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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Hajj Mubarak to those who have performed Hajj. Eid Mubarak to the rest. May this Eid be a blessed one for all Muslims wherever they may be. May it bring peace, happiness, health and prosperity to all. Ameen!
Two million people have descended on the Plain of Arafat on the second day of Hajj. The Nimra Mosque and the surrounding areas are filled with pilgrims who on this day pray to the Almighty for forgiveness. According to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad, on the day of Arafat Allah frees more people from hellfire than on any other day. Those who are in Arafat on 9th ZilHajj - October 14, 2013 - will leave for…
When price is not a concern and you want the perfect escapade, fly to the Himalayan country of Bhutan on a private jet and stay at the COMO Hotels in Paro and Punakha, Bhutan. A luxury seven night stay for two inclusive of charter flights from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Bhutan and all meals will cost you a shade under US$100,000. Whitewater rafting on the Mo Chu river, a private conversation about Buddhism with…
The Latvian airline airBaltic has signed a codeshare agreement with Etihad and has announced the commencement of 4 times weekly service to Abu Dhabi starting on December 16, 2013. To mark this agreement airBaltic is offering flights from the Latvian capital Riga to Abu Dhabi for just Euro 140. airBaltic will operate the new four weekly return flights using a 116 seat Airbus A319 aircraft. Etihad Airways will…
If you are in Washington D.C. and you are worried about what to do since all the Museums are closed, there is one place which is still open. It is the International Spy Museum. Adult or child, you will have great spooky fun. This lesser known museum was built with the cooperation of former chiefs of the CIA, KGB and MI5 and has an interesting collection of spy gear. A Soviet lipstick gun, Bulgarian umbrella…
A series of spectacular concerts and events spread over five days, against the breathtaking backdrop of Asia's Best Fortress - Mehrangarh Fort - will be taking place in the Indian city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from October 17-21 2013. More than 175 musicians and performing artists from across Rajasthan will share the stage with musical royalty from around the world. The musical legacy of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's…
If your children like this purple dinosaur, you can meet him at the Qurom City Centre and Muscat City Centre on October 22 2013. Barney and his friends (BJ, Riff and Baby Bop) will be putting on their first-ever show in Oman called ‘Barney Let’s Go! Live on Stage!’ at the Qurum Amphitheatre for four shows on October 25 and 26, 2013. Barney is a singing dinosaur that is loved by children around the world. If…
For those who love art, Zurich is where they should go. From October 10 to 13, 2013, Art International Zurich will be held at the Congress Centre, Zurich. More than 100 artists from 20 countries will exhibit their styles of painting, graphics, sculpture and photography. Rashid Khalifa: The Dark and Bright Side of The Moon / Courtesy: artBahrain
Stone forests, colourful dragons and balconies with eyes… these are all the designs of one man that you can see in Barcelona. Visit Park Guell and see where Antonio Gaudi lived and admire his architectural talent. Walk over to La Rambla and admire the frenetic pace of life - lived to the extreme as if there is no tomorrow. Look at artists and florists. Walk to the seaside and see the 60ft tall monument built…
H.E. the Minister of Tourism of Egypt Mr Hisham Zaazou honoured The Dusit Thani Lakeview Hotel in Cairo for being the Best 5-Star Hotel in Greater Cairo in implementing the new standards set forth by the Ministry, as well as for offering the highest quality service to hotel guests. Dusit Thani LakeView, Cairo, has 449 rooms and suites. It offers the largest rooms & suites in Cairo; deluxe & club rooms of 52…
The kiswah or black fabric which drapes the Holy Kaaba in Makkah is revered by all Muslims and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization has launched a two months long display of Islamic textiles: ‘Draping the Holy Places – Religious Textiles from Mecca and Medina’ Exhibition. The exhibition includes original historical and contemporary textiles that are used to cover sacred places inside the two holy mosques…
Crunchy fresh green papya or mango julienne sprinkled with tangy fish sauce and wok fried jumbo prawns are just starters aboard the Etihad flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Abu Dhabi. Fresh vegetables are the key ingredient of Vietnamese cuisine and celebrity chef, Luke Nguyen, has designed a menu exclusively for Etihad guests to savour some of his delicious delights on board flights to and from Ho Chi Minh City…
Due to political wrangling between the Democrats and Republicans in the United States, the entire government machinery is shutting down. While essential services such as air traffic controllers and federal law enforcement agencies will remain functional, major tourist attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, will shut down. The Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC generate more than 30 million visits…
Did you know that more than 50% of all pilots fall asleep while flying planes? According to a study conducted on behalf of the British Airline Pilots Association, a scary 29% of the pilots interviewed said that they found teh co-pilot asleep when they woke up! Maybe they need to put those oven timer alarms in the cockpit? The survey of 500 commercial pilots conducted by ComRes on behalf of the British Airline…
The UAE's luxury retailer, Paris Gallery, is giving away Eid gifts this year to customers who shop during the month of October. During the Eid and Hajj holiday season numerous tourists are expected to visit the UAE from the GCC and in more than 40 Paris Galery Stores across the country visitors will receive a Red Bag with goodies. For those spending over Dh 5,000 the gifts will range from Dh 2,000 to Dh…
If you always wanted to go somewhere where none of your friends would go, here is your chance of a lifetime. An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale shook Pakistan's Baluchistan province on September 24 2013. While this brought death and destruction in its wake, it also resulted in a new island off the coast of Pakistan near Gwadar. For your adventure of a lifetime you can take a flight to Karachi…
September 27 2013 is World Tourism Day. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has declared today as a day marked for recognizing the role of tourism in improving and caring for one of the most precious resources we have - water. This year’s theme - Water: Protecting our Common Future - highlights tourism’s role in water access and shines a spotlight on the actions being taken by the sector in order to…
Elaf Group, the leading Saudi hospitality company has announced the soft opening of their new hotel in Makkah - the Elaf Bakkah Hotel which is located in the Mahbas Al Jin area - about 1.8km from the Haram. Elaf Bakkah Hotel has 810 rooms and 32 suites all equipped with modern facilities. The hotel features two restaurants serving Arabic and International cuisine. It has 24 elevators and 213 car parking…
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development, opened The Golden Age of Arab Sciences exhibition in Paris – Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, September 24 2013. This is an exhibition where Islam's contribution to science and the arts is chronicled with the hope that it will encourage Muslim students to emulate the likes of Ibn Sina and al-Khwarizmi. The…
If you are planning a winter vacation in North America, Lufthansa has great fares on offer from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For only Dh 4,150 you can get a round-trip ticket to Washington DC. And for just $30 more you could fly to Toronto or Montreal. Round-trip tickets to Europe are also available for a bargain. Tickets to Munich start from as low as Dh 2,105. All prices include taxes and other extras. Flights have…
Formula 1 fever is hitting Abu Dhabi as the race comes near. It is just over 5 weeks away. And if you have not yet bought tickets for the event you are in luck. Etihad Airways is giving away tickets to five lucky winners who will win two South Grandstand tickets each. This grandstand offers one of the greatest panoramas in motorsport with sweeping views of the circuit whilst looking out over Yas Viceroy Hotel,…
After six years of restoration work, the 2nd Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb in New Delhi was restored to its original splendour and officially reopened to the public on September 18 2013. Built in 1565, nine years after the death of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, the mausoleum was designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. It was the first garden-tomb complex on the Indian subcontinent and inspired major…
On March 14 2014, Emirates Airlines will be starting service to the intellectual capital of the world - Boston. Home to Harvard, MIT, Boston University and over 50 other educational institutions, Boston is also the hometown of the United States' most illustrious political family - the Kennedys: John F. Kennedy was born in the Boston suburb of Brookline. Emirates will be flying a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to…
Mr. Ghaith al Ghaith, CEO of Dubai's low cost carrier, flydubai, landed in Kiev's Zhulyany International Airport on September 18 and was welcomed with a water cannon salute. This was a soft launch for the second daily flight to Kiev which will commence regular daily flights from October 27. flydubai's daily service from Kiev's Boryspil International Airport to Dubai has experienced robust growth because of…
