Stay
The best islands in the Middle East range from wildlife sanctuaries and car-free coral isles to some of the world's newest private island resorts. For each one, here is how to get there and the finest place to stay.
Updated
At a glance
For most Americans, Middle East islands are a revelation. Abu Dhabi alone is an archipelago of some two hundred islands, from the cultural district of Saadiyat to Sir Bani Yas, where giraffes and cheetahs roam free. Dubai built its own islands and turned the Palm Jumeirah into one of the world's most recognizable addresses. On the Saudi Red Sea, an entire destination of coral islands is opening resort by resort.
Getting there is part of the pleasure. Some islands are a bridge away from the airport; others are a speedboat or seaplane ride over water so clear you can see the reef beneath. A few, like Masirah and Farasan, still feel undiscovered.
If you would rather arrive by private yacht, see our guides to superyacht charter and yacht itineraries in the Gulf and Red Sea. For beaches on the mainland, see the best beaches in the Middle East.
Getting there: about 25 minutes by car from Zayed International Airport. Home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a turtle-nesting beach and the coming Guggenheim. Stay: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, five stars, on the beach. More in our Saadiyat Island guide.
Official site ↗Getting there: about 10 minutes from Zayed International Airport by road. The island holds Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and Yas Waterworld. Stay: W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, five stars, built over the Formula 1 track. See our Yas Island guide.
Official site ↗Getting there: drive about two hours west of Abu Dhabi to Jebel Dhanna jetty, then take the complimentary boat; allow three to three and a half hours door to door. More than half the island is a wildlife reserve with free-roaming giraffes and cheetahs. Stay: Anantara Al Sahel Villa Resort, five stars, in the heart of the wildlife park.
Official site ↗Getting there: a short private boat transfer from the Saadiyat side of Abu Dhabi. A small private island of white sand, beach villas and overwater villas, close to the city yet far from it in spirit. Stay: Zaya Nurai Island, five stars.
Getting there: about 30 to 40 minutes by car from Dubai International, or by the Palm Monorail from the mainland. The palm-shaped island is lined with beach hotels, villas and restaurants. Stay: One&Only The Palm, five stars, for seclusion; Atlantis The Royal, five stars, for spectacle. See our Dubai guide.
Getting there: about an hour by road from Dubai International, or 25 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International. Four coral-shaped islands with resort beaches. Stay: the beach resorts already on the islands now, and Wynn Al Marjan Island from its opening; read our Wynn Al Marjan Island guide.
Getting there: a scenic boat ride of roughly 20 to 30 minutes from central Doha, included for resort guests. A crescent-shaped private island with beaches, a spa and water sports. Stay: Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, five stars. More in our Doha guide.
Official site ↗Getting there: fly to Bahrain International, drive about 45 minutes to the Durrat Al Bahrain arrival pavilion, then take a 25-minute boat ride. The islands lie about 20 km off the main island and host colonies of Socotra cormorants and migrating birds. Stay: Hawar Resort by Mantis, opened in January 2025, with beach and overwater villas.
Official site ↗Getting there: drive from Muscat to the port of Shannah, about five to six hours, then take the car ferry across. Long empty beaches, turtle nesting and steady winds have made it a quiet favorite with kitesurfers. Stay: simple beach hotels on the island; for five-star comfort, combine with a stay in Muscat.
Getting there: licensed day boats from Muscat's marinas, around 45 minutes to an hour each way. A protected nature reserve of nine islands with coral, turtles and reef fish; overnight stays are not permitted, so visits are by day. Stay: The Chedi Muscat, five stars, on the Muscat shore.
Getting there: fly to Red Sea International Airport, then about 25 minutes by electric car across a 1.2 km bridge. The heart of the Red Sea destination, with six resorts open by October 2026 and more to come. Stay: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island, five stars, which welcomed its first guests in May 2026; The Red Sea EDITION, SLS, InterContinental, Miraval and Raffles are also open. See our Red Sea guide.
Official site ↗Getting there: from Red Sea International Airport, about 25 minutes by seaplane or 45 minutes by boat. A pair of reef-fringed islands with overwater villas. Stay: The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, five stars, or Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, five stars.
Official site ↗Getting there: about 25 to 30 minutes by seaplane or around 45 minutes by boat from the coast. A remote island of white sand and lagoon. Stay: Shebara, five stars, opened in November 2024, known for its mirrored overwater villas.
Official site ↗Getting there: by sea, as the island is designed around a superyacht marina in the northern Red Sea. NEOM's first island opened to invited guests in October 2024; public booking details are still to be announced. Read our Sindalah guide.
Getting there: fly to Jazan, then take the ferry from Jazan port to Farasan. A protected archipelago of mangroves, coral reefs and the endemic Farasan gazelle, with old coral-stone houses and an unhurried pace. Stay: modest local hotels on the island or in Jazan; there is no five-star yet.
Getting there: boat trips of about 30 to 45 minutes from Hurghada's marinas. A protected area of reefs and beaches, including Mahmya. Stay: on the mainland in Sahl Hasheesh or El Gouna; see our Hurghada guide.
Getting there: fly to Djerba–Zarzis International Airport, or drive across the causeway from Zarzis on the mainland. Whitewashed villages, the El Ghriba synagogue and long beaches; the island's settlement pattern is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stay: Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa and Spa, five stars, on Sidi Mehrez beach. See our Djerba guide.
Getting there: drive or bus from Istanbul or Çanakkale to the port near Geyikli, then a ferry of about 30 minutes. A small Aegean island of vineyards, cobbled lanes and a castle above the harbor. Stay: the island's boutique inns; there are no large resorts, which is the point.
Getting there: about 25 minutes by car from Hamad International Airport. A man-made island of marinas, Mediterranean-style quarters and waterfront dining, and one of the few places in Qatar where foreigners can own freehold property. Stay: the hotels of nearby Lusail and West Bay.
| Island | How to get there | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Saadiyat, Yas | Road from Abu Dhabi airport | Culture, theme parks, beaches |
| Sir Bani Yas | Drive plus free boat | Safari and nature |
| Nurai, Banana Island | Private boat | Seclusion near the city |
| Palm Jumeirah | Road or monorail | Iconic resorts |
| Hawar | Drive plus 25-minute boat | Birds, quiet luxury |
| Shura | Electric car over a bridge | New Red Sea resorts |
| Ummahat, Sheybarah | Seaplane or boat | Overwater villas, reefs |
| Daymaniyat, Giftun | Day boat | Snorkeling |
| Masirah, Farasan | Ferry | Remote, unspoiled |
| Djerba, Bozcaada | Flight or ferry | Heritage and villages |
Island addresses are some of the most prized property in the region. See Abu Dhabi Luxury Real Estate on Saadiyat and Yas, Dubai Luxury Real Estate, Al Marjan Island and Qatar Luxury Real Estate on The Pearl.
Fly to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai or Doha, then connect to Red Sea International Airport. From there, Shura Island is a short drive over a bridge, while Ummahat and Sheybarah are reached by seaplane or boat. Most US citizens can obtain a Saudi tourist eVisa online.
Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. It is close to the airport, offers five-star beach resorts and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and pairs easily with a few days in Dubai.
Yes. Sir Bani Yas has free-roaming giraffes, cheetahs and Arabian oryx; Hawar hosts large bird colonies; and Farasan is home to its own gazelle. See our wildlife and nature guide.
Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here
Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.
Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate
Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.