solve the current problem in getting licenses to establish tourism and recreational projects on the Corniche," he said, adding that the earlier system did not have a…
April 13- The renowned Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts announced today that it has terminated its management contract, effective immediately, for the Banyan Tree Al Areen Resort in Bahrain. On April 8, Banyan Tree issued a notice of intention to terminate its contract with Al Areen Holding Company, the owner of the resort in Bahrain, given the various breaches that occurred in the contract. It must be mentioned…
April 13- Emaar Properties is hoping to revive its hospitality sector plans for the Indian market where it already has a presence through a joint venture company, Emaar MGF, it was learnt through reports published in Indian newspapers. In this regard, Shravan Gupta, Vice-Chairman, Emaar MGF, pointed out that the group‘s hospitality plans for the Indian market were temporarily shelved but “now, with the market…
April 13- Mubadala Development Company and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts have announced the forming of a partnership to develop the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Sowwah Island, a luxury business hotel slated to open in 2013. The hotel will be adjacent to Sowwah Square and will be a tribute to Abu Dhabi‘s unique culture and heritage. With around 200 rooms and 125 residences, the hotel will have conference…
Kuwaiti based Jazeera Airways hopes to increase its capital by 91 per cent thanks to a rights issue, said a statement issued by the airline on Sunday. The budget carrier’s board of directors will recommend to shareholders $69.28 million worth of capital increasing by selling 200 million shares. The increase will bring the airline’s capital to 42 million dinars. Meanwhile, Jazeera Airways acquired Sahab Aircraft…
