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.
Read full storyShowing 961–984 of 5,397
On the street of Blackfriars Road, London, sits a building that looks like it was turned upside down. Something that would get the fictional couple, Mr and Mrs Twit, from Roald Dahl’s The Twits standing on their heads, the overturned building is actually an installation by London-based artist Alex Chinneck. Chinneck revamped the façade of the derelict building— that was previously used as a stable…
The 2014 Michelin Guide to Hong Kong and Macau has been announced. The big news this year is that there are three new three-stars in the guide. Sushi Shikon, The Eight, and Bo Innovation join the exclusive three-starred club in the sixth edition of Michelin Hong Kong and Macau, bringing the overall triple-star count to seven dining destinations deemed worth the journey. At Bo Innovation, Chinese…
A campaign is now underway to find the seven wonders of the Islamic World. Public voting combined with expert opinion will be used to narrow down a list of the most popular monuments that represent Muslim heritage worldwide. Contenders could include any form of architecture or symbol that was constructed by Muslims anywhere in the world - from the Grand Mosque in Makkah to Alhambra in Spain and the Imam mosque in…
After looking at industry insights, and past consumer habits and trends, Cruise Critic (TripAdvisor) has come up with a list of trends they predict will define 2014. One of the top destinations next year will be the Panama Canal, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, the report points out. Given that Japan can be expensive and tricky to navigate by land, trendspotters also predict that cruises…
Located in Siberia, Russia, the world’s “most extreme” toilet rests on the edge of a cliff 8,500 feet above sea level. This washroom only serves the five people working at the weather station on the Altai Mountains. For their other necessities, such as food, water and firewood, a helicopter visits them once a year to stock up. A postman visits them once a month to collect the weather data as well.…
According to the latest travel report out of TripAdvisor, the Cuban capital took the top spot for seeing the greatest increase in positive traveler feedback and traveler interest. Havana beat out 53 other destinations around the world, including La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica and Kathmandu, Nepal, which took second and third place respectively. According to figures from Cuba’s national…
There are plans to transform Walt Disney’s Chicago home into a museum. Touted as his birthplace, it was sold to Dina Benadon and Brent Young for US$173,000. The couple, who run a company that designs theme park attractions, have launched a Kickstarter campaign with a US$500,000 goal to fund this project. They hope to make the house as inspiring as possible, “authentically recreat[ing] the…
The glittering city of Dubai and Etihad Airways emerged the big winners at the 20th edition of the World Travel Awards, an event known as the Oscars of the travel industry. Just days after being chosen to host the 2020 World Expo convention, Dubai was named the world’s leading destination at a gala ceremony held in Doha over the weekend. According to the world’s travel elite — CEOs of travel agencies,…
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., announced today the launch of new, exclusive Ritz Kids children's programming through an expanded partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society. The Ritz-Carlton aims to delight their youngest guests by making memories that last well beyond their hotel stays. Ritz Kids is an engaging and immersive experience that builds upon the adventures of travel…
NAIROBI DECEMBER 5, 2013 - President Uhuru Kenyatta has today commissioned the construction of a new US$654 million terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which is expected to upgrade it to world-class status. Construction of the new state-of-the-art facility will begin immediately, and the two-phased construction work is expected to be complete by 2017. Upon completion, it will have capacity…
We all dream of a sun-kissed holiday or the chance to escape to interesting foreign climes – especially at this time of year, when the British winter is clouding the horizon. But, according to new research, travel also dominates our lives when it comes to social media and keeping in touch with friends and contacts online. A study by Facebook into the habits of users who have been on holiday in the…
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Times Square New York, the seventh hotel to be added to the Hyatt-branded portfolio in Manhattan. The 487-room hotel stands 54 stories high, making it the tallest newly built, freestanding Hyatt hotel in the United States. This newest addition to Hyatt's portfolio is also the third Hyatt-branded hotel to open in Manhattan in 2013.
Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways said on Sunday it has achieved success at this year's World Travel Awards held on Saturday night, winning top honours for the fifth year in a row. At a ceremony in Doha, Qatar, Etihad Airways took home the prestigious titles of World's Leading Airline, World's Leading First Class, and World's Leading Airline Cabin Crew, the Abu Dhabi-based airline said in a statement. James…
Emirates has swooped into the home of the original Oscars to launch its celebrated A380 service. Packed with Hollywood movies on ice Digital Widescreen, the double-decker touched down in Los Angeles yesterday, becoming the world’s longest A380 service in operation. The landmark flight, crossing the Russian Federation, the North Pole and Eastern Canada, has a published duration of 16 hours 20 minutes,…
Rotana has its footprint in one of the Middle East’s most promising emerging markets with the opening of its second property in Iraq in Karbala. The Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana is the first five-star hotel to open in Karbala, one of the country’s largest tourist cities, which annually attracts more than 12 million visitors. “In 2012 Iraq posted a GDP growth rate of approximate 10.2 per cent, making it…
After inhalable vitamins and caffeine, a gourmet tea shop in London has created breathable tea that’s supposed to deliver antioxidant properties more quickly to the bloodstream. Created by Camellia’s Tea House and spotted by trend hunter Springwise, the vaporized tea experience was demonstrated at the Experimental Food Society Spectacular 2013 this month, a group that fronts creative, culinary pioneers and…
In their quest to bring exclusive high-end services to first and business class passengers, international airlines are pairing with chefs to offer enticing in-flight meals. For the latest of these partnerships, Japan Airlines is featuring the cuisine of Hiroki Yoshitake, the Japanese chef at Sola, an acclaimed restaurant in Paris. A native of Kyushu, Yoshitake opened his Franco Japanese restaurant Sola in…
US hotel chain Loews has become the latest hotelier to leverage the power of Twitter, with a new channel that allows guests to book their room as fast as a few hashtags and tweets. In a digital age where consumers demand instantaneous answers, the luxury chain launched a Loews Hotels Social Reservations channel that will put the guest in touch with a virtual reservations agent when they use the hashtag…
Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, today announced, subject to regulatory approval, it will launch flights to Paris-Orly as part of a significant expansion to its international schedule. Plans for an optimised regional network include the introduction of several new routes in 2014. From February 2014, Air Seychelles will operate two return services per week…
Located close to Nice in the south of France, the restaurant Mas Provencal looks like a beautiful fairy garden. This is because the restaurant is covered in many different kinds of flowers, with elaborate floral arrangements adorning the center pieces of tables. Special features of this restaurant include edible grapes and cherry tomatoes hanging from the ceiling, as well as a glass enclosed…
David Beckham has been tapped to serve as a consultant and partner in the development of Las Vegas Sands properties in Singapore and the gaming capital of the world, Macao. The partnership will see Beckham lend his expertise in developing dining, retail and leisure concepts at Sands China Ltd. properties in Macao and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Beckham has already worked with the Marina Bay…
Canada has sold the John A. Macdonald building, the mansion in London that is home to some of the country’s diplomatic activities in the U.K. Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Gordon Campbell confirmed the sale Thursday of One Grosvenor Square, which went to an Indian developer, Lodha Group, for $530 million (£305 m). About 250 diplomatic staff based in the Macdonald building will be…
Dubai Airport is all decked up to celebrate the UAE National Day which is officially on December 2 but is being celebrated with public sector closure on December 1 and 2. The Expo2020 win has augmented this year's jubilation and the national colors of the flag with the Expo2020 logo are emblazoned everywhere. At Dubai Airport a stall has been set up with Emirati products on display. A bevy of Emirates air…
LOS ANGELES., Calif. — Tis' the season and Los Angeles hotels are celebrating with a variety of holiday packages offering visitors special deals on accommodations and shopping experiences. Give the Gift of Travel - LA Tourism, Expedia, & Hotels.com Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board has partnered with Expedia.com and Hotels.com on a special holiday package. Book three nights or more at…
