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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T he latest report by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) shows the tourism industry rebounding. The number of visitors increased 9 percent in the second half of the year, after falling 15 percent in the first half of the year. The report said “The total number of guests staying in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments was down to 1,447,934 in 2009, a 6 percent decline compared to…
Budget carrier AirAsia X announced it will end its flight service to Abu Dhabi for commercial reasons. AirAsia X is the long haul arm of low cost carrier Air Asia. The airline is now informing customers its last flight from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur will depart on February 21st. AirAsia X CEO explained they are discontinuing the flight service because there has been and “underwhelming” demand for tickets,…
The number of tourists arriving in Egypt in 2009 fell 2.3 per cent to 12.5 million according to an Al-Ahram report released on Thursday. The decline is attributed to more travelers staying home due to the global economic slowdown and fears over the H1N1 virus. However, tourists from Europe and Russia, where winter is in full swing, continue to flock to Egypt in search of warmer weather and beautiful…
A recent survey of seven airlines operating long haul flights was conducted by the customer service consultancy firm Ethos Consultancy. Their report ranked Emirates Airlines as number one for service quality, followed by Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways. Both firms bested rivals British Airways, Air France, and Qatar Airways. The study reviewed all aspects of the customer service experience from flight booking…
Dubai’s Union Properties said Monday it may sell its luxury Ritz Carlton hotel for nearly AED 1.5 billion ($408.4 million). The company, which is the third largest developer by market value, said in a statement that “It could be sold for a price very close to that number”. The firm has been hit hard by the financial downturn. Khalid al-Jarwan, Union Properties General Manager, would not confirm if the Ritz…
Government owned airfield operator Dubai Airports is planning to seek approval for an expansion worth ‘billions of dirhams’. Chief Executive Officer Paul Griffiths said the company will make recommendations regarding boosting capacity in the next few months. Griffiths said aviation generates up to 25 percent of the emirate’s economy because Dubai has invested in facilities and in Emirates Airline to compensate…
The number of guests staying in Abu Dhabi hotels during 2009 increased 2%, to 1.54 million, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). Guest numbers in the final quarter grew 16 percent year on year. Mubarak Al Muhairi, ADTA Director-General said “While the last 12 months have been challenging, as they have for all destinations, we believe growth is a very solid performance in the face of global…
Egypt’s Tourism Minister said that figures show the country was not as affected by the global economic crisis as much as was feared, and 2010 also looks promising. Zoheir Garranah said that the number of incoming tourists is expected to rise significantly next year because of steps Egypt took to weather the financial storm, and the initial recovery from the global economic downturn. Garranah told the Oxford…
Abu Dhabi has emerged as the top contender in the emirate to host the UAE’s first Club Med, beating out neighboring Dubai. Ras al Khaimah is also being considered. The French resort operator favors Abu Dhabi because of the wide availability of beachfront land, its environmental policies, and a tourism policy that emphasizes culture and nature. Club Med was once renowned for its mass marketed campaigns…
James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said the airline will add three new aircraft to its fleet and three new routes in 2010. This will bring the Abu Dhabi based carrier’s fleet strength to 55 and its total number of routes to 57. Two of the new aircraft will be for passengers and the third will be for cargo. All aircraft are being supplied by Airbus. Two new routes will be launched in Japan…
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has started issuing group visas. Procedures are in place to issue group visas for citizens of up to 65 non-Arab countries. Director General of the license department at SCTA said the group visa will be issued to a minimum of a group of four tourists. Ahmad Al Eisa said that it is very easy for any group intending to visit to obtain the visas from Saudi…
A senior official at the Ministry of Interior clarified that visas issued for visit, transit, and tourism are valid only for a single entry into the UAE. Visitors can’t make a trip to a neighboring country and then return using the same permit. Director General of the Dubai General Department for Residency and Foreign Affairs explained “A visitor needs to get a new entry permit to re-enter the country once he…
A top official with Etihad Airways said the airline is considering charging passengers for a second piece of luggage in order to maximize revenue, as depressed yield continues to reduce airline’s profits. Chief Executive of Etihad Airways said no decision has been made yet, but “A number of US and European airlines are charging passengers for the second piece of luggage. I expect to see a similar move by the…
One of the biggest online French travel agencies, “quotidiendutourisme.com” announced that Tunisia has ranked as the second most popular destination by its customers. Leclerc’s list of favorite destinations ranks France first with 35 percent of the total number of passengers, Tunisia ranks second at 13 percent, followed by Morocco at 8 percent, and continental Spain (7 percent). Tunisia recently ranked as…
A recent online survey found that 35 percent of people will not take a holiday this year because they can’t afford to. 34.7 percent of respondents said they are ruling out luxuries like foreign travel. Only 14.2 percent said they will be able to get away for weekend breaks in and around the region, but these respondents said they will reduce expensive airfare costs by staying closer to home. The survey…
Dubai based hospitality firm Jumeirah Group has signed an agreement to manage a luxury hotel in the center of Bangkok. Gerald Lawless, executive chairman of Jumeirah Group, and Ben Taechaubol, MD of Country Group (Thailand) signed the agreement. The 305 room, five star luxury Jumeirah Bangkok will be located on the legendary Chao Phraya River, near the Sathorn Bridge and Bangkok’s Central Business District.…
P lans to sail the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) to Cape Town, South Africa for the World Cup football finals this summer have been cancelled. Cape Town port authorities said there is not enough time to accommodate the ship for its required length at the city’s port. The British ocean liner is currently berthed at Port Rashid in Dubai. Istithmar World, the investment arm of Dubai World, owns the QE2. Istithmar…
D ubai hotels are considering new ideas and angles to create new business, following sharp drops in occupancy rates and revenues last year. Director of Sales at Samaya Hotel in Deira explained “There is a decline in demand for rooms, and a lot of new hotels have recently opened and therefore caused an imbalance in supply and demand.” STR Global reported that occupancy levels in Dubai hotels dropped from 77.2…
A suspected fire on an jet aircraft waiting to take off at King Abdulaziz Airport (KAIA) caused passengers to be evacuated on Wednesday evening. A burning smell was noticed from the back of the Boeing 777 aircraft, flight 607, which was scheduled to depart for Cairo with 320 passengers on board. Director General of KAIA, Mazin Khashoggi, said “On sensing the smell of something burning in the rear of the…
Sama Airlines announced it has decided to end its public service obligation (PSO) flights due to a “long running delay in the formulation of a comprehensive aviation policy within Saudi Arabia.” Bruce Ashby, CEO of Sama, explained the carrier has been operating PSO flights at a large loss since it began operations in March 2007. Ashby said Sama is mandated by the government to operate the flights, but because of…
Shoppers and visitors will be entertained with daily fireworks and performances by over 120 artists from around the world at the 15th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival, which begins tomorrow, January 28th, 2010. The fireworks display will take place every day of the festival, which runs until February 28th, in the Al Seef area next to Dubai Creek, starting at 8:30 pm. Performers displaying their…
Abu Dhabi International Airport expects to continue the healthy growth figures achieved in 2009, and hopes to achieve 8 percent growth in passenger traffic in 2010. Ahmed Mohammed Al Haddabi, an executive with Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC) said the airport was one of the few in the world to record positive growth in 2009. He said “Only the airports in the Middle East were able to achieve growth in the last…
Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways won three awards at the 18th annual Irish Trade News Awards. UAE’s national airline, which celebrated its third anniversary of services to Ireland in July, won the award for Best Business Class Airline for the third year in a row. Etihad also won the award for Best Airline to the Middle East and Africa for the second year in a row, and, for the first time, won the award for Best…
A team from the inspected the Armani Hotel Dubai in Burj Khalifa. The luxury hotel is scheduled to open in March. The DTCM team inspected the hotel rooms and services to make sure they are consistent with the hotels classification manual. CEO of Armani Hotels and Resorts welcomed them, explained the facilities and services, and highlighted the properties unique features. The hotel will begin a pre-launch trial…
