Divergent Travelers

Ultimate MIDDLE EAST Travel Guide

The  Middle East  is one of the most notorious regions to visit on the planet. It gets a bad rap due to sensationalized media but the reality is that much of the reason is  safe for travel . It’s a region that provides fascinating culture, history and food to experience. The goal of our Middle East travel guide is to show you exactly why.

Geographically, the Middle East is comprised of 3 distinct regions broken down into North Africa, Western Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. This area covers a total of 20 countries.

North Africa  includes the countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

Western Asia  includes the countries of Turkey, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine.

The  Arabian Peninsula  includes the countries of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen.

We’ve spent just over two months traveling in the countries of Morocco, Egypt and Jordan during our Middle East travels. We have seen the very best they have to offer and have a good pulse on what it’s like to actually travel there.

Destinations

Middle east travel: quick tips, don’t visit the middle east without:.

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MIDDLE EAST BUCKET LIST

Pyramids & tombs in egypt.

Egypt  is a gem of the Middle East and for good reason! It is here that you can find massive pyramids and colorful tombs that stretch along the Nile. You can use the cities of  Alexandria ,  Cairo ,  Luxor  and  Aswan  to explore the wonders of Ancient Egypt. 

LOST CITY OF PETRA IN JORDAN

The  Lost City of Petra  is a highlight to any  Jordan itinerary , featuring massive structures carved right into the side of the cliffs. During the day, the sight is lively with bedouin traders offering shopping and banter. When the sun sets, head to  Petra by Night .

PAMUKKALE POOLS IN TURKEY

If your  Turkey itinerary  doesn’t include  Pamukkale , you’ll be missing out! This natural wonder forms some stunningly beautiful geothermal travertine pools affectionately referred to as the cotton candy pools. They are best viewed at sunrise and sunset.

MORE THINGS TO TRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

There is no shortage of great things to do in the Middle East during your visit and the biggest problem you’ll face is fitting them all into your itinerary.

Each country has its own offering and unique things to check out during a visit, so be sure to look at our country guides once you decide where your itinerary will take you.

CAMEL SAFARI INTO THE SAHARA DESERT: (Morocco)  Getting up close and personal with the mighty Sahara Desert is a rite of passage adventure in the Middle East. Taking a  Merzouga Sahara desert tour  will find you on camels, trekking a few hours across massive sand dunes before arriving at a desert camp for a spectacular sunset followed by campfire stories and some intense star gazing.

VISIT THE BLUE CITY OF CHEFCHAOUEN: (Morocco)  One of the most beautiful cities you’ll find in the Middle East is the  blue city of Chefchaouen , located in the northern hills of Morocco. Here you’ll spend your time wandering bright blue colored streets while popping into shops, markets and mingling with the locals.

SHOP AT THE MARRAKECH SOUK: (Morocco)  If you seek a traditional Middle Eastern souk, then  Marrakech  certainly delivers. The medina harkens to the explorers of time gone by and you can shop the intimate alleys for spices and leatherwares or hang out in the central area. There you’ll find great people watching and even snake charmers.

TOUR KING TUT’S TOMB: (Egypt)  The most famous tomb in the world, that of King Tutankamun, can be toured when you visit the Valley of the Kings outside of Luxor, Egypt. Inside you’ll find the actual mummy of the boy king along with beautiful wall paintings depicting his life.

SEE ABU SIMBEL: (Egypt)  This is easily one of our favorite  places to visit in Egypt  as the ruins are large, ornate and very impressive. Overlooking the giant Lake Nassar, formed when the Aswan High Dam was constructed, these ruins were built for King Ramses II. The entire complex was once located further south, actually within the borders of Sudan, but the formation of the lake meant that it was moved to preserve the structure.

TAKE A NILE RIVER CRUISE: (Egypt)  Taking a  Nile River Cruise in Egypt  will get you up close with the lifeblood of Africa and Egypt. Typically sailing from Aswan to Luxor, or reverse, you’ll experience the mighty river, local life and have a chance to tour off some incredible temples. It’s a great way to see the best sites without having to move hotels every few nights too.

VISIT THE ROMAN CITY OF JERASH: (Jordan)  Located outside the capital city of  Amman , Jerash is a massive ruined Roman city complex that blew our minds when we visited. It features a large amphitheater and plenty of intact roads lined with columns. If you visit after a rain, you may even find roman coins on the ground!

GLAMP IN THE WADI RUM DESERT: (Jordan)  This is one of the most unique  things to do in Jordan  and was easily a highlight of our trip. The Jordanians stop at nothing to give you an authentic desert experience, complete with storytelling, activities and posh accommodation. One of the highlights was staying up all night to stargaze.

FLOAT IN THE DEAD SEA:  When you think about  swimming in the Dead Sea  it’s hard to imagine that you’ll actually float. Well, let us tell you, it happens and it’s a strange sensation! But of course, one that you cannot miss. It’s possible to access the Dead Sea from both Israel and Jordan, with both offering posh resort experiences.

DISCOVER THE CITY OF ISTANBUL: (Turkey)  The Turkish city of  Istanbul  is a melting pot of culture due to its location. It marries a little bit of Europe with a lot of the Middle East, making it one of the most fascinating  places to visit in Turkey . Be sure to give yourself enough time to truly appreciate the city.

SEE CAPPADOCIA FROM THE AIR: (Turkey)  Taking a  hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia  will show you an otherworldly landscape that you won’t soon forget. You’ll have an early start, but you’ll forget all about that when the sun rises over the land below you, illuminating it in an array of pinks and oranges. Of course, there are other cool  things to do in Cappadocia , but this one tops the list.

EXPLORE THE ANCIENT CITY OF EPHESUS: (Turkey)  The very first place I ever visited in the Middle East was the  Ancient City of Ephesus, Turkey  and it was then that I knew I wanted to see more of what the region has to offer. At this site, you will see one of the largest Roman theaters to ever be discovered, along with the towering front of the once grand Library of Celsus. While in ruins, the city offers a fascinating look into life in Roman times and offers up stone streets, intact shopping huts, mosaic floor tilings and plenty of statues. When you finish touring this site, be sure to check our nearby  Selcuk  too.

FOODIE BUCKET LIST

The Middle East is one of the best destinations for foodies. Each country has its own national dish, but there are many staples that you’ll find all over the region.

Kebabs  and skewered meat (or vegetables) are incredibly popular, while rice dishes similar to  Pilau  (or Biyrinais) are hearty and filling.

Chickpeas  are a staple and are often fried up into falafel, while hummus, pitta, and Kanafeh are ubiquitous across the Middle East.

MIDDLE EAST FESTIVALS

There are many festivals and events, both religious and cultural, to look out for when organizing your Middle East travel itinerary.

The biggest event in the region is  Eid , which marks the end of  Ramadan . It’s celebrated with huge feasts and festivities.

The  Prophet Mohammed’s birthday  is often observed, while many countries have parades to mark independence days or national holidays.

THINKING ABOUT VISITING JORDAN?

Popular regions in the middle east, arabian peninsula.

When you envision the Middle East, you probably imagine the dusty deserts and mega-cities of the Arabian Peninsula. This is the classic Middle East region, where you can revel in the glitz and glamour of the Gulf States, including  Dubai ,  Abu Dhabi ,  Bahrain , and  Qatar . But there’s more to the region than this. You can explore the ancient ruins and diverse history of  Jordan  (a visit to  Petra  is a must!) or visit the authentically Arabian climes of  Oman . Off the beaten track travelers can head to  Saudi Arabia , which is slowly becoming more welcoming to tourists. Or they could get really off the radar and join a tour to  Socotra , the only part of  Yemen  that’s been stable in recent years.

WESTERN ASIA

Western Asia is a roughly defined region, but it’s where the Asian continent merges with the European, in Turkey, the Caucasus, and along the Mediterranean coastline. Broadly speaking, Western Asia can include  Turkey , Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel,  Kuwait , and Palestine. This is one of the most fascinating regions in the world, but it’s not exactly an easy region to travel to the Middle East to explore. In Turkey, you can cross from Asia into Europe if you visit  Istanbul . Spend one day seeing ancient Roman ruins and the next sunning yourself at a beach resort. Iraq and Syria are mostly off-limits, except to the hardiest travelers (there are more and more group tours heading to these well off-the-beaten-track destinations). Iran is open to some nations and closed to others, but stay away from politics, and you’ll enjoy supreme hospitality in a country like no other in the Middle East. Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine often make the news for the wrong reasons, but there’s so much to see in this compact part of the Middle East. This is the Holy Land; in Lebanon, you can marvel at crusader castles devoid of tourists. In Israel, you can visit Jerusalem then head to the beaches of Tel Aviv. In Palestine, you can see first-hand one of the oldest parts of the world, a literally biblical place.

NORTH AFRICA

North Africa is culturally and religiously very similar to the Arabian Peninsula, but it can also be extremely different. North Africa roughly encompasses destinations such as  Egypt ,  Morocco  Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria. North African cities are busy, bustling, and have a lot more life and history than you’ll find in the Arabian metropolises. Cities like  Marrakech , Casablanca, Algiers, Tunis,  Cairo , and  Alexandria  are packed with ancient sites, but you can also become quickly overwhelmed in the markets and souks! Explore the Sahara Desert in Morocco, stay at a beach resort in Tunisia or  cruise down the Nile  to see the ancient sites of  Luxor  in Egypt. North Africa offers some of the best wonders in the Middle East.

MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL BUDGET

Setting a budget for travel to the Middle East is highly dependent on your travel style. It is possible to visit just about anywhere on any budget and still have a great trip. That said, you can make your trip as basic or as luxurious as you desire.

To help you set your budget, we’ve included some base range price estimations for travel within the Middle East. Of course, keep in mind that prices can fluctuate based on seasons, availability and festivals.

Travel costs vary massively from one country to the next. While Turkey is inexpensive, Gulf State nations such as Qatar and UAE are some of the most expensive destinations to travel to the Middle East and visit.

ACCOMMODATION: Hostels  (where they exist) and  guesthouses  are the cheapest options. They vary from USD 10 to USD 30 per night.  Private rooms  will start at USD 50 and go up to USD 100. In the Middle East,  luxury  accommodation really has no limits when it comes to price.

FOOD:  Food can be inexpensive across the Middle East, as long as you stick to the  local cafes, restaurants, and markets . Even in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you can find great meals for as low as USD 5 per plate.  Mid-range restaurants  will be more in the region of USD 20 per person, while in the Gulf States, you can easily spend upwards of USD 100 on a meal if you desire!

TRANSPORT:  Transport can be cost-effective if you stick to local routes.  Local buses, trains, and boats  can cost just a few dollars for a ride. In Turkey, you can cross the entire country by train for just USD 20.  Flights  are good value, too; the Middle East is the hub for the world’s best airlines.

ACTIVITIES:  The cost of activities when you travel to the Middle East varies dramatically from one country to the next. In Turkey, you can go  diving  for USD 50 a tank, but in Oman, it might cost you USD 150. A  multi-day Nile cruise  costs around USD 200 per day, while entry to  Petra  costs 70 USD.

50-100 USD PER DAY

You will only get away with a budget of USD 50 or less in destinations like Egypt and Turkey. For Gulf states, you’ll need USD 100 per day. Stay in hostels, use public transport, and eat like a local to save on cash.

100-200 USD PER DAY

Depending on your destination. This will get you private rooms and restaurant meals, as well as plenty of day tours.  You’ll still use public transport. This budget will be more comfortable for the more expensive Gulf States.

400 USD + PER DAY

Luxury travelers will be able to live in supreme comfort in resorts in Turkey or North Africa, while a higher budget will be needed for true luxury in the Gulf States (where there is no limit to the luxury hotels you can stay at!).

WHERE TO STAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Below you will find some of the places we have stayed during our travels in the Middle East. These are individual properties that we enjoyed and would recommend to other travelers.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN THE MIDDLE EAST

There are a few ways to get around the Middle East during a visit, including cruises, buses, car rentals and flights. There are few railways outside of Egypt and Turkey. Plan ahead and be flexible.

CRUISES:  In some destinations, boat travel is an option, particularly along the River Nile, where a cruise is one of the best experiences you could enjoy when you travel to the Middle East! There are also cruises that ply the waters of the Mediterranean stopping at ports in both North Africa and Western Asia.

BUS & TAXI:  Most countries have efficient public transport systems that at least link major cities. Bus travel is the most common way to get around. Failing this, you’ll often find shared taxis operating routes, or tourist buses heading to popular attractions (Petra, in Jordan, for instance).

FLIGHTS:  The quickest way to travel between countries in the Middle East is to fly. The region is incredibly well connected by many different airlines, as many Middle Eastern cities serve as global hubs for air transport.

CAR RENTAL:  Often, car hire can be the best way to get around the Middle East if you’re short on time and want to see one specific region. Check out  Discover Rental Cars  for great deals.

TOP MIDDLE EAST TOURS

Highlights of morocco.

15 Days Casablanca to Marrakech Visits: Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Ait Benhaddou & Essouira

EXPLORE JORDAN

8 Days from Amman Visits: Jerash, Dead Sea, Madaba, Petra & Wadi Rum

HIGHLIGHTS OF EGYPT

14 Days from Cairo Visits: Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Nile Cruise & Hurghada

WHEN TO VISIT THE MIDDLE EAST

Much of the Middle East is scorching throughout the year. If you’re not used to extreme heat, you’ll want to plan your Middle East travel itinerary to visit in winter.

The colder months of the year,  between October and March , are the best times to travel to the Middle East if you’re heading to the Arabian Peninsula or North Africa. Temperatures will still be hot, averaging around 20 degrees Celsius, but you’ll be able to get out and about and enjoy hiking and sightseeing throughout the day.

Summers  in the UAE, for instance, can often reach 50 degrees Celsius. On the plus side, flights and accommodation will be cheap!

For countries further north, such as Iran and Turkey, you’ll want to visit in  spring or fall . Winters in this part of the Middle East can be bitterly cold, especially at altitude. Summer in Turkey is a busy time to visit, while summer in Iran is scorching hot.

Before you plan your Middle East travel trip, consider important religious events, especially Ramadan, which can affect how and even where you might be able to travel.

For more specific information, check out:

  • Best Time to Visit Jordan: Month by Month Breakdown

Best Time to Visit Egypt: Month by Month Breakdown

  • Best Time to Visit Turkey: Month by Month Breakdown

PLAN YOUR MOROCCO ITINERARY!

Safety in the middle east.

The Middle East is often seen as a hospitable and welcoming palace to visit, despite all the bad press. Locals will go out of their way to make you feel at home and show their culture. Strict laws ensure petty crimes such as theft are few and far between.

Women often have a different experience to men, however, when they travel to the Middle East. It’s a very chauvinistic culture, and female travelers, unfortunately, can be victims of harassment or even assault.

The region does have significant political tensions. Border areas in hot zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Israel should be avoided. When you plan your Middle East travel itinerary, always keep one eye on the news, as things can flare up dramatically without warning.

Islam is the predominant religion of the region. The laws of many countries here can be very different from those in the west, and comparatively, the culture is incredibly conservative. What might be the cultural norm in your home country might be illegal in the Middle East.

Worthwhile reading if you’re planning to visit the Middle East:

  • 25 Essential Safety Tips for Travel
  • Is It Safe to Travel to Jordan?
  • Is Egypt Safe to Visit?

MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL: BOOKING RESOURCES

Middle east travel guide: related articles.

Looking for more info? Check out all the articles we’ve written on travel to Middle East and start planning your dream trip.

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Is egypt safe to visit in 2024, 15 tasty jordanian food experiences you cannot miss during your visit, 7 days in jordan: the globus escape experience, ultimate jordan itinerary for 5 days, 7 days or 10 days, wadi rum in jordan: best camps & ultimate planning guide, choosing an egypt nile cruise: itineraries, essential tips & advice, 21 epic things to do in egypt, 15 best things to do in aqaba, jordan, 15 places to visit in jordan (that may surprise you), 15 interesting things to do in amman, jordan (for first timers), 27 special things to do in jordan, ultimate egypt itinerary for 7 days, 10 days or 2 weeks, 21 amazing things to do in cairo, egypt, 15 epic things to do in luxor, egypt, 15 unmissable things to do in alexandria, egypt, 15 things to do in aswan, egypt (on your first visit), 15 top things to do in hurghada, egypt, the jordan pass: is it worth it plus how to maximize your ticket, ultimate 10 day turkey itinerary (plus 7 day & 2 week options).

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Connecting in the Middle East – The Main Airline Hubs

airline hubs in the Middle East

Through a combination of its geographical location, wealth and the rise of some of the world’s biggest and best airlines, the Gulf countries have become a major hub for global air traffic. The region is a very useful connecting piece for budget travellers looking to save money on inter-continental flights by taking indirect rather than direct flights to get to where they need to go. Read on for a look at five of the main airline hubs in the Middle East:

The Main Airports for connecting in the Middle East

Dubai International Airport

Dubai Airport , CC BY-SA 2.0

Serving around 90 million passengers per year, Dubai is the biggest airport in the Arab world and the third busiest in the world according to the most recent data, after Atlanta and Beijing. Much like the city of Dubai, the airport has grown at an astounding rate over the past twenty years. The recent construction of Al Maktoum Airport, also serving the city may eventually change that but for now Dubai International remains the biggest of the airline hubs in the Middle East.

It is the main hub for Emirates, consistently ranked as one of the best airlines in the world and you can fly to a huge 85 countries from Dubai with Emirates. While you may have to pay slightly more to fly with them compared to some of the other Arab airlines, their huge network makes it an appealing option for many travellers, particularly those based away from the biggest airports in Europe. With Emirates you can fly from cities such as Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham, Geneva, Stockholm, Lisbon, Bologna, Dublin, Budapest, Lyon and Vienna to a range of destinations across Southeast Asia and the Far East via just one change in Dubai.

Doha, Qatar

Doha is another useful connecting piece for anyone looking to get from Europe or even further afield to more distant parts of Asia. It is the home of Qatar Airways, another of the region’s biggest airlines. The original and fairly limited Doha Airport was replaced by Hamad International in 2014 and it’s safe to say it was a big upgrade making for a much more pleasant experience for tired travellers waiting for a connection.

Almost every plane there seems to be a Qatar Airways jet and they have another huge network with a presence on every continent. Due to a diplomatic crisis in the region, Qatar Airways are currently not allowed in the airspace of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt or the UAE but that has had little major effect on their long-haul services. With flights to three cities in Vietnam, five in Thailand, three in the Philippines, four in Malaysia, two in Indonesia in addition to Singapore and Phnom Penh, flying via Doha is another great option for anyone heading for a backpacking trip in Southeast Asia.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Jeddah Airport

Jeddah Airport , CC BY 2.0

Onto Saudi Arabia now and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. There are less major long-haul connections to Europe, Oceania or the Americas from here but it is the busiest airport in the country with a wide range of connections across Asia.

It’s the main hub for Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier airline Saudia and more interestingly from a budget traveller’s perspective flyadeal, a low-cost airline with big plans. For now they don’t have a huge network but that could change in the future. We suggest using Cleartrip for a flyadeal booking and it’s a useful platform for all long-haul flights connecting in the Middle East.

Muscat, Oman

Flying Oman Air via Muscat is another good option for Europeans looking for long distance flights to/from the Far East and Southeast Asia. Their prices tend to be a bit lower than the other major Arab airlines but they still offer a comfortable service.

With Oman Air, you can fly from Manchester, London (Heathrow), Athens, Frankfurt, Milan, Moscow, Paris and Zurich to Muscat. From there you can connect to some of Asia’s most popular travel destinations including Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Nepal. It’s also a great option for anyone heading to Tanzania and East Africa with direct flights to Zanzibar.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

airline hubs in the Middle East

Abu Dhabi Airport , CC BY-SA 2.0

Back to the UAE now, for the final one of our list of major airline hubs in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi International isn’t as big as Dubai but it’s still a major player in terms of global air traffic as the home of Etihad Airways which operates the majority of flights going to/from Abu Dhabi.

You can fly to Abu Dhabi with Etihad from a large range of European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belgrade, Brussels, Dublin, Istanbul, London, Manchester, Munich and Rome. They also have flights in from Toronto, New York, Sydney, Brisbane, Johannesburg and Nairobi giving them a real global presence. The connections to Australia, make Etihad a viable option for anyone heading to or from down under. You can also use Abu Dhabi to connect to a huge number of destinations across Asia.

This article was published in June 2019.

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Middle East Tours & Vacations

Woman laughing, with guide, wearing traditional middle eastern clothes in the desert at sunset

The Middle East is living, breathing proof of an old maxim: you don’t know, until you go. 

Forget the headlines and the hyperbole; this is the cradle of civilizations, an ancient land emerging as a modern power, with the money, culture and panache to back it up. Ride camels with Bedouin tribespeople across the dunes of the Sahara, haggle for gold in the souqs of downtown Amman, marvel at the Blue Mosque on a Turkey trip , cruise the Nile beneath the white sail of a felucca or float forever in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea. Wherever you go, three things will follow: the faint scent of cloves and camel, the echoing call to prayer and the smiles of people that call this place home. 

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Middle East Travel Guide

Looking for an in-depth Middle East travel guide ?

Then you’re in the right place!

The Middle East is probably one of the most misunderstood regions in the world, one that many see as dangerous or off-limits to travelers.

While a trip to the Middle East requires a bit more planning and consideration than many other destinations, it’s a place that everyone should visit at some point in their lives.

Rich in history, culture, and beautiful places, it’s no wonder the region is high on the bucket lists of so many travelers around the world.

If you’re a history buff, you definitely won’t want for things to do in the Middle East. The region is home to some of the top historic sites in the world such as the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Old City Jerusalem in Israel , and the Roman ruins at Jerash in Jordan .

As the birthplace of the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), the Middle East is a great place to learn more about some of the world’s most practiced religious traditions.

From ancient sites like the Western Wall in Jerusalem to modern wonders like the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi there is much to explore.

If you want to embark on a grand tour of the Middle East, you’ll want to plan for at least a 10-day itinerary in order to spend enough time in each country.

You also may need to plan some extra time to get from one destination to the other, as security and border crossings between countries can be complicated. It’s best to research your destinations thoroughly before booking anything in this region, as you don’t want to find yourself with the wrong visa or unprepared for any necessary expenses.

You’ll find some great tips below in the FAQ section of this guide and more specific information in our travel guides for Jordan, Israel, and Turkey .

Many travelers to the region also opt to sign up for an organized tour which can take some of the guesswork out of planning a Middle Eastern adventure and provide access to exclusive experiences.

Whatever way you choose to travel, you’re sure to have an incredible time in the Middle East.

Keep reading to dive into resources that will help you with planning a trip to the Middle East.

Note: This ultimate guide to Middle Eastern travel contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Middle East travel guide

Travel Tips For Israel

Jordan travel advice, turkish cuisine, middle east map.

Use this Middle East travel map to begin planning your trip to this incredible country!

Middle East map

Click here for an interactive Google Map version of the above graphic.

Middle East Travel Tips

Confidently travel solo in the Middle East with the help of the following guides:

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These guides share travel tips and recommended highlights for planning the perfect Israel itinerary!

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Middle East travel guide to Israel

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Visiting the Dead Sea is one of the top things to do in Israel

Israel’s Dead Sea Like You’ve Never Seen It Before

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Jordan Travel Guide

These guides share travel tips and recommended highlights for planning the perfect Jordan itinerary!

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Morocco Travel Guide

Plan an unforgettable trip to Morocco with the help of the following travel guide

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Turkey Travel Guide

These guides share travel tips and recommended highlights for planning the perfect Turkey itinerary!

Solo Travel In Turkey

Plan a safe and fun solo trip to Turkey with the following guides:

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Solo Travel In Istanbul: The Ultimate Guide (With Map!)

Turkey Travel Itinerary

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United Arab Emirates Travel Tips

The following guides will help you plan the perfect trip to the UAE!

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Best Middle East Tours

Explore local culture with a Middle Eastern tour guide through these unique excursions:

  • Private Tour Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Dead Sea Day Trip with Amman Sightseeing from Amman (Jordan)
  • Half-Day Desert Tours | Wadi Rum Desert (Jordan)
  • Jet Ski Tour of Dubai: Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina, Atlantis, Palm & Burj Khalifa (United Arab Emirates)
  • Sunrise Desert Safari Tour from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
  • Guided Tour To The Giza Pyramids & Sphinx With Lunch & One Hour Quadbike from Cairo (Egypt)
  • Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Tel Aviv (Israel)
  • Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon with Flight from Istanbul (Turkey)
  • Wadi Shab Coastal Trekking from Muscat (Oman)
  • Nature Flora and Fauna Trip from Manama (Bahrain)

Click here for a full list of Middle East travel tours!

Renting A Car In The Middle East

Need a rental car for your Middle East trip?

Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.

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Middle East Hotels

Click here to browse the best Middle East travel hotels!

Prefer self-contained stays?

Click here to check out unique local rentals!

You can also use this map to search for local stays. I have the map set to Amman, Jordan, but you can easily change it to your destination of choice:

Middle East Travel Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group on a Middle East tour. When visiting the Middle East — or any other country or continent in the world — make sure to get travel insurance to protect your health and safety.

In my opinion, the best travel medical insurance for travelers is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

With coverage, you’ll have peace of mind as you embark on your Middle East travel itinerary.

Click my referral link here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Middle East Travel Guide FAQ

Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about traveling in the Middle East .

Q: What are 15 attractions in the Middle East that shouldn’t be missed?

Though every traveler will have their own priorities and must-do list when visiting the Middle East, be sure not to miss these top attractions:

  • Petra – Jordan
  • Wadi Rum – Jordan
  • Burj Khalifa – Dubai, UAE
  • Giza Necropolis (or the Pyramids of Giza) – Giza, Egypt
  • Goreme National Park – Cappadocia, Turkey
  • Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock – Jerusalem, Israel
  • The Dead Sea – Israel & Jordan
  • Luxor – Egypt
  • Hagia Sophia – Istanbul, Turkey
  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Beirut, Lebanon
  • Nile River – Egypt
  • Ephesus, Turkey
  • Bethlehem, Palestine
  • Burj Al-Arab – Dubai, UAE

Q: What are the best Middle Eastern countries to visit?

While every Middle Eastern country is home to its set of attractions and incredible sites, some countries are more traveler-friendly than others. Safety and infrastructure are things to keep in mind when traveling to any new destination and when planning a trip to the Middle East in particular.

The United Arab Emirates has quickly become a top destination for travelers around the world for its luxurious accommodations, incredible cities, and unique experiences.

Jordan is home to some of the most quintessential Middle Eastern experiences like Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea and is a favorite among travelers for its excellent hospitality and safety.

Israel blends old and new with a mix of modern, cosmopolitan cities and ancient sites that tell the stories of the three Abrahamic religions.

Egypt is high on the bucket list of many travelers for a reason. How could you miss the Pyramids of Giza, one of the last remaining Wonders of the World?

And for truly incredible sites that range from ancient mosques to grand bazaars, head to Turkey, one of the most popular destinations in the world.

By the way, all of the above-mentioned destinations are some of the top places for solo female travel in the Middle East .

Q: What do I need to know before going to the Middle East?

You need to be particularly strategic when planning a trip to the Middle East. Though the countries in this region are fairly close to each other, traveling from one to the other isn’t quite as easy as it is in Europe and other parts of the world.

This is particularly true when traveling to certain Middle Eastern countries from Israel. In the past, certain countries have denied travelers entry at the border if they had Israeli stamps in their passports.

Israel has stopped stamping passports at airports in recent years and instead gives visitors a small entry card that essentially acts as a free tourist visa. You’ll need to hang onto this during your stay in Israel but it will save you some trouble when traveling to other Middle Eastern countries after your trip.

If you’re crossing into Egypt or Jordan from Israel by land, you may receive a stamp in your passport; if you’re concerned about the stamp, you can ask the agent at the border not to stamp your passport. If you do have an Israeli stamp in your passport, you should avoid traveling to Syria, Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. You will be allowed to enter Turkey, Morocco, and the UAE but you may run into some trouble in the unlikely event that you are stopped by police.

If you’ve traveled to other Middle Eastern countries prior to your trip to Israel, expect a fair amount of questions at the border. Be aware that you cannot cross into Syria or Lebanon by land from Israel. And also note that several countries, including the UAE, Lebanon, and Morrocco have banned direct flights to Israel.

Be aware that many countries in the Middle East may have different cultural norms and etiquette expectations than your home country.

In this predominantly Muslim region, it’s best to dress conservatively, regardless of gender. A good rule of thumb is to keep your arms and legs covered unless you’re going swimming. Women should also keep a scarf or shawl handy in case they need to cover their heads at a religious site.

Along those lines, it’s important to be respectful of local religions and religious practices. Be aware of Muslim and Jewish holidays, as local business hours and operations may change.

For example, if you’re traveling to a majority Muslim country during Ramadan, you’ll want to avoid eating and drinking in front of others during the day and seek out restaurants with private dining areas for tourists.

And if you’re visiting a religious site like a Mosque, be respectful of the fact that you are in a house of worship. Keep your voice down and do your best to maintain the sacred environment.

As with any destination, it’s important to be aware of local laws when traveling in the Middle East. Alcohol is prohibited in several countries in the region including Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Other countries like Qatar and Iran make exceptions for non-Muslims, so just be sure to do your research before you go.

Public displays of affection can also be illegal in certain Middle Eastern countries. While this varies from country to country, it’s best to keep PDA to a minimum when visiting the region, even if it’s just holding hands.

Q: Is the Middle East safe for tourists?

Your level of safety will vary from country to country in the Middle East. Countries like Jordan, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait are considered some of the safest countries to visit in the region as they have a high level of security and are generally not involved in major conflicts.

Israel and Egypt do face a fair amount of unrest but the major tourist areas — such as Jerusalem in Israel and Giza in Egypt — are generally pretty secure. Turkey is also generally considered safe for travelers as long as they avoid the borders with Syria and Iran.

Unfortunately, due to ongoing conflicts, most governments have advised their citizens not to visit Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Since situations can change quickly in this region, it’s best to check your local government’s travel advisories before planning your trip.

Q: Is the Middle East cheap or expensive?

Travel costs vary from country to country in the Middle East.

If you’re traveling to the United Arab Emirates, you can expect to spend about $200 USD per day whereas you’ll probably spend about half of that in Israel.

Your money will also go pretty far in Turkey where prices have dropped on accommodations, food, and other travel expenses in recent years.

Prices can also vary greatly within one country depending on where you are so it’s best to do your research on each individual destination so you can budget appropriately.

Q: What amount should I have in mind when it comes to Dubai vacation costs?

Dubai can be pricey but there are definitely ways to save on your vacation. The average traveler spends about $200 USD per day in the city on food, transportation, accommodation, attractions, and other travel expenses.

You can find a lot of great deals in the city on Groupon and through The Entertainer , a local magazine full of discounts.

The metro is also an easy and cheap way to get around town. If you have a lot of hotel points stashed away, you’ll find that they go far in Dubai.

Q: Where can I take a Middle East road trip?

A road trip is a great way to see the Middle East and there are some truly beautiful drives throughout the region. One popular route in Jordan is Amman to Wadi Rum, where you’ll get to see the country’s gorgeous sandstone mountains from the comfort of your car.

The drive from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Damman, Oman is a great showcase for the natural wonders of the region and you’ll definitely want to stop at some of the coastal towns and nature reserves along the way.

If you really want to feel like you’re a world away, drive from Dubai to Liwa in the United Arab Emirates. This route cuts straight through the desert where there’s nothing but sand and sky. You’ll end up in an amazing oasis city where you can have a truly luxurious desert experience.

Q: Do I need a Middle East travel visa?

Visa rules differ by country, so you’ll need to check your country’s International Travel Information page for your destination for the most up-to-date information on entry and exit requirements.

You can also contact the embassy of your destination.

Q: What countries are in the Middle East?

The full list of Middle Eastern countries include:

  • Saudi Arabia
  • the Syrian Arab Republic
  • the United Arab Emirates

Q: What are some major Middle East airlines?

A few major Middle Eastern airlines include Middle East Airlines, Fly Dubai, Gulf Air, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad Airways.

Q: Are credit cards accepted in the Middle East?

The answer to this question varies drastically depending on the country you’re visiting as well as what part of the country and the size of the establishment. In general, larger establishments in more touristy areas will accept credit cards — particularly Visa and Mastercard. It is also wise to carry cash.

Q: Can you drink the tap water in the Middle East?

While the tap water is safe to drink in certain Middle Eastern cities, it’s certainly not the case overall. Check the water quality in your specific destination to be sure.

What would you add to this Middle East travel guide?

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36 Best places to visit in the Middle East in 2024

By Joan Torres 88 Comments Last updated on March 21, 2024

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Wanna travel to the Middle East with Against the Compass?

Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kurdistan and more. We have group expeditions scheduled every month to the most exciting destinations in the Middle East.

The Middle East…

That enormous piece of territory often overlooked as a whole and, usually, only seen as the land of the greatest and most beautiful deserts, endless bazaars of spices and the warm welcome of the Bedouins.

Moreover, most of the time, the international media only likes to share images of disasters and bad things happening in the Middle East.

This distortion of reality changes people’s perception to the extent that the whole region of the Middle East becomes a dangerous place to travel to as if it was one single country.

But, you know what? The Middle East is composed of 14 different countries that differ massively from each other, have boundaries and share borders.

Which countries are part of the Middle East?

In my opinion, these are the countries that comprise the Middle East:

Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen

Officially, the Middle East also includes Turkey and Cyprus, but this is my blog, and I decided not to include them and, instead, I decided to include Libya in this list.

After many years of living and traveling around the region, based on my own experience and opinion, I have compiled a list of the 36 best places to travel in the Middle East.

These choices are based on their level of security, historical importance, and natural beauty. 

My objective is to show you not only that the Middle East is a safe place to travel to, but I also want you to see the huge natural and cultural contrast between countries and the relevant role they have in our history.

places to visit in the Middle East

36 Best places to travel in the Middle East

Remember to get travel insurance for the Middle East IATI Insurance is one of the very few that covers travel in ALL Middle Eastern countries Get 5% discount if purchasing via this link

Please note that this list is just a personal opinion and might not match yours.

Further suggestions are more than welcome!

1 – Amadiya – Home to the Three Wise Men

Country –  Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan)

Located in the north of Iraqi Kurdistan, only 10km away from the Turkish border, Amadiya is a lovely, very photogenic village located on the flat top of a mountain, which has no less than 5,000 years of history.

From the Assyrians to the Persians, as well as several Jewish and Christian communities, dozens of different civilizations and religions have left their footprint in this historical place.

Furthermore,  Amadiya is believed to be the home of the Three Wise Man, who made a pilgrimage to Bethlehem to see Jesus Christ after his birth.

Today, Amadiya is a Muslim Kurdish village, surrounded by the most striking mountain scenery, characteristic from northern Iraq and one the most beautiful places to travel in the Middle East.

You may like: How to visit Mosul

top places to visit in the Middle East

2 – Shibam, the Manhattan of the desert

Country – Yemen

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, Shibam is a 7000-inhabitant town, located in the middle of nowhere, composed of 9-story mud-brick buildings, which is why it’s often referred to as the ‘Manhattan of the desert’, even though I don’t really like these comparisons.

Unlike other sites of great interest in Yemen, Shibam is located in a region named Hadramut, a relatively safe in Yemen with direct flights from Cairo in Egypt.

Read my Yemen travel guide for more information.

Yemen, Middle East

3 – Esfahan – Jaw-dropping Islamic architecture

Country – Iran

Esfahan is Iran’s most amazing city and its mosques, composed of giant domes and mind-blowing ceilings with extravagant geometrical forms, are the most impressive buildings in the Middle East, without any doubt.

Being one of the most historical cities in the region, Esfahan has always been home to a large community of scholars and prestigious intellectuals and its importance and influence in this part of the world was often compared to Athens and Rome.

Today, as per Iranian standards, Esfahan is a surprisingly modern, clean and vibrant city where some of the most educated and brilliant people in the country live.

Read more: A 1-to 4-week itinerary in Iran

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4 – The Old City of Damascus

Country – Syria

Everything here is very old.

This is the first thing the hotel receptionist told me on the day I arrived in the city.

Damascus is indeed one of the most ancient cities in the world – probably the oldest country capital – established in the second millennium BC, and capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750, one of the most important caliphates ever, extending from Spain to Iran .

My favorite place in Damascus was Umayyad mosque , an outstanding mosque which passed from being a Jupiter Temple during the Roman era to a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist and then one of the largest mosques in the world.

Today, Damascus is a safe city and, fortunately, the Old City has remained like that during most of the war.

I visited it at the beginning of 2019 and had a real blast.

For more information, read my Syria travel guide

Wanna travel to Syria with Against the Compass?

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Join a group of like-minded travelers to visit the wonders of Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra and more.

May 29th to June 5th, 2024

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5 – Baalbek – Giant Roman ruins, all by yourself

Country – Lebanon

Extending from Western Europe to North Africa and the Middle East, the Roman Empire was the greatest empire that has ever existed.

Today, most of its ruins, some of them in relatively good condition, are major tourist attractions that receive hundreds of visitors every day.

Outside of Rome, the ruins of Baalbek are among the most impressive, not only due to their dimensions and good preservation, but also because you are likely to have the ruins to yourself as, here, we are talking about Lebanon, one of the most off the beaten track destinations in the region, where you can experience the greatest Roman ruins like nowhere else, hence one of the best places to travel in the Middle East.

Read more: How to spend 2 weeks in Lebanon

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6 – Ghadames, an ancient caravan city

Country – Libya

600km from the capital of Libya (Tripoli) and nestled right at the triple border between Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, Ghadames is an ancient caravan city, one of the most important caravan cities in all of Africa. The Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a massive, entangled maze of streets built in a refreshing oasis in the middle of the desert.

It does take one full day to reach Ghadames by car from the capital Tripoli, but the journey is worth the trip.

Read my Libya travel guide .

Caravan city of Gadhames

7 – The twisting Minaret of Malwiya

Country – Iraq

Malwiya is an outstanding 52-meter-tall minaret with a peculiar spiral shape, absolutely jaw-dropping, and the most iconic building in all Iraq.

The minaret belongs to Al-Jami, a 9th century mosque, once one of the largest in the world, but destroyed in the 13th century.

The emblematic minaret, however, still stands and today, you can climb it to the very top through a steep spiral ramp with no handrail.

The minaret can be visited in the city of Samarra, once the capital of the Abbasid caliphate, the third caliphate to succeed the Prophet Muhammad.

Today, Samarra is a UNESCO World Heritage city, which can be easily visited on a day trip from Baghdad, a must-visit in the Middle East.

Read: Federal Iraq , 10-day itinerary for independent travelers .

Wanna travel to Iraq with Against the Compass?

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Join a group of like-minded travelers and visit the wonders of Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Mosul, and more.

May 19th to 26th, 2024

Middle East travel guide

8 – The coastline of Dhofar province

Country – Oman

Stretching from south Oman all the way to the Yemeni border, Dhofar’s coastline may differ significantly from what you expect from an Omani beach.

Vertiginous cliffs, turquoise-blue waters, and empty, epic beaches characterize the beaches of southern Oman, barely discovered by the average traveler, who tends to stick to the northern part of the country.

If you are into wild, random camping and road trips, in the Middle East, it doesn’t really get better than this.

Read my travel guide to Oman

things to do in the Middle East

9 – Al Balad, the colorful Old City of Jeddah

Country – Saudi Arabia

Unfortunately, very little is known about Saudi Arabia but, given that this is the home of Mecca, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Saudi is filled with ancient and historical places, and one of the best examples is Al Balad, the old part of Jeddah, established 1,300 years ago as the gateway for Muslims on their way to Mecca, mostly arriving by sea from Africa.

Today a UNESCO World Heritage site, Al Balad is a lively area filled with colorful facades and, by far, the most beautiful Old City from all the Gulf Monarchies.

Traveling to Saudi Arabia is getting easier than ever and here you read my tips for Saudi .

beautiful places to visit in the Middle East

10 – Jerusalem – The holiest place for the three main monotheist religions

Country – Israel, and Palestine

Today, Jerusalem is part of Israel but, if Palestine ever becomes an independent state, East Jerusalem, which is mostly inhabited by Arabs, will be the capital of the country.

Being one of the most important places for Christians, Muslims, and Jews, Jerusalem is a city that has perfectly combined tradition and history with a 21st-century city, meaning that you can stroll around the old city and its historical sites for days and, at the same time, enjoy the endless nightlife, food scene, and modernity of the new part of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is one of those cities that are worth spending several days in.

Read more: A travel guide to Palestine

best places to go in the Middle East

11 – Golestan – Central Asia in the Middle East

What if I tell you that, in a very remote part of Iran, bordering the Turkmenistan border, there is a region with an unexpectedly mystical landscape, home to a large Turkmen community who have more similarities to people from Kyrgyzstan than other Iranians.

This region is called Golestan province, one of the least visited provinces in Iran, whose main peculiarity is that most of its inhabitants are ethnically Turkmen, a Central Asian ethnicity originally from Turkmenistan.

From Central Asian food, such as plov and kurut , to the way they dress, the Mongolian features in people’s faces and a very Central Asian nomadic life, visible in their love for horses and the yurts they live in, Golestan is a different world from the rest of the Middle East.

Read more: A guide to Golestan province in Iran

cool places to go in the Middle East

12 – Mosul, the open-air museum of Iraq

Mosul is exceptional, one of my favorite cities in all of the Middle East, and the reasons are as follow:

First of all, it is a very diverse city.

Prior to the war against the Islamic State, Mosul was inhabited by different types of Christians, Muslims and also Yazidis. It was ethnically mixed too, home to Armenians, Kurds, Arabs and Assyrians.

When ISIS took it over, however, most of them fled the city but today, many are coming back and the streets are becoming more lively than ever.

On the other hand, the Old City of Mosul is an open-air museum, packed with historical mosques and churches, all of them being in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list .

While it’s true that most of the buildings are today largely destroyed due to the recent war, there’s a big UNESCO team working on rebuilding all its wonders , allowing you to witness an exciting moment of living history.

Read: Mosul travel guide

Traveling in the Middle East

13 – Erbil – A cosmopolitan Iraqi city

Not many cities in the world have as much history as Erbil has.

With almost 30,000 years of history, according to historians, and, today a UNESCO World Heritage site, Erbil is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, a city with plenty of tradition, filled with plenty of ancient bazaars, epic cafés, and historical sites.

Nevertheless, the awesomeness of Erbil doesn’t end up here and, in fact, what may surprise you is that, as well as a classic Middle Eastern Muslim city, this is also a real pro-Western metropolis and a regional business hub where a large expat community lives and, as a consequence, has some of the most awesome nightlife in the Middle East.

Read more: Things to do in Erbil

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14 – Petra – One of the 7 wonders of the world

Country – Jordan

Even though this is likely the most touristic site in the region, it would be a sin not to consider one of the 7 wonders among one of the best places to visit in the Middle East.

Petra was founded in the VI century B.C. by the Edomites but, it didn’t prosper until the Nabateans (a group of nomadic Arabs) took over the place and built the city by carving it from the rock, making it become an important trading hub.

The architecture of Petra leaves you breathless and, besides admiring the Treasury and the Monastery, I recommend getting off the path, going hiking and taking the trails less traveled.

coolest places to visit in the Middle East

15 – Wadi Doa’n

Wadi Doa’n is a canyon-shaped valley located in the region of Hadramut and dotted with fairy-tale-like villages whose architecture is a real blessing to the eyes.

The canyon offers plenty of trekking opportunities with spectacular, vertiginous views, and there’s even a pretty cool resort on the top of a cliff where you can stay and which remains open despite the conflict.

Many of the people from these villages, especially young kids, have never seen foreigners, so the local life there is pretty raw. To make it even more exciting, there’s one village named Qarht Bahumaish, which is Usama Bin Laden’s hometown. He was born in Saudi but his family comes from there.

How to travel to the Middle East

16 – Beirut – The most culturally diverse and liberal city in the Middle East

Beirut is the capital of Lebanon , a city that suffered one of the longest contemporary Civil Wars (25 years, ending in 1991). Today, among all the destroyed buildings, Beirut brags about being one of the safest cities in the region. With unbelievable economic growth and the rapid rise of the middle class, Beirut is the most liberal and westernized city in the Middle East (outside of Israel). 

I love Beirut because of its deep, rich and contrasting history. It’s composed of dozens of districts that differ massively from each other: The hipster district of Gemmayzeh, Hezbollah areas like Bourj al-Barajneh, the student neighborhood of Hamra, old Palestinian refugee camps, the Armenian district of Bourj Hammoud, several Christian areas and much, much more! Beirut is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

From the deepest underground parties to the most glamorous clubs, from local eateries to the best fine dining restaurants in the region, Beirut is a city adaptable to any kind of traveler and budget. 

Read more about it here: Beirut travel guide

places to travel in the Middle East

17 – The green, rolling hills of Jizan

Saudi Arabia is a massive country and, as such, it has quite a few geographical areas, the most dramatically different being Jizan, a province bordering the country of Yemen .

Asian-like terraced fields, greenery, and monkeys comprise the mountain villages of Jizan, miles away from Saudi Arabia stereotypes, plus the people there are culturally Yemeni, from the food they eat to the way they traditionally dress.

Jizan can’t be more off the beaten track.

For more information, read my 2-week itinerary for Saudi Arabia .

best places to travel in the Middle East

18 – Maaloula, a Christian town in Syria

Maaloula is a Christian town located north of Damascus (Syria) with an intriguing history, both ancient and contemporary.

On the one hand, this is one of the very few places in the world where they speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus, making it such a unique place.

Now that tourists are a rare thing to see, if you visit The Convent of Saint Serge and Bacchus, you are likely to meet the priest, who will certainly be more than happy to recite some words in Aramaic.

The recent history of Maaloula, however, isn’t so fortunate, since it was taken by Al Nusra (similar to ISIS) during the war, the legacy of which is still very visible in the many destroyed buildings. In fact, the nuns running the Monastery of Saint Tekla are the ones who were kidnapped by the Muslim extremists, a sad event in which even the Pope intervened.

what do visit in the Middle East

19 – The Dead Sea – The lowest point on Earth

Country – Jordan , Israel and Palestine

Occupying territory in both Israel & Palestine and Jordan , the Dead Sea is the lake with the highest salt density in the world and also, the lowest point on Earth, 430 meters below sea level.

Such is the high concentration of salt that animals and plants can’t live in it, hence the name.

Swimming in the Dead Sea is totally fine and, due to the high density of the water, sinking is almost impossible. I’ve only been to the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea and, along the coast, there are several hotels and resorts where you can chill on their beaches and have a mud bath.

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20 – Liwa Oasis – The purest and wildest image of the Gulf

Country – United Arab Emirates

Around 500 years ago, a group of Bedouins tapped underground, freshwater recourses to cultivate dates and, as a result, several villages and settlements appeared in the area, which we currently call Liwa, the birthplace of the Nahyan family, the current ruling family of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

Since then, and over the years, the cultivation of dates in Liwa has been a key factor in the region’s economic development.

Read: Best desert safaris in Dubai

Liwa is located in the south of UAE, next to Saudi Arabian border and on the edge of the Empty Quarter, a huge desert spread across UAE, Yemen, Oman , and Saudi Arabia and considered the largest (continuous) sea of dunes on Earth, whose end can’t even be seen from the furthest horizon.

In addition, in Liwa you can also find the only real Bedouins in the UAE and the Moreeb dune, one of the highest dunes in the world (300m).

Read more:  A guide to Liwa Oasis

great places to go in the Middle East

21 – The Citadel of Aleppo

Along with Damascus, I also visited Aleppo at the beginning of 2019.

Before the war, Aleppo used to be the largest and most touristic city in the country.

Being a few thousands years older than Damascus, the Citadel and Old City of Aleppo have been mostly destroyed by the Civil War but after the liberation of the city in 2017, the reconstruction has already begun, Syrians are moving back and shops are, very slowly, reopening.

I am pretty sure that, in a matter of years, the beautiful city of Aleppo will return to its maximum splendor.

For more information, read my 8-day itinerary for Syria

best things to do in the Middle East

22 – Madain Saleh, like Petra but more epic

Similar to Tabouk, have you ever been to Petra, in Jordan?

Imagine the wonders of Petra but in the desert of Saudi Arabia.

That’s Madain Saleh (or Hegra).

Hegra was an ancient city founded by local tribes in 3000 BC, but it was not until the 2nd century BC that the Nabateans made it a great city, in a fear of the Romans conquering Petra, so it could serve as the new capital. 

Still, the Romans conquered both cities, Hegra and Petra, but the more than 100 tombs carved from the giant desert rocks remained, today found in the middle of nowhere.

Unlike Petra, however, the tombs of Madain Saleh are spread out across a vast desert but as part of the visit, you can tour around with a pretty cool Vintage Jeep.

Read: Saudi Arabia itinerary

top things to do in the middle east

23 – Dahab – The most backpacking-friendly place in the Middle East

Country – Egypt

Dahab is a lovely touristic beach town inhabited by Bedouins in the Sinai peninsula, which is considered the most backpacking-friendly place (and probably the only one) in the Middle East.

For decades, Dahab has attracted travelers from all over the world for having some of the best diving in the country. In Dahab, one comes for two things: either scuba diving or doing literally nothing, as it has this laid-back atmosphere that consists of going to the beach, smoking weed and eating at the several seafood restaurants.

Besides, due to the massive drop of the Egyptian Pound, in Dahab, you could easily rent a full apartment (2 beds with Wi-Fi) for less than 9USD a day.

Read more: A guide for traveling Egypt (3-week itinerary + tips)

is it safe to travel to Middle East now

24 – Jerash – Massive and highly accessible Roman ruins

If making a trip to Lebanon to visit the ruins of Baalbek sounds too hardcore for you but you still want to travel to the Middle East, perhaps you should consider visiting Jerash, another of the greatest Roman ruins outside of Italy, constructed in some of the most fertile valleys in the region, today comprising green, rolling hills filled with olive and fig trees.

The location, therefore, is not a coincidence because, when it was built around 2,000 years ago, the Romans wanted to make it a great city due to the richness of the land.

is it safe to travel to Middle East

25 – Musandam – The Norway of the Middle East

A rocky desert land composed of stunning fiords, cliffs and one of the largest varieties of wildlife in the Middle East, Musandam (often called the Norway of the Middle East) is a piece of territory within the UAE that belongs to Oman.

It’s located north of UAE, projecting into the Strait of Hormuz.

Musandam is a pretty common destination among expats living in Dubai but still, the area remains pretty untouched. Along the coast, you find several beaches only occupied by the local Omanis, who like to gather with their families for barbecues during the weekends. Expect several families to invite you to join them.

Read: Best excursions and activities to do in Oman

In Musandam, you could also rent an abra (a local traditional boat) to sail around the fiords and observe the wildlife. Meeting dolphins is almost guaranteed and, if you are into snorkeling, you can see that the deep and dark waters of Musandam are also home to coral, turtles and manta rays, among other things.

Read more: A guide to visiting Musandam in Oman

middle east travel hb

26 – Hebron – The most troubled city in Palestine

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Country – Palestine

Hebron is the city where the Tomb of the Patriarchs stands, the place where Abraham, Jacob and Isaac are buried.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs is one of the holiest places for both Muslims and Jews.

This means that both religions are sharing an important holy place but, on top of that, Hebron also happens to be the only city in Palestine where Jewish settlements are within the city itself.

The situation is quite sensitive, as there have been endless confrontations between the local Palestinians and the settlers .

In the old part of the city, the local Palestinians have built a fence that serves as a roof to prevent the settlers who live in the upper floors throwing garbage to them.

To add more tension to the conflict, during the holy month of Ramadan in 1994, a Jew entered the Tomb of Patriarchs (in the mosque inside), opened fire and killed 29 Muslims during prayer time.

Since then, the area is strictly controlled and, both Jewish and Muslim prayer areas are strictly separated. Abraham is buried in the middle of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, right between the synagogue and the mosque, so the members of both religions can see his tomb from their prayer room.

Read more: A guide to visiting Hebron in Palestine

Hebron checkpoint

27 – Qadisha Valley – Lovely Christian mountain villages

If you either want just to relax, eat good food, visit beautiful Christian monasteries or to go hiking, the Kadisha Valley in Lebanon will always be the perfect place for you.

Kadisha means ”holy” and owes this name to the fact that this valley is home to some of the most ancient communities of monastic Christians in the Middle East.

In case you don’t know it, monasticism is a way of life for which the person (in this case the Christian monks) renounces to everything to devote himself completely to spiritual work. The valley is full of natural caves, difficult to access, that once served as places of isolation for the monks living lives devoted to Christ.

Kadisha is a really unique place to visit in the Middle East.

middle east travel hb

28. Leptis Magna, first league Roman ruins by the Mediterranean

Leptis Magna was a prominent city in Roman Libya, originally a Phoenician town (7th century BCE) that quickly expanded under the Roman Empire. The ruins are in excellent condition, and the whole complex is huge.

Its particular attraction is that the ruins are built right next to the shore, including the fantastic amphitheater.

Leptis Magna can easily be reached from Tripoli in around two hours, making it the perfect day trip from the capital and a default in all the group expeditions we organize.

Best Roman ruins in the Middle East

29 – The Mesopotamian Marshes

Another great place to visit in the Middle East are the Arab Marshes, a wetland ecosystem located in south Iraq, sort of an aquatic landscape located in the Iraqi desert.

It occupies an area of 10,000km 2 , inhabited by water buffaloes and all sort of animals and plants.

The Marshes are also home to a distinct cultural group: the Marsh Arabs, who populate the different islands, living in their sarifas , a peculiar house entirely made of reed.

The Marshes can be visited from the southern city of Nasiriyah and the best way to experience it is on a boat tour.

Read: A guide to travel in Federal Iraq

how to travel in the Middle East

30 – Manama – Drugs and rock & roll

Country – Bahrain

In case you’ve never heard of it, Bahrain is a tiny country (one of tiniest in the world actually) located in the Persian Gulf, between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Manama is its capital.

To make it short, Bahrain is the only Arab Gulf Monarchy that has run out of petrol, or at least, can’t rely on the petrol income anymore.

In desperation, looking at alternative ways of gaining income, Bahrain became the party place in the Middle East, where concerning prostitution, alcohol, and parties, in general, are more permissive than in any other Gulf country.

Connected to Saudi Arabia by a bridge, every week, thousands of Saudis cross the border to have fun and enjoy a relative level of freedom.

Besides, this is the only place in the Middle East where I’ve seen two homosexuals making out in the middle of the street.

Manama is also home to many Western expats, who hang out in a popular area called Adliya, which has plenty of bars and wall paintings and makes one forget that he or she is in the Middle East.

Bahrain is, unequivocally, one of the most surreal places to travel and visit in the Middle East.

Bahrain party

31 – Luxor – The greatest open-air museum

Established on the shore of the great Nile river and surrounded by both mango plantations and desert, Luxor is the world’s greatest open-air museum.

This is the place where the most well-known pharaohs come from, like Tutankhamun for example, and most of the temples are either in excellent conditions or perfectly restored.

From large and epic tombs to temples constructed on a giant scale, all of them dating from between 3,200 B.C. and 1,500 B.C, Luxor is an unmissable place to travel in the Middle East.

Read more: How to visit Luxor independently, in 2 days

middle east travel hb

32 – Palmyra, today the most off the beaten track ruins

Not so long ago, the Roman ruins of Palmyra used to receive hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Dating back to the second millennium BC, it has been inhabited for more than 4,000 years before becoming part of the Roman Empire during the first century AD.

It used to be an important trade caravan route and its wealth allowed them to build monuments such as the Temple of Bel and the Great Colonnade.

Nowadays, the city of Palmyra is a ghost town, a direct consequence of the battle against ISIS but the archaeological area has re-opened for tourists, always escorted by a member of the Syrian Army.

The Temple of Bell is practically all ruins but Palmyra is a big complex and many of its marvels are still standing.

Top things to do in the Middle East

33 – Salalah – Coconuts, pineapples, and tropical rain

What if I tell you that there’s a place in the Persian Gulf where it rains, which it’s full of green meadows and the locals sell coconuts and pineapples?

This place is called Salalah, a city found in the most southern part of Oman, very close to the Yemeni border.

Salalah, and the region of Dhofar, is an area that experiences a monsoon season.

This season is called Khareef and occurs from July till September. During this season, Salalah becomes a beautiful and lush green, which attracts visitors from all over the country, as well as Saudi Arabia and UAE, who want to run away from their disgustingly hot and humid weather.

Read more: Salalah travel guide

Salalah Khareef

34 – Bethlehem – Take a look at the Wall of Separation between Israel and Palestine

Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus.

However, unless you are an ardent Christian, the most interesting part of Bethlehem is to get a close feeling of the consequences of the Israeli occupation as, after the Second Intifada, in 2001, Israel built an 8-meter wall that would finally isolate the West Bank from Israel.

The wall, however, was built within Palestinian territory, hence the Israelis stole some of their land.

Literally, it passes by the center of the city and it is decorated with plenty of Pro-Palestinian paintings, including a real work from the famous Banksy, the white pigeon.

For more information, read my travel guide to Palestine

middle east travel hb

35 – Qeshm Island – The most authentic Persian Gulf culture

Located in the Persian Gulf, right in the Strait of Hormuz, between Oman and Iran, Qeshm is an island with amazing geological formations, as well as very rich wildlife.

This is what most travelers come here for but, in my opinion, the most interesting part of the island is to get immersed in the local culture, as this is the only place that has been able to preserve the fast-disappearing Persian Gulf culture, today only visible here and in a few other places in Oman.

Unlike the rest of Iran, people here are Sunnis, from the conservative branch actually, Wahabis, but, since they have a great Iranian influence, they are quite laid back.

Qeshm is a different world from the rest of Iran and it can be seen not only in the religion, the architecture and their food, which is mainly based on seafood but also in the way their women dress, in such colorful abayas and niqabs , like nowhere else you have ever seen.

Read more: A guide to Qeshm Island

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36 – Wadi Bajda, authentic Saudi Bedouin life

Have you ever visited the Wadi Rum in Jordan?

The Wadi Rum is a beautiful, red-sand-dune desert that stretches across Jordan and north of Saudi Arabia too, in the region of Tabouk.

However, while in Jordan, Wadi Rum has become an extremely touristic place, on the Saudi side, the Saudi Bedouins living there are still genuine and authentic, allowing you to live witness what traditional life is like in Saudi.

Amazing rock formations and camel farms, all without a single tourist around.

Read: How to travel to Saudi

interesting places to visit in the Middle East

That was my list of the best places to travel in the Middle East for next year. Have you been to any? If you have more recommendations or suggestions, feel free to post them in the comments section!

best places to visit in the Middle East

88 comments

It is amazing to see the diversity and variety of landscapes in the Middle East, which most people think of as just a desert. I have long been fascinated by Oman, for the reasons you pointed out. The coastline looks beautiful, and though I never heard the comparison before, it does look like the Norway of the Middle East. Great photos and thanks for showcasing some truly different destinations to us travelers!

Hi Drew. Yes, the big natural and cultural contrast is huge in the Middle East and yeah, perhaps is one of those comparisons that only the locals say it! But, it truly has some similarities with Norway. Glad you liked the photos, thanks for your comment 😉

I’ve not been to many of these places. I think it’s great you’re writing about them so we can see that there are so many great areas that are safe and good to travel to. It demystifies it a little and makes travelers more comfortable with taking that leap.

Hey Laura, that is my objective, to make people realize of the huge potential that this region can offer, while being safe at all time! I would never recommend a dangerous place to travel to 🙂 !

There is so much interesting information in your article that I do not know what to comment about! I didn’t know many of these places, while others (like Petra and Beirut) are definitely in my bucket list for the future. The most striking fact was the one about Bahrain and the loose morals while my favorite image was the one from Musandam!

Hi Efthimis, yes I understand your frustration. All these sites are so different from each other that is difficult to make an overall judgment 😉 I’m glad you like it and yeah, if you’ve never been to any of these places, Beirut and Petra would be a good start as they are probably the most traveler-friendly spots. Bahrain is a crazy place full hypocrisy!

Such fascinating insights, and I’d love to visit Oman – my parents have been and raved about how friendly everyone was. As for Lebanon, the nightlife sounds great

Thank you! All sort of travelers enjoy going to Oman!

I’ve been to Lebanon a couple of times and really enjoyed it. I’d love to go and visit Jordan.

In my opinion, Lebanon is the #1 destination!

What an amazing post about the middle east. After reading this I am even more confused as to which place I should visit first. Amadiya and Kadisha are so strikingly beautiful. Would love to visit Beirut someday.

My recommendation, start with Beirut!

Oh man! I used to live in Dubai for about 4 years, and 1 year in Saudi prior to that, and I thought I’ve travelled quite extensively in the Middle East but looking at the list above, there are still many places that I have yet to visit, 8 to be exact, haha! I certainly would recommend Musandam, Petra, Beirut, Dead Sea (even if it’s just for the sea). Bahrain is not bad either actually, quite enjoyed visiting the historic places there. Of the places that I haven’t been, I’d love to go to Hebron one day!

Hi Raw, I also lived in Dubai for about 3 years. Just left the city at the end of 2016. Middle East is huge and still, there are many places that remained on my bucket list. I haven’t been to KSA for example 🙂 Bahrain is a party place so, unless you really want to do that, there’s not much to see besides a few historical sites, but to be honest, they are not very exciting. And yes, Hebron is the most intriguing one. I’m going to the TBEX Jerusalem this March and I will visit it again for sure! Cheers mate,

Its so interesting reading about your middle east highlights – some places are truly beautiful, others, more intriguing. I had no idea that Bahrain had run out of oil money and had become a hot mess of drugs, alcohol and prostitutes! I’d love to visit Oman and Jordan – and have added a few more places to my Middle Eat wishlist thanks to your post.

Hi Vicky, thanks for your comment. Yeah, I had no idea about Bahrain also, until a friend told me so we decided yo go with a bunch of friends. We partied hard until 6-7am, something unthinkable in places like Dubai for examle. But besides that, Bahrain is a very ugly country! It’s worth if you go there as a weekend trip from Dubai

I am from Oman if you want any help i can help you . [email protected]

This list is amazing, Joantow!I’ve been to Jordan and lived in Israel (will be back there again for a much longer stay), but I’ve yet to see the other places. I’m sure it will be just as exciting or more! Can’t wait to go to Lebanon and Oman next!

Hi Trisha, I believe that living in Israel must have been an amazing experience. If you like Israel, you’ll like Lebanon. Both countries have been in a war for years but they have more similarities than even think!

I love this article! It’s been a long time that I want to visit the Middle East, although everybody tells me not to go, I have many friend who went there and friends who live there who always encourage me to go. Sadly the East part of the globe is still too mysterious for those in the West and what we know about the East is that of what we heard on the news. But definetely it does not represent Middle East a whole. Great part of it is beautiful and safe and its people are warm and kind. Unfortunately the media forgets this part, after all, bad news bring more audience than the good ones.

Hello Isadora, glad you liked it 🙂 Where do your friends live? You really should go! Yes, you are absolutely right. When things go right, there’s nothing to talk about so, they just talk about it when bad things are happening and, unfortunately, they always treat the region as a whole. Treating the Middle East as a single country is like someone from the Philippines saying that Europe is a country and, since there was war in Crimea, Portugal or Spain are dangerous 🙂

I am not saying that Iraqi Kurdistan is not a beautiful area (I’ve been there . .) but nowadays it is dangerous. And why people should go to Bahrain if there is only prostitutes, alcohol and drugs? That makes it one of the best places to go this year?

Hi Elisa, it’s good that you’ve been to Kurdistan but you are very wrong. You just need to look at the statistics. In the past years, there have been more killed people due to terrorism in the city of Paris than in the whole region of Kurdistan. Besides, Kurdistan is a region where the crime rate is non-existent, whereas in Paris, like many other European cities, it’s pretty high. You are the first person I’ve ever met who is been to Kurdistan and claims it’s a dangerous place. As per Bahrain, if you read carefully my post, I don’t say that one needs to go there to get high on drugs and hook up with prostitutes. I am saying that Bahrain is a surrealistic and unique place that, for a moment, makes you forget that you are actually in one of most conservatives regions in the world. Moreover, I’m also talking about a cool westernized area, full of bars where the Western expats use to hang out

What a great list! Even though I am from the Middle East (Iran), I haven’t been to many places you mentioned. Of Course I hiked in Gilan and visited Masuleh, but not other places. You called Oman, Norway of the Middle East, but I always say that is a Switzerland of Middle east :)))

Hey Mansoureh, thanks for your comment man! The Gilan province is an amazing place to hike! There are a lot of other places in Iran I would include on the list, but unfortunately, I didn’t have a lot of time when I visited Iran! It’s funny that you call Oman the Switzerland of the Middle East! Well, I guess that both Norway and Switzerland have some similarities. Cheers mate,

Mansoureh is a girls name! And there is no such thing as Arabian Gulf. There is a water passage that separates iran from Southern Arab states and it’s called Persian Gulf for millennia

Everywhere on this list sounds amazing! I love seeing people traveling to the Middle East even with everything the media has to say about it. I think people need to do a little more research about these places. I love the pictures, too! Awesome list!

Hi Megan, thanks for your comment! Yes, is what I always say. The problem with the Middle East, as well as with many other countries, is that there’s a huge lack of information and since, unfortunately, people don’t know how to look beyond, all these areas become, unequivocally, dangerous places where to travel to!

A great round-up of places to visit, well done! I’ve been to most. Love Musandam. It’s funny, as I just published a post on Muslim countries!

I was born in Bahrain and I’ve lived here for the past 24 years, and honestly I was a bit taken aback by your description of Bahrain. There is nothing to deny in what you said, yes Bahrain is pretty big on nightlife and comparatively more lenient than other countries in the middle east, however that’s not all there is to this little island! In my 24 years of living here I’ve actually never even been exposed to the part of Bahrain that you are referring to. Bahrain is actually very rich in it’s history (we’re talking 700 B.C) and you can find out all about it in the Bahrain National Museum – which has so much information, you’ll have to cover it over the course of a few days. Besides it’s history and a couple of sights (Grand Mosque, Beit Al Quran, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain Fort, Riffa Fort, Bab Al Bahrain, Military Museum, A’ali Pottery workshop – to name a few), Bahrain doesn’t have much to offer but I’d urge you not to defame this wonderful and tiny island and discredit it for everything else it has to offer- even if you aren’t a history kind of person! Cheers 🙂

I agree! I want to see the archaeological site of Dilmun palace!!!!

True, Hana………and I don’t know from why this guy is making Bahrain down for other viewers… Where did he see two homosexuals making out in Manama, Bahrain? He published such a rubbish and fake news and make Bahrain go downward among the viewers. Bahrain is is rich in culture and it’s financial structure. Bahrain follows Sharia Law and such activities are strictly prohibited here and specially as he mentioned about drugs that too is illegal. As per alcohol no one can drink it in the streets. I dont know why is he faking such news about BAHRAIN. Please have a good research and then only put it

I’d absolutely love to go to Beirut!

What a list! Thanks a lot 🙂 Two questions: How safe would you rate each of your listed places for a 19yo (very mature) female solo traveller? And are there countries you would recommend to visit only during a specific time of the year?

Hello Isi, It’s very hard to say for a 19-year old woman but, perhaps, you could start for the most touristic places, such as Jordan, United Arab Emirates or Egypt, as the local there are extremely used to foreign woman. It’s easier to travel there and you’ll get a great experience of the Muslim culture, which will help jumping to more challenging places such as Oman or Iran. As per timings, Don’t go to the Gulf countries in the summer months or Egypt. The rest is fine.

As a woman who has traveled alone in the GCC, I personally found Oman safer than UAE, when and if it comes to any disputes involving police witg creepy locals. Uae is easier for visas and airport in general, but Oman was very safe and more nature, cultural and historical sites. The only disadvantage of Oman is if you go without a car rental.

Hello, That should be Iran for sure.

Well done–this is a great list! I lived in Oman for 8 years and traveled widely throughout the region, although I missed a couple of places on your list. The Middle East is a great destination both for sightseeing and to educate oneself to the realities of the region, a good counter-balance to the crap cranked out by the international press.

Agree! and Oman is beautiful by the way! I visited it three times but always in a rush, unfortunately… It’s kind of a spiritual country… 🙂

about Number 13: Javaher Dasht In Gilan Province is heaven of middle east!! ,full of green & different super beautiful dreamy jungles & cold cool places on the top of mountain (recommended go for summers & spring) .. in villas you enjoy the view & breakfast of local materials : milk,butter,cheese,… & lots of fun! actually Iran is the Most safe country in the Middle east …do not pay attention to media. don’t forgot take beautiful pictures in “javaher dasht” wich means valley of Diamonds!….mountaineering & drink & eat foods of local people, so delicious. super clean weather with “”very friendly local people”” , they love foreigners but 99% doesn’t know english ,better to bring some tour guide with your self &

thanks for your suggestion!

Oman has becomes to be known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Middle East thanks to the country’s strategic location and its unspoilt natural beauty with its scenic landscape. Oman is attraction for the tourist from UAE and visitors across the world.

Yes! I love Oman! And don’t forget about the hospitable people!

Hey Nice list I’m Lebanese and I can say that there is much more places in Lebanon to visit. Every summer we discover new places in our country and I’m surprised that Lebanon has such beautiful places! I definitely recommend it and would love to visit the other countries

Thanks Sara! Yes, Lebanon has many places to offer! Cheers!

everybody and their mother knows that it’s Persian gulf.

Peace and love, my friend 😉 !! I also call it Persian Gulf now but when I wrote this post 2 years ago, I was living in the Gulf monarquies, so got used to say Arab Gulf. After spending some months in Iran, I started to call it Persian Gulf again. I may change it when I update the post in a few weeks

Thank you for this post (first result up in my search for how a Canadian can travel to Iran). I have been studying (just a personal interest) ancient Persian and Elamite influence in Oman, and I decided I have to go to Iran. Persians were established in Oman before the Arabs came up from Yemen (so before the Arab migrations to the Gulf) . *I see this influence in pagan archaeological sites *in design on hair combs from Oman and Tel Abraq in the UAE. *in Ad Dhakliyia Omani dress, agricultural heritage, and place names in GCC:)

Yeah, first peace and second it’s Persian gulf my bro.🙂 Arab gulf isn’t correct.🙂

IT’s Persian Gulf not Arabian Gulf. By spending money you can’t change history.

Its called officially and internationally known as PERSIAN gulf, its been that way for thousandths of years!

Beirut is the most liberal and culturally diverse city in the middle east? Looks like you forgot Tel Aviv (and Israel generally…)

Thank You so much for the insightful article. I recently decided it was time for me to visit the Middle East and This is one of the first articles I read. I’m curious as to how hard it is to travel and appreciate the culture if you only speak English (I speak Spanish too, but I really doubt that will help. lol) I’ve traveled in other regions of the world where English isn’t spoken and while I’ve managed, it was still an obstacle. Just curious on what your thoughts are. Also, Are there issues traveling to certain countries in the region if you already have a stamp from Isreal on your passport. I feel like I read that somewhere. Obviously I’ll research that further before I show up at the border but I’m wondering if you have some insight. I have a US passport, btw.

Hi there! In the Middle East, most well-educated people speak English, so the language is not always a problem, except for when you go to rural areas. It is much easier to move around than in other regions, especially if you travel to mass tourism destinations such as Egypt or Jordan, where a lot of people speak it.

As per the Israeli stamp, I have written a comprehensive post about it: https://againstthecompass.com/en/avoid-israeli-passport-stamp/

Hi Joan ! I totally agree with Qeshm island ! I spent a week there and it was sooooooo good. It was my ultimate stop before going back to Paris after 6 months cycling from France to Iran. This island was magical for me because a friend hosted us in a small village along the sea. Anyway, thank you for the list.

Thanks Mike, it must have been a great adventure your cycling trip

Actually Tel Aviv is the most Liberal city in the entire Middle East. How can you say the Beirut is the most liberal city in the area when being gay isn’t legal in Lebanon. It is one of the most amazing cities I’ve ever been to, it has such an amazing vibe to it, when I was there I never felt safer. And overall I highly recommend staying in Israel as a “base” (even though israel it’s probably the most expensive state in the Middle East) and to cross the border to Jordan and Egypt, is very simple.

Continue reading the whole Beirut section and you’ll see that I clearly state that Beirut is the most liberal city outside of Israel. If you only read the headlines, your conclusions will always be so poor, and wrong.

Joan, great article. You are the brave guy that not afraid to visit this world boiling cauldron. Funny to see in your article how you promote your political views about names and historical mistakes. Be impartial, try to see wider )))

I appreciate your feedback and I am always open to criticism, but you can’t just say my article has mistakes without pointing out what’s wrong and giving any reasoning.

Although I live in Abu Dhabi as a resident for the past almost 6 years now, but I have not been able to see most of the places which are famous in UAE itself. The only reason is that I work in offshore in the oilfield. You have actually opened up my options of travel into the Middle East as I don’t have any issues with the traveling in these places. Jerusalem of course will be a no go for me since I hold a Pakistan citizenship. I’m really looking forward to visit Palestine for the reason I can go to Bethlehem. Also Salalah and Manama will be my next destinations to visit. Thank you for your detailed review.

I also enjoyed myself while I was visited this kind of places.

Hey You, Where did you see two homosexuals making out in Manama, Bahrain? Don’t publish such rubbish and fake news and make Bahrain go downward among the viewers. Bahrain is is rich in culture and it’s financial structure. Bahrain follows Sharia Law and such activities are strictly prohibited here and specially as you mentioned about drugs that too is illegal. As per alcohol no one can drink it in the streets. I dont know why are you faking such news about BAHRAIN. Please have a good research and then only put it.

I saw it with my own eyes, it’s not fake news. I never said you can drink in the street and I never said you can have drugs, but the title has a figurative meaning.

Hey, I’m DL (gay not out) and I know PLENTY of Arab guys in Bahrain who drink (yes, openly in restaurants) and are homosexual/DL. Just because YOU don’t see/know it, doesn’t mean it’s impossible to exist. The article doesn’t mention that you can be openly gay in Bahrain, but it only mentions what he witnessed once (the author was very clear on that.)

Whaaat? you really saw two homosexuals in Bahrain making out in the public street and no actions were taken against them?????????

It was obviously not during the day in downtown, but it was at night, in the Western area, they were probably drunk, and weren’t doing it intensively. I don’t know what their nationality was.

so, please make it clear in your above mentioned statements that every time its not possible. and make it clear too that bahrain is strict for such activities

I totally aggry with all of this and very interesting.

Even though I love your suggestions, I think that your being a bit harsh on the Jews and Israel generally. Fine Ill admit Israel has made mistakes and done bad things in the past years, but a lot of that is due to Hamas sending missiles at cities. Other than that I love your article and encourage you to do more.

Ah! 2020 seems a bit hard for the wonderful travel to these amazing places. Some of them were already added to my list, but I have just noticed a new place called Musandam, where I can visit for sure. Nice blog, and very well written.

My g, this is one of the best articles I’ve ever read. Not too long, yet very informative and interesting. It was also nice to see someone differentiating between the Israeli Settlers and Palestinian locals and shedding some light on the Palestinian struggles. Great choice of destinations as well. 😀

You say “Country: Palestine”. But there’s no such a country (You even admit and says “…if palestine would become a country…”) If is it a country, please tell me its how do you get straight to it? where are its airports? its anthem? its currency? Oh… there are none of them. You clearly don’t know anything about the situation so please be focused on other stuff. Also, not including Tel Aviv in best places to visit in the middle east is another mistake in this “article”. Good luck!

They did have an airport, in Gaza city precisely, but it was destroyed by the Israelis. They did have their own currency, but Israel took over and now they use the Israeli shilling. According to the UN, Palestine is a state, a non-member permanent observer state, along with Vatican City.

This article is an ”opinon” article, which includes the best places in my personal experience, that’s why I didn’t include Tel Aviv. If you want to include it, create your own list.

Good luck to you too,

“Palestine” never had a currency of their own. Also never had an active airport. Its electricity and water are provided 100% by Israel (And not by Egypt, which is another Gaza’s bordering country). FYI, Israel has left all of control in Gaza in 2005, the Hamas operates theere fully wide. The UN has been anti semitic and it is might be the only organization (together with hostile nations such as Iran, North Korea, China, Russia) who support “Palestine”. Please stay where you are and don’t stick your nose in our business in Israel. What a naive foreigner. Go live in Gaza if you like it, you will escape for your soul after short time. Sorry for being harsh on you, but you were being harsh on Israel at first. Know who you support and what are their goals and history.

You are such an extremist, man!

Taking action against Israeli occupation of speaking in favour with the Palestinian is not automatically hate towards Jews or antisemitism. Supporting Palestinian rights is anti semitic because Israel wants it to be. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/israels-apartheid-against-palestinians-a-cruel-system-of-domination-and-a-crime-against-humanity/

I am not sure if you have visited the whole Iran or not. But if you’ve only visited those three places, I’d say it’s not a wise action. The beautiful cities of Shiraz, Tabriz, Qazvin, Chabahar, Mashhad, Tehran, Ramsar, Rasht, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Kerman, Yazd, Kish Island and a LOT of other cities to visit and a lot of tasty food to try! You should definitely spend quite more time in Iran! And also, it was very interesting to read this!

Hi Liam, yes, I have been twice and spent more than 2 months in the country 🙂

Visited plenty of places, like the ones here: https://againstthecompass.com/en/iran-itinerary/

Ahhhhh, thank you for this list! I just found your blog while in East Africa and decided to check out other places you wrote about. I’m so excited to see a good ME list…and I currently live in Dahab so I’m loving that it made the list as well – if you are ever there again, go more north and check out Nuweiba (Dahab is getting a bit busy..sigh). Anywho, thanks for sharing your travels!

Cheers Jill, Dahab must be such a chilled place to live for a while!

perhaps you should consider visiting Egypt again. the beaches in the north coast are spectatcular ,huge stretch of white, soft sandy beaches. Dahab is definitely the most backpacker friendly, but marsa alam in my opinion is the best town on the red sea. Giftun island is amazing as well it’s near hurghada also i’m kind of surprised that cairo that’s filled with sites and museums didn’t make the list but everyone has different opinions i guess and i think most people don’t know how big cairo really is

I am heading to Kuwait and will be based there for several weeks, any recommendations of what to see in and near?

Never been to Kuwait!¡, unfortunately

Hlo, am from Uganda and i have never visited Middle East but i hope this year i may visit Egypt to what i have seen.

We were recently on a long trip through 5 countries in the Middle East, and wanted to give some input to your posts on Lebanon which we found quite valuable. We are independent explorers travelling to places less travelled, hence doing all our own research online and finding speaking to locals invaluable. On the odd occasion that we did look at a blog post for Lebanon – yours stood out giving depth to the experiences. So thank you.

Barring the current crisis situation in this region of southern Lebanon – we can confirm that it is safe and easy to travel to both Tyre & Sidon from Beirut by public transport (1 taxi from Cola Station takes you to both towns) or your own vehicle. There are UN checkpoints, but nothing serious – in fact an added measure of safety.

One cannot visit Lebanon without seeing the majestic city of Baalbek. All news reports tell you not to visit, with travel advisories in place because it’s close to the Syrian border with some reported tourist muggings and a kidnapping in recent years (not 100% unique to Baalbek in the global picture). We spoke to locals, hotel managers, coffee shop owners etc – all advising otherwise and so we went. From Beirut hotel, we took an Uber to Cola Bus Station and a then mini van directly to Baalbek (about 2hr 30min). The incredible scale of the ruins are magnificent to see – and cannot be missed

Dear Janine, thanks a lot for this valuable feedback!

The Old City of Damascus is a destination that holds a wealth of history, culture, and architecture. It is a place that demands a visit for anyone seeking to learn about ancient civilizations and their way of life. The city is home to some of the world’s oldest and most well-preserved buildings, including the iconic Umayyad Mosque. The mosque was built in the 8th century and still stands tall as a testament to the architectural prowess of the time.

The Old City of Damascus is a labyrinth of narrow streets, alleys, and bustling markets. Walking through these streets is like taking a journey back in time. The buildings, shops, and markets are a testament to the city’s long and rich history. Visitors can explore the maze of alleys and bazaars, haggle with the merchants, and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of this ancient city.

The city’s cultural heritage is also a major draw for visitors. The Old City of Damascus has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and for good reason. The city’s rich cultural heritage is evident in its architecture, food, music, and art. Visitors can explore the city’s many museums and galleries, attend concerts and festivals, and indulge in local cuisine.

Overall, the Old City of Damascus is a sensory experience that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who visits. From the scent of exotic spices to the sound of the call to prayer, the city is a feast for the senses. It’s a place that is steeped in history, culture, and tradition, and a destination that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.

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  • Published: 20 October 2020

Multiple early introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into a global travel hub in the Middle East

  • Ahmad Abou Tayoun 1 , 2   na1 ,
  • Tom Loney   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1687-6587 2   na1 ,
  • Hamda Khansaheb 3 ,
  • Sathishkumar Ramaswamy 1 ,
  • Divinlal Harilal 1 ,
  • Zulfa Omar Deesi 4 ,
  • Rupa Murthy Varghese 4 ,
  • Hanan Al Suwaidi 2 ,
  • Abdulmajeed Alkhajeh 3 ,
  • Laila Mohamed AlDabal 5 ,
  • Mohammed Uddin 2 , 6 ,
  • Rifat Hamoudi 7 ,
  • Rabih Halwani 7 ,
  • Abiola Senok 2 ,
  • Qutayba Hamid 8 ,
  • Norbert Nowotny   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3548-571X 2 , 9 &
  • Alawi Alsheikh-Ali   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1213-4546 2  

Scientific Reports volume  10 , Article number:  17720 ( 2020 ) Cite this article

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International travel played a significant role in the early global spread of SARS-CoV-2. Understanding transmission patterns from different regions of the world will further inform global dynamics of the pandemic. Using data from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a major international travel hub in the Middle East, we establish SARS-CoV-2 full genome sequences from the index and early COVID-19 patients in the UAE. The genome sequences are analysed in the context of virus introductions, chain of transmissions, and possible links to earlier strains from other regions of the world. Phylogenetic analysis showed multiple spatiotemporal introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the UAE from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East during the early phase of the pandemic. We also provide evidence for early community-based transmission and catalogue new mutations in SARS-CoV-2 strains in the UAE. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the global transmission network of SARS-CoV-2.

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Introduction

In December 2019, several cases of a new respiratory illness (now called COVID-19) were reported in the city of Wuhan (Hubei province, China) and in January 2020 it was confirmed these infections were caused by a novel coronavirus subsequently named SARS-CoV-2 1 , 2 . On 12 March 2020, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) 3 . As of 09 October 2020, there have been more than 36.5 million laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,050,000 deaths in 188 countries 4 .

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a cosmopolitan metropolis that has become a popular tourist destination and home to one of the busiest airport hubs in the world connecting the east with the west 2 , 5 . Currently, the UAE has reported, 104,004 confirmed cases and 442 COVID-19-associated deaths (0.4% case fatality; 09 October 2020) 4 . In view of Dubai’s important tourism and travel connections, we attempted to characterize the full-genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 strains from the index and early patients with COVID-19 in Dubai to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular epidemiology of the outbreak in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Patient cohort and SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing

The 49 patients included in this study were the earliest confirmed cases in the UAE. The time period of 29 January to 18 March 2020 was specifically selected to focus on early SARS-CoV-2 viral introductions into the UAE. The first index patient in the UAE was reported on the 29 January 2020. Subsequently, Emirates airlines suspended flights to and from 30 global destinations from 18 March 2020 and Dubai airport was closed to passenger flights on 25 March 2020; hence, patients after 18 March 2020 were expected to be more likely a result of community transmission as opposed to imported infections. The index patient in the UAE was a female Chinese tourist (aged 63 years) travelling from Wuhan with other family members to visit her son in Dubai. The Chinese family arrived in Dubai on 16 January 2020 and tested positive on the 29 January 2020 (Table 1 ). Over the next seven weeks, there were multiple new cases among tourists and residents with travel history (44.9% had travel history from Europe) (Table 1 ). Nearly two-thirds (63.3%) of patients were male and 61.2% were aged between 20 and 44 years reflecting the young age structure of the UAE population 5 . Majority of patients (88%) were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms and only four required intensive care with invasive ventilation (one death; Table 1 ).

SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing was performed on all 49 COVID-19 patient samples. Only genomes with almost complete coverage (n = 25, “ Methods ” section) were used for phylogenetic analysis. The 25 genomes were obtained from cases with disease onset in late January (n = 1), early February (n = 1), late February (n = 6), early March (n = 8), and late March (n = 9). Of those, approximately two-thirds were male and aged between 10 and 40 years (Table 1 ).

Phylogenetic analysis

To understand early viral transmission in Dubai in the global context, we performed phylogenetic analysis on the 25 novel viral genomes we sequenced from early patients in the UAE (Table 1 ) in this study (“ Methods ” section) along with 157 largely complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes deposited in GISAID from different countries between December 2019 and early March 2020 6 , 7 (Supplementary Table S1 ).

Consistent with multiple independent introductions, the UAE SARS-CoV-2 isolates were distributed across the phylogenetic tree (Fig.  1 ). The majority (76%) clustered with clades A2a (48%) and A3 (28%) which are largely composed of isolates from COVID-19 patients in Europe and Iran, respectively. This clearly suggests that the major introductions into the UAE during the early phase of the pandemic originated from Europe and the Middle East/Iran.

figure 1

Phylogenetic relationships of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from early patients in Dubai and early global strains. A maximum likelihood phylogeny of 182 SARS-CoV-2 genomes (157 obtained from GISAID as of early March and 25 genomes in this study). Bootstrap values > 70% supporting major branches are shown. The 3 non-UAE isolates in clades A2a and A3 namely, Mexico/CDMX-InDRE_01, Germany/Baden/Wuerttemberg-1, and Australia/NSW05 are the GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_412972, GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_412912, and GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_412975, respectively, referred to in the main text. Scale bar represents number of nucleotide substitutions per site. UAE = United Arab Emirates.

Supporting its European origin, all individuals with the A2a clade isolates were mostly European and/or with recent travel history to a European country, mainly to Italy (n = 4), Germany (n = 3), United Kingdom (n = 2), Spain (n = 1), and Norway (n = 1) (Table 1 and Fig.  2 ). Onset of symptoms reported in this group was within or after the second week of March (Table 1 ) suggesting that the viral infections in this group could have occurred during late February to early March. Of note, a SARS-CoV-2 isolate submitted from Mexico (GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_412972) was 100% identical to that from an Italian expatriate working in the UAE (L0881), while another submitted in Germany (GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_412912) differed by a single mutation (Fig.  1 ). All three individuals had a recent travel history to Italy and overlapping infection time frames (late February–early March). Within this group, isolates from patients L1758, L0484, and L2185 were identical (Fig.  2 ) suggesting a possible common direct source of transmission.

figure 2

Relationship of early SARS-CoV-2 isolates in the UAE based on phylogenetic analysis and patients’ travel history. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of all 25 UAE SARS-CoV-2 sequences, generated in this study, is shown. The two Wuhan genomes (Wuhan-Hu-1/2019, GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_402125 and Wuhan/WH01/2019, GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_406798) were used as reference genomes (blue filled circles). UAE viral strains (black filled circles) were labelled with sample ID and nationality (in brackets). Bootstrap values > 70% supporting major branches are shown. Branch lengths mark divergence from the reference Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 genome (GenBank accession number: NC_045512.2) in mutations numbers, while branch colour represents travel history. Travel history to Europe for patients UAE/L1758, UAE/L0484, UAE/L2185, and UAE/L0881 is obscured by vertical lines. UAE = United Arab Emirates.

Isolates in the A3 clade were obtained from five individuals with travel history to Iran (L2409, L6627, L0904, L0184, and L4682), one Indian resident (L0231), and one Indian tourist (L0068) (Fig.  2 ). Onset of symptoms for the five individuals with travel history in this group was reported to be around 21–24 February (Table 1 ). Patient L0231 had no travel history and reported symptom onset on 7 March suggesting a possible community-based transmission event. Interestingly, all but one isolate obtained from patient L4682—the only patient in this group with severe clinical presentation—shared a common ancestral strain identical to that obtained from patient L2409. The SARS-CoV-2 isolate from L4682 had two unique missense variants in the ORF1ab gene (Supplementary Table S3 ) which might be worth investigating for any possible biological effect(s). Consistent with its Iranian origin, a SARS-CoV-2 sequence submitted by the University of Sydney (GISAID ID: EPI_ISL_412975) on 28 February 2020 differed by only two mutations from that of L2409, and both this Iranian male tourist and the Australian male had a recent travel history to Iran. We speculate that individuals with travel history to Iran around this time frame (L8386, L6867, and L3280), for whom a full viral genome sequence could not be obtained, were also very likely to cluster within the A3 clade.

Only one viral strain obtained from L5630, a family member of the early Chinese index patient, belonged to the B2 clade. Although we did not obtain full viral genome sequences from the other members of that Chinese family, we expect that all had a similar strain to L5630. Interestingly, our data do not suggest any transmission of this clade at least among the earliest patients (Fig.  2 ) included in this study which is consistent with the reported early detection and isolation of this family. This finding also supports the notion of secondary source(s) for the ongoing local transmission.

The remaining five isolates did not belong to A2a, A3, B2, or any of the clades on nextrain.org as of 12 May 2020, suggesting earlier introduction(s). Those isolates were obtained from four Asians, two residents (L4280, L6599) and two tourists (L4184, L9766), and one Czech resident (L1014) working as an airline cabin crew with travel history to Austria (Table 1 ). Consistent with the Asian predominance among this patient group and the fewer (1 or 2) mutations for most of their isolates (4 out of 5) relative to the Wuhan reference genome (Fig.  2 ), several early viral strains submitted in Asia clustered very closely to this group (Fig.  1 ). L4280 was the first sequenced patient without travel history and became infected after transporting a work colleague, L0826, to hospital. Patient L0826 reported symptoms onset on 22 January suggesting that community-based transmission started in the UAE in early-to-mid January. L6599 was an Indian expatriate living with three other Filipino and Sri Lankan expatriates (L3715, L2771, L8480) (Table 1 ). All four individuals had no documented recent travel history suggesting local transmission, and although full viral genome sequences could only be obtained from one patient L6599, it is very likely that all have related isolates.

In aggregate, we identified 70 variants relative to the reference GenBank SARS-CoV-2 sequence NC_045512.2. The majority of these variants were missense (n = 41) with the most frequent nucleotide change being C > T (n = 33), and more than half (38/70) were localized in the ORF1ab gene (Supplementary Table S3 ). Notably, 2 out of the 70 variants were novel as they were not identified in the Chinese National Center for Bioinformation Database ( https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/variation/annotation ; last accessed August 13, 2020). The novel variants were a coding missense variant and a synonymous variant in the N and ORF1ab genes, respectively. In addition, 9 variants were very rare (i.e. seen less than 4 times out of 81,625 genomes), including one missense variant (F850I) in the S gene (Supplementary Table S3 ).

Our findings suggest multiple independent spatiotemporal introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the UAE where the majority of introductions (76%) were from Iran and Europe during two different time frames (mid-late February and early March, respectively). Although we show evidence for possible local transmission within the Middle Eastern/Iranian isolates, it will be important to sequence further isolates at subsequent dates to determine whether these introductions succeeded in seeding more clustering and whether such clustering was affected by proactive and vigilant public health measures, such as transitioning to online learning for schools and universities, implementing work-from-home protocols across all sectors, and nationwide disinfection campaigns.

Six isolates (22%) did not cluster with the European or Iranian groups and represented earlier introductions which did not appear to seed larger clusters in our sampled cohort. However, additional sequencing is needed to determine the extent of community transmission, especially given that our data strongly suggest that the earliest patient (early to mid-January) in the UAE could have been a secondary infection from one of those introductions.

The new SARS-CoV-2 mutations identified in the UAE warrant further investigation to explore whether they influence viral characteristics, especially pathogenicity, or provide important information for vaccine development. One of the major strengths of the study was the non-biased representative sample of early cases, including the index family cluster, in Dubai from the only central testing lab, along with detailed demographic and clinical information. Limitations included the inability to conduct full whole genome sequencing on more samples most likely due to low viral load issues, although we were able to deduce the origin of transmission in most of those individuals based on travel history. Regardless, this study contributes important molecular epidemiological data that can be used to further understand the global transmission network of SARS-CoV-2 8 .

Human subjects and ethics approval

Sociodemographic and clinical data was extracted from the electronic medical records of the earliest 49 patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 from 29 January to 18 March 2020 using the WHO case report form. Cases were categorized into three groups based on disease severity: asymptomatic and mild cases with either no symptoms or mild non-life-threatening symptoms e.g. dry cough, mild fever; moderate cases with symptoms (e.g. breathlessness, persistent fever) requiring hospitalization and medical attention (e.g. supplementary oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids); and severe/critical cases with advanced disease and pneumonia requiring admission to intensive care units and specialized life-support treatment (e.g. mechanical ventilation). This study was approved by the Dubai Scientific Research Ethics Committee—Dubai Health Authority (approval number #DSREC-04/2020_02). The requirement for informed consent was waived as this study was part of a public health surveillance and outbreak investigation in the UAE. Nonetheless, all patients treated at a healthcare facility in the UAE provide written consent for their deidentified data to be used for research and this study was performed in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations that govern research in the UAE.

SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing

All 49 COVID-19 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR using RNA extracted from nasopharyngeal swabs following the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini or the EZ1 DSP Virus Kits (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). RNA libraries from all samples were then prepared for shotgun transcriptomic sequencing using the TruSeq Stranded Total RNA Library kit from Illumina (San Diego, CA, USA), following manufacturer’s instructions. Libraries were sequenced using the NovaSeq SP Reagent kit (2 X 150 cycles) from Illumina (San Diego, CA, USA). Sample L5630 underwent a target enrichment approach where double stranded DNA (synthesized using the QuantiTect Reverse Transcription Kit from Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) was amplified using 26 overlapping primer sets covering most of the SARS-CoV-2 genome as recently described by our group 9 . PCR products were then sheared by ultra-sonication (Covaris LE220-plus series, MA, USA) and prepared for sequencing using the SureSelectXT Library Preparation kit (Agilent, CA, USA). This library was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq Micro Reagent Kit, V2 (2 X 150 cycles).

SARS-CoV-2 genome assembly

High quality (> Q30) sequencing reads were trimmed and then aligned to the reference SARS-CoV-2 genome from Wuhan, China (GenBank accession number: NC_045512.2) using a custom-made bioinformatics pipeline (Supplementary Fig. S1 ). Assembled genomes with at least 20X average coverage across most nucleotide positions (56–29,797) were used for subsequent phylogenetic analysis (Supplementary Table S1 ). A total of 25 viral genomes (24 by shotgun and 1 by target enrichment) met this inclusion criterion and were submitted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database under accession IDs: EPI_ISL_435119-435,142 (Supplementary Table S2 ).

We downloaded 157 global non-UAE sequences (Supplementary Table S2 ) with largely complete genomes (nucleotide positions 56–29,797) submitted to GISAID EpiCoV ( https://www.epicov.org/ ) between December 2019 and 04 March 2020 7 . All 182 sequences, including the 25 UAE sequences generated in this study, were analysed using Nexstrain 10 , which consists of Augur v6.4.3 pipeline for multiple sequence alignment (MAFFT v7.455 11 ) and phylogenetic tree construction (IQtree v1.6.12 12 ). Tree topology was assessed using the fast bootstrapping function with 1000 replicates. Tree visualization and annotations were performed in FigTree v1.4.4 13 for Fig.  1 and in auspice v2.13.0 tool 10 for Fig.  2 . SARS-CoV-2 clades annotations were performed in auspice v2.13.0 and cross-checked with nextstrain.org as of 12 May 2020.

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its Supplementary Information files) and the sequences are available on the GISAID database under the corresponding accession numbers.

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This work was supported by internal funds from the College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (to A.T., grant no. MBRU-CM-RG2020-04).

Author information

These authors contributed equally: Ahmad Abou Tayoun and Tom Loney.

Authors and Affiliations

Al Jalila Genomics Center, Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ahmad Abou Tayoun, Sathishkumar Ramaswamy & Divinlal Harilal

College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Building 14, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ahmad Abou Tayoun, Tom Loney, Hanan Al Suwaidi, Mohammed Uddin, Abiola Senok, Norbert Nowotny & Alawi Alsheikh-Ali

Medical Education & Research Department, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Hamda Khansaheb & Abdulmajeed Alkhajeh

Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Pathology and Genetics Department, Latifa Women and Children Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Zulfa Omar Deesi & Rupa Murthy Varghese

Medical Affairs Department, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Laila Mohamed AlDabal

The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

Mohammed Uddin

Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Rifat Hamoudi & Rabih Halwani

College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Qutayba Hamid

Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria

Norbert Nowotny

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Contributions

A.A.A., A.T., N.N., and T.L. conceived the study and drafted the protocol. All authors provided critical input into the protocol. A.A.A., A.A.K., and H.K. coordinated the ethical approval and sample retrieval. R.V. and Z.D. conducted the RT-qPCR analysis. A.T., S.R., and D.H. performed the whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. H.K. performed data extraction from the medical records and T.L. completed data analysis for the manuscript. A.T. and T.L. drafted the manuscript, A.A.A. and N.N. refined it before A.A.K., A.S., D.H.H.A., H.K., M.U., Q.H., R.H., R.H.A., R.V., S.R., and Z.D., provided comments and feedback on the first draft. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Norbert Nowotny or Alawi Alsheikh-Ali .

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Tayoun, A.A., Loney, T., Khansaheb, H. et al. Multiple early introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into a global travel hub in the Middle East. Sci Rep 10 , 17720 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74666-w

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  • Getting around the Middle East
  • Where to after the Middle East
  • Still not convinced on going to the Middle East?  Ask A Brother…
  • Middle East Travel FAQ

The Middle East is a truly adventurous and exotic destination. Though every country in the region is Arabian at its core, each country expresses itself differently through layers of history, the cultures that have passed through each country, and what each is trying to become in this quickly changing world we live in.

  • Day 1: Amman,Jordan – Taste and experience true Arabian Culture
  • Day 2: Petra,Jordan – Hike through a 2000 year old city carved intored cliff faces by a former Arab kingdom
  • Day 3: WadiRum, Jordan – See the deserts of Arabia and sleep in aBedouin Camp under the starsaDay 4: Amman,Jordan + depart

middle east travel hb

  • Day 5: Beirut, Lebanon – Experience the Paris of the Middle East and the Roman ruins of Baalbek
  • Day 6: Depart Beirut

middle east travel hb

  • Day 7: Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Day 8: Jerusalem, Israel and Bethlehem – See the sights where events have dictated much of the last 2000 years of history
  • Day 9: Depart Tel Aviv

middle east travel hb

  • Day 10: Cairo, Egypt – See the Pyramids of Giza and experience the sights and chaos o

Click each destination for a detailed itinerary and guide for how to make your 10 days in the Middle East an unforgettable adventure

Other Destinations to Consider in the Middle East, but only if youu have the time

  • Dead Sea: Best seen via Israel
  • Red Sea: Best seen via Aqaba, Jordan
  • West Bank: Best seen by independent tour (for the bold traveler)
  • Valley of the Kings & the Tombs (Egypt): Best seen on another trip

If you only have 10 days and don’t have time for the attractions above, don’t feel bad.

The Dead Sea is interesting, as a high salinity body water that makes you float and the lowest point – but – the trip itself is only worth an hour of your time, but will cost you a day of travel.  Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerusalem, and the West Bank are much more fulfilling experiences

The Red Sea is a cheap beach vacation spot with amazing diving, coral, and fish, – but – if you want the water life, save the experience for 10 Days in Bali (**Coming Soon**) and 10 Days in Southeast Asia (**Coming Soon**) where learning to surf, dive, and spearfish will chip away at your bucketlist.  Let the Middle East do what it does best: showcase exotic and hospitable culture, breathtaking ruins, and millennia of history.

The West Bank can be seen in a matter of hours as part of doing Jerusalem in a day.  I do recommend adding this stop if you’re up to it, checking off the separation wall, the Banksy hotel & museum, the outdoor graffiti museum, and the church of the nativity.

The Valley of the Kings in Egypt is undoubtedly an epic sight to see, but the Pyramids of Giza were the original tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs and are a breathtaking sight on their own.  Don’t let the “FOMO” (“fear of missing out”) trick you – if you’re limited on time, the days’ journey it wold take to reach the Valley of the Kings would be better spent exploring an additional Middle Eastern neighbor instead (Israel, Jordan, or Lebanon)

With the FOMO abated, rest assured that this 10 day itinerary of exploring the Middle East will give you an unmatched serving of history, culture, ruins, sights, and tastes that will leave you satisfied enough to spend your  next 2 weeks  living out your 10 days in a completely different region.

The Sights You’ll See

  • Jerusalem’s Old Quarter
  • Bethlehem in the West Bank/Palestine
  • “The Paris of the Middle East” – Beirut
  • ThePyramids of Giza
  • The chaos of Cairo

An Overview of the Middle Eastern Countries to visit

Jordan , feels truly Arabian and true to its Islamic roots.  Surprisingly safe, convenient, and welcoming to westerners making it a great place to experience the feel of “Sham”, “Khaliji”, and Bedouin cultures of the Middle East.

Lebanon , and Beirut in particular, live up to the reputation as the “Paris of the Middle East” with a heavily European feel in everything from architecture to culture, but their food is still deliciously Middle Eastern.

Egypt , home of ancient civilizations and archeological sites boasts a surprisingly African swag laced into its swag heavy approach to life.  In everything from conversations with locals, to food, to wandering with markets, you can feel the blending of Middle Easter and African roots in the populace.

Israel and the West Bank , Middle Eastern, yes, Arabian, no.  I highly functional society that is just around a century old and wrapped in controversy.  So much of the politics and international affairs happen based on Israel and the West Bank that this is one place you need to experience for yourself to have a well formed view and opinion of the Middle East

For information on how to travel to and experience Jordan,Lebanon, Egypt, and Israel in a short period of time (~10 days) check out these guides destinations in the Middle East destinations

  • 4 Days in Jordan
  • 48 Hours in Israel
  • 48 Hours in Lebanon
  • 18 Hours in Cairo

If your two weeks a year vacation is a little far off, stay inspired to explore the Middle East with these Stories of Travel

  • Exploring Petra, the Lost City of Jordan (**Coming Soon**)
  • The Marsian Deserts of Wadi Rum and the Bedouin Experience(**Coming Soon **)
  • Israel: Exploring a New Nation and Wandering in the West Bank (**Coming Soon**)
  • 24 Hours in Beirut: The Paris of the Middle East (**Coming Soon **)
  • 18 Hours in Cairo: Ancient Pyramids and Endearing Chaos (**Coming Soon **)

Where should you go after this part of the Middle East?

Add Turkey and Dubai to complete your “tasting the Middle east” experience…

This “10 Days in the Middle East” gives you a surprisingly filling and complex taste of the Middle East and its varied cultures, but it’s not complete.  By adding Dubai and Turkey you’ll get a full taste of the Middle East.

Turkey deserves its own 10 day experience .  Fromthe other worldly landscapes of Cappadocia, to the Roman ruins and wine ofEphesus, to amazing beaches in the south and intense political activity in thenorth, Turkey is a surprisingly rich travel destination that can fill as muchtime as you give it. 

Dubai can be experienced in a single layover.   Modern, intentional, and uninspiring for mostbut still a remarkable feat – having envisioned and created a futuristic oasison once sand dunes.  Experiencing Dubai(even briefly) will give you a taste of the futuristic direction that manywealthy Arab states are taking their societies, somehow maintaining a layer oftradition just above oil monarchies and a layer below a Las Vegas style”anything goes” tourist scene.

To experience Dubaion a layover (8 hours will do) hire a taxi to take you on a tour of the city tosee most of the major sites and you’ll have seen everything in Dubai worthseeing.

Seeing and Experiencing Turkey and Dubai add balanced views into the past and future of the Middle East and round off a “taster experience” of traveling through the Middle East.

Getting Around the Middle East

When traveling between countries in the Middle East, traveling by air is your only option.  Make use of Skyscanner , and Google Flights’ Explore Function to get the cheapest flight. 

Be sure to check different days of the week, particularly Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, as some days are served by budget carriers (~$35 per flight) while others are served by full service carriers (~$200-$300 per flight).

The flight into Lebanon into Lebanon will likely be your most expensive and routing through Cyprus will save you some change.

Note: Keep in mind that any trace of travel to Israel can create travel issues for you in the future if you decide to travel.  The following countries will not let you in with an Israeli stamp, or evidence of visiting Israel, in your passport:

Countries that will not accept tourists with evidence of travel to Israel

  • Saudi Arabia

So when traveling between countries, if you have any interest in visiting any of these countries, visit Israel by flying into Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) (which doesn’t stamp passports on entry) and not visiting any of the countries above directly after Israel.

Visas in the Middle East

middle east travel hb

  • Jordan : 40 JD Visaon Arrival at the Queen Alia Airport (Amman) OR buy the 70JD Jordan Pass and have the visa fee waived
  • Lebanon : Free visaon arrival for 30 days for most nationalities
  • Israel: Free visaon arrival (after a short interrogation) for 30 days
  • E gypt: $25 USD Visaon arrival for 30 days

Think this itinerary isn’t possible in 10 days or worth the time? Then email me.

This itinerary for “10 Days to Live the Middle East” is specifically designed with two goals for two groups of people

  • For travelers with  only two weeks of vacation , craving something adventurous: For you, this itinerary gives the essential sights, and (with the the linked articles) all of the plans and logistics for a smooth trip that will make for worthwhile, memorable, fun, rejuvenating travel
  • For longer term travelers not considering the Middle East – and to convince yo to add it.  The one of a kind sights and experiences, cultural education, and perception experience make it well worth the 10 days that you can  absolutely  spare.

If you are in either of these groups and considering the Middle East but not completely sold, or have any questions, drop a comment about anything below or email me at [email protected] .  I promise to answer as soon as I sneak away from whatever adventure I’m on.

10 Day Middle East Itinerary FAQ

  • Is it safe to travel the Middle East
  • How much does the Middle East cost
  • How will I get around the Middle East

middle east travel hb

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos is nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.

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Middle East Hubs: The rise of low cost and the importance of the Indian subcontinent

Abu Dhabi’s LCCs have experienced a much more significant gain, from 7% to 25%.

With Qatar soon to host to the FIFA World Cup, the big three Middle Eastern hubs, Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are all angling to take advantage of the anticipated traffic to the region. 

But while sporting events attract attention for the short-term burst of new flights, what are the underlying trends, and has recovery from the pandemic brought about any substantial changes to the networks at these airports?

Dubai leads recovery 

Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have all seen a fair recovery in comparison to their 2019 seat capacity.

middle east travel hb

Dubai, the largest airport of the three, has just edged out Doha to have the highest level of recovery of the three airports in September 2022 operating at 86% of 2019 capacity levels with 3.9 million seats; Doha is at 85% of 2019 capacity with 1.9 million seats, while Abu Dhabi has recovered to 77% of its September 2019 capacity, with a much more modest 0.9 million seats.

However, when it comes to the number of destinations served by their networks, all three airports have either reached their previous 2019 levels or surpassed them. 

Doha was connected to 161 destinations in September 2022 vs 159 in September 2019, Dubai 222 destinations vs 223, and Abu Dhabi has fast-tracked its destinations from 86 in September 2019 to 105 in September 2022.

LCCs increase their share at Dubai, Abu Dhabi

When we look at the split between low-cost carriers (LCCs) and mainline airlines, Doha has maintained its 95% mainline airline share in September 2022, whilst Dubai has seen LCCs gain share from 17% to 25% in September 2022 with notable increases from Flydubai (+27% vs 2019 capacity) and IndiGo (+6%).  Whilst Abu Dhabi’s LCCs - with the launch of Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi in 2020 and 2021 - have experienced a much more significant gain, from 7% to 25%. 

middle east travel hb

Big 3 airlines recovering capacity but losing share

Of course, we can’t look at these three main hubs without having a quick look at how the three dominant carriers are recovering, with each airline commanding such a large share of total seats at each hub.

Qatar Airways is operating at 83% of its 2019 capacity from Doha, Emirates 75% of its 2019 capacity from Dubai and Etihad Airways at a lower 59% of its capacity from Abu Dhabi, thanks to its restructuring program which it had started even prior to the pandemic hitting.

At Dubai, Emirates’ share of total seats dropped from 67% in September 2019 to 58% in September 2022, whilst Flydubai’s share grew from 11% to 17%.

Etihad also saw a drop in total seat share from 84% in 2019 to 65% in 2022, losing ground to AirArabia Abu Dhabi and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi.

It’s clear that while the legacy carriers have built these hubs, largely on the back of long haul international connectivity, they have paved the way for LCCs to now exploit a more established regional market. 

In some instances they have a symbiotic relationship with the legacy airlines, providing feed traffic at a lower cost to long haul flights and expanding the regional route network. Flydubai and Emirates are an example. For Wizz Air, the move into the Middle East is a logical way to grow, having expanded in Eastern Europe and needing new markets to grow.

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Middle east region first to recover chinese tourism numbers, boosting participation at arabian travel market 2024.

ATM Team

In Arabian Travel Market , Arabian Travel Market , Press Releases .

Middle East region first to recover Chinese tourism numbers, boosting participation at Arabian Travel Market 2024

  • China’s outbound tourism numbers to double in 2024 Y-on-Y, only 22% below record pre-pandemic levels of 155 million tourists
  • ATM 2024 expecting to double number of Chinese participants that exhibited in 2019
  • Huawei to share latest trends and data on Chinese travellers’ plans to the Middle East during dedicated conference session

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 20 March 2024: According to research by Oxford Economics, outbound travel from China is estimated to almost double this year, compared with 2023 and will only be 22% below its peak pre-pandemic numbers of 155 million tourists in 2019, who spent over $250 billion overseas.

Full recovery is expected to materialise in 2025, with the Middle East being the first region globally to recover its Chinese inbound market.

Underscoring that prediction, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 6-9 May, is set to welcome twice the number of Chinese exhibitors and travel professionals, compared with its 2019 show.

China lifted its covid-related travel restrictions on 8 th January 2023, allowing Chinese tourists to travel abroad, without having to quarantine upon their return.  Bookings for overseas travel during Chinese New Year, soared by 540% compared with the same period in 2022, according to data from the Chinese travel site Trip.com.

Danielle Curtis , Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market commented, “Last year, some analysts were predicting that the Chinese outbound market would recover to around six million per month by the summer of 2023, driven in part by the pent-up demand especially from young, affluent Chinese.

“However, that rebound wasn’t as great as many tourism professionals had hoped for and now analysts are confident that this year, we could see Chinese visitor numbers double year-on-year, with major destinations in the Middle East recovering quicker than any other internationally, especially for luxury travel.

“That sentiment has also been borne out by the latest spending data for the 2024 Chinese New Year. According to Chinese payment platform Alipay, the number of Chinese overseas transactions were 7% higher than those recorded in 2019.

“The most popular Middle East destinations include Dubai, Saudi’s AlUla, Egypt and Jordan – Dubai alone welcomed more than one million Chinese visitors in 2019,” said Curtis.

Chinese participation at ATM 2024 is expected to more than double compared with ATM 2019, with new exhibitors that include private sector companies such as Heytrip International, Jiangsu Intelligence Equipment Co, Flightroutes24 Travel Company Ltd, Feeyo Technology and anticipated destination representation from Macao Government Tourism Office, China Cultural Centre in the UAE and the Hongkong Tourism Board.

ATM is also organising a dedicated conference session on this key market in its Global Stage, entitled ‘ Capitalising on China’s Predicted Tourism Surge ’, in association with Huawei. This session, which takes place on Monday 6 th May from 15:10 to 15:50, will explore the changing trends, cultural preferences and the role of mobile marketing and tourism predictions in the Chinese tourism market.

In line with this year’s show theme ‘ Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’ , other highlights at the 31 st edition of ATM include entrepreneurship-focused sessions as well as dedicated sessions for other key source markets such as India and the Americas. As well as showcasing a range of event features based around the theme, informative content will be delivered across the Global Stage and the new Future Stage at ATM 2024, led by respected industry keynote speakers, and thought leaders.

Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024’s strategic partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner .

The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/ .

To register your interest in attending ATM 2024 or to submit a stand enquiry, visit https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html .

For more information, log on to wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html .

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) , now in its 31 st year, is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2023 welcomed over 40,000 attendees and hosted over 30,000 visitors, including more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 150 countries, across 10 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai

Next in-person event: 6 to 9 May 2024, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html

Arabian Travel Week is a festival of events taking place from 6 to 12 May, within and alongside Arabian Travel Market 2024. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Influencers’ events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, as well as ATM Travel Tech. It also features the ATM Buyer Forums, as well as a series of country forums.

https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html

RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com .

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World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are:

WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.

Next live event: 6 to 8 November 2023 at ExCel London.

http://london.wtm.com/

WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.

Next event: 15 to 17 April 2024 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil.

http://latinamerica.wtm.com/

WTM Africa  launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.

Next event: 10 to 12 April 2024 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town  http://africa.wtm.com/

About ATW Connect :   Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.

Africa Travel Week

WTM Global Hub,   is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.  https://hub.wtm.com/

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Moscow courts UAE to bump up inbound tourism

The majority of Moscow's tourism is from internal visitors but it is hoping the UAE and wider Gulf can change that

  • Moscow targetting UAE tourism
  • International visitors 10% of total
  • Gulf tourists spend more

Moscow aims to double the number of annual visitors from the UAE this year, to expand its international tourist base amid headwinds such as the war with Ukraine. 

Bulat Nurmukhanov, head of the International Cooperation Division at Moscow City Tourism Committee (MCTC), told AGBI that while the Russian capital’s domestic tourism has broadly recovered since the pandemic, international tourism has yet to do so. 

Moscow received 24.3 million visitors in 2023, he said, of which 2.3 million were international and the rest were from elsewhere in Russia. In 2019, Moscow recorded 25 million visitors, of which four million were from overseas.  

  • In Dubai, it looks like the Russians are staying
  • Moscow still a key destination for Middle East tourists
  • UAE-Russia trade grows as Putin arrives in Gulf

“Despite the challenges Moscow faces today, it has almost recovered its pre-Covid visitor flow of 2019 – our best year for the industry, helped by the effect of hosting the Fifa World Cup in 2018,” Nurmukhanov said.  

“But most of these are domestic tourists. We hope that by working with new markets such as the UAE, we can restructure the international tourism base and attract more visitors from the Emirates and wider GCC.”

Moscow has yet to calculate the number of visitors from the UAE last year, but it is a small proportion of the overseas total, according to Nurmukhanov. However, it is an important source market because of its higher-than-average spend per visit. 

“They’re helping load Moscow’s five-star hotels”, he said. These are not as popular among domestic tourists and other nationalities as three and four-star hotels. 

Bulat Nurmukhanov of the Moscow City Tourism Committee hopes working with the UAE can ' restructure the international tourism base'

Last summer, MCTC revealed that tourists from the Middle East accounted for more than 30 percent of Moscow’s total tourist flow from outside the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2022. 

“Middle Eastern countries are among the most promising markets for inbound tourism,” the committee noted. 

In the UAE, the number of Russian tourists and investors leapt in the year after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, as Russian businesses sought a safe haven free of sanctions imposed on them by the West. 

Bilateral trade between the two countries has also risen sharply , by 63 percent between January and September 2023 to $9 billion, according to Russia’s government. 

Nurmukhanov said: “We’re already receiving a decent amount of tourists from the UAE and want to make sure that now, we adapt our infrastructure and design new hospitality products, entertainment and offerings that will be in their interest.” 

The strategy includes enhancing relationships between Moscow and UAE hotels, travel agents and tour operators; improving restaurants’ halal offerings; translating menus and other literature to Arabic, and promoting popular activities such as bear hunting, helicopter trips and horse riding.  

Some Moscow hotels even help GCC tourists to purchase warm clothing for their trip, Nurmukhanov said. Gulf visitors can obtain visas on arrival in Russia, and in November a rapid e-visa service was extended to other countries.  

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Politics live: Tractors descend on Westminster for protest - as 'appalling' Kate speculation criticised

Tractors have descended on Westminster for a protest over the government's farming policies since Brexit. Elsewhere, the deputy prime minister has criticised "appalling speculation" about the Princess of Wales's health - and warned of the threats posed by Chinese cyber campaigns.

Monday 25 March 2024 19:26, UK

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  • Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live - watch above
  • China blamed for 'malicious cyber campaigns'
  • Sunak urged to label Beijing a 'threat' after MPs targeted
  • Explained: What we know about attacks - and UK response
  • Sophy Ridge: China is a David vs Goliath fight we cannot win
  • PM facing another by-election as MP resigns
  • Tractors descend on Westminster for protest
  • 'Appalling speculation' about Princess of Wales criticised
  • Live updates by Faith Ridler and (earlier)  Tim Baker

Next, Sophy asks Tim Loughton how seriously we should take rumours of a plot to replace Rishi Sunak with Penny Mordaunt.

He says: "You shouldn't."

Mr Loughton adds that the situation in China has "nothing to do with the current state of politics in the UK", following suggestions the prime minister may be looking to take advantage of an issue that unifies the warring factions in the Tory party.

He says: "We would be completely crackers to change leader yet again. Rishi Sunak is not a problem, I think he's part of the solution.

"And if more of my colleagues would stop talking to the press and coming up with all this chatter about imaginary plots and focus instead on what the government is doing… we might be in rather better shape.

"There's no plotting going on by anybody."

Conservative MP Tim Loughton then mentions Lord Cameron's "golden age" of UK relations with China.

He admits there is a "difficult balance" because of the importance of China in growing the British economy.

"David Cameron always used to say, and his whole premise behind the great golden age, was that by encouraging economic activity with China… would sort of bring China into the international community would make them more responsible, would make them abide by the rule of law.

"Well, that's turned out well hasn't it, because they've completely taken advantage of that."

He says the Chinese government is the "biggest threat" on the international stage at the moment.

Tim Loughton, the Tory MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, was one backbench MP who was targeted in China's cyber attacks.

He tells Sophy: "We have been subject to some pretty intimidating stuff from social media, through impersonations, on emails.

"Family members have received communications. People importantly, exiles from China, have also been targeted as well.

"So this has been going on for some years."

'This is serious stuff'

Mr Loughton says he wasn't aware of the specific cyber attack mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden dating to 2021 "until we had the briefing today".

"This is serious stuff," he says. "This is malicious cyber activity by hostile actors as they've been described by the minister today."

However, the MP says those involved were "underwhelmed by the government's response" - to sanction two people, and one company.

"That is just not good enough," he adds. "We need much more robust action to show China that this is absolutely not acceptable and there are consequences."

Asked if he feels let down by the government's response, he says: "I do feel let down."

"We have been constantly requesting support and security support over the last few years."

China "state-affiliated actors" have been blamed by the government for two "malicious" cyber attack campaigns in the UK.

Making a speech in the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden revealed the two incidents involved an attack on the Electoral Commission - responsible for overseeing elections and political finance - in 2021, and targeted attacks against China-sceptic MPs.

Mr Dowden told MPs: "The cyber threat posed by China affiliated actors is real, and it is serious, but it is more than equalled by our determination and resolve to resist it.

"That is how we defend ourselves and our precious democracy."

If you need a full catch-up on the big talking point on tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge , read more from our  political reporter  Jennifer Scott :

Our political editor Beth Rigby is now joining Sophy Ridge to discuss today's main news from Westminster: the UK calling out China for two cyber attacks.

But, as she explains, it came at an unusual time.

"It seemed to come out of left field as to why, just as parliament was breaking for Easter, the government was making this announcement about China," Beth says.

"And calling out China for these two sets of cyber attacks, one on the Electoral Commission, and the second on a group of parliamentarians.

"But what's been clearer over the course of the day is that the reason for this to happen now is this is part of a co-ordinated effort by some allies who are getting more muscular in calling out China.

"There's a kind of policy issue here, which is Rishi Sunak on a global stage trying to co-ordinate with allies, but there's also a domestic policy and politics issue about what he's actually doing about it."

China. 

After America, it's the most powerful country in the world.

Its GDP is $17trn, its population is 1.4 billion.

There's a reason that when the US is looking at global threats, it’s China it's most concerned about. 

In comparison, the UK is a mere minnow.

Our GDP is three trillion – China's economy more than five times the size.

So I guess my first question is… why is China bothering to hack the phones of Conservative backbenchers Iain Duncan Smith and Tim Loughton, and SNP backbencher Steward McDonald?

Insecurity? Bravado? Hacking foreign politicians' phones just to show they can get away with it?

And I guess that leads me to my second question: what's the UK going to do about it?

Last year, our trade with China was worth a whopping £107bn, encompassing cars, clothes, and computers.

And don't forget, inflation coming down is just about the only good news Rishi Sunak has right now, in a year when the economy could help decide the next election.

So expect strong words and sanctions targeting some individuals, but don't expect the UK relationship with China to be redrawn.

Sometimes when you're facing Goliath, a sling and a stone just isn't going to cut it.

  Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge   is live now on Sky News.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing the audience into the corridors of power.

Sophy will be joined by Conservative MP  Tim Loughton , a victim of Chinese cyber attacks, after the government publicy blamed Beijing for "malicious" campaigns against UK targets.

Also discussing the threat posed by China to the UK will be former national security adviser  Sir Mark Lyall Grant , and Labour shadow minister  Nick Thomas-Symonds  is on the show too.

On Sophy's panel tonight are:

  • John McDonnell , Labour MP and former shadow chancellor;
  • Caroline Nokes , Tory MP and chair of women and equalities committee.

Watch Politics Hub  from Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has caught some heat from Conservative MPs today who don't think he's gone far enough in his criticism of China.

The government took the unprecedented step of publicly blaming Beijing for several cyber attacks on UK targets today, but has stopped short of labelling the regime as a "threat".

Downing Street is seemingly wary of taking too tough a position, as it seeks to maintain economic ties with the country.

Tory MPs including former leader Iain Duncan Smith and mooted leadership contender Robert Jenrick are among those who say the government needs to take a tougher stance.

Mr Dowden has hinted it may not be far off from doing just that.

Asked by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby  whether ministers would eventually feel comfortable calling China a threat, he said "there's a very strong case for doing that".

"The process for the designation is ongoing," he added.

As we reported earlier, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding a two-week ceasefire in Gaza.

The UK was among the members to vote in favour of the motion, which says the pause should lead "to a permanent sustainable ceasefire".

It's since been welcomed by Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his Labour counterpart David Lammy.

Lord Cameron said: "The UK has long been calling for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to destruction, fighting, and loss of life, as the fastest way to get hostages out and aid in.

"The UN Security Council has just voted to advance that goal."

But he said the UK still supports Israel following the 7 October attacks, "and the fact that innocent hostages continue to be held by Hamas".

Mr Lammy called for the UN resolution to be "implemented in full".

"The UK government must play its part in applying diplomatic pressure to make it happen," he added.

"Israel's threatened Israeli ground offensive in Rafah must not go ahead, Hamas must release all the hostages and there must be an immediate ceasefire that is observed by all sides, so aid can reach those in desperate need and avert a famine."

A "go-slow" convoy of tractors is making it nigh-on impossible to drive around Westminster this evening.

Campaign groups Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent have organised a protest against "substandard imports and dishonest labelling" they warn are threatening food security.

Dozens of tractors and other farm vehicles are taking part, with farmers having been left outraged by post-Brexit trade deals with countries like Australia and New Zealand that they say are allowing lower standard food products into the UK - undercutting domestic producers.

European farmers are having a much better time of it, they say.

Wiltshire beef and arable farmer and Save British Farming founder Liz Webster said the government had "betrayed" the industry.

We'll bring you live pictures when we have them.

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