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Middle East

The Middle East lies where Africa, Asia and Europe meet and all the countries that make up this large area are in fact all part of Asia.

Opinions are divided as to what countries actually make up the modern-day Middle East, with many claiming that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Cyprus are more closely aligned with Europe than Asia. Nevertheless, although Egypt is technically in Africa, it is also classed as one of the countries that fall within the boundaries of the Middle East.

Despite disagreements over where the Middle East actually is, the area has much to offer in the way of travel, rich cultural heritage and recently glitz and glam.

The Middle East is also the spiritual birthplace of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and has therefore been a sensitive area of world affairs during the 20th century.

Among the most common destinations for those travelling to the Middle East include Cyprus, Bahrain, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, which encompasses the up-and-coming destination for business development, property and tourism – Dubai.

The Caucasus region includes Cyprus and Turkey, although these are generally considered to be culturally and politically closer to Europe due to their history.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the smallest regions of the Middle East but is fast becoming one of the more popular travel destinations because of its months of sun and varied and dramatic landscape. The United Arab Emirates is situated on the Far East coast of the Middle East.

It is formed of a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms, which were merged when the British withdrew from the gulf in 1971. The UAE offers practically everything you could wish for in a relaxing holiday – white, sandy beaches, deserts, mountains, camel racing and the cheap duty-free shopping of the city of Dubai – and all within 51,949 square miles.

Those travelling on a budget can also take advantage of what the UAE has to offer, as there are a number of cheaper hotels. The UAE also has the most relaxed entry regulations of all the Gulf countries, as well as some of the best tourist infrastructure in the world. For those not on a budget, the Burj-al arab in Dubai (the worlds first 7 star hotel) is the ultimate for luxury and style, although if you are after something a little more chic and intimate then head for the Desert Palm (opening early 2007).

If it is culture and history that you are after then Israel offers an ideal retreat for travellers. High on the list of places to travel in the Middle East should be Jerusalem, if not simply for its spiritual heritage and vast array of churches, convents and mosques. Nightlife in Israel is to be found in Tel Aviv, where there are a number of restaurants, clubs, pubs, bars and long stretches of beach.

The climate in the Middle East is generally hot and dry, although winters can often be slightly milder with small amounts of rain in some areas. The exception is in the mountainous areas of northern Iraq and Iran and in eastern Turkey where winter conditions can be extremely severe.

Top 5

  1. Traverse the Canyon Walls across the famous Snake Canyon in Muscat, Oman
  2. Shopping in Dubai's incredible Gold and Spice Souks
  3. Bar-Crawling in Tel-Aviv
  4. Desert and Wadi safari in a 4x4 vehicle and an overnight stay in Dubai
  5. Visit and explore the Lost City of Petra in Jordan

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