Middle East travel
Tensions in the Middle East have ratcheted up since the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, while the unintentional shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger jet has done little to instill confidence in travellers to the region.
I’ve visited the Middle East several times over the last 15 years and discovered a compelling part of the world which has a lot to offer.
The futuristic desert cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are thrilling discoveries en route to chilled Indian Ocean beach holidays. Oman is more low-rise, restrained and authentic, but with a splash of luxury should you want it.
Further up the Gulf is the small state of Qatar, where I happily spent a week exploring capital city Doha and indulging in some dune bashing out in the desert. Jordan and Israel, meanwhile, have a wealth of historical treasures and the relaxing Dead Sea.
For sunshine seekers during the long UK winter, the Middle East presents opportunities for good weather and a seaside climate. But how do you decide if it’s safe to visit? Read more below the gallery
A taste of the Middle East. Click first image to view gallery
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- Grand Sheik Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi
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- Highland town of Nizwa, Oman
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- Israeli Dead Sea resort of Ein Bokek
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- The Golden Masjid, Katara, Qatar
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- Burj Khalifa, Dubai
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- Muscat souk, Oman
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- Inland Sea, Qatar
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- Grand Sheik Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi
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- Doha, Qatar
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- Dead Sea shoreline, Israel
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- Luxury hotels, Qatar
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- Oman’s coastline
For UK travellers, the definitive place to go for advice about visiting the Middle East is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. The information is detailed, comprehensive and updated constantly.
Iran, Iraq and war-ravaged Syria and Yemen currently carry a red warning against all travel. More popular destinations including the United Arab Emirates come with the advice that “the security situation could worsen with little warning”, while historically most visits are “trouble free”.
A whole host of other trusted travel sources, such as Fodor’s, are also providing information about the situation.
As part of my year of travel, I was very keen to visit Iran, famed for its cultural treasures, delicious cuisine and welcoming people. But I put this on ice before recent events, concerned about the government’s attitude towards LGBT issues.
I’ve also had my eye on a tour of Lebanon but am reconsidering, given the presence of Iranian-backed militias in the country.
Choosing never to travel to the Middle East again would be an oversight. The region has so much to offer and is richly photogenic.
But you don’t have to make any decisions alone – there is a lot of guidance available.
mikeosbornphoto 
A lovely series of photos and good content to go with it. It is rare that political reasons put me off visiting somewhere (it’s only happened once before), but as a Westerner, I guess the perception of the risks involved in travelling to places is often much higher than the risk itself. Thank you for posting. :)
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Thank you for your feedback, Richard. Yes, this is a tough one as ultimately it’s down to the individual. There are a lot of variations in the Middle East which makes it trickier.
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The country that I was dissuaded from was Russia – we were due to travel to St Petersburg not long after the Salisbury poisonings and suddenly the visa process changed. As it was the fourth leg of our Baltic trip, we decided against travelling there as we knew we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the first part of the holiday with the anticipation of what might – or might not – have happened when we arrived. It’s a shame, but there is so much of the world to explore, it’s good to focus attention elsewhere sometimes.
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I’d have misgivings about Russia too. Like Iran, the state position on LGBT rights there. It seems wrong to line their pockets. However it’s officially not much better in the UAE, but scratch just beneath the surface…
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I think with Russia, it was the fact we were only going to be there for three days, that we’re a gay married couple and the fact that suddenly the visas were going to cost us significantly more than the whole of that leg of our trip that put us off… I definitely wouldn’t rule out going there, but maybe at some point in the future.
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Mike, These are fabulous. Your opening shot is masterfully composed- the rich colors with the silhouette. This is a great set of a stunning part of the world.
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Hi Jane, thanks so much. It’s something of an amalgam from travels to the region over the years. I hope not to be deterred from going back again :)
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You have a great eye.
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Thank you :) It sure takes one to know one!
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I visited Jordan in 2010. Petra is a high point of all my years of travel. I very much wish I had gone to Syria at the same time. It once had a wealth of history too.
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Hi David, yes, I missed out on Syria and I should think that’s it in our lifetimes. The general temperature has risen again but I’m not sure it’s enough to warrant a blanket ban on the Middle East.
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