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 4,033–4,056 of 5,397
The little known four star Southern Sun Al Manzil in downtown Burj Khalifa has been ranked by the TripAdvisor website as number one out of 370 properties in Dubai. The South African managed hotel has bumped Grosvenor House to take the number one spot in Dubai, thanks to dozens of five star ratings and enthusiastic praise from users. TripAdvisor determines overall satisfaction based on ratings and reviews…
Prince Sultan bin Salman said Umrah pilgrims will be tapped soon in order to increase medical tourism in the Kingdom, an idea that will soon receive a strong boost. Prince Sultan is chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). The Prince talked about medical tourism while giving a lecture at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said there are many high-standard health care…
Three passengers aboard an Emirates Airline flight bound for Dubai were arrested for making bomb threats, as the plane prepared to take off. Armed counter terrorist officers boarded the plane and arrested the three men, age 55, 48, and 36. Metropolitan police said 55 year old Robert Fowler is accused of making a bomb hoax and being drunk on an aircraft. The second passenger, Alexander McGinn, 48, was charged…
The luxurious Swiss-Belhotel was officially inaugurated today, giving Masirah Island its own luxury resort. Minister of Tourism and Chairperson of Omran, who attended the ceremony, said “This represents a new milestone by Omran in developing the tourism sector in the Sultanate by introducing various products and facilities to Omani visitors.” Dr. Rajha bin Abdulameer said Omran has been given a mandate to…
Tunisia is becoming an attractive health tourism destination, as more towns and resorts gradually transform into prominent therapy centers. The country is drawing more people around the world seeking relaxation, treatment, or plastic surgery. The government has made the export of health services a major goal by 2016 and is looking to put Tunisia on the world’s health tourism map. Health facilities have been…
A recent poll found that only 25 percent of respondents think the AED100 ticket price to go up the Burj Khalifa is reasonable. Most respondents in the online poll believe the price is too high and 34.6 percent called for the Emaar developer to lower the price immediately. Twenty three percent of respondents said they had planned to visit the Burj Khalifa, but changed their mind because they were not ready to pay…
Emirates Airline will be a major sponsor of the fifteenth edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which takes place from January 28th until February 28th. More than 6,000 retail outlets and about 50 malls will participate in the DSF over 32 days. There will also be over 150 regional and international events showcased at the festival, including shows, concerts, and musicals. Ahmed Khoory, a senor…
Global Village, the region’s entertainment, shopping, and cultural attraction located in Dubailand, continues to bring in visitors of all ages, who can enjoy 70 different rides in the gaming and fun fair zone. The entertainment area takes up the biggest amount of space in the park, and nearly 30 percent more games and rides have been added to this year’s edition. Popular children’s rides in this area are the…
The USAID-Jordan Tourism Development Project (JTDP) extended a grant on Wednesday to the Jordan Motorcycle Club in order to encourage inbound and outbound domestic tourism on motorcycles. The grant agreement will give visitors a different way to experience the Kingdom. Under the grant, the two organizations will work with regional motorcycle clubs to organize events and tours. The Jordan Motorcycle Club is…
Oman Air posted a 17 percent increase in passenger traffic last year, despite difficulties affecting the aviation industry around the world. Oman’s flagship carrier was able to increase its fleet by eight craft to a total of 21 with the introduction of the Airbus A330. Oman Air added five new destinations over the past year, bringing its total number of scheduled flight destinations to 32. It also added…
Emirates Airlines will begin double daily service to Jakarta, Indonesia in March this year. Dubai’s flagship carrier will add another three flights per week to its current flight service to Jakarta, which operates on a two-class Boeing 777. This will add another 2,600 seats to the Jakarta route each week. There has been increasing demand for Emirate’s Jakarta service so it added another flight to this…
The hospitality industry is optimistic about growth prospects in the region, with more hotels on the market, and room rates down from last year. Rotana Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Dubai and Northern Emirates said that room rates were way too high, but “Around the middle of 2009, the rates started to even out and there was a correction in the market. Now room rates have come back to normal, how they…
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing announced that the new cruise terminal located in the Port Rashid complex will be inaugurated in February, giving a big boost to the cruise tourism segment in Dubai. The main purpose of the new terminal is to showcase Dubai’s rich heritage as a maritime center, emphasize the importance of Dubai as an international tourist destination, and present a strong…
Regulatory authorities have given the local five star Al-Faisaliah Hotel preliminary approval to open its new “Sense Spa”, which will be the first women-only spa in Saudi Arabia. The hotel plans to open the spa on its tenth anniversary in May, when it will unveil a new wing of 106 rooms. Managing Director for Al-Faisaliah, Peter Finamore, said “This four-storied spa will be the first female health and wellness…
The number of local tourists visiting the city of Tabarka and Ain Drahem (north western Tunisia) in December 2009, increased remarkably to 2,540, up from 1,120 for the same month last year. The number of nights increased from 1,500 to 4,000. The increase is attributed to a growing number of tourism activities in the region, and noticeable changes in the income and living conditions of Tunisian households.…
A top executive for Swiss-Belhotel International said in several years, the Middle East will account for 25 percent of its global sales, prompting it to announce the addition of 1,000 new hotel rooms or five hotels to the region’s pipeline over the next eighteen months. Gavin Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss Belhotel International, said “We currently operate five hotels in the region or 750 rooms in total.…
STR Global data of hotel performance in the Middle East between January 2009 and November 2009 shows that revenue per available room (RevPAR) declined 32.3 percent to $163.36, compared to the same period in 2008. Occupancy rates in the emirate also fell during this period, by 11.8 percent to 69.2 percent compared to the same period last year. This latest performance review by STR Global and Deloitte is…
Rotana, the UAE based hotel group, said it is planning to upgrade the 333 meter tall Rose Rayhaan on Sheikh Zayed Road. Rotana officially opened the 72 storey four star hotel on Wednesday. The Guinness Book of World Records has certified the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana as the world’s tallest building. The hotel has 481 rooms, suites, and penthouses, and will operate under the group’s alcohol-free brand, following…
Emirates Airline’s chief medical advisor said that in the event of a global viral pandemic, airlines would not be capable of tracking infected travelers, because of flaws in passenger records. Cliff Webster said a single, global passenger tracking system is needed for airlines to trace infected travelers in an outbreak. Mr. Webster told delegates at the Global Healthcare Conference at UAE University that…
Abu Dhabi is planning to introduce a third low cost airline to the UAE, following Dubai based flyDubai and Sharjah’s Air Arabia. Joint managing director of Big Pond Aviation said the Middle East is still ‘playing catch up’ with the rest of the world as far as low cost carriers go. David J. Bentley said “The rest of the world is moving on with the continuing evolution of the hybrid model that superficially keeps…
After a year of cancelled projects, construction delays, and difficult financing, the year 2010 brings renewed hope for the hospitality industry with the opening of many iconic properties that stretch the landscape of the UAE. Last night the world watched the grand opening of the Burj Khalifa with amazement. The iconic tower, the world’s tallest, will also be home to the opulent 37 floor Armani Hotel. Each…
Two new distinguished speakers have joined the expert speaker faculty at the Airport Security Summit Middle East 2010. The summit will take place at the Grand Millennium Hotel from February 7th until February 10th. Stephen S. Oswald is vice-president and general manager of Intelligence and Security Systems for Boeing Network and Space Systems. Robert P. H. Axworthy Msyl is Regional Aviation Security Liason…
Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, opened its observatory to the public today at 3 pm (Tuesday, January 5). Yesterday thousands of people gathered at the Burj area promenade to watch the opening, which coincided with the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the Accession of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. Beginning on Wednesday,…
The US Transport Security Administration (TSA) announced that air travelers from Saudi Arabia and 14 other countries will be subject to extra security checks and advanced baggage screening, before they board airliners headed for the US. The new security measures come into effect on the Monday following the attempted bombing on Christmas day of an aircraft bound for the United States. An embassy spokesman in…
