Must-see attractions in Arabian Peninsula

  • United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Jumeira beach, Hotel Mina A'Salam Madinat Jumeirah with View of Burj Al Arab hotel

    Burj Al Arab

    Dubai

    The Burj Al Arab's graceful silhouette – meant to evoke the sail of a dhow (a traditional wooden cargo vessel) – is to Dubai what the Eiffel Tower is to…

  • Dubai

    Burj Khalifa

    Downtown Dubai

    The Burj Khalifa is a stunning feat of architecture and engineering, with two observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors and a restaurant-bar on the…

  • Souk Madinat Jumeirah

    Madinat Jumeirah

    Dubai

    One of Dubai’s most attractive developments, Madinat Jumeirah is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Arab village, complete with a souq (market…

  • 11/30/2014. Kite beach in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A stretch of the beach designated for the kite surfers. The iconic Burj Al Arab is seen on the background.; Shutterstock ID 664989337; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Authentic Dubai Article

    Kite Beach

    Dubai

    This long, pristine stretch of white sand, a little way north of Jumeirah Public Beach, is a major draw for sporty types, with a range of activities on…

  • DOHA, QATAR - FEBRUARY 13, 2018: Visit traditional Eastern Souq Waqif with narrow alleyways, full of different goods and noisy vendors, on February 13 in Doha; Shutterstock ID 1166541733; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Destination page image update

    Souq Waqif

    Doha

    This vibrant complex is without doubt one of the most atmospheric places to explore in Qatar. Built on an ancient market site, the area remains the social…

  • Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi

    Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Jean Nouvel, the highly anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi finally arrived in late 2017. Through 12 galleries, the…

  • Interior of the Mutrah souk in Muscat, the capital of the sultanate of Oman.

    Mutrah Souq

    Muscat

    Many people come to Mutrah Corniche just to visit the souq, which retains the chaotic interest of a traditional Arab market albeit housed under modern…

  • BAHLA, OMAN - NOVEMBER 28, 2017: detail of Jabrin Castle, in Bahla, Oman

    Jabreen Castle

    Hajar Mountains

    Rising without competition from the surrounding plain, Jabreen Castle is an impressive sight. Even if you have had a surfeit of fortifications, it's worth…

  • ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 03:  A falcon is placed on a bench at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, on February 3, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is located just outside Abu Dhabi. It is the largest of its kind in the world attracting customers from all over the UAE and the wider Gulf region including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Around 9,000 birds are treated each year for a wide range of ailments. The centre which has a an ophthalmology department, and intensive care unit is equipped to deal with everything from X-Rays, cases of Avian Flu, Falcon Pox, repairing of feathers, and general health checks and provides a 24 hour service. The centre also has two large air conditioned aviaries where falcons can rest while they are moulting, or changing their feathers. Traditionally a way of obtaining food, Falconry today has become more of a national sport and a rite of passage for many young Emirati men, who take their time to train their Falcons, developing a relationship and deep bond with the birds. Groups of friends regularly come together in the evenings to meet and train their birds where the practice becomes more about camaraderie and sharing knowledge than subsistence. The practice of Falconry was recognized by UNESCO in 2012 under the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' list.  (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

    Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

    Abu Dhabi

    Standing outside Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, watching anxious owners from across the region delivering their hooded 'patients' in person, you will quickly…

  • Grand Mosque

    Muscat

    Quietly imposing from the outside, this glorious piece of modern Islamic architecture was a gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to mark his 30th year of…

  • Oman, Nachl, Fort Nakhl

    Nakhal Fort

    Oman

    Built on the foundations of a pre-Islamic structure, the towers and entrance of this fort were constructed during the reign of Imam Said Bin Sultan in…

  • Prophet’s Mosque

    Saudi Arabia

    One of only two mosques in the world that can accommodate a million people, the Prophet’s Mosque holds deep significance for Muslims all over the world…

  • Frankincense tree at the Frankincense Museum with a group of geese under the tree. Salalah, Oman

    Al Baleed Archaeological Park

    Salalah

    Well-labelled and atmospherically lit at night, the ancient ruins of Al Baleed belong to the 12th-century trading port of Zafar. Frankincense was shipped…

  • Al Masjid Al Haram

    Mecca

    The focal point for every Muslim and the biggest mosque in the world, Al Masjid Al Haram is able to host a million worshippers and covers an area of 356…

  • Sharjah Art Museum

    Sharjah

    Sharjah's heritage and arts areas are anchored by one of the region's most dynamic art museums, a treat for committed art-lovers and casual visitors alike…

  • Jubbah Rock Carvings

    Saudi Arabia

    This is arguably the Kingdom's premier pre-Islamic site and open-air art gallery. Covering an area measuring 39 sq km are some of the most impressive…

  • Jebel Samhan Viewpoint

    Dhofar

    The upper plateau of Jebel Samhan suddenly ends in a vertiginous drop more than 1000 meters to the coastal plain below. Barely a ledge interrupts the…

  • Wadi Ghul Viewpoint

    Jebel Shams

    The term 'Grand Canyon of Arabia' is wholly deserved for this quintessential feature of Oman's spectacular mountain scenery. A short path leads to the…

  • Rustaq Fort

    Oman

    Two cannons mark the interior courtyard of this enormous fort – the entrance alone signals its former importance. Built on top of pre-Islamic foundations,…

  • Khor Al Sham

    Musandam

    This beautiful inlet is interesting for its stone fishing villages, accessible only by boat, and for Telegraph Island, which dots the middle of the bay…

  • Detail of entrance to Tareq Rajab Museum.

    Tareq Rajab Museum

    Kuwait City

    Housed in the basement of a large villa, this exquisite ethnographic museum should not be missed. There are inlaid musical instruments suspended in glass…

  • IMG Worlds of Adventure

    Dubai

    Housed in an air-conditioned hangar the size of 28 football fields, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the world’s largest indoor theme park. The US$1 billion…

  • Dubai Museum

    Bur Dubai

    The city's main historical museum charts Dubai's turbo-evolution from fishing and pearling village to global centre of commerce, finance and tourism. It…

  • Qatar, Doha. Cityscape at night from promenade near the Corniche on Doha harbor

    Museum of Islamic Art

    Doha

    With the largest collection of Islamic art in the world, drawn from three continents, this fabulous museum is so rich in treasure that it rewards short,…

  • Mleiha Archaeological Site

    Sharjah

    If you thought the UAE's history only really began when oil was struck, you'd be wrong, and this site is a fascinating introduction to a mind-boggling…

  • Al Hoota cave, situated at the southern side of Jabal Akdhar near Al-Hamra in Oman. It is an important yet fragile underground ecosystem with the presence of rare and endemic animal species.

    Al Hoota Cave

    Hajar Mountains

    Embellished with stalactites and stalagmites, this is the only cave in Oman developed for tourism and it's something of a gem. Sensitively lit, this…

  • Al Fahidi Historic District

    Bur Dubai

    Traffic fades to a quiet hum in the labyrinthine lanes of this nicely restored heritage area formerly known as the Bastakiya Quarter. Its narrow walking…

  • Museum goers inside the purpose-built Bahrain National Museum which covers 6,000 years of Bahrain's history.

    Bahrain National Museum

    Manama

    Deservedly the country's most popular attraction, this is an outstanding introduction to Bahrain's history, with signage in English and Arabic. It's…

  • A date shop at Al Mubarkia souk in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

    Souq Mubarakiya

    Kuwait City

    Once the centre of trade before the nation found oil, Kuwait City's old souq has retained its sprawling, bustling glory. The historical centre of the…

  • Ramadan prayer at Grand Mosque of Kuwait at night , Kuwait City, Kuwait.

    Grand Mosque

    Kuwait City

    The largest of the city’s 800 mosques, opened in 1986, completely survived the Iraqi invasion. It cost KD14 million (US$46 million) to build, with…

  • The Sultan's Palace. Muscat, Oman

    Sultan’s Palace

    Muscat

    If you stand by the harbour wall on Mirani St, the building to the right with the delightful mushroom pillars in blue and gold is the Sultan’s Palace. On…

  • Masmak fort in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Masmak Fortress

    Riyadh

    Surrounded by sand, this squat fortification was built around 1865 and is like a scene out of the movies: a big fortress representing an empire. It was…

  • Falcon Souq

    Doha

    For a glimpse of Qatari heritage, don't miss the Falcon Souq. You only have to see the scale of the market, afforded its own traditional arcaded building…

  • Sunset in Muscat

    Mutrah Corniche

    Muscat

    Mutrah stretches along an attractive corniche of latticed buildings and mosques; it looks spectacular at sunset when the light casts shadows across the…

  • Exterior of Jumeria Mosque, Jumeria Rd.

    Jumeirah Mosque

    Dubai

    Snowy white and intricately detailed, Jumeirah is Dubai's most beautiful mosque and one of only a handful in the UAE that are open to non-Muslims – one…

  • Kuwaiti walking in front of Scientific Centre.

    Scientific Center

    Kuwait City

    One of the largest aquariums in the Middle East is housed in this sail-shaped building. The giant spider crabs (3.8m leg to leg), fluorescent jellyfish…

  • Pearl Merchants' Neighbourhood

    Saudi Arabia

    Staring at the mesmerising geometric and floral designs of the carved patterns that adorn the houses and arched gateways of Farasan's former pearl…

  • Bahla fort

    Bahla Fort

    Hajar Mountains

    After many years of restoration, Bahla Fort, one of the largest in Oman, makes a grand sight looming over the sprawling modern settlement of Bahla. Built…

  • Bait Al Zubair

    Muscat

    In a beautifully restored house, this much-loved privately owned museum exhibits Omani heritage in thematic displays of traditional handicrafts, furniture…