Middle East Travel Guides

Ancient History, Desert & Modernity

11 destinations

The Middle East offers a remarkable contrast between ancient civilisation and hyper-modern development. Dubai has transformed from a fishing village to a global city in one generation. Jordan's Petra — the rose-red city carved into sandstone cliffs — remains one of the world's great archaeological wonders. Oman is emerging as a premium eco-travel destination with dramatic wadis, empty desert, and legendary hospitality. Israel and the Palestinian Territories hold some of the most significant historical and religious sites on earth.

Middle East Destinations

United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi Emirate, capital city)

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abu Dhabi is the capital and largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates — a city of approximately 3.5 million people on an island at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula, 140 kilometers southwest of Dubai. It is simultaneously the oil capital of the UAE (Abu Dhabi holds approxima…

Bahrain, Middle East

Bahrain

Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with a total land area of 780 square kilometers — making it the smallest country in the Middle East and the third-smallest in Asia. Its capital Manama is a compact, walkable city of ap…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai, UAE

Dubai is the most visited city in the Middle East and one of the most visited in the world — an emirate of approximately 3.7 million people (only 11% of whom are Emirati nationals; 89% are expatriates from over 200 countries) that transformed from a pearl-diving and fishing vi…

Israel

Israel is a country of approximately 9.8 million people at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest, and the Mediterranean to the west. It encompasses some of the most histori…

Qatar, Middle East

Qatar

Qatar is a small peninsula extending from the Arabian Peninsula into the Persian Gulf — 11,581 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Connecticut), with a population of approximately 3 million (including 2.3 million expatriates). The capital Doha houses the vast majority of …

Egypt

Cairo, Egypt

Cairo is the largest city in Africa and the Arab world — a metropolis of 22 million people built along the Nile Delta at the point where the desert meets the river's fertile valley, capital of a civilization that has been continuously inhabited for over five millennia. It is t…

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Jordan

Jordan is a small Hashemite Kingdom of approximately 10 million people on the eastern shore of the Jordan River — a country bordered by Israel and the Palestinian Territories to the west, Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, and Saudi Arabia to the east and south. Despit…

Lebanon, Middle East

Lebanon

Lebanon is a small country of approximately 10,500 square kilometers (smaller than Connecticut) on the eastern Mediterranean coast, bordering Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. Despite its size, it contains some of the most extraordinary historical and culina…

Sultanate of Oman (independent state, southeastern Arabian Peninsula)

Oman

Oman is the Sultanate on the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula — a nation of approximately 4.5 million people bordering Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen, with 3,165 kilometers of coastline along the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz. It is a country of…

Jordan

Petra, Jordan

Petra is one of the most extraordinary places on earth — an ancient Nabataean city carved directly from the rose-colored sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan, hidden for centuries behind a narrow gorge that opens suddenly to reveal the Treasury in a moment of architectural reve…

Saudi Arabia, Middle East

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East (2.15 million square kilometers, approximately the size of Western Europe) and the world's most dramatic tourism transformation story of the past decade. Under Vision 2030 — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's economic dive…

Middle East Travel Guides — Common Questions

Is the Middle East safe for tourists?

Safety varies greatly by country. The UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Oman, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain are considered very safe for tourists. Israel has excellent security infrastructure. Avoid conflict zones entirely. Research your specific destination and check your government's travel advisory before booking.

Do I need a visa for Dubai (UAE)?

Citizens of 49+ countries including the USA, UK, EU, Australia, and Canada receive a free visa on arrival or e-visa for 30–90 days in the UAE. Most visitors can apply for a free 90-day tourist visa online before travel. Check the UAE ICP website for the full list.

What is the best time to visit the Middle East?

October through April is the best time for most of the Middle East — temperatures are comfortable (20–30°C) and outdoor activities are possible. Avoid June–September in the Gulf states when temperatures exceed 45°C. Jordan and Oman are pleasant November–March.

What should I wear as a tourist in the Middle East?

Dress codes vary by country. In the UAE and Qatar, modest dress is expected in public areas (covered shoulders and knees). Dubai is more liberal in tourist zones. Jordan and Oman are also fairly relaxed in tourist areas. Research your specific destination, especially for religious sites where conservative dress is always required.

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