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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They’re among the most anticipated ski resort openings of 2013: a 5-star chalet set in the French Alps, the first alpine property out of the W hotel chain, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s “world-class” ski resort. Here are a few of the most luxurious ski resort properties opening up in the next few months L’Apogée Courchevel Courchevel 1850, France - Opening date: December 11 A new luxury…
Adventure is out there, and an intrepid Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, aka “Jetman”, shows us how it’s done. Since 2006, the gutsy adventurer has been been exploring locations such as the Grand Canyon and Rio de Janeiro by flying on a hand-made jetpack. Driven by his dream to fly in the most natural way possible, Rossy had experimented extensively for 10 years, developing more than 15 prototypes before finally…
Popcorn is getting truffled, sodas replaced with fancy juices and bags of M&M’s swapped for fairytale macaroons in a trend that’s elevating the cinema-going experience into a gourmet treat. Following the lead of New York and London, the menu at filmmaker Luc Besson’s newly opened multiplex cinema outside Paris includes munchies like caviar, smoked salmon, and macaroons by one of the country’s top pastry…
After a hard day on the slopes, nothing beats an après-ski spa treatment. Here are a few of the world’s best luxury hotels and spas that will surely hit the spot. Bagni di Bormio Spa Resort, Bormio – Italy A spa town since Roman times, Bormio is home to the five-star Grand Bagni Nuovi, which first opened as a spa resort in 1836. Along with Murano glass chandeliers and art nouveau flourishes, the hotel…
A secret dining room tucked into the back of The Cosmopolitan in Sin City that serves more than 20 courses and seats just eight diners has been named the best hotel restaurant in the world. It’s called é, and like the brevity of its name, the restaurant itself has been widely described as a beacon of discretion in a city of flashy lights. Set within chef José Andrés’ restaurant Jaleo, a visit to the…
Hotel Casa San Agustin took the top spot on TripAdvisor’s Hot New Hotel list this year, which guests described as a “true jewel in the Caribbean” and a “pampered oasis.” Guests heap particularly lavish praise on the level of hotel service, with the personalized butler feature described as “world class.” Composed of three colonial white-washed buildings, the property straddles modern conveniences and luxury…
The North Island Lodge, located in the Seychelles, is the most expensive hotel in the world. That is the main takeaway of a new survey from a Luxury hotels website. The survey was conducted in June and July and is based on double occupancy for the month of August. Resorts surveyed had a minimum 20-guest capacity. According to those criteria, the private island sanctuary of North Island Lodge is the…
In what’s being described as a partnership of titans, Sir Richard Branson has teamed up with reality TV czar Mark Burnett for a new series that will send the winner into space. In line with Burnett’s wildly successful TV franchise “Amazing Race,” “Space Race” will take the concept of cross-planetary treasure hunts to new heights and give an ‘everyday person’ a seat aboard Branson’s Virgin Galactic…
Starting next week, passengers on the Belgian airline will be able to savor a meal created by one of the top names in contemporary Belgian gastronomy: triple Michelin-starred chef Geert Van Hecke. The chef, who has presided over his Bruges restaurant De Karmeliet for over 30 years, has prepared a starter with smoked Damme eel, tarragon yogurt sauce and mashed fennel. This first course will be…
It’s a move that makes sense: for many tourists, taxi drivers are their first point of contact as the chauffeurs shuttle freshly arrived visitors from the airport to their hotel, a route that’s likewise often their first introduction to the city. According to The Khaleej Times, nearly half of the city’s 3,504 cab drivers have completed a tourist awareness training which teaches drivers about key…
Etihad Airways, who are the title sponsors of the Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi, have dressed up their cabin crew in checkered flags in the spirit of the event that is taking place this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is not just about car racing. The event has become a major tourist attraction for Abu Dhabi as there are free concerts, fireworks and a…
Starting December 4 2013, Emirates Airlines will be starting their daily service from Dubai to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. For those who wish to indulge, you can enjoy the comfort of First Class sleeper seats on the Airbus 345 that will take you to Kabul in just under three hours, while those seeking less expensive options can fly Business or Economy - still enjoying the Emirates gourmet menu and hundreds…
The Christian tradition of All Hallows Evening which was celebrated in remembrance of the dead has now spread into a world wide phenomenon. From Karachi to Dubai and from Indonesia to Morocco, Halloween parties and "trick or treat" visits by children have become commonplace - reflective of the influence of media on culture. "Soul cakes" were distributed to the poor in medieval Europe to pray for the souls of…
The Ottoman Sultan Abdul Majid dreamt of connecting Europe with Asia but technology in 1860 failed him. The new "Ottoman Emperor" as the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyeb Erdogan, is famously referred to, inaugurated the first underground tunnel to link the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. The Marmaray rail link will be just a part of the tunnel whose tube like structure will facilitate the movement…
Frank Sinatra used to coo that love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage but if some activists have their way, the horses used in horse drawn carriages in Central Park New York may end up on a restaurant's menu. Activists for cleaner and safer streets in New York have convinced the two mayoral condidates in New York to agree to the end of horse drawn carriages in the city. While horses usually…
A hotel in Germany would like to invite you to an afternoon tea - and on the menu are shoes and handbags and even sparkling diamonds. Edible haute couture is the theme of the holiday season at the Villa Kennedy Hotel in Frankfurt. These delicacies will remain on the menu until January 2014. The hotel is part of the Rocco Forte chain which has 11 hotels and resorts in Italy, UK, Germany, Russia and Belgium…
Air Arabia, the first and largest low cost carrier in the Middle East, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with new aircraft livery. The new "10 Years" design was painted in Sharjah on the fuselage of an Airbus A320 aircraft that will shuttle between the original destinations served by Air Arabia when it began operations in October 2003: Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Beirut, and Air Arabia’s primary hub in Sharjah.
In the Middle East we have two seasons - hot and less hot. We are now approaching the less hot season. However, in the United States - particularly in the north east - New England - you can catch a glimpse of nature at its best. Leaves turn into a rainbow of colors and then start shedding. If you plan to visit the US you still have a few weeks before winter sets in and bare trees with frost and snow will…
One of the memorable things about travel is that you come across many signs which bring a smile to your face. A "Polar Bear Crossing" sign may be commonplace in Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean - just as the sign above which prohibits the display of firearms in a store in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. For a European, a "Camel Crossing" sign may seem equally hilarious. Watch out for falling coconuts in the tropics and…
The Sydney Opera House celebrated its 40th birthday on October 20 2013 and an Etihad Airways Airbus A340-600 performed a low-altitude aerial salute to celebrate the event. An Etihad Airways Airbus A340-600 flew at approximately 2000 feet over the World Heritage-listed venue and along the Sydney Harbour. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer said: “We are immensely proud to be…
Qatar Airways has just launched a worldwide sale on flights to almost all destinations in the world. Ticket prices range from Dh 2,285 for a round trip from Dubai to London or SR 3,260 for a roundtrip from Jeddah to New York. All tickets have to be purchased before October 24 2013 while all travel must be completed by June 19 2014. The peak winter travel periods from 18th - 23rd December 2013 and 2nd - 12th…
Henri Matisse, the French painter known for his unique usage of colour, after an extraordinary career spanning over 30 years became unable to paint due to ill health and began to cut into painted paper with scissors as his primary technique to create what is now known as the Matisse Cut-outs. For the first time ever, Tate Modern Gallery in London will be putting together 120 works by Matisse in an exhibition…
Thailand is already a favourite destination of Arabs and expats in the GCC but there is now one more reason to visit the Thai capital: it has won the Business Traveller's “Best Leisure Destination in the Asia-Pacific” award. The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, commented on Bangkok’s receiving the award, “Our research shows that tourists love Bangkok because of the city’s great…
With the US government shutdown over, parks and national monuments are once again open for tourists. The Statue of Liberty, the Smithsonian Museums and other museums, parks and national monuments across the United States are now open again after a 16-day shutdown. But it is not all over yet! The deal to end the shutdown is temporary. If by January 15 2014 the opposing Republicans and Democrats do not come to…
