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Destinations
This Middle East travel guide covers seventeen countries, from Morocco to Oman, and more than seventy cities and resorts, with the best luxury hotels, the best time to visit and plain practical advice for travelers from the United States.
Updated
At a glance
For a first visit, most Americans start in the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates is a short nonstop away from a dozen US airports and combines beaches, the desert and world-class museums. Saudi Arabia is the region's great new destination, with AlUla's rock tombs and new resorts on the Red Sea, while Qatar makes an elegant stopover and Oman rewards those who love mountains, fjords and quiet coves.
For history, nothing compares with Cairo and the Pyramids, a Nile journey from Luxor to Aswan, Petra and Jerusalem. For pure romance, Marrakech and Istanbul are without equal.
Most of the region is at its finest from October to April, when the Gulf is warm and dry and the desert nights are cool. Summer belongs to the mountains and the sea: Türkiye's coast, Cyprus, Morocco's Atlantic shore and the monsoon-green hills of Salalah. Our guide to the best time to visit the Middle East goes month by month.
Two more pages complete the picture: The One, our pick of the single finest hotel in each country, and Arrive Privately, on VIP airport services that take you from the aircraft door to your car in minutes. Every country page also ends with a look at property and residency for those who fall in love and want to stay.
The UAE, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Morocco are the easiest for Americans: nonstop or one-stop flights, simple entry, excellent hotels and English widely spoken in the travel industry. Each country page lists current entry rules for US passports.
It depends on the country. Several Gulf states offer visa-free entry or a visa on arrival to US citizens, and others use a quick online eVisa. Rules change, so check the country page and the official government portal before you book.
In most countries, yes, in licensed hotels and restaurants. Rules differ by country and some places are dry; each country page explains what to expect.
Ramadan is a beautiful time to visit, with evening iftar gatherings and a gentler pace by day. Hotels stay open, though some daytime dining changes. See customs and etiquette for tips.
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.