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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World Travel Market 2011, the leading global event for the travel industry, will generate more than £160 million for UK & Ireland exhibitors, reveals independent research. Fusion Communications' analysis of the WTM 2011 UK & Ireland region reveals £164m of contracts will be generated, either through deals signed at the event with Meridian Club buyers or from further negotiations which will conclude before…
Emirates airline, one of the world's largest airlines, has signed a contract with local UAE firm Excel, based in Ajman, supported by Gunzburger Steigtechnik, out of Germany, to develop an additional multi-aircraft docking system in their Dubai engineering facility. This new operation, located in hangar E, will be in addition to the four docking systems already in place in four of…
Irhal.com had the pleasure of interviewing Ben Harper from Go Native Apartments at ATM 2012, and he filled us in on the benefit s of using their services. If you’re planning a trip to the UK, especially during the Olympics, you might want to consider staying with them. Ben will tell you why: Irhal: Talk about the benefits for people using Go Native’s serviced apartments over hotels Ben: So we believe…
Airline recorded 100 per cent on-time performance for outbound flights from Domodedovo Airport in April 2012 Sharjah, UAE; May 30, 2012: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that it has been ranked first for the punctuality of its outbound flights from Domodedovo International Airport, Moscow. Figures released by the airport show that…
The Sunset Beach Resort & Spa announced today that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor. Approximately 10 percent of hotels & resorts listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. To qualify for the Certificate of…
DUBAI, UAE - May 2012 -With Irish golfers flying high at the top of the golfing world, Emirates has announced its first sponsorship in Ireland by becoming the Official Airline of the Irish Open. The 2012 Irish Open, which takes place in the spectacular surrounds of the Royal Portrush Golf Club, from 28th June - 1st July, is one of the premier events on the European Tour calendar. The tournament is set to…
Imagine a luxurious tropical resort framed by snow-white sandy beaches and lush palm fronds on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll - and discover the Dusit Thani Maldives. Opened in February 2012, this lavish five-star resort is surrounded by a pulsating 360-degree coral reef with a turquoise lagoon and a verdant landscape. Secluded on the almost untouched Baa Atoll isle, Dusit Thani Maldives is 35 minutes by…
With 2012 already proving to be a winning year for Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel, Riyadh’s ultra luxurious hotel scooped a further award at the Business Traveller Middle East’s annual awards ceremony held in Dubai. The hotel was recognised as “Best Business Hotel in Riyadh”. Launched in the UK in 1976, Business Traveller Middle East has become the leading magazine…
Dubai, which already claims the world’s highest building, has set a new record with Princess Tower, which the Guinness World Records website said on Monday was the world’s tallest residential building. “Princess Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is 413.4 metres (1,356 feet) high and has 101 storeys above ground, dedicated to residential use,” Guinness said. The tower, topped with a crown, is located in…
As heads of state from NATO’s political military alliance discuss security challenges and peacekeeping missions next week, alliances of a different kind are also being made in the kitchens of Chicago. About 200 restaurants are taking part in the city-wide initiative “Chicago’s Culinary Crossroads” which will spotlight the city’s diverse, gastronomic offerings until May 25 and pair international chefs with…
UNWTO welcomes the Declaration issued by the Tourism Ministers of the G20 economies (T20) calling for priority to be given to facilitating travel as a means to boost economic growth and create jobs. “To ensure that tourism can play a key role in creating employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly through linkages to the local economy, raising national income, improving the balance of payments…
Accor has completed the purchase of the Mirvac Group's hotel interests in Australia and New Zealand. As a result of the acquisition, Accor will add a total of 43 hotels across Australia and New Zealand. Accor has been working with the Mirvac Group to ensure a systematic integration of the hotels into the Accor network. In the first phase of integration, Sydney Marriott Hotel will be re-branded as Pullman…
The world’s most romantic city, Paris, has been named the most expensive city in the world to order a Club Sandwich, according to research released today by Hotels.com. The classic chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayo sandwich, available in hotels the world over, has been used as a measure of affordability by the hotel expert. The Club Sandwich Index (CSI) will give holiday-makers an indication of the…
On Tuesday May 15th at 11.00 am the UK’s Immigration Minister, Damian Green, appeared before the British parliament’s Home Affairs Committee to answer questions about queues at passport control in Heathrow Airport. Simultaneously, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a statement pointing out that the problems created by UK Border Agency at Heathrow, whilst bad for Britain’s image and…
Dubai, UAE– Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, a premier destination for business and leisure travellers, recently attended the Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair (KITF) and brought positive results with the team meeting new contacts and potential business partners. Iftikhar Hamdani, General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, said: “This was the first time we have attended this exhibition and we are very…
Oman’s resort and hotel portfolio continues to expand with over 2,000 additional rooms scheduled for opening in 2012/ 2013. Muscat sees the most growth with the addition of 726 rooms, while niche resorts are set to open in Salalah, Khasab and in the high altitude Hajar Mountains. Duqm, Oman’s new city on the Arabian Sea, sees the opening of three hotels with a total of 391 rooms. The portfolio sees continued…
The Crystal Lagoon, at “Citystars Sharm El Sheikh” will be officially recognized by the Guinness World Records™ as the largest crystal lagoon in the world, offering the Lagoon developer, Citystars Properties,a special occasion to celebrate. The 120,000 m2Crystal Lagoon that clinched the world title is designed by the world-renowned Chilean Architect Fernando Fischmann. Engineer Yehia al-Meteini, General…
Geneva, SWITZERLAND – Qatar Airways today announced a strategic alliance with fractional jet programme provider Flexjet to offer customers access to over 5,000 destinations beyond the Doha-based airline’s four North American gateways. Flexjet is aircraft manufacturer Bombardier’s fractional ownership business, providing access to more than 80 modern executive aircraft. Aircraft available as part of the…
With the United Arab Emirates emerging as one of the world’s top golf destinations for both leisure and corporate travelers, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ (fairmont.com) has partnered with Troon Golf to train the concierge and Fairmont Gold staffs at Fairmont Dubai and Fairmont Bab al Bahr in Abu Dhabi (fairmont.com/babalbahr) to better serve the needs of golf travelers. In addition, the resorts have added new…
“We aim to be the largest Muslim travel community,” said Irfan Ahmad, CEO of Irhal.com, “The app will integrate a sharing feature that will allow travellers to check-in to the places they visit, or upload pictures of mosques and halal restaurants. They can even suggest new additions for restaurants or mosques that they discovered on their trips, and share it with the community through the app.”
DUBAI – May 10, 2012 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today welcomes its top 100 global executives to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the company’s annual leadership conference. This marks the first time the leadership conference is held in the Middle East, underscoring the importance of the region as one of Starwood’s fastest-growing hotel and travel markets. In another bold move to…
Zagreb, CROATIA – Qatar Airways today celebrated the launch of its 30th European destination with daily scheduled flights to the Croatian capital Zagreb. A traditional water salute at Zagreb Airport marked the arrival of Flight QR947 from Doha, the airline’s capital in the State of Qatar. The new route, operated via Budapest, also represents the first passenger flight to Croatia from the Gulf region. Qatar…
DUBAI, UAE - May 2012- Emirates airline launches the Skywards Future Artists Competition 2012 to find the world's most aspiring artists. Winners of the competition will have their artwork featured on the Skywards 2013 membership cards, Emirates award-winning frequent flyer programme; giving artists an exciting opportunity to satisfy their creativity while connecting them with a global and esteemed platform of…
A long-awaited undersea hotel in Dubai looks finally set to be built, after an agreement to develop it was unveiled this week. The Water Discus Hotel won’t be totally submerged but will be a disc-like structure with part of the building above water and the rest below the surface. The 21 rooms will be submerged up to ten meters below the surface of the water, with huge windows offering a view out from the…
