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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March 21- The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Sunday that roads and bridges leading to the Meydan Racecourse, Nad Al Sheba, will be opened soon. These include bridges as long as 2025 metres with two lanes each, a private bridge for VIP use and two 710 metre-long bridges. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the board and Executive Director, RTA, speaking to journalists on the occasion, said: “The…
March 21- The UAE showcased items with cultural significance at the second Arab Media Tourism Forum exhibited its cultural landmarks at the second Arab Media Tourism Forum that began in Porto Marina, Alexandria on Thursday. These landmarks include posters, brochures, pictures and information on the most important tourist destinations. Food specific to the UAE as well as Arab coffee was also featured there.…
March 21- Visitors to the UAE will go through a hassle-free visa process in the near future, said the Higher Permanent Committee for Finance and Assets of the Interior Ministry. This will be achieved by outsourcing to specialized companies in countries from where tourists are coming. The committee added that such external offices should be set up with the approval of UAE embassies. The recommendation is more…
March 20- British Airways has cancelled many of its flights to and from the UAE owing to an on-going cabin crew strike. Flight number BA105 from Heathrow to Dubai, due to depart at 8.40pm, will not fly for three days – Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, BA104 from Dubai to Heathrow, slated to leave at 11am, will not fly on Monday, although it will leave on Saturday and Sunday. The British Airways’…
March 19- Kenya has suspended a $350 million deal with the Qatari firm, Afro-Asian Investment, to construct a five-star hotel, hospital and a conference centre at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, said an official on Thursday. The deal between Afro-Asian Investment and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) was signed in January 2009 which allowed the leasing of a 90-acre piece of land around the…
March 19- Dubai International Airport has been ranked the 15th busiest airport in the world in 2009 for passenger numbers while it ranked fifth for cargo traffic, said a report released by the Airports Council International. Around 40.9 million passengers used Dubai's airport in 2009, a growth of 9.2 per cent as compared to the previous year. The figures showed that Dubai was one of only four of the world’s 20…
March 19- Emirates Airline will give two children under 16 travelling via Emirates to Dubai free air travel, meals hotel stays and entrances to attractions this summer, said the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The department hopes to attract more and more tourists to the region this summer owing to this offer, it was learnt. According to calculations, a family of four from Europe…
March 19- Emirates Airline won the Gold Award at the Annual Air Cargo Excellence (ACE) Awards at a recent ceremony at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. The winners for the ceremony were chosen via a survey that rated airlines on customer service, performance, value and information technology. Other winners include Southwest Airlines, FedEx Express, Virgin Atlantic and Nippon Cargo Airlines.…
March 19- The Royal Jordanian (RJ) announced on Friday that it will receive the first group of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in October 2013 instead of 2011, as previously scheduled. RJ's president and CEO, Hussein Dabbas explained that owing to the delay, the carrier was forced to upgrade four Airbus 340 aircraft at a cost of $12m, in addition to the two chartered Airbus 330 that will become a part of the route.…
March 19- The government will safeguard the rights of the workers of Kuwaiti Airways Corporation (KAC) after its privatisation, said a Kuwaiti official. Manipulation of public funds will not be tolerated be it before or after privatisation, said Minister of Communication and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr Mohammad Al-Busairi at the regular follow-up session of the National Assembly…
March 19- Lebanon will rank first internationally in terms of growth in the travel and hospitality industry this year, said the annual research report released for 2010 by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). According to the report, Lebanon’s travel industry will register a growth of 11.3 per cent in 2010 thanks to stable political and security conditions in the region. Lebanon was ranked first…
March 19- Costa Cruise's Dubai arm has said the winter bookings for 2009-2010 have gone up by 40 per cent as compared to the same period last year."The booking trend for the summer time has slightly improved this year and we have already had quite a number of people booking, three to four months in advance," said Francesca Mugnari, sales and marketing manager at Costa Cruises UAE and Gulf. Cruises have been…
March 19- Wahooo! Water Park has launched Middle East’s first-ever surf school in Bahrain, it was learnt on Friday. The trainers at the academy have been coached by the world champion flow riding team that flew in from South Africa. The academy can train enthusiasts in all levels of surfing in the five-week, seven-and-a-half hour training programme. Once trained, participants will compete for the ‘Big Barrel…
March 19- Egyptian Tourism Minister, Zoheir Garranah, and Major General Adel Labib, the Governor of Alexandria, have selected Alexandria as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2010 and have announced the initiation of festivals in this regard at a press conference held on March 17 in Alexandria. The selection was originally made in May 2009 by the Arab Ministerial Council of Tourism that chose Alexandria as the…
March 19- 'Sammy' the female whale shark has been released into the Arabian Gulf by the Atlantis Resort, Palm Jumeirah, after being in captivity for 18 months. The shark was on display at the resort’s aquarium since 2008 when it was captured. Sammy was captured off Jebel Ali on August 27, 2008, causing outrage from animal rights groups, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Former…
March 19- SHUAA Saudi Hospitality Fund I has decided to invest in a $133 million hotel development project in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, it was learnt on Thursday. The fund will purchase land and build a 35-storey luxury hotel on the Jeddah Corniche, overlooking the Red Sea. The hotel will comprise 250 rooms and 150 apartments. The fund is a real-estate development and hospitality fund managed by SHUAA Capital…
March 18- The number of people from the UAE visiting the United Kingdom has increased 22 percent in the first nine months of 2009 according to VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourism agency. The agency projected that tourism will be one of the UK’s best performing sectors over the next ten years, and will grow at 3.5 percent every year. A Deloitte and Oxford analysis said that tourism in the UK is worth £115…
March 18- A British company has announced plans to build a multi-million dollar facility for luxury travel at Sharjah International Airport. The airport has a reputation as a center for budget flights and air cargo, so the new facility would be an upgrade and could someday challenge Dubai International Airport’s dominance as a center for executive jet travel. GAMA Aviation said it will invest US$15 million…
March 18- Recent figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that the Middle East has had some of the fastest recoveries in business and first class air travel as global trade has increased. Local carriers sold 25 percent more premium tickets to Australasia and the Far East in January than for the same period last year. Services in all other regions also increased, including Middle East…
March 18- Kuwait Airways met with Iraqi Airways' officials on Tuesday, citing it a welcome move with regard to an on-going visit by an Iraqi delegation to Kuwait. Earlier, newspapers were reported to have said that Kuwait Airways officials had refused to meet with their Iraqi counterparts. However, sources denied this claim saying that "we learnt of the Iraqi delegation's visit to Kuwait only through the…
March 18- A Dh3 billion mall project, the Mirdif City Centre, was launched by Majid Al Futtaim Properties in Dubai on Tuesday. This has added nearly 200,000 square metres that is available for lease to the retail sector. Spanning over an area of 196,000-square metres and situated at the corner of Tripoli Street and Emirates Road, the mall has over 350 outlets. “Mirdif City Centre shows Al Futtaim’s…
March 18- Union Properties is holding talks with regard to the provision of funds for the Dh1.68 billion ($460 million) F1-X Theme Park in MotorCity, Dubai, said the Chairman, Khalid bin Kalban. "Ernst & Young (E&Y) is on the job and talks are ongoing. However, we have not concluded any deal," he added. Kalban said that E&Y had been appointed in November 2009 to secure funding for the theme park. About $950…
March 18- Bahrain-based Sabre Travel Network Middle East (STNME) has signed a three-year exclusive agreement with Amwaj Travel, a travel agency in Bahrain. As per the agreement, Amwaj will use Sabre's online booking portal, MySabre, giving the former access to fares, airlines, hotels and cars and cruises around the world. "We are pleased to welcome Amwaj Travel to the Sabre family," said Daniel Naoumovitch,…
