Middle East

Introduction

Kuwait Towers

© moonboots

The Middle East is not a continent, but rather a region spanning western Asia. Sometimes parts of northeastern Africa (like Egypt, Libya and Sudan) are included. This part of the world is often in the news, most notably due to the war in Iraq and other civil unrest in countries like Israel, Lebanon, Yemen and more recently Syria.

Despite the bad publicity, the Middle East has a lot to offer to travellers – historically and culturally. Palmyra in Syria, Petra in Jordan and Persepolis in Iran are reminders of the region's glorious past. The largest sandsea in the world, the Rub' al Khali, literally the Empty Quarter in English, can be found here in the Middle East. In fact, large parts are dry deserts but still many people manage to live here, mainly along major rivers like the Tigris.

Travelling in this region is pleasantly easy. However, the differences in travelling costs between the cheaper countries like Iran and Syria and the more developed places like Oman and Dubai can be huge. Spend some time in this part of the world and enjoy the sights and experiences it has to offer.

Geography

Despite having no consequent borders, there are huge similarities between many of the countries. As mentioned above, huge parts are arid but grasslands, fertile river beds and mountainous areas are not absent either. The southern part of the Arabian Peninsula mainly consists of sandseas and mountains. Especially the southwest of Saudi Arabia and parts of Oman and Yemen there are high mountains with the possibility of snowfall in winter. More to the north, the mountains are lower and sand shares places with rocks and gravel. Low lying deserts like the Syrian Desert and Iranian Desert can get extremely hot in summer and cold in winter. High mountains can be found in the west and north of Iran as well, with ski slopes just an hour away from Tehran. Many of the countries are bordered by waters. The Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea to the north and the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to the south all form borders of the Middle East. Rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris form the backbone of Iraq and most people live along these rivers.

Subregions

• Arabian Peninsula

Countries

Sights and Activities

Major Cities

• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Amman, Jordan
• Beirut, Lebanon
• Damascus, Syria – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
• Doha, Qatar
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Muscat, Oman
• Jerusalem, Palestine
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Tehran, Iran

Landmarks

See also: Famous Landmarks

• Burj al Arab, built to resemble a sail of a vessel, is a famous luxury "7-star deluxe hotel" (according to its official website) in Dubai.
• Krak des Chevaliers, a fortress originally built in 1031 for the emir of Aleppo, was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller during the Crusades. It is one of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world.
• Mecca and Medina – the holiest cities in Islam, in Saudi Arabia
• The Kuwait Towers are a set of three towers – 187 metres, 123 metres, 145.8 metres – built in 1979 in Kuwait City.
• Palmyra, a ancient city in Syria once known as the Bride of the Desert, fell into disuse after the 16th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Persepolis, an ancient citadel of the Persian Empire
• Petra, an ancient city in Jordan
• Old Walled City of Shibam, Yemen

Getting There

The Middle East has good connections by plane from a wide range of countries, including direct flights from many Asian, African and European cities. There are also several direct flights from the USA and Australia. Dubai is probably the main hub, having by far the most flights and best prices. You can enter the Middle East overland easily from mainland Africa (Egypt), Europe (through Turkey) and Asia (route from India and Pakistan). Ferries connect some countries, mainly across the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

Best Time to Visit

Most of the Middle East is best visited during the cooler months from November to March, when temperatures in large parts are very comfortable, the humidity along the coast (for example Dubai) is lower and it's generally a better time to explore things. Although this generally also applies to the countries further north like Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, some areas can be very cold in winter, with temperatures below zero and snow in the mountains. A good time for these countries would probably be around April/May and late September to early November. Generally speaking, most of the area is dry as a bone, but there are occasional downpours and regional parts (like southern Oman) have their own distinct rainy season (see the country articles for more information).