No. 1 · The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Overwater and beach villas spread across a private island cluster, with butlers, seaplane arrivals and reefs a few steps from your deck.
Discover · Invest · Experience
The Gateway to Seventeen Nations
Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate
The definitive digital platform for the Middle East: where to go, where to stay, where to own and how to invest, from Morocco to Oman.
17
Countries, one gateway
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Guides, each one dated
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Destinations
Iconic Destinations
Swipe or use the arrows to see all eight. The map below holds all seventeen.
The signature map
Choose Your Country
Seventeen countries, from Morocco's Atlantic coast to the mountains of Oman. Tap any country to open its guide.
Hover over a country to light it up; tap to open its guide.
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Everything First Class, in One Place
StayEvery five-star, the finest resorts
Private villasPool villas and estates to rent
YachtsSuperyacht charters and marinas
DineMICHELIN stars and great tables
FlyFirst class and private jets
ExperiencesDesert camps, diving, VIP access
ShopSouks, malls, jewelers, oud
SportFormula 1, football, racing
CultureHeritage, faith, royal families
EventsThe calendar to 2040
The film
The Middle East, in One Song
Seventeen nations, from the Atlas to the Arabian Sea, set to “Perdida” by YuliVG. Watch it whole, or let it play quietly behind the homepage.
2:47 · Music: “Perdida” by YuliVG
Ranked
The 25 Finest Resorts
No. 2 · Musandam, Oman
Six Senses Zighy Bay
A village of stone pool villas on a secluded bay framed by mountains, with a superb spa and dinner on a clifftop.
No. 3 · Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Atlantis The Royal
A sculptural tower of sky pools and celebrity-chef restaurants at the tip of the Palm.
No. 4 · Liwa, Empty Quarter, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
A fortress of sandstone set among some of the tallest dunes on earth, with pool villas and camel treks at dawn.
No. 5 · Ashar Valley, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Banyan Tree AlUla
Tented villas tucked among sandstone cliffs, near the Nabataean tombs of Hegra.
No. 6 · Jumeira Bay, Dubai, UAE
Bvlgari Resort Dubai
Italian elegance on a private seahorse-shaped island, with a beach, a marina and a Bulgari spa.
No. 7 · Palmeraie, Marrakech, Morocco
Amanjena
Pink-walled pavilions around a great reflecting pool among palms and olive groves; a serene retreat a short drive from the medina.
No. 8 · Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea
Low villas inspired by the desert, set among dunes inland from the coast, with a Six Senses spa and astronomy at night.
No. 9 · Göltürkbükü, Bodrum, Türkiye
Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum
Terraced villas over a private bay, two beaches and a celebrated spa on the Aegean.
No. 10 · Jebel Akhdar, Oman
Alila Jabal Akhdar
Stone suites on the edge of a gorge, two thousand meters up in the Hajar mountains; cool even in summer.
No. 11 · Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, UAE
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa
Bedouin-style suites with private pools inside a nature reserve where Arabian oryx and gazelles roam.
No. 12 · Bodrum Peninsula, Türkiye
Amanruya
Stone cottages in a pine forest above the Aegean, each with its own pool and walled garden.
No. 13 · The Dead Sea, Jordan
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
Cascading pools, a vast spa and sunset over the lowest point on earth.
No. 14 · Polis, Paphos district, Cyprus
Anassa
A whitewashed hillside village above a quiet bay, beloved by families for its beach, spa and service.
No. 15 · Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
A low-rise beach resort with Mediterranean gardens, excellent restaurants and the skyline as a backdrop.
No. 16 · Aegean coast near Bodrum, Türkiye
Six Senses Kaplankaya
Contemporary villas on a hillside above the sea, with one of the largest spas in the Mediterranean.
No. 17 · Northern coast, Qatar
Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som
The Middle East's first full wellness destination, built on traditional Arab and Islamic medicine, with programs for adults and families.
No. 18 · Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
Tented pool villas within a protected desert reserve, with falconry and horseback rides at sunset.
No. 19 · Muscat, Oman
Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel
A grand palace between mountains and a private beach, with Arabian architecture on a majestic scale.
No. 20 · Ummahat Island, the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort
Overwater and beach villas on a private island, with St. Regis butler service.
No. 21 · Asni, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Kasbah Tamadot
Sir Richard Branson's Moroccan retreat, with Berber-style tented suites and views to the High Atlas.
No. 22 · Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
A Mediterranean-style resort on a protected beach where turtles nest, close to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
No. 23 · Al Areen, Bahrain
Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain
An all-villa resort where every villa has its own pool, near a wildlife reserve south of Manama.
No. 24 · Belek, Antalya, Türkiye
Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort
The Turkish Riviera's most lavish all-inclusive, with a championship golf course and fine dining.
No. 25 · Red Sea coast, Egypt
The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh
All-suite with private courtyards and pools, on a long beach south of Hurghada.
Reserve through our concierge, or book direct on each official site.
Resort media and communications teams: we welcome photographs of your resort for TheMiddleEast.com. Please write to inquire@TheMiddleEast.com to have your resort’s photographs included.
Spotlight of the Month · Now through November 30, 2026
The Emirate of Fujairah
Mountains, sea and one of the world's great ports
The UAE's only emirate set wholly on the Gulf of Oman, where the Hajar Mountains meet clear water. Come for the second-largest mosque in the country, heritage watchtowers, reefs and quiet five-star resorts, and stay for the business: one of the three largest ship-refueling hubs on earth.
The season
October in the Middle East
The heat has broken and the great winter season of the Gulf is opening.
From Oct 14
Global Village, Season 31
Dubai's winter festival of pavilions, food and shows, open until May.
Investment intelligence
The Visions Reshaping the Region
The giga-projects, national plans and capital behind the fastest transformation on earth, explained for investors.
Prime Luxury Real Estate
Own a Piece of the Future
The world’s strongest long-term growth story
US$386B
Middle East Travel & Tourism in 2025
US$605B
Forecast for 2036, growing about 6.3% a year
Tourism and Luxury Real Estate are converging. The region is moving from standalone hotels to integrated destinations, where hospitality, branded residences, dining, wellness and entertainment are built together by its developers. Every traveler who discovers a place is a possible owner.
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council, August 2026.
Ultra-Luxury Real Estate
The 25 Finest Developments
No. 1 · Dubai, UAE
Palm Jumeirah
The palm-shaped island off Dubai’s coast, with beachfront villas on its fronds, apartments along the trunk and some of the city’s most sought-after addresses.
Developer: Nakheel
No. 2 · Dubai, UAE
Jumeirah Bay Island
A private island off the Jumeirah coast, home to the Bulgari Resort and its residences and to a small number of beachfront mansions.
Developer: Meraas
No. 3 · Dubai, UAE
Downtown Dubai
The district around the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, where many of the city’s best-known residential towers stand.
Developer: Emaar Properties
No. 4 · Dubai, UAE
Dubai Hills Estate
A green master community built around a championship golf course, with villas, mansions and apartments a short drive from Downtown.
Developer: Emaar Properties
No. 5 · Dubai, UAE
Dubai Creek Harbour
A waterfront city beside the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, with towers looking back across the creek to the Downtown skyline.
Developer: Emaar Properties
No. 6 · Abu Dhabi, UAE
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi’s island of culture, home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with beach villas and residences along a protected coast.
Developer: Aldar Properties
No. 7 · Abu Dhabi, UAE
Yas Island
Abu Dhabi’s island of entertainment, with Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and golf, and homes from apartments to waterfront villas.
Developer: Aldar Properties
No. 8 · Abu Dhabi, UAE
Hudayriyat Island
An island off Abu Dhabi devoted to sport and the outdoors, where Modon has launched freehold communities of villas and residential plots.
Developer: Modon Properties
No. 9 · Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Al Marjan Island
Four man-made islands off Ras Al Khaimah, with beach resorts, residences and Wynn Al Marjan Island, the integrated resort now taking shape.
Developer: Marjan
No. 10 · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Diriyah
The birthplace of the first Saudi state, where the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif is surrounded by a new district of homes, hotels and museums in the Najdi style.
Developer: Diriyah Company
No. 11 · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Sedra
ROSHN’s first community in northern Riyadh: a master-planned neighborhood of villas and townhouses with parks, schools and mosques.
Developer: ROSHN
No. 12 · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
New Murabba
A new downtown for Riyadh planned around the Mukaab, with homes, offices, hotels and culture within walking distance of one another.
Developer: New Murabba Development Company
No. 13 · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Qiddiya
A city of entertainment, sport and culture on the Tuwaiq cliffs outside Riyadh, with Six Flags, a racing circuit and residential districts.
Developer: Qiddiya Investment Company
No. 14 · Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia
The Red Sea
A destination of islands, desert and mountains on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, built to regenerative standards, with its first resorts open and residences to follow.
Developer: Red Sea Global
No. 15 · Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia
AMAALA
A destination devoted to wellness on the northern Red Sea coast, with luxury resorts, a marina and private residences.
Developer: Red Sea Global
No. 16 · Doha, Qatar
The Pearl Island
A man-made island off Doha with marinas, Mediterranean-style quarters and the first homes in Qatar that foreign buyers could own.
Developer: United Development Company
No. 17 · Qatar
Lusail
Qatar’s new waterfront city north of Doha, home of Lusail Stadium and the Katara Towers, with marinas, islands and residential districts.
Developer: Qatari Diar
No. 18 · Bahrain
Marassi Al Bahrain
A beachfront district in Diyar Al Muharraq on Bahrain’s northern coast, with residences, hotels and the Marassi Galleria.
Developer: Eagle Hills Diyar
No. 19 · Muscat, Oman
Al Mouj Muscat
Oman’s first integrated tourism complex, on the coast of Muscat, with a marina, a golf course, hotels and beachfront homes.
Developer: Al Mouj Muscat
No. 20 · Muscat, Oman
Muscat Bay
A community of homes and resorts in a sheltered bay between the Hajar Mountains and the sea, east of central Muscat.
Developer: Muscat Bay
No. 21 · North Coast, Egypt
Ras El Hekma
A new city planned on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, among the largest coastal developments anywhere in the region.
Developer: Modon Holding
No. 22 · Red Sea, Egypt
El Gouna
A lagoon town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast north of Hurghada, with marinas, golf, beaches and homes on the water.
Developer: Orascom Development
No. 23 · Istanbul, Türkiye
Zorlu Center
A landmark of residences, a performing arts center and shops between Beşiktaş and Levent, close to the Bosphorus.
Developer: Zorlu Property
No. 24 · Limassol, Cyprus
Limassol Marina
A marina at the heart of Limassol’s seafront, with villas and apartments on the water beside the old town.
Developer: Cybarco
No. 25 · Agadir and Taghazout, Morocco
Taghazout Bay
A resort town on Morocco’s Atlantic surf coast north of Agadir, with golf, hotels and residences beside the beach.
Developer: SAPST
The Concierge
Tell us what you have in mind
A journey across the region, a private villa, a yacht, a table at the finest restaurant in town, or an opportunity to invest. Our concierge reads every request and replies to you personally, by email.
No automated replies. A person, every time.
رسالة إلى المنطقة
A Letter to the Region
To the leaders, the builders and the people of the Middle East
With respect, and with admiration for all you have created: a letter about the region’s own name, and an address made to show the world the Middle East as it truly is.