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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Ibis hotels will select a happy few to test a new kind of bedding connected via 80 sensors to a robot. The sensors will capture the guests’ sleep data to turn it into a work of art. The mechanical arm will make a drawing based on the sleeper’s temperature, movements and noises. Waking up, the guests will discover the work of art they helped produce during the night. The robot will, for the first…
The world’s first flight powered entirely by bio jet fuel will take off next month from Ottawa, the fuel makers announced Thursday. Applied Research Associates and Agrisoma Biosciences partnered with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to develop a “sustainable source of renewable energy” for the commercial airline industry. In late October, a NRC Falcon 20 twin engine jet will be used to…
This October luxe hotelier JW Marriott is opening a 153-room hotel in Cusco, at an altitude of 11,154 ft (3,399 m) above sea level. Cusco is Peru’s most popular tourist destination given its proximity to Machu Picchu, a world-renowned archaeological Inca site. Machu Picchu was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1980s. Other nearby landmarks include the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Inca…
Dubai UAE, 26th September 2012: Feel like cooking authentic Thai food with a local chef in Phuket? What about exploring UAE cultural highlights and traditions? Or perhaps playing a lute in Vietnam with a Hanoi musician or visiting a local vineyard in Jordan? Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts across Asia and the Middle East has introduced a new Local Flair Getaway concept that connects travellers with unique local…
The Islamic Arts Gallery at the Louvre opened to the public on Saturday, bringing what is believed to be the most extensive Islamic arts collection in the world to Paris. The two-floor area of the gallery contains around 15,000 original pieces from museum’s own collection and 3,400 artefacts on permanent loan from the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. Some of the recent additions were provided exclusively by…
One&Only, the exclusive collection of luxury resorts, has introduced a new variety of amenities targeted for Arab guests at each of the 7 resorts across the world, including One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas, One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, One&Only…
After the Tiffany, Dior and Bottega Veneta suites, the St. Regis Hotel is unveiling The Bentley Suite this fall in its New York location. The theme suite will include décor touches reminiscent of designs by British carmaker Bentley Motors such as black leather tile floors and a sleigh bed made out of Bentley’s signature burled wood. The 1,700 square foot (157 square meter) suite will be available as of…
24 September 2012, Mumbai: The Sultanate of Oman is not far from being seen on the big screen in India. The Ministry of Tourism, Oman has collaborated with Balaji Telefilms to shoot a part of Balaji Motion Pictures' keenly anticipated Once Upon a Time in Mumbai... Again in Oman. Directed by Milan Luthria, the film stars some of the biggest industry names like Akshay Kumar, Imran Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Sonali…
The Ritz-Carlton group will open its first Tunisian hotel in Sidi Bou Saïd (outskirts of Tunis) in 2014. The Ritz-Carlson Tunis Carthage will offer 129 suites, seven restaurants, a vast ballroom and a wellness center featuring a spa. With direct access to the ocean, the new hotel will be located near the famous ruins of Carthage and the presidential palace. Tunis has a rich history evident in its many…
Luxury giant Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy LVMH will open a resort hotel in the Maldives in 2013. The resort will consist of 46 luxury villas and the property is currently under construction on the island of Randheli in Noonu Atoll. “Maldives has (also) become the birthplace of tourism innovation,” Maleeh Jamal, deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture told the e-daily. This announcement adds to a…
Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways today officially introduced an incredible line-up of globally renowned chefs to their unrivalled 5-star service, with the award-winning Chef Ramzi Choueiri, Chef Vineet Bhatia, Chef Tom Aikens and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa inspiring an entirely new inflight dining experience. Handpicked to set a new standard for dining in the sky while representing the finest international cuisine…
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Rotana Jet today commenced its new service between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Fujairah, making it the 3rd destination launched by the airline this year. Upon departure from Abu Dhabi International Airport and landing in Fujairah International Airport the aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute, followed by a warm welcome at Fujairah International airport for all passengers…
The famous sibling design duo from Brazil, the Campana brothers, have signed the interior of a suite at Parisian luxury hotel the Lutetia. The “Fernando & Humberto” suite, named after the two, follows a collaboration between the hotel and filmmaker David Lynch in May. The Brazilian brothers opted for maroon and green tones, resulting in a classical interior with a contemporary atmosphere. The hotel’s…
The famous sibling design duo from Brazil, the Campana brothers, have signed the interior of a suite at Parisian luxury hotel the Lutetia. The “Fernando & Humberto” suite, named after the two, follows a collaboration between the hotel and filmmaker David Lynch in May. The Brazilian brothers opted for maroon and green tones, resulting in a classical interior with a contemporary atmosphere. The hotel’s…
Asia’s first Legoland opened September 15 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The theme park is dedicated to the popular toy building bricks. Legoland theme park in Malaysia includes 40 rides, shows and attractions as well as interactive features that will allow its visitors to build, pedal, steer and splash. The 76 acre (30 hectare) theme park will cater to children from 2 to 12 with roller coasters, racing…
To mark the launch of their new amenity kits, Virgin Atlantic is giving away Swarovski-encrusted eye masks to five passengers. The eyeshades feature stunning sunglasses designs – from the classic Wayfarer to the iconic shutter shade made famous by Kanye West. The eye wear has been designed and created by Saima Anwar who spent around 10 hours on each using some 3,000 Swarovski crystals coloured red,…
Croatia‘s tourism sector, a driving force in the country’s ailing economy, registered record figures during the first eight months of the year, a minister said on Friday. “Based on the results achieved so far and announcements (for the rest of the year) this is the best tourist season in Croatia’s history,” Tourism Minister Veljko Ostojic told reporters, based on figures of arrivals and overnight stays.…
Passengers flying with Singapore Airlines (SIA) can now access the internet for a fee, announced the airline Thursday.
Virgin Australia confirmed on Monday that it will be introducing Passbook, a new feature that is part of Apple’s new iOS6 system to be released this Wednesday.
Bulgari Hotels & Resorts will open a new hotel in Shanghai in 2015, announced Bulgari China on its Sina Weibo microblog Thursday. The new hotel, to be located in a riverside complex in the artistic district of Suhe Creek, will be the fourth for the luxury hospitality group, a joint venture between Italian jeweler Bulgari and Marriott International. President of LVMH Watches & Jewelry and great…
Cathay Pacific said Wednesday it would no longer carry unsustainably sourced shark products on its cargo flights, dealing a blow to Hong Kong’s huge shark fin industry. Environmental groups welcomed the move but shark fin merchants said it threatened their livelihoods, even though most of the estimated 10,000 tonnes of fins Hong Kong imports annually comes by ship. “Cathay Pacific has decided to stop…
Qantas Airways announced on Thursday that it was teaming up with Emirates of Dubai after ending a long-term partnership with British Airways. Australian airline Qantas announced on Thursday that it would be teaming up with Dubai-based Emirates from April 2013. Qantas is ending a long-term relationship with British Airways and abandoning Singapore as a Qantas hub. Qantas passengers will have access to…
Located in the old commercial market, this place is famous for the Middle Eastern cuisine, primarily comprising of meat dishes. Traditional sweet dishes are also available. Restaurant’s prices are considerable. ‘Kofte’, minced meatballs, are their specialty and tourists like to visit the place to tase this famous Middle Eastern delicacy. Address: The Old Commercial Market Landmark: Exit Gate, Shop No. 15…
Boeing has delivered the first BBJ 747-8 to sport a new optional extra – an eight-person sleeping area, called the Aeroloft. The Aeroloft, designed and built by Greenpoint Technologies, is located above the main cabin between the upper deck and tail of the airplane. The additional space provides an extra 36.5 square meters of additional space. That brings the total cabin space to 481.2 square…
