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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Turkey is preparing for an inflow of a large number of tourists from the GCC during the Eid al Adha holidays in the first week of October. Gauging from the 78% growth in visitor numbers from the Gulf between May and July of 2014, Turkish hotels are likely to have a similar surge in tourists from the GCC. Eid Al Adha, known also as the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ is one of the most celebrated religious festivals…
If Florida is on your mind this winter, there is a new Ritz-Carlton at Bal Harbour, Miami, that will be welcoming guests starting October 24 2014. This is the fourth Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Miami area. With 124 elegant suites this 18-story glass tower overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is likely to "become one of the world's most sought after places to visit," said Herve Humler, president and chief operating…
Air France pilots have decided to extend their week long strike to September 26. More than 80% of the pilots are involved in a pay dispute which has affected the travel plans of over 400,000 people. If you have booked a flight on Air France you can change your travel dates without any penalty. All flight schedules are being updated on a daily basis and more than 3,000 flights have been canceled since the…
Start your morning with a five-star buffet breakfast at the Meydan Racecourse restaurant, Farriers. Follow this with a trip to the stables that house the stars of the world's most expensive horse race - the Dubai World Cup. Get to see how these stars are pampered - they even have a swimming pool for themselves. You also get to visit the Meydan Grandstand and see the jockeys' lounge and parade ring. Breakfast…
Even before you have done the Freedom Trail, thrown a chest of tea into the sea and made the obligatory visit to see John Harvard’s statue, you feel intimidated in Boston. All you see around you are students. The greater Boston area is home to 85 colleges and universities – nerd town USA. No wonder, one of the things Bostonians do for pleasure is to test their knowledge of random facts. Max Clark, Manger of…
If your idea of relaxation involves splurging, the Anantara Naladhu Resort in the Maldives is a place where you can experience sheer indulgence. A new two-bedroom residence has been created for the exclusive few who want the ultimate in luxury. Your private residence comes with a 95sqm private swimming pool and a deck which overlooks the Indian Ocean. The 600 sqm two-bedroom villa can be yours - with a…
While the Andalucian south of Spain is famous for its Islamic architecture - particularly the Alhambra in Granada - the impact of Islamic architecture can also be seen in other parts of Spain. The Monastery of San Miguel in the northern Leon province of Spain is an example of what is called Mozarabic art. The church was built by Cordobic monks in 913. Influenced by the Cordoba Caliphate, the Visigoths who…
Legoland Florida Resort has opened the reservation line for overnight stays at its new Legoland Hotel, set to open next year. LEGO has recently experienced a major renaissance thanks to the major silver screen hit “The Lego Movie” released earlier this year. The five-storey Lego-themed hotel is currently being built at the main entrance of the theme park, 45 minutes from Orlando, and will include a…
We've examined the on-board AMENITY KITS handed out to first and business class passengers flying 27 airlines around the world and of the airlines examined, five were given a full six-star rating: Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Japan Airlines and United Airlines. “For many of us, First Class and Business Class are a mysterious place and we wanted to get a better idea of what life is like in that rarefied…
Railway enthusiasts with a taste for nostalgia will soon be able to indulge their Orient Express fantasies after Hungarian Railways said it was launching a luxury Budapest-Tehran train service. With ticket prices of between 10,000 and 23,000 euros, guests will receive “five-star” treatment. “Iran has been opening up towards the west recently, so we thought the time was right to set this up,” Marcella…
Not all hotels live up to the same standards when it comes to cleanliness. According to a recent study, tourists are most likely to find an immaculate hotel room while traveling to TOKYO. In the cleanliness category, hotels in the Japanese capital scored an average rating of 8.93/10 on the website. Next in the ranking is Warsaw, Poland with an average rating of 8.76, just ahead of Seoul, South…
If you still have a few days left before your children start school, you can go to Vienna for a quick vacation aboard Qatar Airways brand new Dreamliner Boeing 787. The new Dreamliner has 254 custom-made seats across its 787 Business and Economy Class cabins with specially designed interiors. Business Class is configured in a 1–2–1 set-up with 22 seats, while Economy has a 232 seating capacity in a 3–3–3…
When you sit in economy class on a plane your leg space is limited. However, your seat has a button on the arm rest which allows it to tilt backwards giving you a few extra inches. But did you ever consider that when you recline your seat the person behind you feels contricted. Sometimes this can result in fist fights - as it happened recently in a United Airlines flight from Newark to Denver. A United…
One of the nightmares of traveling to the United States is the dreaded immigration and border control checks at the John F Kennedy Airport in New York and other points of entry to the United States. Etihad Airways has just taken that worry off. US Customs and Border Protection have set up a facility at Abu Dhabi Airport which makes you go through all formalities in Abu Dhabi. You go through the requisite…
If you are planning a destination wedding, the Al Bustan Palace in Muscat, a Ritz Carlton Hotel, is offering to make your special day an extremely memorable one both for you and your guests. The 1,024 sqm grand ballroom at the Al Bustan Palace provides a magnificient setting for a wedding. The culinary brigade of the hotel can conjure up a five course western menu complete with a 3-tier wedding cake or a…
Orlando is set to become home to the tallest roller coaster in the world, with plans to build a thrill ride equal to a 27-storey drop. Riders of The Skyscraper, set to be built at a sprawling retail and entertainment complex in Orlando called Skyplex, will experience a heart-pumping drop from 570 feet (174 meters) in the air on a vertical roller coaster that will also feature loops, dives, spirals and…
CATHAY PACIFIC has teamed up with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to offer inflight menus to first class passengers on the Hong Kong to London route. Until October 31, carte blanche will be given to Uwe Opocensky from Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. First class passengers traveling to London will be able to try foie gras terrine, truffles, organic chicken and beef accompanied by crabmeat and caviar.…
Hardcore fans of “The Lord of the Rings” are being courted in a new luxury travel package developed to mark the trilogy’s 60th anniversary and the upcoming release of the final cinematic installment of “The Hobbit.” The 11-day trip starts in Rotorua, where visitors will be taken on a guided tour of Hobbiton, or The Shire, the bucolic village characterized by Hobbit homes carved into the green hillside, and…
Segway is a motorized personal transport device which may appear to be difficult to balance but with a few minutes' training it makes for an excellent means of transportation for a busy tourist wanting to do all the sights to see in a city without exhausting himself. For Euro 30 you can take an hour long Segway guided tour of Budapest and cover sights like the St Stephen Basilica (pictured above) and the…
Restaurants and cafes in Venice are famous for their outrageous service charges. Cafe Lavena in St Mark's Square has an infamous policy of charging Euro 6 for "music" when you sit and sip on their Euro 6 coffee. So six cups of coffee can end up costing Euro72. Ristorante da Raffaele is no different. Located between the Grand Canal and San Marco, this typical Italian restaurant with plenty of seafood and pasta…
Think of the Maldives and your mind conjures up pictures of white sandy beaches, colorful fishes and scuba diving. But mountain climbing? Well, according to the Shangri-La Maldives, German mountain adventurer Florian Nagl, who has 10 years of history climbing mountains in different countries, recently visited the Shangri-La's Resort & Spa, Maldives to climb the Maldives' highest peak, Mount Villingili. Mount…
By 2020 Kinshasa is expected to replace Paris as the largest urban centre of French speaking people. No other city will have as many people as the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is already the thrird largest city in Africa after Cairo and Lagos. And now it has a Kempinski. On August 1 2014, the Kempinski group took over management control of the Hotel Fleuve Congo and rebranded it as a…
One of the frustrating moments of checking in to a hotel is exactly that - checking in. After a long, tiring flight you do not want to wait in line to be served. Hilton is about to change that. Just like an airline allows you to select your seat, by the end of this year more than 4,000 Hilton Worldwide properties in 80+ countries will allow you to select your hotel room and order amenities via your smartphone or…
If you were not in Chile last month you may have missed out hearing of a colorful festival that takes place every July 16 in the small oasis town of La Tirana in the middle of the Atacama Desert in Chile. Almost 250,000 people visit the town which has a regular population of just 800 people. But all is not lost. If you still wish to visit Chile this summer - it is winter there now - you can go skiiing or…
