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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Swiss luxury watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre, has created two editions of its iconic Reverso timepiece for Raffles Hotel Singapore, to honor the establishment’s 125th anniversary. The double-sided Reverso watch line is a classic. When its case is turned over, the watch is transformed into a jewel that can be personalised forever by an engraving. Now, to mark its 125th, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created an…
In a new series starting on August 13, Gordon Ramsay will be trying to fix poorly run hotels and uncomfortable bed-and-breakfasts to leave them in better shape for customers using his uncompromising boot camp technique. Hotel Hell is created and hosted by the Scottish chef and will be broadcasted by Fox in the US on Mondays at 8 pm ET/PT. Ramsay will be visiting hotels in cities in the US such as San…
Park Live saw a number of engagement proposals during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Park Live is the parkland area in the Olympic Park where visitors could watch live action on giant LED screens and see athletes interviewed on the stage. British Airways Lawn Hosts managing the area noticed the romantic hotspot when they heard loud cheers from the hill. An estimated 25 proposals took…
Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways today announced further expansion to its European network with the launch of scheduled flights to Serbia and Poland by the end of the year taking the airline’s coverage across the Continent to 32 destinations. Services to the previously announced destination of Belgrade, capital of Serbia, have been confirmed for a November 20 start with a thrice-weekly schedule via Ankara.…
Even prime ministers need vacations. Both Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg are reportedly travelling to Spain for their break - where the Lib Dem leader will be visiting his wife's family David Cameron, who last year took a two-week long respite in Tuscany, made the case for his need of a break on Sunday when he told reporters that he was taking a post-Olympics family vacation, according to the BBC. Cameron told…
The general manager of Qatari owned luxury hotel The Hotel Schweizerhof Bern, Michael Thomann, has been named "Hotelier of the Year" by the leading Swiss business magazine Bilanz. The honour comes just one year after the hotel’s reopening following a two-year refurbishment by the hotel’s owners Katara Hospitality Ltd. After the reopening in June 2011, the Schweizerhof turned to the challenge of…
Dubai, UAE (August 14, 2012) – Tilal Liwa Hotel, a secluded desert hideaway perched at the edge of the majestic Rub Al Khali desert in Abu Dhabi Western region, is hosting the stay of four teams competing in the Al Dhafra Club First International Football Championship held at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, Western Abu Dhabi. The football tournament, organised by Al Dhafra Sports &…
13th August 2012, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: As the prestigious setting for many historic meetings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past decade, the lobby of the five-star Al Faisaliah Hotel North, A Rosewood Hotel now enters a new era of elegance following its recent refurbishment. Designed by Her Highness Princess Al Anoud, CEO of Al Dar Design Company, the new lobby displays clean and contemporary design…
Singaporean firm WOHA has completed the massive 100,548 square meter ‘intercontinental sanya resort’ on hainan island off the southern coast of China. The villas, a clubhouse, two hundred hotel rooms, restaurant, watergarden, spas, sports center and ballroom are encapsulated within the concept of the garden. Each space opens directly to a vegetative feature of varying moods and characteristics,…
A trio of Southeast Asian cities took the top spots in a ranking of the top 10 street food cities, with Bangkok, Thailand emerging as the best in the world, notably for its variety and abundance of options. VirtualTourist.com gave top marks to the Thai capital for its offerings like Pad Thai, green papaya salads, mango sticky rice, and chicken with green curry. VirtualTourist.com is a user-generated…
Two passengers who were flying in the First Class cabin on Qantas from Los Angeles to Melbourne were not happy when they boarded the aircraft. The airline had promised them "soft and luxurious pyjamas and slippers" but the airline did not have XL sized PJs. The passengers were not happy to fly in the alternative Peter Morrissey pyjamas which are given to business class pasengers. So the passengers had to…
The $30 million restoration of the Colosseum financed by Diego Della Valle – the founder of luxury leather good maker Tod’s – will begin in December. The restoration of the Colosseum will last two and a half years and the ancient monument, which is one of the most visited sites in the world, will be covered in scaffolding but will be accessible to the public throughout. Della Valle, owner of the Tod’s…
Langham Hospitality Group has arrived in Sydney with the acquisition of The Observatory Hotel which becomes The Langham, Sydney today. The property will be a truly glittering centerpiece amidst the city's renowned landmarks and gives Langham a strategic position for brand expansion in this key feeder city. Located near Sydney's historical Rocks district and the Central Business District, the hotel is the…
Australian billionaire Clive Palmer is looking for a way “to clone a dinosaur from DNA” as part of the park-style area at his new resort in Coolum. Reports suggest that Palmer has been in “deep discussion” with the team that successfully cloned Dolly the Sheep. If rumors are correct, Palmer hopes to include the cloned animal in his recently announced $2.5 billion plan to build a resort in Coolum, a…
Royal Brunei Airlines has been appointed the Official Airline of the Royal Trophy - Europe vs Asia Golf Championship. The Royal Trophy is an emotionally-charged and passionate competition played between Europe and Asia in a team match-play format, with the Asian and European golfing elite competing for the pride, honour and glory of their respective continents. The Sixth Edition of the Championship…
As the resort’s dedicated photographer, Tanya Sorokina will capture guests special holiday moments, offering private photography sessions from one hour to a whole day, with from 60 images. of professionally edited images, available from $250 plus taxes. With an abundance of stunning photo shoot locations throughout the resort, guests can choose to have their holiday memories taken by the resort’s…
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has announced the brand’s first hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), marking another step in the group’s expansion in Asia. The 250-room hotel is set to open in 2017 and will be located in the historic centre of Saigoni9 adjacent to the famous Ben Thanh Square market, in a 48-storey tower. The Ritz-Carlton, Saigon is part of a development project called The One Ho Chi…
Asia leads the world’s growth in travel and holds seven out of the ten busiest inter-city routes. In addition to the BRIC markets, Indonesia, the Philippines and Chile showed an impressive growth, according to analysis by the market intelligence solution Amadeus Total Demand. The review looks at trends in worldwide passenger demand* between regions, countries and…
DreamWorks plans to build a $3.2 billion theme park in Shanghai, as the US film giant seeks to bolster its presence in the booming Chinese entertainment market. The studio’s newly formed China joint venture, Oriental DreamWorks, is set to open the theme park in 2016, the creator of “Kung Fu Panda” said in a statement. The “Dream Center” will comprise entertainment facilities, animation exhibitions,…
Sharjah, UAE; August 7, 2012: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today its financial results for the three months ending June 30, 2012, demonstrating the continued strength of the airline’s business model. For the three months ending June 30, 2012, Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 66 million, an increase of 31 per cent compared to…
Fancy a piece of the Eiffel Tower for the dining room? Furniture once used in the Paris landmark’s high-end eatery the Jules Verne will go under the hammer in September, auctioneers said on Wednesday. The Jules Verne’s modernist black-and-white decor hosted fine diners from around the world on the second floor of the landmark tourist site from 1983 to 2007, when the restaurant was taken over by top chef…
American Airlines announced on August 2 that it will be offering its passengers a delivery service for up to ten bags if they are prepared to pay an additional fee. The luggage will be taken to the passenger’s hotel, home or final destination for an additional cost of $29.95 for one bag, $39.95 for two, and $49.95 for up to 10 bags. Suitcases will be delivered within the first four hours of the…
United Airlines today unveiled its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which will revolutionize the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions. The airline showcased its first 787, fresh out of the paint hangar at Boeing’s Everett, Wash., facility. United is the North American launch customer for the Dreamliner, and expects to take…
India’s Sahara Group is set to purchase a controlling stake in New York’s Plaza Hotel for $570 million. The 105-year-old luxury hotel overlooking Central Park in New York is currently owned by Israeli tycoon Yitzhak Tshuva and Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Tshuva will receive $400 million for its 60 percent stake while Talal will receive a smaller amount and retain a 25 percent stake.…
