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.
Read full storyShowing 2,065–2,088 of 5,397
Not surprisingly, Danish chef Rene Redzepi’s restaurant Noma topped the list of the hardest restaurants to get into in the world, as it receives 20,000 reservation requests a day. The earliest reservations can be made are three months out. The Copenhagen restaurant has quickly filled the vacuum left behind by the closure of legendary Spanish restaurant el Bulli last year. Given the rising demand…
The price tag for One World Trade Center, the signature skyscraper under construction at Ground Zero in New York, has risen to more than $3.8 billion. According to WSJ, the price tag for the building has shot up $700m from the latest public estimate, making it the world’s most expensive new office tower. Once completed, the 1,776-foot tower will be the tallest in the U.S., but it won’t be the highest in the…
Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz is to play a major role in Germany’s forthcoming air hub, Berlin Brandenburg International, when it opens in June. A partnership between Mercedes and Berlin Brandenburg will leave passengers in no doubt that they have landed in the home of luxury cars when they land at the new airport, with Mercedes-Benz featuring prominently across the new airport. Airport authorities said…
Just three weeks after the launch of flights to Dublin, Emirates has announced a larger aircraft will be deployed on the route from 1st July. The new passenger service, launched on 9th January, has already become one of the airline's most successful route launches with load factors driving through 90% for many of the flights. The daily Dubai-Dublin service is currently operated with a 237-seat Airbus A330-200,…
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr continues to support local artists, as part of its mission as the cultural gateway to Abu Dhabi, by showcasing the 'The Grand Mosque - Spirit in the Making' photography exhibition by Austrian artist Genovea Kriechbaum from 6 February - 13 March 2012, and under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Depicting what is arguably Abu Dhabi's most important architectural…
Raffles Dubai has been chosen as one of the top 25 luxury hotels in the Middle East by TripAdvisor® in its 2012 Travelers' Choice® awards. "A well deserved achievement! It is a testament to the dedication and tremendous efforts of the hotel colleagues over the past year, and another prestigious recognition of Raffles Dubai excellence. I would like to thank all our valued guests and supporters for their…
Tourism Ireland, in association with Visit Britain and Visit Scotland, will host 2012 travel trade workshops in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Kuwait from the 12th - 16th of February. Building on recent promising developments in direct access routes between the UAE and Ireland, the workshops are designed to further enhance Ireland's visibility and awareness among travel trade partners for 2012. The recent launch of…
Accor, one of the leading hotel operators in the Middle East, is expanding its Mercure brand in the region with the opening of Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road Dubai, on 1st of January 2012, under a franchise agreement. Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor Middle East said: “We are delighted to add the franchised Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road Dubai to our network of 19 Mercure properties in the…
UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism of Tunisia will organize an international conference on the future of Mediterranean tourism on the island of Djerba (16-17 April, 2012). The news was announced at the Tourism Investment Forum for Africa, INVESTOUR, held during the international travel fair, FITUR (Madrid, Spain, 19 January). “While the Mediterranean may be the most visited region in the world, with over…
Emirates will launch Barcelona as its second passenger gateway into Spain from 3rd July, after doubling frequencies to Madrid from 1st July. The airline is embarking on a major boost to its services in Spain on the heels of mounting demand for its Madrid service, launched in August 2010. The new Barcelona flight, EK 185, will leave Dubai daily at 0655hrs and arrive in Barcelona at 1200hrs. The return…
Hilton Worldwide today signed a management agreement with PT Nurtirta Nusa Lestari to bring the first DoubleTree by Hilton property to Indonesia. Scheduled to open in 2014, the 261-room DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta-Diponegoro, Indonesia will be conveniently located two kilometers away from the “Golden Triangle,” Jakarta’s key commercial zone and the high-end Jalan Diponegoro area, where several embassies and many…
Abu Dhabi is once again pushing back the opening of local branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim art museums, after a fresh review of the projects, the government's tourism arm said on Wednesday. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, a spin-off of the famous Paris museum, will now open in 2015 while Abu Dhabi's branch of New York's Guggenheim, will open in 2017, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) said in a…
Doha, QATAR - Qatar Airways has announced it will resume flights to the Libyan capital Tripoli from February 2. The airline will reintroduce scheduled services between Doha and Tripoli after suspending operations last year due to the political situation. The carrier had been flying to Tripoli for nine years. Initially, the re-launched route will be served three-times-a-week, via Alexandria, with plans…
UAE, January 2012 - The City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel in Abu Dhabi has reopened following an extensive refurbishment of its rooms and public areas. The new look rooms feature a palette of warm oranges, cool greens and elegant dove grays with comfortable coordinating carpets and curtains. The hotel’s main entrance and lobby area has been completely remodelled with the addition of a gift shop as well as a new…
London, UNITED KINGDOM – Qatar Airways is set to open its new Premium Lounge at London Heathrow this week, reinforcing the importance of one of the airline’s busiest routes. The Premium Lounge at Terminal 4 will be the airline’s first dedicated facility for First and Business Class passengers outside its Doha hub. The carrier currently operates the award-winning Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport,…
Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s leading hotel group, is pleased to introduce their signature brands to the UAE and GCC region. Meliá Dubai, will be the Group’s first property in the GCC. Located in the heart of traditional Bur Dubai and surrounded by the city’s most attractive historical area, close to the new Gold Souq, Dubai Museum, Dubai Creek and Port Rashid. The Hotel is within reach of Dubai’s main…
Emirates, one of the world's fastest-growing international airlines, and Alaska Airlines, have announced the launch of a new frequent flier partnership that will offer travelers the opportunity to accrue Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles when they fly to any of Emirates' 118 destinations worldwide, including points across Africa, India and the Middle East. Emirates Skywards members can also accrue miles…
Sofitel presents a unique photo exhibition, BB Forever – Brigitte Bardot, the legend, which will run throughout 2012 in four Sofitel Hotels in the United States: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and New York. Conceived in collaboration with journalist and writer Henri-Jean Servat, the exhibition traces the life of the famous French actress. The honour of inaugurating the retrospective, dedicated to the…
Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced that it carried some 4.7 million passengers in 2011, a six per cent growth compared to the previous year. The airline’s ambitious network expansion strategy was central to the significant growth in passenger numbers witnessed over the past year. In 2011, Air Arabia added six new routes to Moscow and…
Global sales of duty-free products reached $46 billion in 2011, up a staggering 17.9 percent, calculated duty free analyst Generation Research. Although the results are still preliminary and currency fluctuations may bring the growth figure down, 2011 may turn out to have been a record-breaking year. Unsurprisingly, Asia Pacific was the star growth region, with sales rising 22.9 percent and buyers helping…
Marriott has announced five new locations for its luxury boutique brand Edition, promising to have properties on three continents by 2015. Edition’s line of upscale, contemporary design hotels, which Marriott developed with hotelier Ian Schrager, will soon move into New York, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, and Gurgaon, India, the hotel firm said January 19. The Edition brand currently consists of a single…
Dusit International confirms the opening of Dusit Thani Maldives on 6 February 2012. Surrounded by a vibrant 360-degree coral reef and turquoise lagoon, this island property features pearl white sandy beaches and a rich landscape of verdant vegetation. Dusit Thani Maldives is considered a landmark addition to this fast expanding brand. “Dusit Thani Maldives will elevate the brand to a new level “, says Mr.…
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, has joined industry voices in support of the decision taken by the Obama Administration to implement the necessary measures to improve visa and foreign visitor processing in order to create jobs and spur economic growth in the USA. “It is extremely encouraging to see President Obama calling for a coordinated policy to support a prosperous and secure tourism sector in…
The Al Habtoor Group, a UAE-based development firm, plans to build a new triple-hotel complex in the heart of the Emirate as part of a $1.3 billion project. The “Habtoor Palace”. formed of two skyscrapers rising from a five-storey podium base, will see over 1,600 rooms added to Dubai‘s hotel scene. The rest of the complex is designed as a ‘lifestyle experience,’ Al Habtoor says, with a luxury spa and…
