Destination Guide

The Middle East

Ancient history meets futuristic ambition. The Middle East offers a contrast unlike anywhere else on earth.

The Middle East has transformed into one of the world’s most exciting travel destinations. Dubai’s skyline redefines what a city can be. Oman offers quiet, understated beauty. Jordan holds Petra and the Dead Sea. Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to tourism for the first time in history.

Beyond the headlines, this is a region of extraordinary hospitality, world-class hotels and experiences that range from desert camping under the stars to dining in the world’s tallest building. Winter sun from the UK is just six hours away.

"No man can live this life and emerge unchanged. He will carry, however faint, the imprint of the desert, the brand which marks the nomad; and he will have within him the yearning to return."

Wilfred Thesiger, Arabian Sands

Why Visit

What Makes It Special

🏙️

Futuristic Cities

Dubai and Abu Dhabi push the boundaries of architecture, dining and entertainment. Every visit reveals something new.

🏜️

Desert Adventures

Dune bashing, camel trekking, overnight camps under the stars. The Arabian desert offers adventure wrapped in luxury.

🕌

Ancient Heritage

Petra carved into rose-red cliffs. The souks of Muscat. The ruins of AlUla. History here spans thousands of years.

🏨

World-Class Hotels

The Middle East has more five-star hotels per square mile than almost anywhere. Service standards are exceptionally high.

☀️

Winter Sun

When Europe shivers, the Middle East shines. November to March offers perfect temperatures of 22–28°C.

🛍️

Shopping & Dining

From the Gold Souk to the Dubai Mall, traditional markets to Michelin-starred restaurants. The shopping and food scene is outstanding.

Middle East scenery

Amman, JordanAbdali skyline at sunsetCourtesy of Jordan Tourism Board

Middle East landscape

Saudi ArabiaAl Rahma Mosque on the Jeddah waterfront

Middle East culture

Petra, JordanAl-Khazneh, The Treasury at PetraCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAtlantis The Palm luxury hotelCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East experience

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAtlantis The Royal luxury hotelCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East experience

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAURA SKYPOOL overlooking Palm JumeirahCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesBurj Al Arab, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel by nightCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East desert

Riyadh Province, Saudi ArabiaClifftop views at the Edge of the World

Middle East desert

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDesert dune drive experience in s 4x4

Middle East mountains

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDesert experience at Sonara Camp, Dubai Desert Conservation ReserveCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East adventure

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesLuxury yachts cruising off Burj Al ArabCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East nature

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDolphin experience at Aquaventure World, AtlantisCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East coast

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDowntown Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa

Middle East coast

JordanFloating in the Dead Sea at sunsetCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

Wadi Rum, JordanHot air balloon experience in Wadi RumCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesInside the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium at AtlantisCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East coast

Amman, JordanKing Abdullah I Mosque in AbdaliCourtesy of Jordan Tourism Board

Middle East scenery

Amman, JordanAbdali skyline at sunsetCourtesy of Jordan Tourism Board

Middle East landscape

Saudi ArabiaAl Rahma Mosque on the Jeddah waterfront

Middle East culture

Petra, JordanAl-Khazneh, The Treasury at PetraCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAtlantis The Palm luxury hotelCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East experience

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAtlantis The Royal luxury hotelCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East experience

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAURA SKYPOOL overlooking Palm JumeirahCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesBurj Al Arab, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel by nightCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East desert

Riyadh Province, Saudi ArabiaClifftop views at the Edge of the World

Middle East desert

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDesert dune drive experience in s 4x4

Middle East mountains

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDesert experience at Sonara Camp, Dubai Desert Conservation ReserveCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East adventure

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesLuxury yachts cruising off Burj Al ArabCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East nature

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDolphin experience at Aquaventure World, AtlantisCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East coast

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDowntown Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa

Middle East coast

JordanFloating in the Dead Sea at sunsetCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

Wadi Rum, JordanHot air balloon experience in Wadi RumCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesInside the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium at AtlantisCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East coast

Amman, JordanKing Abdullah I Mosque in AbdaliCourtesy of Jordan Tourism Board

Middle East adventure

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesKitesurfing off Kite BeachCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East nature

Aqaba, JordanLuxury resort in AqabaCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East city

AlUla, Saudi ArabiaMaraya concert hall

Middle East mountains

Muscat, OmanPalm-lined Long Pool at The Chedi Muscat

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesQuad bike desert adventure

Middle East desert

Aqaba, JordanRed Sea scuba diving in AqabaCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

AlUla, Saudi ArabiaRock-cut tomb at Hegra

Middle East culture

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSeafront dining at Pierchic, Jumeirah Al QasrCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East desert

Aqaba, JordanSeafront luxury resort in AqabaCoutesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East landscape

Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Middle East experience

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSky pool at Atlantis The RoyalCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East sunset

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSkydiving over Palm Jumeirah

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesTrack racing at Dubai AutodromeCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesTraditional falcon and saluki desert experienceCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesUnderwater suite experience at Atlantis The PalmCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Wadi Rum, JordanView over a Bubble Tent Camp Experience in Wadi Rum

Middle East wildlife

Dhofar, OmanWaterfalls at Wadi Darbat near Salalah

Middle East adventure

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesKitesurfing off Kite BeachCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East nature

Aqaba, JordanLuxury resort in AqabaCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East city

AlUla, Saudi ArabiaMaraya concert hall

Middle East mountains

Muscat, OmanPalm-lined Long Pool at The Chedi Muscat

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesQuad bike desert adventure

Middle East desert

Aqaba, JordanRed Sea scuba diving in AqabaCourtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East coast

AlUla, Saudi ArabiaRock-cut tomb at Hegra

Middle East culture

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSeafront dining at Pierchic, Jumeirah Al QasrCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East desert

Aqaba, JordanSeafront luxury resort in AqabaCoutesy of the Jordanian Tourism Board

Middle East landscape

Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Middle East experience

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSky pool at Atlantis The RoyalCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East sunset

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSkydiving over Palm Jumeirah

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesTrack racing at Dubai AutodromeCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesTraditional falcon and saluki desert experienceCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesUnderwater suite experience at Atlantis The PalmCourtesy of Dubai Economy and Tourism

Middle East wildlife

Wadi Rum, JordanView over a Bubble Tent Camp Experience in Wadi Rum

Middle East wildlife

Dhofar, OmanWaterfalls at Wadi Darbat near Salalah

Where We Send Our Clients

Middle East Highlights

Dubai

Dubai & Abu Dhabi

The ultimate city break with beach. Iconic architecture, luxury shopping, world-class dining and year-round sunshine. Six hours from London.

Oman

Oman

The Middle East's best-kept secret. Dramatic fjords, ancient forts, empty beaches and a genuinely warm welcome. More understated than Dubai, equally rewarding.

Jordan

Jordan

Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. Jordan packs an extraordinary amount into a small, safe and welcoming country.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

AlUla's ancient tombs, the Red Sea coast, Jeddah's historic old town. Saudi is opening to tourism with ambitious plans and jaw-dropping landscapes.

Planning

Best Time to Visit

UAE & Qatar Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

22–28°C peak

Oman Muscat, Salalah, Musandam

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

24–30°C peak

Jordan Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

18–28°C peak

Saudi Arabia AlUla, Jeddah, Red Sea, Riyadh

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

22–30°C peak

Peak Season Shoulder Season

From The Journal

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