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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With its unique mix of climates, botanical gardens and moderate winter temperatures, the city of Sochi is often referred to as the Russian Riviera. As the resort town on the edge of the Black Sea prepares to welcome the world next month, here’s a closer look at the host of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. It’s a bit of a contradiction for Sochi to be chosen to be host of the winter games. Spread out among the…
أكد سمو الشيخ أحمد بن سعيد آل مكتوم، رئيس هيئة دبي للطيران المدني، رئيس مطارات دبي، أن الدورة الثانية من (منتدى قادة المطارات العالمية 2014 ) الذي تستضيفه دبي خلال الفترة من 12 إلى 13 مايو 2014 في مركز دبي الدولي للمعارض والمؤتمرات، سيسهم في تحقيق مزيد من تحفيز النمو والنجاح في صناعة الطيران المزدهرة في المنطقة، من خلال المناقشات والدراسات والحوارات بين المشاركين في المنتدى ومئات الحاضرين من العاملين في الصناعة،…
Sochi's 2014 Winter Olympics is starting to look like a joke as journalists take to twitter to share the appalling state of their hotel rooms. One journalist tweeted that he was willing to trade three light bulbs for a door handle. Two days to go before the olympics start and only six of the nine media hotels have been completed. CNN reporter Harry Reekie tweeted "CNN booked 11 rooms in one @Sochi2014 media…
The pay-per-minute café concept continues to spread throughout Europe, following the opening of what is thought to be London’s first coffee shop to charge for its time instead of its drinks. Ziferblat, a Russian chain with 10 outlets in Russia, has opened a branch in London’s chic Shoreditch neighborhood, where customers can relax for £0.03 per minute. Customers take an alarm clock upon entering the…
Mixed media artist Anila Quayyan Agha's latest installation entitled ‘Intersections’ is a large, intricately-carved wooden cube illuminated from within. A play on light and shadows, beautiful geometric patterns are projected onto the walls, covering every square inch of the gallery room. Referencing a pattern found in the Alhambra; an ancient Islamic palace found in Spain, the artist seeks to…
Etihad Holidays, a division of Etihad Airways, has launched a new travel trade portal in the UK, allowing travel agents to sell and book Etihad Holidays packages. The new portal will build on existing relationships between Etihad Airways and the UK travel trade. Agencies will have the ability to book Etihad Holidays online via the site or by contacting the Etihad Holidays UK Call Center on 0844 499…
Rock royalty, Sir Mick Jagger is leading a pack of celebrity musicians to create their favourite world music playlists for British Airways’ in-flight entertainment. Fliers will be treated to Jagger’s selection, including Salif Keita and Fela Kuti in March. Rufus Wainwright¹s top tunes will feature in April, as well as tracks from new albums by Angélique Kidjo, The Gloaming and Mostar Sevdah Reunion.…
A Boeing 747-8 Freighter painted in the livery of the Seattle Seahawks took to the skies over Washington in advance of the team’s victory on Sunday Super Bowl XLVIII. The airplane’s flight pattern took it past Seattle landmarks including the Space Needle and CenturyLink Field, home of the Seahawks. The 747-8 then flew over Eastern Washington in a pattern that formed the number 12, a salute to all…
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza® JFK Airport New York City hotel. The property has undergone a significant multi-million dollar renovation funded by ERG JFK Hotel, LLC, featuring a unique interior design with runway murals on the lobby ceilings, guest room carpets and accent walls, and a modern glass design for the exterior façade. Located at 138-10 135th…
Thailand's "The Palace Luxury Boutique Villas" was awarded the 'best hotel for romance' title by TripAdvisor. The resort is located in Koh Tao and ranked first against 25 other hotels in the same category. The same hotel also ranked 2nd in two other categories: Top 25 Small Hotels in Asia and Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Asia. Have you been? Do you think it deserves the title? Let us know - tweet @irhal or…
Talal Liwa Hotel, a secluded hideaway resort perched on the edge of Rub Al Khali Desert in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter, ranked 7th in TripAdvisor's best family hotels category. Guests who stayed at Tilal Liwa Hotel left comments on TripAdvisor such as “hidden gem”, “comfort in the middle of nowhere!” and “a great way to experience the desert charm”. They particularly praised the hotel’s location, facilities,…
A 1950s family house in New Jersey, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright but endangered by flooding, is moving 1,200 miles (nearly 2,000 kilometers) to start a new life in Arkansas. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, opened in 2011 by the Walton family of Walmart fame, has acquired the Bachman Wilson House that was built 60 years ago in Millstone village. The museum didn’t say how much it paid for…
This seaside town in southern Thailand has seen an explosion in tourism recently, and airlines are taking note. Listed among the New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2014,” the coastal town has been flooded with visitors lately, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The TAT Krabi Office notes that hotel occupancy rates in the area have averaged 95 percent so far during the current…
Etihad Airways has introduced a range of limited edition artisanal amenity kits for its guests travelling on longhaul services to and from its home base Abu Dhabi. The new products reflect the airline’s deep cultural attachment to the rich and diverse traditions of the United Arab Emirates. For the new kits, Etihad Airways has partnered with Sougha, a social enterprise initiative launched by the Khalifa…
In most countries sunrise is a daily phenomenon which nobody is bothered about. But in Greenland it is different. After several months of polar darkness, in mid-January several cities in Greenland saw the sun for the first time in 2014. The towns closest to the Artic Circle get to see the sun first. The more northern towns have to wait a little longer. In fact, people living in the Qaanaaq area of Greenland…
Spain welcomed in excess of 60.6 million international tourists in 2013, recording a 5.6 per cent year on year increase and the strongest inbound tourism statistics to Spain since the launch of the FRONTUR surveys. In turn, spend by foreign visitors in Spain also reached record highs, with a total in excess of 59 billion euros in 2013, up 9.6 per cent year on year. The increased spend was a result of…
Airport management at Dubai International airport states they will not suffer from capacity constraints in 2014, after witnessing record numbers of passenger traffic in 2013. Last year, 66.43 million passengers passed through Dubai International airport, surpassing the 65.4 million figure forecast by the Dubai Airports management. There have been concerns that if passenger traffic were to grow by the…
The Arts Club, the private members’ club established in 1863, is to add 16 beautifully designed hotel rooms and suites to its impressive Mayfair townhouse in late 2014. Located on popular Dover Street, the hotel will offer a discreet escape and enable guests to access all of The Arts Club facilities, including the three restaurants, garden and nightclub. The suites, which are on the second, third and…
Starwood Hotels is testing a new feature that would replace keys and membership cards with a smartphone app. The new feature, called a keyless key, would enable its Starwood Preferred Guest members to go straight to their rooms and open the door via their smartphone, rather than having to go through the process of checking in. It will be trialed at the Aloft Harlem New York and Aloft Silicon Valley…
London, UNITED KINGDOM – Qatar Airways has been named ‘Business Airline of the Year’, and for the second year in a row ‘Best Long-Haul Airline’ at the high profile UK Business Travel Awards 2014 which was held in London recently. Over 1,300 industry representatives attended the 19th Annual Business Travel Awards, organized by UK publication Buying Business Travel, which celebrates the achievements of the…
As part of a promotion for the Sydney International Food Festival, the advertising agency WHYBIN\TBWA designed 18 national flags using foods each country is commonly associated with and would also match the colors of the flag. Above: Italy - basil, pasta and tomatoes India curry chicken, rice, cheera thoran and papadum wafer Brazil banana leaf, limes, pineapple and passion…
The Ibis Hotel chain has unveiled an insane advertising campaign to promote its new “Sweet Bed”. Hailed as the bed that provides “ultimate comfort”, the adventurer Aaron Chervenak and his team are journeying all the way to Mount Roraima—“The Devil’s Mountain”—in the Amazon, choosing to sleep 2,810-meters above ground. What makes this publicity stunt more challenging is this—Mount Roraima is one of the most…
Turkish Airlines has announced the appointment of Mr Sami Aydogan as general manager of the global carrier’s operations in Kuwait. Mr Aydogan will be responsible for developing and leading Turkish Airlines growth strategy in the country with a focus on operations, sales and marketing. Mr Sami Aydogan’s predecessor, Adem Ceylan, has taken on the position of Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Turkish…
While London and Paris continue to dominate the list of most popular foreign destinations, many cities saw a significant boost in American tourism in 2013. That’s according to Hotels.com, which came up with a list of the most frequented destinations of 2013 based on its own Hotel Price Index. The latest ranking comes in the aftermath of a recent spat between Paris and London, in which French officials…
