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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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is predicted to lead the tourism and hospitality industry with regard to job opportunities between 2010 and 2020, said a report published by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). According to details, UAE will generate 5.7 per cent annualised growth rate in travel and tourism economy employment, the fastest in the world. The contribution of the travel and tourism economy to…
Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), announced on Monday that the Ministry of Culture and Information has joined hands with his organisation. Talking to journalists after the signing ceremony, Prince Sultan highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by the Saudi media under the leadership of the Minister of Culture and Information, Abdul Aziz…
A new policy with regard to the service in the UAE is likely to increase the cost passport (renewal or procuring a new one) by Dh500. According to a statement released by the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, applications for full validity passports for British nationals will no longer be processed in the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi consular services). From August 1 this year, all passport applications from the UAE will…
Tourism activity in Lebanon will improve by 10 to 20 per cent in 2010 and there will be no Israeli war on Lebanon, said Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud. “During the past two months, the number of tourists increased by 22 per cent which is a very good indicator and we expect this number to exceed two million in 2010,” he said. Abboud was talking to journalists during a press conference held at the ministry of tourism…
Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), in partnership with Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding, officially opened the Holiday Inn Express at Dubai Airport. The 381 room hotel is the eighth Holiday Inn Express across the Middle East and Africa, and the fourth in Dubai. CEO of IHG, Andy Cosslett, said “IHG opened its first hotel in the UAE 35 years ago and we have continued to invest in the UAE and build on this rich…
The Dubai municipality today said an apparent ban on food containing alcohol, announced last week, was a misunderstanding. The municipality explained that it’s circular, which clearly stated alcohol in food was strictly prohibited, was misunderstood, and that this is allowed provided these foods are separated from other foods and clearly labeled. The circular prompted an outcry from the hospitality industry…
Chief executive of , said plans to build 20 Holiday Inn Express budget hotels in the Gulf for as much as US$3 billion (Dh11.01bn) have been postponed because of the global economic downturn. Samil al Ansari made the announcement at the opening of its $40 million 381 room Holiday Inn Express at Dubai Airport on Sunday. Ansari said “How fast we can develop these hotels is really down to the market needs,…
British Airways (BA) cancelled its flights from London to Bahrain and Dubai because of a strike action by its cabin crew. The airline said in a statement “The daily flight on the London-Bahrain Doha route has been cancelled on March 22, 23, and 24.” BA confirmed it cancelled one of three daily flights scheduled to fly between London and Dubai on March 22, 23 and 24. The flight schedules for Jeddah, Riyadh,…
Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport increased 22.6 percent to 3.5 million in February, up from 3.1 million passengers for the same month last year. The growth in passenger numbers was driven by an increase in capacity through Western Europe, India, and the Middle East routes. Dubai Airports said in a statement the increase is due to a “strong ramp up of capacity” in these three regions by different…
Virgin Galati’s new space tourism rocket completed its first captive-carry test flight in which it was taken aloft over the California desert by a mother ship aircraft. For actual space tourism flights in the future, the spaceship will launch from the bigger aircraft, then fire its rockets and carry passengers on a suborbital thrill ride into space, for $200,000 a ticket. Virgin Galactic said in a statement…
March 22- Saudi Airlines has signed a deal with an affiliate of French investment bank Calyon to advise on an initial public offering of its catering company, it was learnt on Sunday. The airline, one of the Middle East's largest carriers, launched a gradual privatization of its catering, cargo, maintenance, ground services and aviation services units to pave the way for a flotation of a stake in its core…
March 22 -UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the directorate general of Civil Aviation and Water Transport of the Slovak Republic have signed an open skies deal, it was learnt on Sunday. As per the agreement, any number of designated airlines from both parties will be given the right to perform scheduled air services in each country. It will allow unrestricted frequencies, capacity and types…
March 22-British Airways (BA) cabin crew’s three-day strike kicked off yesterday after talks regarding a dispute over pay and conditions collapsed, thus causing great inconvenience to passengers at the Dubai International Airport. BA has cancelled flight BA105 between London's Heathrow airport and Dubai International Airport for the duration of the strikes. Also, BA's flight BA104 between Dubai and Heathrow…
March 22- Wataniya Airways, Kuwait’s private airline, posted a loss of $37.8 million in 2009 as compared to a loss of $5.4 million in 2008, said the company’s spokesperson. The airline began travel operations a year ago and saw its assets rise to $275 million last year compared to $269 million in 2008. Meanwhile, shareholder equity dropped from $219 million in 2008 to $182.3 million in 2009. Wataniya has…
March 22- The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has invited companies to participate in bids for the construction of the country's first privately-owned airport in Madina. "Tenders, which are scheduled to be floated in May, will be received until the end of October this year and the final contract will be awarded to the successful bidder most probably by December 2010," said a source at…
March 22-Operations at the Bahrain International Airport continued to run smoothly despite heavy passenger traffic because of the Formula One event, it was reported on Sunday. This has been attributed to the cooperation of Bahrain Airport Company's partners including the Civil Aviation Affairs, Bahrain Airport Services and Ministry of Interior. "We created four committees – cargo, transportation, airside…
March 22- Passenger traffic at the Abu Dhabi Airport increased by 17.2 per cent in February, according to the monthly traffic report released by the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC). Aircraft movements went up by 13.3 per cent and cargo tonnage by 17.6 per cent as compared to February 2009. The year-to-date figures for the first two months of the year showed an increase of 14 per cent. The most of number of…
March 22- Kuwait has denied a report published on Sunday that suggested that the country has banned Iranians from being issued visas to enter the country. The Kuwait Ministry of Interior termed the report as being "unfounded". The statement added that the National Directorate "has not issued any verbal or written instructions in this regard". The statement concluded by saying the ministry facilitated “the entry…
March 22- The development of the northern Egyptian town, Marsa Matrouh, is expected to hugely benefit the tourism industry of the country. Located near the seaside resort of Alexandria, it will accommodate1 6 per cent Egyptians and 30 million tourists. Marsa Matrouh has 500,000 residents at the moment and received over six million tourists between June and September 2009. Reports indicate that a similar number…
March 22- Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plan to open six new five-star hotels in UAE and GCC, it was learnt on Sunday. The new properties will add over 2,000 rooms to the hospitality sector in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Makkah and Oman. Of the six new properties to be launched in the year ahead, two will be in Abu Dhabi, one in Dubai, Makkah, Oman and Aden in Yemen, Rey Alcocer Vice President Operations said. The…
March 22-Ramada Hotel’s latest chain in Fes, Morocco, was inaugurated on Saturday by the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Morocco Mohammad Al-Thwayekh, Tameer Board Chairman Abdelwahhab Al-Haroun, the Moroccan Ambassador to Kuwait Mohamed Belaich and a host of dignitaries and tourism officials and figures. The project achieved completion because of the investment and capital provided by Kuwaiti Tameer Real Estate Investment…
March 21- British Airways flights to Dubai were to arrive and take off on Saturday night and during the weekend as scheduled, according to the recorded automated telephone answering system at Dubai International Airport. However, no official confirmation was available from the BA offices. “We have had no official confirmation from BA regarding the strike or an alert for the weekend. Normally on serious…
March 21- Iraq's Transport Ministry is eagerly awaiting the delivery of new Boeing aircrafts since it is looking to expand the country’s national airline, Iraqi Airways, said the Minister of Transport, Amer Abdul-Jabbar on Saturday. At the moment, the airline has four rapidly ageing planes along with several leased airplanes. Jabbar said his ministry is hoping to get the first deliveries this year on an order…
March 21- Jordan and the European Union have signed an agreement that will enable the creation of a common aviation area for both parties, said the Arab Air Carriers Organisation. The agreement will allow air carriers of both sides to provide air services from any points in Europe, Jordan and other EU Mediterranean partners without any restrictions regarding the fares and capacities.
