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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Hotel guests have given top marks to the Marriott chain for its loyalty program, which was ranked the top in overall customer satisfaction. Marriott Rewards received an overall customer satisfaction score of 707 on a 1,000-point scale, according to the first hotel-program survey by market research company J.D. Power. Loyalty programs were weighted on five factors: account maintenance, ease of points…
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has unveiled new details on its SPG app for Google Glass, which will allow loyalty members to search for hotels using voice commands, book their room and get real-time, GPS-enabled directions. When the SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) app emerges from beta, it will allow users to perform the same functions as laptops and smartphones. In addition to searching among 1,100 hotels…
In a sign of things to come, the Shangri-La has become the latest hotel group to open a luxury property atop the highest plateau on the planet, in one of the most fabled, mythical destinations on Earth. Surrounded by the Himalayan mountains, the Shangri-La Lhasa is set 3,650 meters feet) above sea level in Lhasa, the administrative capital of Tibet. While the company is Hong Kong-based, its evocative…
Swiss International Air Lines has announced that it’s become the world’s first certified “allergy-friendly” airline. Beginning next month, the carrier says it will begin rolling out new products and services to improve the flying experience for allergy sufferers, ranging from the in-flight menu to cabin modifications. While most commercial airlines already offer gluten-free and lactose-free meal…
In what is dubbed the “Get Away, Get More” program, the Four Seasons hotel chain has created travel itineraries that offer guests unique, hyper-local cultural and educational experiences. The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, for example, has created a “Twilight in Budapest” experience that explores the spine-tingling story of Vlad III, the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. After a…
As of next week, Saudi Arabia will begin construction on the world's tallest tower soaring precisely 1 kilometer into the sky once completed. The Kingdom Tower will beat the current Guinness World Record holder, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, by 568 feet. The 200-floor tower will be located in Jeddah overlooking the beautiful Red Sea. It will house the five-star Four Seasons hotel, luxury apartments, office…
Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, the two largest cruise liners of Cunard, docked overnight in Dubai for the first time at the Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal. Queen Elizabeth arrived first at 8 am on Friday 18th April, bringing with her a total of 1,888 passengers and 983 members of the crew. She reached Dubai's Mina Rashid Port from Abu Dhabi and after an overnight stay sailed for Jordan. Today, Queen Mary 2,…
Emirates Airline has appealed against a ban on its daily Boeing 777-300ER flights from Milan to New York. The Italian carriers association, Assaereo, had lodged a complaint to prevent Emirates, a non-European carrier to pick up passengers from Milan to a destination which is not the carrier's home country. The regional court had granted the request for a ban but the Council of State, a superior body, has granted…
Etihad Airways will begin flying daily to Perth from the 15th of July, 2014. Celebrate the launch of Etihad Airways’ new destination to Perth by flying Coral Economy class from Abu Dhabi to Perth return for just AED 5,575 inclusive of taxes. Fares are only valid for booking before and up until April 30, 2014 for travel between July 15 and August 31, 2014.
It is exactly a year ago today, April 15 2013, that the Boston Marathon was targeted by terrorists. An exhibit of running shoes titled, "Dear Boston: Messages from the Marathon Memorial," is on display at the Boston Public Library which is located near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The people of Boston are determined to make this year's marathon a success. On Monday, April 21, 2014, the day of the…
Dubai has numerous festivals throughout the year but no festival lasts for as many days as Global Village. On 12 April 2014 the 18th edition of Global Village came to an end. The 190 days extravaganza of shopping, dining and entertainment attracted over 5 million visitors. The pictures from the last day showing busy shoppers are a testament to the success of the festival. Men, women and children could be seen…
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the re-opening of the iconic Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers following an extensive US$50 million renovation. Opened in 1978, the landmark hotel was the first Starwood hotel to open in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Following the refurbishment – which includes all guestrooms, facilities, public spaces and the hotel’s Italian restaurant,…
Florida has emerged as the leading destination for family-friendly hotels among US travelers, with the Floridays Resort Orlando near Walt Disney World Resort taking the top spot in a new TripAdvisor survey. With a living and dining area, and fully-equipped kitchen, a suite at the Floridays allows families to cook and eat at the hotel. The hotel also offers a grocery delivery service that will stock the…
Istanbul has emerged as the top destination in a ranking that serves as a barometer of the most popular travel hotspots trending around the world. The largest city in Turkey has pulled off an impressive feat in the sixth edition of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Destinations 2014 report, leapfrogging 11 places from last year and knocking Paris off its perch. Another big mover this year is Beijing,…
Free wifi and complimentary breakfast have emerged as the most important hotel amenities among guests in a new survey. When 1,000 travelers from around the world were asked in a Hotels.com poll to rank 33 different amenities in order of importance, the ability to stay connected was deemed the most important in-room amenity, while free breakfast was the most sought-after overall hotel service. After…
Airlines like to pamper their front of the bus passengers with little gifts. A small amenity kit with a toothbrush, tooth paste, cologne and comb is usually what most airlines give. But Etihad went a step further. Being the National Airline of the UAE, they took upon themselves to promote Emirati culture by introducing an amenity bag which features patterns of Sadou, a colourful, intricate and centuries-old Abu…
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has teamed up with Royal Caribbean to bring his restaurants to sea. Beginning this fall, guests aboard the brand’s titanic cruise ship Quantum of the Seas will be able to dine at his casual restaurant chain Jamie’s Italian. The restaurant chain, which serves homestyle casual Italian fare, will also be made available on the brand’s Anthem of the Seas liner beginning…
After planes, trains and spaceships, Sir Richard Branson has revealed new details on his latest travel-related venture: Virgin Hotels. According to a new infographic released from Virgin, the inaugural Virgin Hotel is slated to open in Chicago’s central business district, The Loop, and feature 210 rooms, 38 suites, and 2 ‘Rock Star’ rooms. In line with the brand’s overall branding strategy, Virgin…
The Chilli Crab Festival at Madinat Jumeirah is back for its 6th year and will take place between 24 – 26 April, 2014. The three-day culinary event celebrates dishes from the Far East including the famous Singaporean chilli crab which is covered in a delicious stir-fried, tomato and chilli sauce. Located in the amphitheatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, visitors can experience a variety of oriental flavours and…
Adrenaline junkies looking for their next travel adventure may want to consider consulting a new list of extreme destinations for 2014 that includes bungee jumping into the belly of an active volcano in Chile and touring a war zone. The adventure travel ideas proposed by Cheapflights aren’t for the faint-hearted. But they may set many a thrillseeker’s heart aflutter with trips that span Fiji, Mexico,…
For the third year in a row, Elite Traveler awarded Chicago’s Alinea the top slot in its list of the best 100 restaurant in world. The list is narrated by trestaurant critic Andy Hayler, an influential food journalist known for having eaten at every 3-starred restaurant in the world. “There is no menu choice, just a 25-course tasting menu offering an innovative and exceptionally precise balance of…
Philadelphia, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight to Philadelphia touched down at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this morning marking the airline’s fifth gateway in the United States. With the launch of the daily service between Philadelphia and Qatar Airways’ hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, the city becomes destination number 137 in the airline’s expanding…
The world’s largest observation wheel has opened in Las Vegas, at 550 feet or 168 meters high. The Las Vegas High Roller began boarding its first passengers this week for 30-minute spins that include a video and music presentation before fading out to let the sky-high views of the city speak for themselves. The High Roller stands more than 100 feet (30 meters) taller than the London Eye and features…
Thailand is celebrating Songkran - the Thai New Year which most people know is the time when people visit temples and throw water at each other. Songkran is considered to be the most magical festival of all, as it creates the important bonds of unity between families and communities that bring the Thai people together. It is not just about throwing water at each other, but about the traditions of hospitality,…
