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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STA Travel, a UK travel group included Dubai in its top destinations for 2010 in its ‘Future of Independent Travel’ report. STA Travel provides travel advice to young travelers on more than 90 countries and has 400 branches around the world. The report said “Despite the recent controversy and discussions surrounding Dubai it seems that young people still place it high up on the list as a must-see…
Etihad Airways will increase its Abu Dhabi-Beirut service from twice daily flights to 18 times a week, beginning on January 10th, 2009. Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said the extra four flights per week will provide passengers more connections to some of Etihad’s key destinations including its newest destination, Colombo. Mr. Hogan said their Beirut service has been very successful with…
Low cost carrier Air Arabia will add seven more flights from Sharjah to Damman beginning on January 17th in order to meet growing demand. Air Arabia currently operates seven round trip flights per week between its hub in Sharjah and King Fahad International Airport in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The carrier also flies to Jeddah, Riyadh, and Madinah. The new flights to Damman will take off from…
Six months following the launch of low cost carrier (LCC) flydubai, an undisclosed investment firm in Abu Dhabi is planning to introduce an LCC in 2010. The budget airline would be based in Abu Dhabi and is expected to begin operations in mid 2010. It will be the third budget carrier in the UAE, competing with Sharjah’s Air Arabia and Dubai’s flydubai, as well as other LCC’s operating in the Middle East. The…
Thirty two year old David ‘The Bullet’ Smith Jr., the world’s highest performing human cannonball, is performing again today at Dubai’s Global Village. Mr. Smith has been performing twice a day since the 22nd of November, and Global Village has extended his shows until January 4th 2010 because of their immense popularity. During his performance he shoots hundreds of feet into the air from a cannon. He has…
Tunisia plans to double the number of its golf courses by 2020 in order to fill a promising niche for affluent visitors who are likely to spend more. The strategy will change the landscape and environment coastline of rangeland coasts similar to the Sousse and Hammamet, the golf courses of Djerba, and the “Golf Club Tozeur”, which was created in 2007. Golf courses are planned for some areas of the northern…
Oman Air has added more benefits to its Sinbad Frequent Flier Programme through a partnership agreement with Rotana, the leading hotel management company in the Middle East and North Africa. Sinbad members will receive 500 miles for every qualifying stay at any Rotana property in the Middle East and North Africa. Omar Air Chief Executive, Peter Hill, said they focus on creating partnerships that go beyond…
A branch of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is now open 24 hours a day seven days a week at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The bank will provide foreign exchange and other banking services 24/7, mainly for international travelers. Head of Branches at ADIB said “This 24/7 banking initiative is an innovation worthy of being listed in the milestones of banking in the UAE.” Sameh Al-Awadallah said the Abu Dhabi…
Air France will begin its new flight service between Paris and the UAE beginning on May 3, 2010. Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) welcomed the new service in a statement which said the new operation will “take advantage of the strong links between the two capitals and open up opportunities for new connections from Abu Dhabi to numerous destinations in France.” Air France will fly five times from Charles De…
Passenger growth at Dubai International Airport increased 6.7 percent to reach 26,878,331 during the first eight months of 2009, up from 25,182,526 for the same period in 2008. The consistent passenger growth at DIA stands in sharp contrast to a 7 percent contraction in year-to-date international passenger growth, as reported by Airports Council International (ACI). Dubai International also continues to…
The hospitality and aviation sector endured a year of rising capacity and falling demand, but continued to maintain its position as a growing market attracting new investment from international players. Airlines and hoteliers based their business plans for 2009 on the assumption that growth in 2007 and early 2008 would continue. However, the global economic slowdown caused some projects to be postponed while…
Israel on Thursday granted permission to several hundred Palestinians to leave the isolated Hamas-run Gaza strip to celebrate Christmas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. The Israeli military gave 300 people over the age of 35 24 hour, allowing them to travel to Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity for the midnight mass, celebrating Jesus’ birth. Many Gaza Christians decided to stay in Gaza this year because…
Millennium and Copthorne Hotels and Resort will open the Grand Millennium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi hotel in the second quarter of 2010. The hotel will be one of the biggest in Abu Dhabi, with a capacity of 850 rooms and hotel apartments. The estimated cost of the hotel was Dh650 million when construction began two years ago. General Manager Kabil Damerji said the cost was modified after the construction value…
Middle Eastern hotelier, the Rotana Group, announced it will increase its portfolio, bringing its total number of properties to 68 by 2012. The hotel management company has so far signed new management agreements for properties in Qatar, Cairo, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Rotana’s CEO, Selim El Zyr, said “This is part of our strategic aim to have a property located in every key city in the…
Emirates Airline announced its flight service to Jeddah will operate on an A380 superjumbo beginning next year. The flight service to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia will operate four times a week beginning on February 1st, 2010. It will be the airline’s eighth A380 service. Emirates Airline currently flies the A380, the world’s biggest plane, to Auckland, Sydney, Bangkok, Heathrow, Toronto, Seoul, and, beginning on…
Emirates Airlines, one of the biggest airlines in the UAE, is adding new flights to Prague, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. Yesterday the carrier announced it will launch a daily flight service to Prague on July 1st, its third route in 2010. Emirates Airline will begin flying to Tokyo on March 28 and Amsterdam on May 1st. The airline said it will continue to launch new destinations as it takes delivery of new…
The latest report by research firm STR Global shows that Dubai has weathered this year’s summer dip better than many had forecast. Revenue per available room (RevPar) fell 33.6 percent in August, compared to the same month in 2008. The RevPar drop for hotels across MENA was 21 percent, although occupancy rates at Dubai hotels were higher than the region’s average. Hotel occupancy for Dubai was 64.1 percent…
The NMC Group of Companies launched their fourth hotel/apartments in Dubai with the opening of the Dh150 million Lotus Hotel Apartments. NMC Chairman Abdullah Humaid Al Mazroie, speaking at the inauguration of the hotel, said the company is going forward with its expansion plans. He said “We have every confidence and faith in the economy and growth of the UAE. Our leaders have built world-class infrastructure…
The world’s tallest hotel opened its doors for guests yesterday in Dubai. The Rose Rayhaan by Rotana is 333 meters tall, has 72 floors with 482 rooms, suites, and penthouses. It is the second property to open under the Rayham Rayhaan Hotels and Resorts brand by Rotana. President and CEO of Rotana, Selim El Zyr said “It is part of our strategic aim to have a property located in every key city in the Middle East…
Calendar year 2009 is closing and the hospitality industry is looking back at gloomy 2009 balance sheets, although the UAE has managed to maintain one of the world’s highest revenue per available room (RevPar) figures. Ulrich Eckhardt, Middle East and Africa President for Kempinski, said it bluntly – “The economic downturn has been bad for the hospitality industry as a whole, and anyone saying otherwise is living…
Tunisia’s Minister of Tourism Mr. Khalil Lajimi chaired a steering committee meeting on Thursday to review a new program to upgrade the country’s hotel units. Presidential measures needed to implement the program were discussed and the minister urged committee members to ensure good quality of diagnostic studies. Two hundred and twenty four membership applications have so far been received by the upgrading…
Analysts say international flights between Cairo and Yanbu will decrease the number of people traveling by ship between the ports of Safaga and Dhuba. Airfares between the two cities are the lowest for any international flight at SR900. Almasria Universal Airlines, based in Cairo, began flight service to Yanbu’s Prince Abdul Mohsen Airport on Thursday with a capacity of 158 passengers. The new flight…
Emirates Airline will launch daily flights to Prague in the Czech Republic, beginning on July 1st, 2010. Shiekh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline said “We have been keen to add Prague to our six continent network, and now the time is right to start our 24th European destination.” The daily flight to Prague will depart from Dubai at 10:30am and land in Dubai at…
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) predicts Dubai will be a tourist favorite next year, in its new ‘Travel Trends Report 2010’. ABTA represents more than 5,000 travel agencies and about 900 tour operations in the UK. The report said “If you are after a bargain, Dubai will be a place to go in 2010. The state-backed Dubai World debt announcement at the end of November has triggered a price war in…
