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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Last week the Colosseum was for sale , yesterday the Acropolis was up for rent , today it's Big Ben! London's iconic structure, built in the 19th Century, could be for sale to raise money for the House of Commons. Big Ben is considered one of the landmarks of London, and the House of Commons intends to sell is to either Russian or Chinese investors. The sale includes the possibility of knocking it down and…
Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, has taken its message to the Lone Star State this week, that it is about to launch flights from Dubai to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in less than two weeks. More than 900 guests from local industries, the travel trade and the government gathered for a gala dinner event at the iconic Dallas Cowboys Stadium to discover more about one of the world's most…
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. At the opening of an elaborately staged evening at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel to launch Muscat as the Arab Tourism Capital 2012, Muna Musallam Mohammed Al Mashani was announced as winner of the highly prestigious Muscat 2012 Brand Competition. Her Excellency Maitha Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Muscat 2012 Committee Head said that “the Ministry is…
Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that it has completed its first in-house maintenance of Airbus A320 aircraft. The “C check” was carried out at the airline’s new state-of-the-art hangar at Sharjah International Airport, which has been designed to meet all the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) requirements and regulations for the…
Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways last week took part in its first major event of the year displaying one of its flagship Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft at the Bahrain International Air Show. Thousands of trade and public visitors attended the three-day event which took place at Sakhir Air Base in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Qatar Airways also had a luxury chalet at the show. Now in its 15th year of operations, the…
Greece‘s culture ministry will open up some of the debt-stricken country’s most-cherished archaeological sites to advertising firms and other ventures. The ministry says the move is a common-sense way of helping “facilitate” access to the country’s ancient Greek ruins, and money generated would fund the upkeep and monitoring of sites. The first site to be opened would be the Acropolis. A commercial firm…
Luxury hotel chain Shangri-La will stop serving shark fin at its 72 properties, as the campaign to protect the marine predators gains ground among Chinese consumers. The Hong Kong-based group said it would cease serving shark fin in all of its restaurants as well as accepting new orders for shark fin products in banqueting with immediate effect, under a “sustainable seafood policy”. Shark fin soup is viewed…
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. - On Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m., Delaware North Parks & Resorts, in partnership with NASA's Kennedy Space Center, broke ground on the future home of the space shuttle Atlantis to be located at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. NASA selected Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to permanently display space shuttle Atlantis in April 2011. The $100 million, 65,000…
DUBAI, UAE - January 2012 - Emirates and the Mauritius Ministry of Tourism today signed an agreement aimed at jointly promoting the island destination across the airline's global network. At the signing ceremony, which was held at the Emirates Headquarters in Dubai, Mauritius was represented by Honorable Michael Sik Yuen, Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Mrs Premila Roy, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of…
19th January 2012: Omar Samra, founder and CEO of Wild Guanabana, the Middle East’s first carbon neutral travel company, moved one step closer to a life-long “7 Summits” dream as he battled through temperatures of -40C to reach the peak of Antarctica’s highest mountain, the 4,892m high Vinson Massif at 18h45 Antarctica Local Time on Thursday, 5th January 2012. The Egyptian adventurer who first made his…
Luxury liner Costa Concordia may be big enough to house swimming pools and restaurants, but its very size might have complicated evacuation and rescue efforts,. “What jumps out at me is the size of this liner,” said Jacques Loiseau, chairman of the French Association of Ship Captains. The association had regularly tried to draw attention to the dangers posed by the tendency towards ships of such a vast…
Like the idea of playing 18 holes on a floating island that overlooks coral reefs and is connected by underwater tunnels? Well soon you will be able to, thanks to a Dutch company which announced plans to build a $500 million floating golf course in the Maldives. Featuring 18 holes connected by underwater tunnels, the course will be made up of several islands floating in the Indian Ocean, which will contain…
"This is an emergency. We will shortly be making an emergency landing on water." British Airways apologized today for an error that left passengers on board a flight from Miami to London in a state of panic and shock. Passengers traveling on British Airways Flight 206 were about three hours into their flight early Friday morning when an announcement warned them to brace themselves for an emergency water…
Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, will soon offer customers a quicker and more convenient link to Uganda, with the introduction of a direct service. "As demand for our Entebbe service continues to grow, customers can now enjoy the convenience of a non-stop air link with Dubai. Our new direct service will offer seamless connections to key destinations in the Middle East, Indian…
‘Incredible’ India has been voted the world’s leading destination at this year’s World Travel Awards ceremony, held January 11 in Qatar. India saw off competition from London, New York, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney to take the award, the most prestigious handed out at the event. Etihad Airways was judged world’s leading airline, seeing off a host of competitors including KLM, British Aiways,…
International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012, at a somewhat slower rate, international tourist arrivals are on track to reach the milestone one billion mark later this year. International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2011 to a total 980 million, up from 939 million in 2010, in a…
Starwood Hotels & Resorts opened its tallest St. Regis property last week in Shenzhen, China, with plans to continue its global expansion in 2012. Following recent openings in Bangkok, Tianjin and Sanya Yalong Bay, The St. Regis Shenzhen marks the brand’s fourth hotel opening in Asia in the last six months. The St. Regis now occupies floors 72-100 of the landmark Kingkey 100 building, the tallest building…
The Palazzo Orsini in Rome, which greatly resembles the Colosseum, is up for sale for €32 million($42 million). Its asking price is thought to make it the most expensive property currently on sale in the Italian capital, and one of the most expensive in Europe. The 11,000 sq ft property has frescoed staterooms, a ballroom, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a library, a dining room, a terrace, a separate…
Paris – Sofitel Luxury Hotels sign a new management contract in Changsha (South East China), opening in early 2015. This new property, 66 storeys high, will become the city center’s tallest hotel in Changsha, capital of the Hunan Province which has retained its centuries-old influence as one of China’s most important commercial, industrial and cultural centers. The Sofitel Changsha will occupy the first to…
Madrid, SPAIN – Qatar Airways has announced it will move its operations at Madrid Barajas International Airport to Terminal 4 (T4) from 16 January 2012. All Qatar Airways’ departures and arrivals will switch to T4 from the effective date. The Doha-based carrier’s move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 will allow passengers access to improved amenities, enhanced baggage facilities, as well as a wider selection…
Airbus, the leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern and efficient passenger aircraft family in the market, will present its modern and eco-efficient corporate aircraft, the Airbus ACJ320, at this year’s Bahrain International Airshow (19-21 January). A Comlux operated Airbus ACJ320, which has the widest and tallest cabin of any corporate jet, will be accessible in the static display area for the…
Bulgari Hotel is scheduled to open in London in April in the exclusive district of Knightsbridge, just in time for the Summer Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee events. Bulgari Hotel is managed by Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts, a joint venture between Italian jeweller Bvlgari (owned since last year by LVMH) and Marriott International. Bulgari Hotels and Resorts already operates properties in Milan and Bali. The…
Abu Dhabi; UAE: January 10, 2012: His Highness Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan signed an agreement with His Excellency Alain Azouaou, the French Ambassador in the UAE, marking a high profile tenant for Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi. The French Embassy will function from the dedicated office tower of the newest and most prestigious integrated lifestyle development in the capital city. Developed by Sheikh Suroor…
Dubai, UAE; 10 January 2012: Bishkek has been named as flydubai’s 50th destination, marking the pioneering airline’s entry into the Kyrgyz Republic and expanding its global network to 28 countries across the GCC, Middle East, Africa, Indian Sub-Continent, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe in just two and half years of operations. The new service, which is due to begin on 7 February 2012, makes flydubai the…
