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Discover the Middle East: What the World Has Been Missing

For generations, much of the Western world has known the Middle East only as three words. TheMiddleEast.com is built to change that: a digital bridge between the Middle East and the people of the world who know little about it, showing everything positive the region has to offer, from ancient wonders and warm hospitality to the new cities, airlines and opportunities shaping its future.

Updated

At a glance

Discover the Middle East at a glance

Countries
Seventeen, from Morocco to Oman
Nonstop from the US
Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, Casablanca, Istanbul and more
Best season
October to April for most of the region
Flight from New York
About 12 to 14 hours nonstop to the Gulf

A bridge to the world

The Middle East is one of the most talked-about regions on earth and one of the least visited by Americans. Few people in the West know that Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States, that the Gulf's airlines set the world standard for flying first class, or that Saudi Arabia, a country most Americans have never considered visiting, now welcomes tourists on an online visa and is building some of the most ambitious projects in the world.

TheMiddleEast.com was built to bring this world to the rest of the world. We show the region as it is today, at its best: its places, its people, its hospitality and its ambitions, explained clearly for those who are discovering it for the first time. We cover tourism, travel, luxury, real estate, business and culture, and we leave the headlines to others.

The rose-red facade of Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, carved into the cliffs of Petra, Jordan
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ten things the world is missing

Ten reasons to look again at a region most travelers have never seen.

Wonders to rival anything in Europe

Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia

The Pyramids of Giza and the new Grand Egyptian Museum, the rose-red city of Petra, and the Nabataean tombs of Hegra at AlUla. See the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The world's finest airlines

Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi

Private suites, onboard showers and nonstop flights from more than a dozen US cities. See the best airlines.

Hospitality as a way of life

Across the region

Arabic coffee and dates for every guest, and a tradition of welcome recognized by UNESCO. See hospitality and the majlis.

The new Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Open to tourists since 2019, with the Red Sea resorts, AlUla, Diriyah and Riyadh's new districts. See Vision 2030.

What is being built

Across the region

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Qiddiya, Jeddah Tower and whole new cities. See amazing things being built.

The holy places of three faiths

Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the UAE

Mount Sinai, the baptism site on the Jordan River, Jerusalem's Old City, and Abu Dhabi's Abrahamic Family House. See faith and heritage.

Winter sunshine

The Gulf, Egypt, Oman

Warm, clear days from October to April, just as winter sets in across North America and Europe. See when to go.

The great events

Across the region

Formula 1 under the lights, the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups, and Expo 2030 in Riyadh. See the events calendar.

A place to own a home

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain

Freehold property for foreigners, residency linked to ownership and no income tax in much of the Gulf. See Invest in the Middle East.

A table to remember

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul

MICHELIN-starred dining, Lebanese mezze, Moroccan tagines and the coffee culture that gave the world the coffeehouse. See the best restaurants.

Who TheMiddleEast.com is for

Travelers planning a first visit or a fiftieth. Families looking for winter sun. Investors considering a home, a business or residency. Companies looking for partners and new markets. Students, teachers and the simply curious who want to understand the region beyond the news.

Every guide is written for people discovering the region for the first time, with practical detail for travelers from the United States: flights, entry, dress, seasons and prices in dollars.

Start here

Read America and the Middle East for the friendship that began in 1777, plan your first trip with confidence, see what surprises first-time visitors, and, for companies and investors, read doing business in the Middle East. When you are ready, choose a country on the signature map or follow the Journal for ten new stories every week.

Travel TodayBefore you travel, check the US State Department's current advice for each country you plan to visit. See the advice ↗

Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here

From a stay to a home of your own

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

Luxury Real Estate in the Middle EastEvery guide, country by country.The 66 TerritoriesEach with its Founding Partner Agency and Developer.Branded ResidencesHomes run to the standard of the world's finest hotels.Can Foreigners Buy Property?The rules in all fourteen countries.

Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.