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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From October, Emirates Airlines will fly to the South African Coastal city of Durban. The expectation is that with the country gets ready to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup travel will grow on this route. Emirates new daily service from Dubai to Durban will provide the only direct air link on this route. Emirates is an official partner of the 2010 Fifa World Cup
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) opened new tourism offices in Rome and Milan and this is expected to increase Italian tourist arrivals. The ADTA chairman said “The opening of these offices sends a clear signal to the international tourism industry that Abu Dhabi is maintaining its long term vision of attracting 2.7 million hotel guests to the emirate by 2012. On Wednesday 50 member Italian delegation led…
The UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways, is aiming to fly 25 million passengers a year by 2020. The airline also hopes to increase its network of business and leisure destinations worldwide to 100. Etihad Executive Vice President for Sales and services made his comments at a function hosted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). At the same event, Abu Dhabi and Italy announced their expansion of ties.
{mosimafe}The Tiger Woods Dubai announced today that grassing work has begun on the18 hole, 7,800 yard, par 72 championship Al Ruwaya Golf Course. Tiger Woods Dubai is a 55 million square foot golf community development and an exclusive member of Tatweer Dubai. IMG Golf Course Management has the mandate to operate and manage the Al Ruwaya Golf Club and they are supervising the grassing. Tiger Woods, the…
The Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) launched a new personal hotelier service for guests staying in club rooms or on the Crown Club floor. This new service is now provided at the Crown Plaza Estate throughout the Middle East and Africa. The new service will assign the guest a member of the personal hotelier team from the moment a booking is made. The personal hotelier will assist the guest with restaurant…
Dubai’s Westin Hotel received the “All Clear” for Legionnaires Disease following a public health investigation. The Dubai Health Authority, in conjunction with the Dubai Municipality conducted an inquiry at the hotel following the death of BBC radio Cricket scorer Bill Frindal. The Director-General of the Municipality said that all 24 samples taken from the air conditioning and water systems of the hotels…
Dubai’s hotel revenue per available room (RevPar) fell 25.9 percent in December compared to the same period in 2007. Visitors to the emirate declined due to the global downturn. The travel research firm STA Global reported that in November 2008 RevPar decreased 15.5% compared to the same period last year, while October 2008 RevPar increased 17.7%.
Etihad Airways announced that it will begin flights from the UAE capital to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport starting on 2 September 2009. The flights will initially be three times a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday but will increase to daily flights from 1 October 2009. The Wednesday, Friday, Sunday flights will depart from Abu Dhabi at 10:20 am and arrive in Chicago at 4:40 pm US time. Previously Etihad’s sole…
Dubai’s Emirates Airlines has added three more weekly flights to Bangladesh, bringing the total number of Dubai-Dhaka flights available to 17. The additional Dhaka flights have been timed to support the announcement by the Bangladesh government of a new trade acceleration policy. The EK586 flight will depart from Dubai every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday at 10:15 am and arrive at Zia international airport at…
British Airways announced on Tuesday that it is cancelling all flight services to Riyadh and Jeddah through 31 May because of work on two new stations in the Kingdom. Customers who have booked travel between 30 March and 31 May on British Airway’s Riyadh and Jeddah services will have the option of taking a full refund or re-booking once services resume.
Crysil, one of India’s leading research firms reported that the demand for premium segment rooms is expected to fall by 11% in 2008-2009 compared to the prior year, while the inventory of these rooms is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nine per cent from 2007-2008 through 2011-2012 across 12 major cities. Overall, occupancy rates are expected to fall 62%, which would be the lowest…
Emirates Airlines began operating the world’s first A380 commercial flights from Dubai to Australia and New Zealand on Monday. Australia and New Zealand are the third and fourth destinations to be added to Emirates super jumbo network. The EK412 departed from Dubai International Airport, terminal 3, landed in Sydney, Australia, then continued on to Auckland New Zealand with over 400 passengers. Emirates…
Tests at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi showed that the hotel is clear of the bacterium causing Legionnaires disease. A BBC cricket commentator, Bill Frindal, died of Legionnaires disease on Friday after his stay there, and subsequently two others guests contracted the disease. Tests are being carried out in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority and Westin has until now been the focal point of an…
The first stage of the opening of the Dubai Central World Airport is being pushed back due to delays in construction, according to the airports CEO, Paul Griffiths. The Dubai Central Airport will be the world’s largest airport and is now scheduled to open in 2010, instead of year end 2009. Mr. Griffiths said the reason for the delay is because of factors “relating to the readiness of infrastructure and the…
Popular business incentives such as overseas trips for high octane salesman are currently falling dramatically due to the global financial crisis. UAE travel agents are reporting a severe dip in 2009 bookings for incentive packages to and from the UAE. The bookings for these trips are falling due to a spending freeze on non-essential trips being implemented by banks and property companies.
The five star Jaz Royal Taba is scheduled to open in mid-2009. The property is located on its own sandy beach 27 km from the Taba international airport. The hotel has 306 guest rooms which consist of Superior rooms and Family Rooms and Suites. The hotel offers a variety of features including a host of restaurants, shopping arcade, Kids Club, and tennis court.
Morocco and two Gulf firms signed an agreement to build a huge 1.8 bn dollar tourism project in the town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. The project will include a health tourism complex covering 270 hectares. Map reported that on Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rabat signed a letter of intent with Abu Dhabi’s Ithmaar Development Company and Gulf Finance House
Cases of Legionnaires disease are being investigated at The Westin Hotel following the recent death of one of its recent guests – BBC radio cricket scorer Bill Randall. The Dubai Municipality and Dubai Health Authority are carrying out the investigation at the hotel, where Bill Randall stayed two weeks ago. The investigation was initiated following the disclosure that two additional Westin Hotel guests were…
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Philippines that will increase flights between the two countries. Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, Rak Airways, and Fly Dubai were designated by the two countries as the national carriers for the UAE. Passenger flights between the two countries will gradually increase to 89 per week. The 89 new flights will…
A group of tourists stranded on the Ras Al Khamai Mountain overnight were rescued by the Air Wing police. Three tourists spent an entire night on the mountain after a rescue mission failed because of extreme darkness. The three people rescued were a 32 year old tourist from New Zealand and a 29 year old man from South Africa.
A new system designed to help hotel managers manage energy effectively is being tested by IHG. Early trials of the new online system, called Green Engage, have demonstrated energy savings of up to 25%. IHG is the world’s largest hotel company based on number of rooms – they have 4000 hotels world wide. If the Green Engage system is adapted, savings realized by hotel owners could be as high as $200 million.…
The Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau opened an office in Dubai bringing to six the number of offices in its international network. The others are Britain, India, Germany, France, and Russia. The Middle East has been identified as by the Sri Lankan government as one of the key source markets and so they are reviewing strategies to attract more Arab tourists. The Deputy Prime Minister of Tourism for Sri…
Dubai Retail will add two floors consisting of 177,000 feet of retail space at Business Bay, the Dh 110 billion master development of Dubai properties. Dubai retail, which is a subsidiary of Dubai properties currently has 777,000 square feet of retail space. The new Bay Avenue edition will come online for the next edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) according to a top company official
Explorer Publishing announced that it has released the latest edition of Dubai Explorer (Live Work Explore – The complete residents guide). Dubai is written by residents, for residents and is a practical guide to daily life, work, exploring and an inspirational travel specific guide. For more information log on to www.liveworkexplore.com
