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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A seven day Arabian Gulf Cruise will launch on January 18th in Dubai. Dubailand, a member of Dubai Properties Group, and Royal Caribbean International announced the new holiday package. Cruise stops will include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Muscat, Fujairah, and some of Dubailand’s tourism developments, such as Dubai Autodrome and The Global Village. CEO of Dubai Properties Group, Khalid Al Malik, said “Two strong…
Late Wednesday night MGM Mirage opened Aria, the flagship casino-hotel of $8.5 billion 578 acre CityCenter development. MGM and partner Dubai World are betting that the CityCenter will bring in visitors to pay for the modern state of the art rooms, and extras like meals at celebrity-chef restaurants, shopping sprees at Tiffany and Gucci, and spa services. However, the 6,000 new high end hotel rooms added by…
French company Accor’s plans to increase the number of hotels in the Middle East will not be affected by Accor’s plans to split its service voucher unit from its hospitality division. Accor Hospitality Middle East previously announced it would increase its 29 hotels to 45 by 2011. An Accor spokesman said “The demerger will not affect the hospitality division’s expansion plans, especially pertaining to the…
A new museum dedicated to the development of date palms and their use in tourism opened in Tozeur, Tunisia’s oasis city and capital of the Jerid region. Tozeur is well known for its palm groves and date production, and visitors will learn more about the world’s palm trees at the museum. The museum has four exhibition rooms with paintings showing the history of the palm, its cultural, religious and nutritional…
Gourmet Abu Dhabi, one of the capital’s youngest festivals, runs from February 5th to February 19th. The food festival is now in its second year. Abu Dhabi Deputy Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said “The cast this year reads like a Who’s Who of the international gastronomic arena, being garnered from 13 countries across Australasia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the sub-continent, and…
The New York Plaza Hotel, which is managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI), earned the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Rating for 2010. Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), which is chaired by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, owns a 58.1 percent share in FRHI. Earlier this year Prince Alwaleed announced that the Plaza, one of New York’s most distinctive landmarks, would reopen following a $400 million…
Rotana Hotels opened the Hala Arjaan in Abu Dhabi yesterday, its seventh hotel in the capital. Rotana Hotels’ Vice-President for Operations, Omar Kaddouri, said “The new hotel is the group’s seventh in Abu Dhabi. In addition, it is the fifth hotel the group has opened in Abu Dhabi in the current year and its 22cnd hotel in the UAE.” Kaddouri said Rotana Hotel's current share in Abu Dhabi’s hotel sector is…
Emirates Airline’s first A380 flight to North East Asia landed in Seoul, South Korea, carrying passengers from 27 countries including the UAE, Bahrain, UK, and South Africa. The passengers received a colorful and vibrant welcome at the Incheon International Airport this afternoon. The new flight service was timed to support ‘Visit Korea Year’ in 2010 and will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Daily…
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Middle East carriers will cut their losses to $300 million (Dh 1.10 billion) in 2010, down from $1.2 billion in 2009. IATA said in a statement “A strong long-haul connection business over Middle East hubs will provide some insulation against the impact of Dubai’s financial difficulties.” Many airlines in the Gulf are in growth mode and making huge…
Yemin is trying hard to improve the economy and tourism despite security problems as the country is at war with rebels in the north. The Yemeni Ministry of Tourism held its fourth consultative meeting on Saturday with tourist leaders from around the country. Deputy Prime Minister for Interior Affairs said Yemin shows great potential for as a vital and promising sector. Sadiq Abu Ras said “The country has…
The Baghdad mayor said the cornerstone will be laid at Baghdad’s biggest tourist resort, the “al-Rafidayen” in the next few days. The new hotel includes two hotels with 26 stories. The mayor said “Baghdad has received more than 130 investors who expressed a desire to implement construction, services, industrial, transport, and energy projects.” Three investment licenses, valued at $58 million were granted.
MakeMyTrip, and Indian booking engine, announced a full range of travel services now available at www.makemytrip.ae. Customers can now use this website to look for deals and book air tickets, hotels, and holidays online. Cofounder and COO of MakeMyTrip said the company sees a clear opportunity for their offerings in the UAE. Keyur Joshi said their full scale portfolio services “will be especially helpful to…
A Deloitte analysis of STR Global data shows that Mideast hotels are faring better than most others during the global economic downturn. The key industry benchmark, revenue per available room (RevPar) dropped 18.1 percent in the region during the first ten months of the year, but the RevPar figure is still better than in Asia Pacific and the Americas. Rob O’Hanlon, tourism, hospitality, and leisure partner…
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority acquired a 10.9 percent share in the Pritzker families Hyatt Hotels Corporation. A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday showed that the sovereign wealth fund now holds 4.76 million Hyatt Class A shares with a market value of about $140.4 million. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is the second sovereign wealth fund to buy shares in Hyatt after the…
Investment Chief for Aabar Investments, which is controlled by the government of Abu Dhabi, said it will be possible for passengers on the Virgin Galactic to travel to Abu Dhabi in two to three hours. Earlier this year Aabar bought a 32 percent stake in Sir Richard Branson’s commercial space project for $289 million. Aabar chairman Al Qusaibi explained “The point here is to use Abu Dhabi and LA as a hub, or…
The Jabal Omar Development Company has begun work on a forty meter wide pedestrian path linking the new King Abdul Aziz Road with the western courtyard of the Grand Mosque. The new road will be called the King Abdul Pedestrian Road. Other construction projects have resumed following a lull during Haj season including the Jabal Omar project, which will include a circular road to ease traffic and a vehicle…
Architect of the Dh100 million Lebanon Resort in the World project said work will begin in January 2010. The Indian architectural firm N Salim of NM Salim and Associates said “The Indian investor, Wakheel Ahmed, a non-resident Indian from Uttar Pradesh who is developing the project is keen to start the construction work.” Salim said the Lebanon Island will be a 76 suites resort with 10 water cottages,…
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority ADTA) will set up a hospitality school next year in order to achieve its goal of becoming a regional center for tourism education and training. ADTA Tourism Standards Director Nasser al Reyami, said ADTA has held exploratory talks with seven of the world’s largest and most prominent hospitality institutions. He said proposals are being reviewed and the ADTA hopes to make an…
China Southern Airlines (CSA) will add another flight to its Guangzhou- Dubai route beginning on January 7, bringing its total flights to five times a week. The carrier will also begin direct flights between Guangzhou and Jeddah in the first quarter of 2010. However, there are no plans for new codeshare agreements. Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager for CSA, Najeeb Akhtar said air traffic on CSA between…
Muscat Hotel managers have responded to Hoteliers’ Hotel Spy published in the November print edition. The Chedi Muscat concierge service scored very high, but lost points due to the difficulty in obtaining refreshments, and ranked 3rd with an overall score of 56%. The Grass Roots mystery shopper also reported that internet is free for guests but non-guests are charged OMR 20 (US $52) for 24 hours unlimited…
A senior official with Virgin Atlantic Airline said Dubai is becoming a more popular destination for the average British holidaymaker, because room rates are falling and value for money is increasing. Paul Dickenson, the airline’s sales and marketing director said “We are seeing an increase in hotel rooms and average rates are coming down so suddenly we can offer fantastic prices that people can afford.”…
Emirates Airline is moving forward with its fleet expansion, taking delivery of its sixth Airbus A380 aircraft, which will make it possible to expand its long haul network. The huge aircraft traveled from the Jurgen Thomas Delivery Centre in Hamburg, Germany, and landed in Dubai last night. Emirates Executive Vice President Adel Al Redha said the delivery of their sixth A380 demonstrates the airlines resilience…
Indications of the downturn can still be seen amid the glamorous Emirates Boat Show, which opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night. A sign hanging over the Duretti 85, a 25 meter super yacht parked at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center marina reads “Special Offer: Dh 6 Million”. Shaju Sreedhar, Purchasing Manager at Dubai Marina, which makes the Duretti, attributes the ‘special offer’ to the recession,…
