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 4,657–4,680 of 5,397
The German branch of Europe’s second largest travel agency, Thomas Cook, announced that for a fee, they will reserve poolside recliners in advance at nine hotels in Egypt, Turkey, and the Canary Islands. The travel agency has received a large number of calls about the new service Head of communications for Thomas Cook in Germany said the offer is good only for holiday makers booking their travel from…
A new report by Global Refund, the research tourism firm, shows that Saudi Arabia tourists dominate tourist spending in Lebanon, contributing about 20% of all tourist spending in the first half of 2009. Emirati and Kuwaiti travelers account for about 12% each of all tourist money spent, Egyptian tourists accounted for 8%, and Jordan tourists 7%. Beirut received most of the tourism money at about 82% followed…
Passenger traffic numbers at Dubai International Airport exceeded Hong Kong International Airport numbers for the first time last month. A new report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) said the global financial crisis has helped push Dubai faster on its path to becoming a key financial hub while Hong Kong has fallen back sharply. The Capa report said demand in Asia has been affected by the Swine…
New data shows that hotels continued to feel the impact of the economic slowdown last month. Analysts say Dubai has been hit especially hard because more hotel rooms became available at the same time that demand became weak, forcing hotels to cut rates sharply. Jones Lang LaSalle Hotel executive vice president for the Middle East and North Africa said “Because of the drop in occupancy there has been a bit of…
British Airways will begin new thrice weekly service on 25 October from Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and to Male in Maldives. The new flight services will operate on a Boeing 777 aircraft with three classes - Club World, World Traveler, and World Traveler Plus. The airline has previously offered service to Sharm El Sheikh but this is the first time it has flown to Maldives. Hotels can be booked at the…
Despite Canada’s official ‘open skies’ policies, Emirates Airline is fighting with the Canadian government ministry Transport Canada over attempts to limit the carriers access to the country. Transport Canada is responsible for enforcing the ‘open skies’ policy, which is intended to encourage foreign carriers to begin services to Canadian destinations. However, Transport Canada is actively attempting to limit…
Saudi Arabia will not change the countries quota for Hajj pilgrims this year, but they will probably ban children and the elderly to reduce risk from the swine flu virus. An emergency Arab Health Ministers meeting was held in Cairo on Wednesday where it was proposed to block people older than 65 and younger than 12 from the Hajj. Health Ministry spokesman said the government is expected to implement the…
The tourism season in Abu Dhabi has been brisk according to recent news reports and this is attributed to strong efforts by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, Etihad Airlines, and Emirates Palace, Hotels and Reports. The Liwa Dates Festival 2009, promotional tourism offers, and tours to palm oasis in Abu Dhabi have helped to attract tourists. Abu Dhabi hotels and…
InterContinental Hotels and Resorts have expanded their partnership with National Geographic Society (NGS) to include global geotourism initiatives. This will bring more awareness and understanding of the environmental and cultural responsibilities of InterContinental associates and guests around the world. InterContinental will also set up a business advisory board consisting of senior executives and hotel…
Passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport rose 8.1% for the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year. In June passenger traffic at the airport increased 7.9%. Aircraft movement increased 15.2% in June and the average number of passengers passing through the airport each day was 26,966. Increased services by Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa Airlines, and new Etihad services to…
Uganda may use Dubai based Dodsal Group to expand and modernize Entebbe International Airport in Kambala, including establishment of a free export-processing zone. Uganda’s economy has had healthy growth over the past six years and is expected to grow by 6% in 2009-10. State Minister for Investment told reporters “The proposal is to make integrated infrastructure development where, among others, there will…
Sports City, a unit of Dubai based Bukhatir Group, has started work on a 256 hectare development in Tunisia scheduled for completion in 2024. The project is called Tunis Sports City, will be located in the northern suburbs of Tunisia’s capital city of Tunis and cost an estimated $5 billion to complete. Earlier in the month work began on new upscale apartments that will be part of the complex. Workers are…
The Singapore Tourism Board and Emirates Holidays have partnered to offer a holiday promotion as part of the ‘2009 Reasons to Enjoy Singapore’ campaign. Senior Vice President for Emirates Holiday said “Some of the offers include a ‘Stay for 4 nights, Pay for 3’ deal at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort and great rates for the iconic Raffles Hotel” John Felix said they have decided to extend many offers because…
Safi Airways will shift operations at Dubai International Airport from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 this month. President and CEO of the carrier said the timing is good because they will begin distributing tickets worldwide through their reservation system. Tilmann Gabriel said the move to Terminal 1 will allow them to “serve connecting traffic from around the world via Dubai to and from Afghanistan.” IATA sells…
The four day “Taste and Flavour of Pakistan” festival was opened at the Millennium Hotel in Abu Dhabi Tuesday night by Pakistan Ambassador Khursheed Ahmed Junego. The festival offers a sampling of Pakistan’s cuisine known for its spices, rich flavor, and aroma. Ambassador Junejo described Pakistan’s cuisine as a fusion of three Asian regions – Central, Middle East, and South Asia. He said “Pakistani cuisine is…
Victoria Falls is positioning itself as a luxury and adventure travel destination, ten years after Zimbabwean tourism plummeted. The town is polishing their attractions in preparation for the Football World Cup in South Africa. Ten years ago 1.4 million tourists visited Zimbabwe generating $400 million for the economy (Dh 1.46 trillion). Years of political instability and economic deterioration have caused most…
The international hotel management company Rezidor reported key indicators declined in both the Middle East and internationally in the second quarter of the year. The slowdown was less pronounced in the Middle East than in other regions. Revenue per available room (RevPar) decreased 15.2% in the Middle East and Africa between April and June 2009. Globally Rezidor’s RevPar declined 22.9%. Saudi Arabia was…
Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto was selected as one of 28 finalists to be placed on the prestigious seven natural wonders of the world list. Nabil Haddad, head of Jeita’s national support committee said “This is a moment every Lebanese should be proud of.” He said the Jeita Grotto has placed Lebanon on the global tourism map again. The Jeita Grotto is located in a river valley near Beirut, is about 10,000 meters…
World Tourism Organization figures show that domestic tourism in the UAE grew 31% in the first six months of this year compared to 11% over the last three years. Deputy General Manager at Al Rais Travel attributed the increase to a rise in the number of inbound tourists to Dubai. Mohammad Al Rais said Arab families are choosing to visit because the hotel and airline offers are irresistible. He said that…
A new report by Deloitte said that hotel rates and RevPar may continue to drop in Dubai and the Middle East due to macro economic reasons and the addition of new hotel rooms. However the report highlights factors that may help the region recover in a shorter period of time. The “Deloitte Executive Report: Winter/Spring 2009” said the region has strong fundamentals and will emerge as a stronger contender among…
The World Tourism Organization yesterday said tourism will increase in the Middle East between 2% and 6% because residents are choosing to travel within the region to save money and because of concerns over the H1N1 flu. In 2008, the Middle East had the highest tourism growth rate in the world at 11% compared to a 2% growth rate for the rest of the world. According to the WTO report, the number of tourists…
Jet Airways announced they will begin service from Sharjah to Kochi from 1 September 2009. The airline’s general manager for Dubai and northern emirates said they decided to launch the new service because “there is a large Keralite community residing in Sharjah and the northern emirates, who would like to travel on a full service premium airline which offers very good ‘value for money’”. With the addition of…
Dubai based Emirates Airline has launched its first airport lounge in Africa at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. With this latest opening, Emirates has now established 23 lounges across its international network. They are for the exclusive use of Emirates Airline customers. Emirates plans to open three more lounges catering to first and business class customers within the next twelve…
Travelport GDS today announced details of a new full content agreement with Spanish flag carrier Iberia. Travelport GDS is one of the world’s primary global distribution system (GDS) providers. Under the new multi-year agreement, all Travelport GDS connected travel agents around the world now have access to Iberia’s full range of published fares and inventory. Travelport has previously negotiated content…
