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.
Read full storyShowing 3,817–3,840 of 5,397
A recent survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) revealed that 60 per cent of the tourists that have come to Abu Dhabi 2009 came to the city for the first time, out of which 87 per cent would like to visit again. Most visitors stayed in Abu Dhabi for about a week while business visitors stayed anywhere between five to nine days. The study further showed that about 30 per cent came to Abu…
Virgin Galactic, the space tourism branch of the airline, has sold 20 of its tickets to Gulf tourist desirous of taking a trip into space, said sources. With high-profile travellers such as Stephen Hawking and ex-racer Niki Lauda, Virgin is all set to sell all of its tickets in its first year of test operation, that is, 2011. The 20 tickets have already raked in $45 million. “The spaceport will be open next…
Isthimar World Capital, a Dubai-based investment firm’s private-equity unit, has defaulted on a $300 million mortgage payment for a hotel site in New York. The property has been handed over to Danske Bank and is generating interest from buyers.
The Palace The Old Town in Dubai and Miramar Resort, Fujairah, are the first two hotels in the UAE to sign up for . An internationally recognised accreditation, GGC has been brought to the UAE via an agreement signed by Farnek Avireal – a joint venture between a UAE and Swiss business group – under which the latter has an exclusive license to use and promote GCC across 20 countries in the Middle East. The…
Bawadi Mall, the largest shopping mall in Al Ain that was established in April 2009, has been a popular tourist attraction since it came into being. Spread over a massive 140,000 square metre plot, the Bawadi Mall houses top international brands, one of the reasons why the mall is frequented by tourists. “Al Ain's gross lease area (GLA) is quite low, against other parts of the world, thus making it a fit…
March 4- Recent figures issued by the UN World Tourism Organisation show that Lebanon recorded the highest number of tourists -- 39 per cent -- coming to the country in 2009. Kenya came a close second with a 36.8 per cent increase recorded last year. Other countries that recorded an increase include Vanuatu 29.6 per cent, Myanmar 17.8 per cent, and Taiwan with 14.3 per cent. The report showed that while…
March 4: Kuwait will sign an expansion deal for its international airport today. The deal, which includes the development of new terminals, will equip the airport to deal with 13 million passengers a year. Dr Fadhel Safar, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, will sign the agreement today. Currently, the is at full capacity dealing with about seven million passengers a year.…
March 4: The Iraqi Transport Minister Amir Abdiljabbar said that the will be a source of employment for thousands of people in the province. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the airport, the minister said that Iraqi will have every reason to be proud of the airport once it is completed. Giving out details of the design and costs, Abdiljabbar said a French firm had designed the airport at a…
Etihad Airways will expand its services to business and leisure travelers with the launch of Hala Abu Dhabi, its new travel services company. Etihad said in a statement that Hala Abu Dhabi, which will be based in Abu Dubai, will offer travel products, services, and activities in all seven Emirates of the UAE. Etihad Airways chief commercial officer, Peter Baumgartner, said “Through Hala Abu Dhabi, we will offer…
The latest annual Hotels.com Hotel Price Index, released yesterday, showed that the average price of hotel rooms around the world dropped 14 percent in 2009. The price of hotel rooms dropped on every continent. Although prices fell consistently throughout 2009, near the end of the year the decline began to level off. During the fourth quarter of the year, the price of a hotel room globally fell 7 percent, down…
Dubai based hospitality operator, Hospitality Management Holdings, will expand its presence globally, including Africa. This will be a landmark year for the home grown hospitality company, which plans to open 20 new properties this year. Michael Noblet, CEO of HMH, said in a recent interview that the growth of engine in the foreseeable future will be in Africa. Three of the four hotels HMH recently opened were…
Dubai’s first low-cost, budget airline, Flydubai has added Kuwait and Muscat as two new destinations, thus doubling its GCC network. This move will bring Flydubai’s network to 13 routes. Flights to Muscat will start on March 28 and to Kuwait on March 30. “A strong GCC network is at the heart of Flydubai's strategy in this region so Kuwait and Oman were natural choices to be our next two destinations. Both are…
March1: Emirates Airline will deploy the double-decker A380 aircraft on the Beijing-Dubai route from August 1, making this the aircraft’s fourth inaugural flight to yet another country. The A380 will replace the EK306 that flies daily from Dubai at 04:10 hrs and returns from Beijing Capital International Airport at 23:55 hrs. “The A380 flight offers significant economic benefits to China by providing seamless…
The rates are as follows: For Wi-Fi $29.95 for 26MB per flight with additional usage charged at $0.006 per KB; for webmail (only body copy) at $9.95 and $.006 for attachments; for web chat $4.95 for unlimited usage.
March 3: Emirates, the government-owned Dubai airline, has admitted that the Etihad logo that appeared on the latter airline’s in-flight entertainment system last month was a ‘technical error’. Etihad is Emirates rival and is owned by Abu Dhabi. The promo showed Etihad’s logo appearing on the in-flight entertainment system at regular intervals. “Emirates can confirm that a technical error occurred with security…
Middle East carriers continue to fare better than their global rivals, as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Reports show that the demand has gone up by 23 per cent in January as compared to a 6.4 per cent increase all over the world. Airlines have lost 2-3 years of growth. Demand is moving in the right direction. The 3 percent increase in freight volumes from December to January is…
Umrah service providers in Saudi Arabia are hopeful that the revenue generated from pilgrimage this year will go up to SR12 billion. According to experts, around 3.3 million Umrah pilgrims are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia, with the most number of visitors in Ramadan, a popular month for Umrah. The Haj Ministry has issued over 150,000 visas ever since Makkah was opened for Umrah this year, as a result…
The acclaimed Jumeirah Beach Hotel has significantly reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by installing the ABB engineering technology. This has made the hotel more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible. The hotel has come a long way from the previously used HVAC system that used motors running on certain speeds. This system did not allow for any adjustments with regard to the changing power…
Marriott International is going to open its first luxury hotel, the JW Marriott in Aqaba, Jordan in 2013, making it the fourth hotel of the company. The deal was finalised under an agreement with Beaches for Hotels & Spas PSC’s Chairman, Nadim Muasher. The hotel will be situated on the Gulf of Aqaba Beach, adjacent to the Aqua Marina, thus connecting the city with the sea. It will provide access to Petra…
Dubai became the destination of choice for tourists around the world in 2009 as hotel prices in the city fell by 25 per cent. This annual Hotel Price Index released by Hotels.com showed a 14 per cent global drop in hotel prices last year. Meanwhile, the hotel rates in Abu Dhabi dropped by 17 per cent, thus increasing tourism in the city. While business travellers to Dubai went down significantly in the…
March 1: Jinan Hotels & Resorts has designed its new offices keeping in mind the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles. The eco-friendly establishment will be based in Abu Dhabi. The company hired the services of International Hotel Consultants to design the environment-friendly offices. “It is easy to harp about a company's green credentials, but harder to act on it. By designing our…
March 1: Acclaimed fashion designer Giorgio Armani has expressed concern that his first hotel project may appear dated once it opens this month. Aptly titled the Armani Hotel Dubai, which was developed in collaboration with Emaar Properties is located at the base of Burj Khalifa, has been in the pipeline for five years now. “I’ve been working on this for a while. I’m finally going to see what I designed,…
March 1: A study conducted by Deloitte, a business consultancy, and STR Global has revealed that hotels in the Middle East have had highest hotel occupancy in the world last year. According to the study, hotels in the region also have highest room rates and revenue per available room (revPar). Hotel occupancy in the Middle East hit 61.3 per cent in 2009 while average room rates and revPar were $202 and $124…
March 1: Forty-year-old Yaser Al Hamiri has launched Sea Cruiser, which as the name suggests, is a tour service for visitors to Abu Dhabi. Hamiri, who is a licensed tour guide for Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, received financial assistance from the Khalifa Fund. The latter is an initiative to encourage businessmen and women in the UAE to contribute to the economy. Currently, Sea Cruiser has two boats…
