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 4- Omran, the tourism and development department of the Government of Oman, has signed a management agreement with Millennium Hotels and Resorts to manage the under-construction four-star hotel at the site of the Asian Beach Games, Muscat 2010. The agreement was signed by Dr Rajiha bint Abdul Ameer bin Ali, Minister of Tourism, and Chairperson of Omran, and Ali H. Lakhraim, President and CEO, Millennium…
April 3- The Department of Civil Affairs will offer a national ID for Saudi women that can be used to travel to countries of the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC). “Women don’t need a male guardian to apply,” said Latifa Al-Ghamdi, an official of the women’s section of the Civil Affairs Department in Dammam. However, they still require permission from their male guardians to travel. The new high-tech cards will…
April 3- Holiday season traffic is increasing as more and more people are looking to take a break from work, said an Emirates Holidays official. "People worked really hard last year. A return on those investments is trickling in now," John Felix, senior vice-president of Emirates Holidays said. Felix added that while people are still looking for cheap holidays, they are also looking for quality. They want to…
April 3- A branch of Istithmar, the overseas investment arm of Dubai World, has asked the courts to intervene after last week's bankruptcy filing by the owners of the W Union Square Hotel. The unit, called Union Square Real Holding Corp, said that the bankrupt lender/hotel owner group threatened to file a voluntary bankruptcy petition for the W Hotel as well but do not have the authority to do so. Hotels Union…
April 2- Armani Hotels & Resorts announced on Thursday that its Burj Khalifa property will launch on April 21 and will be made open to the public on April 23. The hotel was slated to open on March 18 but the launch was then delayed to April 22. A collaboration between the renowned Italian designer Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties, the 160-room hotel was initially scheduled to open last year. However,…
April 2- Shangri-la's Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa received the ISO 14001 certification, it was announced at a press conference held at the Resort's Al Bandar Hotel Ballroom on Thursday. This makes it the first Omani hotel to receive this certification. The certification is an important development in the resort’s efforts towards preserving the environment. The resort has taken up and implemented 'green…
April 2- More inconvenience is headed towards Middle East passengers as Lufthansa, Europe’s second largest airline, will be on a four-day strike starting from April 13. The airline operates 88 flights per week from the region. Late last month, Europe’s biggest airline, British Airways, went on strike causing major flights disruptions to and from the Middle East. Lufthansa, the German national carrier, has…
April 2- More than 80 per cent of the people are opposed to the British Airways cabin crew strike, it was revealed on Arabian Business’ latest poll. A total of 84.3 per cent of respondents said they were against a series of strikes which have grounded a number of the UK carrier's services, including some to the Middle East region. Some 46.8 per cent said the strikes were wrong in the current economic climate,…
April 2- Youssef Al-Hamdan, a Saudi businessman has filed a SR100 million lawsuit against Saudi Arabian Airlines over the purchase of an aircraft from the airline that was ill-equipped. According to the details, Al-Hamdan won the tender for the purchase of a Boeing 747 aircraft, which he checked before the transaction was completed. However, after paying the airline, Al-Hamdan found that most of the aircraft’s…
April 2- Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has said that its sales have gone up by 21 per cent, or Dh1.1 billion, in the first quarter of 2010. DDF has outlets in the three terminals of Dubai International Airport. This is mainly because airport traffic has increased in the first quarter. Perfumes and gold were the top-selling items at DDF – up by 23 per cent and 22 per cent respectively. Confectionary sales stood…
Park Hyatt Dubai is delighted to announce its resounding success at the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2010 held on 23 March, when Traiteur, the hotel’s French brasserie restaurant, won the “Best Brunch in Dubai” award and was also highly commended as the “Best Romantic Restaurant in Dubai”. “We are thrilled that the excellence of our French brasserie, Traiteur, has been…
April 1- James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways, said the UAE’s national carrier is flexible and positioned well to withstand the pressures and problems of the financial crisis. Hogan explained that, because the airline, which began operations in 2003, is relatively young, it is able to operate with a ‘clean sheet of paper’ without many of the costs and legacy issues other larger airlines face. He said “This puts…
April 1- Albert Henschel, General Manager of UAE for Scandinavian Airline, said demand for business class and higher priced seats is increasing, helping to push airline yields up somewhat, although a return to pre-recession yields is more than a year away. Henschel was speaking to media before announcing the airline’s fourth winter season on the Dubai-Copenhagen route. He said conditions are gradually improving…
April 1- Emirates Airlines was rated the best carrier for travelers from Australia headed for New Zealand, beating Air New Zealand and Australian carriers in terms of value. The survey, which was carried out by Choice, a consumer advice organization in Australia, asked 9,000 members to rate their satisfaction on recent international flights with cost, in flight service, seat comfort, leg room, time, food…
April 1- All-seeing body scanners have been set up at all points of entry in Dubai, including all terminals of the airports, on a trial basis to determine whether the technology can detect illegal of life-threatening items that passengers may be carrying. Sources revealed that only those passengers who are pulled out from queues at the behest of security officials will be subjected to these scans. The scans…
April 1- The Philippines' civil aviation agency has said that the country’s carriers are safe, thus discrediting the ban imposed by the European Union (EU). The ban on Philippine carriers followed a downgrading by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to category 2 from category 1 on safety ratings in November 2007. "Even if The Philippines is listed by the EU, it does not mean that Philippine aircrafts are…
April 1- Qatar Airways launched its direct route to Copenhagen on Wednesday. The flights will operate four times a week from Doha to Copenhagen. "With 11 flights a week now operating to Scandinavia, this reflects the high demand we have been experiencing in and out of the region, helped by increased economic ties between the Middle East and Scandinavia,” said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker. Several more…
April 1- Iran Air will continue its services to European Union countries as there are no real restrictions imposed on its flight operations, said the head of Iran's national air carrier in Germany, Mohammad Reza Rajabi on Tuesday. The recent statement issued by the European Commission has not stipulated any specific instructions, he added. Iran Air flights to Germany vary between 8 and 10 flights a week…
April 1- The will continue to expand but in a slow and steady fashion, said the group’s President John M. Johnston. At the moment, the group has six properties all over the world, which compared to its sister companies, the Fairmont and Swissotel groups, is not enough. Johnston stated that for Raffles to match them in the next five to seven years will be a significant achievement. "The goal is to grow the brand…
April 1- Barwa Real Estate has initiated a study on the project in Qatar, according to a statement issued by the company at the Ordinary General Assembly of its shareholders on Tuesday. The company expects to deliver and operate three major projects, including Barwa Village, Barwa Housing (Masaken & Saliyah) and the 1st phase of Barwa Al Sadd. Among other things, the company’s performance and proposed…
April 1- There are no plans in the offing to expand operations in the Middle for the next few years at least, said Peninsula Hotel Group’s Chief Operating Officer (CEO), Peter Borer. The Hong Kong based group is focusing on India at the moment since it is an emerging market. The group’s delay in expansion is possibly because of the slump that the hospitality industry is facing in the region. “That’s why we are…
April 1- India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor signed an agreement with Minister of Hajj Fouad Al-Farsy on Wednesday night that will allow more than 160,000 Indian pilgrims to perform hajj this year. “Over 160,000 Indian pilgrims coming through the Haj Committee of India (HCI) and private tour operators are expected to perform Haj this year. A request for an additional quota has been…
April 1- The US State Department has advised its citizens against travelling to Lebanon for safety and security reasons. The State Department said that while Lebanon is enjoying a period of relative calm, it continues to be a politically volatile country where “the potential for a spontaneous upsurge in violence is real. US citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in…
April 1- German authorities are looking for German national Georg Recker for a multi-million Euro fraud in connection with a hotel project in Dubai that was never built. Recker’s arrest warrant was issued in November last year by a court in Dortmund, Germany. Recker himself is said to be hiding in Dubai. According to the details, investors have provided funds worth Dh123.7 million for the project titled Dubai…
