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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Dubai-UAE: July, 2011 – Fitness First, the world’s leading health and fitness club chain and a member of Landmark Group, today announced it will host a seminar on the appropriate exercise and dietary regimen to be observed during the Holy Month of Ramadan for the benefit of members. To be delivered by a Fitness First expert at the Uptown Mirdiff mixed club on 16 and 17 July, Fitness First will also offer all…
SWISS carried 7 367 099 passengers in the first six months of 2011, a substantial 10.9% increase on the same period last year (2010: 6 643 521). The positive business trend is attributable partly to the numerous flight cancellations in the prior-year period owing to the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud; but SWISS has also posted year-on-year increases in all its monthly passenger numbers to date in 2011. While…
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, 14th July 2011: Al Khozama Management Company (AKMC), a leading luxury commercial property development, investment and management company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement to open the Al Khozama Hotel in Madinah, the company’s second luxury hotel in Al Madinah Al Munawara. The agreement was signed by Mr Musaed Al Said, Chief Executive Officer, AKMC and HE Sheikh Ali…
After conducting comprehensive research to ensure its customers wants and desires are met, Sharjah City Centre is set to welcome an abundance of new retailers, while further enhancing its already diverse and value-orientated retail mix. At present, the popular mall has already greeted three quality lifestyle outlets – La Moda Sun Glasses, Better Times and Rasasi – as…
Doha, QATAR – In a move to provide passengers with more flexible travel options, Qatar Airways has launched an additional daily flight between Kuwait and Doha. Qatar Airways now operates five flights daily between Kuwait City and the airline’s Doha hub taking frequency up to 35 weekly services on the route. The new daily flight QR145 departs Doha at 1300 hrs, arriving in Kuwait at 1415 hrs. The…
Paris, France, 12th July 2011- In 2011, Pullman, the upscale chain of the Accor group, is expanding into six new countries, with openings in the Netherlands (Eindhoven), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Indonesia (Bali and Jakarta), New Zealand (Auckland) and, before the end of the year, Vietnam (Hanoi) and India (Gurgaon). The network is also pursuing its very strong development in China, with four new openings planned in…
Fifty six Cyprus beaches have been awarded Blue Flags this year by an international jury, signifying their compliance to stringent environmental regulations, according to an announcement by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO). The Blue Flag is an exclusive eco-label which has been awarded to over 3,450 beaches and marinas in 41 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil,…
In the first six months of 2011, Deutsche Lufthansa AG carried 50.2 million passengers. This represents an increase year over year of 10.1 per cent in the number of passengers opting to fly with carriers in the Lufthansa Passenger Airline Group. The Group raised ca-pacity in the term by 11.9 per cent, while sales rose by 9.1 per cent. The seat load factor fell by 1.9 percentage points on the prior-year…
Muscat, 11th July 2011: As part of its drive to further enhance the customer experience, Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has just completed a year-long training programme for call centre staff in the Sultanate. The programme was delivered in partnership with Infoline LLC, which specialises in call centre and business process outsourcing services. As Oman Air’s call centre is the…
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa has been named the World’s Best Hotel Spa in this year’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Travel+Leisure is a travel magazines that focuses on authentic, innovative, and irresistible experiences across the globe. Survey results are based on readers' ratings, with hotel spas specifically judged on the basis of their ambience, treatments, service and…
Dollar Rent a Car, a franchisee of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc (NYSE: DTG), and one of the Middle East’s fastest growing car rental companies, today announced their expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a franchisee agreement with Al Wefaq Rent A Car. The office in Al Rawabi, Riyadh, will serve as the Dollar headquarters for car rental services…
A crushed ice dessert accompanied by a lemon mint drink is the ultimate after dinner treat in Kuala Lumpur. Kachang is made of shaved ice and is topped with multi-colored sugary syrups. Hidden inside the mound of crushed ice are jelly, sweet corn, red beans and attap chee (palm seeds). Sweet condensed milk is poured over the shaved ice to complete a concoction that is a favorite dessert of Malays and…
Muscat, 7th July 2011: Oman Air Racing Team star Ahmad Al Harthy is set to take on one of the greatest challenges of his career to date, when he participates in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, part of the FIA Formula One World Championship, at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, 9th/10th July. This will be the first time that the 29-year-old from Oman’s capital city of Muscat will have competed as…
Emirates is responding to strong passenger demand in Sudan by launching an extra weekly flight to Khartoum, boosting its frequencies to four each week from 4th August 2011. Operated by A330-200 aircraft in a three-class configuration that includes 12 luxurious First Class seats, 42 seats in Business Class and generous space for 183 passengers in Economy Class, the additional flight will add over 950 seats…
The first international conference dedicated exclusively to the relationship between tourism and the media is to be held by UNWTO and Croatia under the title Tourism in the Headlines (12-13 September, Zagreb, Croatia). The conference will address why, despite being one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economic sectors, tourism rarely makes the headlines or the economic pages of newspapers. Globally,…
Sofitel Luxury Hotels announces the opening of its first address in Guangzhou (formerly Canton, in southern China) with the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich, thereby increasing its network to 20 addresses in the country. Ideally located in the heart of Tianhe, Guangzhou’s most dynamic financial and business district, the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich is less than one kilometer from the emblematic skyscraper CITIC…
The Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism has formed a committee represented by the members of the local tourism industry to participate in enhancing the Sultanate’s tourism strategy and laying down an effective action plan to maintain and grow the healthy numbers of tourists arriving in the country. The committee brings together airline, hotel, tour operator and tourism investment representatives. They will…
The Huka Retreats is proud to announce the re-launch of Dolphin Island, Fiji. This stunning 13-acre private retreat now re-joins sister properties Huka Lodge, New Zealand and Grande Provence Estate, South Africa following an extensive period of renovation and refurbishment. The property now boasts a magnificent new presence and offers a maximum of just eight guests the ultimate private Pacific island experience,…
RAK Airways, a national carrier of the UAE, has expanded its route network with flights to Doha, Qatar. Effective July 5th 2011 RAK Airways will offer four flights a week to Doha. RAK Airways CEO Omar Jahameh said, “By adding a sixth destination to our network we are providing travellers with a value offering to yet another exciting destination. The introduction of our Doha sector is in keeping with our…
Sharjah City Centre’s summer promotion is set to take off from1 July to the 3 of September, where every customer will be in for a chance to win one of the many fantastic prizes ensuring they shop their way, away! During this 65-day summer campaign customers can avail instant ‘Scratch and Win’ prizes, as well as automatic entry into a high-flying draw to win tickets on Air Arabia. With passports at the…
In line with events held in Oman’s Dhofar province during the monsoon (Khareef) season, this year’s Salalah Tourism Festival, held from July 1, will feature a variety of artistic and cultural activities and stage shows, with local and international programs to meet the expectations of families and other participants seeking entertainment, knowledge and enjoyment. This year’s festival will include a variety of…
Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, is delighted to announce the launch of a book marking the 50th anniversary of its London property, Jumeirah Carlton Tower. ‘All That Life Can Afford’ is a specially commissioned book, written by Clive Aslet and published by Marc Hoberman, capturing the extraordinary history of the hotel and the personalities who have…
The world's longest bridge over water opened for traffic in China on June 30 2011. The 26.4 miles long Jiaozhao Bay bridge connects the eastern port city of Qingdao to an offshore island, Huangdao. It beat the previous world record holder - the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Luisiana, USA, by about 2 miles. Various reports claim that it cost between $1.5 billion to $8 bilion and unlike the Pontchartrain…
Celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan in the luxurious and indulging hospitality of Armani Hotel Dubai. Experience the splendour of Iftar and Suhour with sweeping vistas of Dubai from Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. ARMANI/MEDITERRANEO From awe-inspiring views of The Dubai Fountain to exemplary cuisine of the Mediterranean region, Armani/Mediterraneo’s Iftar buffet is the ideal way to break your…
