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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Emirates Airlines bolstered its market position with recent important appointments and adding new services to its current network of 100 destinations. Richard Vaughn was named Divisional Senior Vice President (DSVP). He is an Australian with more than forty years of experience in the travel industry. UAE nationals Ahmad Khoury, Salem Obaidullah, and Majid Al Muah assume senior positions in the commercial…
The World’s biggest network of travel brands said they are focused on growing in the Middle East. Vice President, Middle East for Travel Port Rabih Saab said their fundamentals in the region are very strong, and they still believe in the economic growth potential here despite the economic slowdown. Mr. Saab said they announced further investments last summer and these were used to build up resources and…
Airlines hope that as Gulf families take holidays in Europe and Asia this summer there will be a new wave of ticket bookings. The first quarter travel season was very slow due to the global slowdown. Airlines have been offering bargain deals for months, and may not be able to raise prices. Regional manager for Austrian Airlines said based on the preliminary data for the initial travel bookings for the summer…
A senior executive with Hilton Hotels said they may expand in Abu Dhabi and are considering opportunities on Saadiyat Island. Vice President of development in the Middle East for Hilton Hotels Elliot Younes said Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi are the main focus for expansion and development this year. Mr. Younes said Hilton Hotel is at various stages of discussion on different locations and they will definitely…
Uzbek Tourism Chairman Zahid Khakimov said Uzbekistan wants more tourists from the Middle East to visit. He said currently they receive one million tourists each year but that isn’t enough. Khakimov said the government is currently developing a master tourism development plan for 2015, and a focus of the plan will be to provide favorable conditions for tourism, particularly tourists from the Middle…
Sri Lankan Airlines helped the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board (SLTPB) organize Middle East road shows promoting Sri Lanka tourism. The roads shows were held between 28 March and 5 April in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. A team including SLTB officials, Sri Lankan Airlines Company Managers, Sri Lankan ambassadors from respective countries, and member companies from the Sri…
Etihad Airways issued a press statement on Friday announcing the appointment of Amer Khan as the Pakistan country manger. Khan is based in Karachi and will be responsible for managing all of Etihad Airway’s operations in Pakistan. Previously Khan worked eight years for American Airlines as Regional Manager for the Middle East and Pakistan. Prior to that, he was employed by South African Airways as Business…
Palm Aviation executive vice president said he expects Dubai’s private charter airline to sustain its revenue growth of 35% this year. Mohammed Saideh said the company’s performance last year was exceptional and its fourth quarter performance was supported by long term contracts with its partners. He said private charter flight services remain an attractive option as rates soften and fuel prices come…
Advanced booking by passengers travelling on airlines has declined 50% due to a big increase in bargains and competitive prices. A senior airline executive said while airlines have reduced their economy fares in most sectors, passengers are still looking for more bargains before booking their summer travel plans. Most airlines have implemented a dynamic pricing policy giving passengers a lower fare on…
Dubai World has put forward a plan to save the financially troubled City Center project. The proposal requires that the billions of dollars necessary to complete the project be pledged. Dubai World is Dubai’s government owned investment agency. They partnered with MGM Mirage to develop the City Center Project, and recently sued MGM Mirage in order to protect its $4.3 billion investment if MGM Mirage goes into…
Pope Benedict’s XVI first stop on his religious pilgrimage is Jordan, where he will stay between May 8-11. The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) Managing Director Nayef Fayez said 600 journalists from news agencies, satellite channels, magazines, radio, and other media outlets will cover the papal visit. It is expected more tourists visiting religious sites will be attracted during the visit and this will boost tourism…
CBRE Hotels recently signed an agreement to become the preferred provider of services for World Hotels according to a CBRE executive. CBRE Managing Director Derek Gammage said they respect hard brands but World Hotel’s positioning, global network, service range, and resources are rapidly making it a credible alternative. CBRE will provide World Hotels with real estate services including valuations, asset…
More than 700 travel and media personnel have visited Dubai since the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) launched its “Keep Discovering Dubai Campaign” last month. The campaign was initiated to counter negative perceptions that developed in part due to reports of illegal sewage dumping on Dubai’s beaches. There was also a report of an outbreak of legionnaire’s disease at a local hotel but…
The United Arab Emirates UAE) may amend the air and space laws enacted in 1991. Civil aviation administrators say European and US standards are under consideration. Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said they are in the final stages of deciding whether to go with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or European Aviation Administration (EAA) standards. Next week the GCAA is hosting…
A Dubai based consortium has bid for British Airway’s seventh and last remaining fastest jet, the Concorde. BA’s seven concordes were grounded seven years ago and six were given to museums. The seventh, named Alpha Bravo was kept. Sources say that of the seven, Alpha Bravo would not ever have returned to service because it lacked safety modification needed after the 2000 Paris Crash. The Dubai based business…
Amman and Beirut are the first destination for Dubai’s new budget carrier flydubai, which begins operating on 1 June. They are offering introductory fares of Dh 250 (US$68) each way, including taxes. Flydubai has included Levant destinations in order to test demand for another low cost airline in the Dubai/Sharjah metropolitan region. Last March the Dubai government launched the new flydubai airline using…
Emirates Airlines is among the small minority of airlines expecting to post a profit for last year, one of the most difficult periods for the industry. Emirates Airline and Group said they expected a small profit, and that any profit at all is an achievement given the billions of losses in the industry. The International Air Transport Association said worldwide losses will be in excess of $4.7bn and the Middle…
The Jumeirah Group has plans to manage 60 hotels by 2012 and expand into the India market. Executive Chairman Gerald Lawless told Reuters they are having a number of discussions within the subcontinent. Dubai based Jumeirah Group is owned by Dubai’s Ruler His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The hotelier is moving away from its home market and into the United Arab Emirates in order to rival…
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council States (GCC) gave preliminary approval for development of a new railway system linking GCC states Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said the final approval will depend upon on its feasibility. After announcing plans for the new railway system, Minister Al-Assaf signed contracts worth SR 2.39…
Royal Jet has again been honoured by the World Travel Awards, being named the World’s Leading Private Jet Charter, for the second year running. The award was presented to H.E. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Royal Jet’s Chairman, by WTA President and Founder, Graham Cooke. The World Travel Awards (WTA) are regarded as the travel industry's equivalent of the 'Oscars'; and the…
On Sunday 180 UAE elderly couples in Dubai joined with 1,000 other people on a 118 day Grand World Voyage of 50 cities on the Ms Rotterdam. Destinations include Africa, Northern and Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Asia, and the Caribbean. Managing Director for Lamar Desert Tours and Cruises said his company also has younger cruise passengers, from 30 years and up and the cruise industry is has grown at least…
DAMAC Properties announced their contractor IFG has recently finished Dh6.7 million enabling work on the Lincoln Park site in Dubailand. The area is cleared and the foundation work is completed so the main contractor may now begin work. DAMAC has several projects planned for Arjan and Majan areas, but Lincoln Park is its first development underway in Dubailand.
A Thursday luncheon marking the opening of One&Only Cape Town was attended by Nelson Mandela and Dubai World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Kerzner International Chief Executive Sol Kerzner. Other Guests of Honor at the event included Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Sharon Stone, Mariah Carey, Robert Diniro, and Morgan Freeman. Dubai World and Kerzner International are strategic partners in several huge…
Qatar Airway’s four Airbus A340-600’s will have their lounges removed and replaced with 44 economy class seats. When the Airbus A340-A600’s were put into service almost three years ago the lounges were proudly highlighted as a five star amenity for first class and business class long haul travelers. Qatar Airway’s chief executive said they are making more efficient use of the airplane and other Qatar officials…
