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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The Dead Sea Development Company signed an agreement for the first project on the shores of the Dead Sea. The company signed the agreement with the Amazon River for Tourism and Investment. Corporate Chairman of the Dead Sea Development Company, Saud Nseirat, said the investment company will spend about $45 million to establish a four star hotel. He said the project is expected to take 34 months to complete…
Sharjah Airport reported about 4.24 million passengers passed through the Sharjah International Airport in the first three quarters of this year, eight percent more than the same period last year. A statement said the number of flights increased to a record 45,022, up from 44,086 in 2008. Dr. Ganem Al Hajri, Director General of Sharjah Airport Authority, said it is heartening to see that the continued growth…
Rotana announced yesterday that it will open the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai, the world’s biggest hotel tower, by mid December. The soaring 72 foot structure is 333 meters high and is located on Shaikh Zayed Road in the center of Dubai, about 5 minutes from Dubai Mall. The hotel has 481 rooms, penthouses and suites with modern designs complementing Arabian culture. Each penthouse, suite or room will offer…
Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi opened its doors for occupancy on Yas Island, within walking distance of the Formula 1 race at Yas Marinas circuit, and near the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Staybridge Suites was introduced in 1998 and is one of IHG”s newest brands, with 167 properties around the world and 147 more planned. A statement said “Bridging a gap between conventional hotels and serviced apartments,…
Hotel chiefs say the first female only hotel spa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, received preliminary approval and is set to open next year. Al Faisaliah bosses plan to open the Sense Spa just prior to the hotel’s 10th anniversary in May 2010. The Sense Spa will be the first female only hotel spa in Riyadh, and only the second in the conservative Islamic country. The hotel’s managing director, Peter Finamore, said…
Luxury hotel operator Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) posted a 9 percent fall in Q3 system revpPAR, and said the Dubai market is still challenging. A statement on their Nasdaq Dubai website said “Trading remains in line with general market trends and despite the global economic challenges KHI’s hotel operations remain profitable and cash generative.” After adjusting for currency movements system revPAR for…
Kuwaiti based Jazeera Airways announced it is expanding further into Syria, adding non-stop flights to Latakia from December 15th. This is the airlines fourth destination in Syria. Jazeera Airways will fly four times a week from Kuwait to the popular Mediterranean resort of Latakia. The new service to Latkia is part of the airline’s recent network expansion, including a twice daily service to Abu…
A senior official from the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said all 16,000 hotel rooms are booked at 100 percent occupancy because of the Formula One race this weekend. The ADTA has set up new visitor centers at the race track and in shopping malls, and the ADTA now has a permanent site at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. ADTA’s strategy and policy director, Lawrence Franklin, said they have introduced…
The Rocco Forte Collection announced it will open its first hotel in the Middle East at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi by next year. The hotel company now has 13 luxury hotels in Europe including the Victorian-era Browns’ hotel in London and the Hotel Astoria in St. Petersburg. Both properties are historical buildings with modern décor. The Rocco Forte Collection focuses on providing an intimate personal…
Sri Lankan Airlines announced it is adding a fourth weekly flight to its Columbo-Damman route beginning on Wednesday, which is the start of the new winter schedule. The new flight departs from Colombo at 1840 on Wednesday and lands in Dammam at 2130 on the same day. The return flight leaves Dammam at 2240 and arrives in Colombo at 610 on Thursday. Sri Lankan Airlines Sales Manager, Prather Bal Krishnan…
Etihad Airways said Tuesday it will begin flight service to two Japanese cities in the first quarter of 2010 – Nagoya and Tokyo. These are the airlines first destinations in Japan. Etihad Airways will fly four times a week to Nagoya via Beijing beginning on February 1, and will increase to five times a week from March 27, subject to regulatory approval. The carrier will operate a five times a week direct…
Chief Executive for Air Arabia, Adel Ali, said the swine flu virus is not having a major impact on air travel in the region and customer concerns have subsided. He said airline travelers have learned more about how to protect themselves from the virus and are more confident. Mr. Ali said “I think H1N1 has been contained. We have seen people who panicked…gain confidence.” In August Air Arabia said many…
Hilton Worldwide announced yesterday the appointment of five new executives to its senior management team for the MEA region – Middle East and Africa, in line with their plans to expand in the region. Jean Paul Herzog, President, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East and Africa, said “We are delighted to further strengthen our regional Dubai based-team” Marc Descrozaille has been appointed Senior Director of Brand…
The Rezidor Hotel Group opened two hotels on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi The Radisson Blu Hotel and Park Inn are positioned adjacent to one another on Yas Island with a total of 601 guest rooms. Park Inn is the company's first mid market brand in the UAE. Marko Hytonen, Area Vice-President for Rezidor Hotel Group, said “Abu Dhabi has emerged as one of the world’s premier hotel markets and is an important…
The five star 500 room luxury Yas Hotel is one of seven new hotels built for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Aldar properties built all seven of the hotels, and they will be full when their doors open for the first time. The Yas Hotel is perched above the Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit and has a connecting bridge with a VIP lounge over the racetrack. The Yas Hotel will be unlike any other in…
Abu Dhabi can look to Bahrain to understand the benefits and costs of hosting the annual Grand Prix event this year at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Bahrain has been hosting an early leg of the annual racing event every year since 2004. Bahrain International Circuit hosted the fourth leg of the F1 championship in April, and its chief executive, Martin Whitaker, said the Grand Prix generated nearly US $600 million (Dh…
Chairman of Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority said the country is on track to open its new $14bn international airport. Qatar is the world’s biggest gas exports and is looking for ways to stimulate employment and diversify government revenues. Adul Aziz Al Noami said “The new $14bn airport will be over 22km and open in 2011.” Qatar is competing with Dubai and Abu Dhabi to become a transit hub for the Gulf, and…
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) banned a Sudanese operator of a Boeing 707 cargo plane from UAE plane, following its crash in Sharjah, which killed all six crew members. The plane was transporting air conditioning units, computers, auto parts, and exploded on impact. GCAA said that Sharjah Airport operations and infrastructure were investigated and do not appear to have contributed to the…
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) and Singapore Hotels Association (SHA) have made an agreement to work together in order to develop the hospitality industry. SCTDA Director General A. Al No’man and SHA Executive Director finalized the agreement at a meeting attended by hospitality experts from Singapore and the UAE. Al No’man said “This meeting is a bridge that will strengthen…
A senior executive of Rotana Hotels said they expect to see 100 per cent occupancy for two hotels it will open on Yas Island in time for the Formula One race on November 1. General Manager of Centro Yas Island and Yas Island Rotana said “It’s taken around 20 months and 3,000 workers at any one time to create these properties, the Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island.” Both Yas Island Rotana and Centro…
Local media reported Sunday that Libya stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens as tensions rose between the two countries. The move follows Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi’s cancellation of a recent stopover in Canada in September. Kadhafi was returning from summits in the United States and Venezuela. Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon was instructed by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to communicate…
An international medical association says the medical industry in Dubai should do more to promote its healthcare facilities in order to boost medical tourism. Dubai has invested millions of Dirhams to create the world’s first free zone for medical care. Dr. Prem Jagyasi, chief executive of the medical services company ExHealth in Dubai Healthcare City, said “Perception of the destination is very good over…
The Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) said the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Antara officially opened to its first paying guests today. TDIC is the developer of the five star resort project, which is located on the world’s’ biggest stretch of uninterrupted desert – the-Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali). The resort features a fort inspired design, and has 154 rooms, 47 villas, 10 royal villas, and is…
The number of UAE visitors to the United Kingdom increased 13 per cent in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year, according to a Visit Britain official. Director of Strategy and Insights, Patricia Yates, said “We expect this trend to continue through to the end of the year.” She said the number of UAE visitors account for 13 per cent of total visitors to the UK. The number of UAE…
