Middle East holidays
Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer skyscrapers, desert safaris and shopping, Oman has mountains, wadis and a quieter Arabian coast, Qatar has world-class museums, and Jordan holds the rose-red city of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer skyscrapers, desert safaris and shopping, Oman has mountains, wadis and a quieter Arabian coast, Qatar has world-class museums, and Jordan holds the rose-red city of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum.
The region is best from October to April, when daytime temperatures are pleasant. Summers are extremely hot.
Popular places in Middle East
Countries in Middle East
Middle EastUnited Arab Emirates
The UAE is one of the most popular short holidays from India.
Middle EastOman
Oman is the gentle side of Arabia: whitewashed Muscat, mountain forts at Nizwa, emerald wadis, desert camps in the Wahiba Sands and the frankincense coast of Salalah.
Middle EastQatar
Qatar is a compact Gulf state whose capital, Doha, has world-class museums, a restored souq and a waterfront Corniche.
Middle EastJordan
Jordan holds Petra, the rose-red Nabataean city carved into canyon walls, the Martian landscapes of Wadi Rum, the salty waters of the Dead Sea and the Roman ruins of Jerash.
Middle EastSaudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia holds the two holiest cities of Islam: Makkah, with the Kaaba at the heart of Masjid al-Haram, and Madinah, with the Prophet's Mosque.
Middle EastIraq
Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala are among the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.
Middle EastIran
Iran is home to Mashhad's vast shrine of Imam Reza, the largest mosque complex in the world by area and one of the great pilgrimages of Shia Islam.
Middle EastIsrael
Israel holds sites sacred to three faiths within a small area.
Best time for each country
| Country | Best time | Time vs India |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | November to March | 1 hour 30 minutes behind India |
| Oman | October to April (north); July to September for Salalah's monsoon greenery | 1 hour 30 minutes behind India |
| Qatar | November to March | 2 hours 30 minutes behind India |
| Jordan | March to May and September to November | 2 hours 30 minutes behind India |
| Saudi Arabia | November to February | 2 hours 30 minutes behind India |
| Iraq | October to April | 2 hours 30 minutes behind India |
| Iran | March to May; September to November | 1 hour behind India (Tehran) |
| Israel | March to May; September to November | 3 hours 30 minutes behind India (2 hours 30 minutes in summer) |
Middle East tour packages
5D / 4NDubaiDubai Classic Holiday
The Burj Khalifa, a desert safari, a Marina dhow cruise, Museum of the Future and the old souks.
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6D / 5NDubai · Abu DhabiDubai & Abu Dhabi
Dubai's icons plus the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, BAPS Mandir and Yas Island.
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6D / 5NDubaiDubai Honeymoon
A beach resort on the Palm, a private desert dinner, the Burj Khalifa at sunset and a yacht cruise.
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4D / 3NDubaiDubai Short Break
Three nights for the Burj Khalifa, desert safari and Dubai Mall fountain show.
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7D / 6NDubaiDubai Shopping Festival Trip
Timed for the Dubai Shopping Festival with Global Village, fireworks and sales.
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3D / 2NDubaiDubai Group Tour
A quick group trip with a desert safari, a dhow cruise and the Burj Khalifa.
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7D / 6NDubai · Abu DhabiUAE Luxury Holiday
Five-star stays in both cities with private tours, a seaplane flight and fine dining.
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7D / 6NDubai · MuscatDubai & Oman
Dubai's skyline and Oman's quieter side, with wadis, souqs and dolphin cruises.
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9D / 8NDubai · Istanbul · CappadociaDubai & Turkey
Dubai's desert and skyline, Istanbul's mosques, bazaars and Bosphorus, and sunrise balloon flights over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
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3D / 2NDubai · Abu DhabiDubai Stopover
A two-night stopover between flights to see the best of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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7D / 6NDubai · SingaporeDubai & Singapore
Two of the most family-friendly cities in the world in one week.
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7D / 6NDubai · Abu DhabiDubai Senior-Friendly Holiday
Air-conditioned sightseeing and short days across the two emirates, with step-free options checked for each stop when we plan.
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4D / 3NAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi Culture & Theme Parks
The Grand Mosque, the Louvre, Qasr Al Watan and Yas Island's parks.
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5D / 4NMuscat · Nizwa & Jebel AkhdarOman Discovery
Muscat's mosque and souq, Nizwa's fort and a night in the Wahiba Sands desert.
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5D / 4NSalalahSalalah Khareef Holiday
Salalah's green monsoon season with waterfalls at Wadi Darbat, Mughsail blowholes and frankincense souqs.
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4D / 3NMuscatMuscat Short Break
Three nights in Muscat for dolphin watching, a swim in Wadi Shab, the Bimmah Sinkhole, the Grand Mosque and evenings in Mutrah Souq.
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9D / 8NMuscat · Nizwa & Jebel Akhdar · SalalahOman Grand Tour
Oman end to end: Muscat's mosque and souq, Nizwa's fort and Jebel Akhdar's villages, then a flight south to Salalah's beaches and frankincense heritage.
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3D / 2NQatarDoha Stopover
Museums, Souq Waqif and a desert safari to the Inland Sea on a two-night stopover.
View itinerary →6D / 5NQatar · DubaiQatar & Dubai
Two Gulf cities in five nights: Doha's Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif and Inland Sea, then Dubai's Burj Khalifa and desert safari.
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6D / 5NAmman & the Dead Sea · Petra · Wadi RumJordan Highlights
Jerash and the Dead Sea, two days at Petra and a night in a Wadi Rum desert camp.
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5D / 4NPetra · Wadi RumPetra & Wadi Rum Adventure
Hikes to Petra's Monastery and High Place, jeep tours and a bubble-tent night in Wadi Rum.
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9D / 8NAmman & the Dead Sea · Petra · Cairo & Giza · LuxorJordan & Egypt
Petra's rock-cut city and Egypt's pyramids and Luxor temples in one journey.
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8D / 7NDubai · Petra · Amman & the Dead SeaJordan & Dubai
Dubai's modern icons for three nights, then a short flight to Jordan for two days at Petra and the Dead Sea and Jerash from Amman.
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8D / 7NDubai · Abu DhabiDubai & Abu Dhabi Kids' Holiday
Aquaventure, IMG Worlds of Adventure, the Dubai Aquarium and a gentle desert evening in Dubai, then Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld on Yas Island.
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7D / 6NIsraelIsrael Holy Land Tour
Jerusalem's Old City, the Dead Sea and Masada, the Sea of Galilee and Tel Aviv–Jaffa, subject to current travel advice.
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10D / 9NMakkah · MadinahUmrah Package
Five nights in Makkah near the Haram to perform Umrah with a mutawwif, then the Haramain train to Madinah for the Prophet's Mosque, Riyad ul-Jannah, Quba and Uhud, arranged with our licensed Umrah partner.
View itinerary →14D / 13NMakkah · MadinahUmrah with Extended Madinah Stay
A slower Umrah for families and elders: a week in Makkah and six nights in Madinah, hotels close to both mosques, wheelchairs for tawaf and sa'i on request, arranged with our licensed Umrah partner.
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14D / 13NMadinah · MakkahRamadan Umrah: Last Ten Nights
Madinah first, then the last ten nights of Ramadan in Makkah for taraweeh, tahajjud and Laylat al-Qadr at the Haram, arranged with our licensed Umrah partner; book as early as possible.
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12D / 11NMakkah · Madinah · IstanbulUmrah & Istanbul
Umrah in Makkah and Madinah, then three nights in Istanbul for the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Eyüp Sultan and the Topkapı relics, arranged with our licensed Umrah partner.
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8D / 7NNajaf · KarbalaIraq Ziyarat: Najaf & Karbala
The shrine of Imam Ali and the mosques of Kufa from Najaf, then the shrines of Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas at Karbala, subject to current government travel advice.
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7D / 6NNajaf · KarbalaArbaeen Walk to Karbala
Ziyarat in Najaf, then the Arbaeen walk of about 80 km to Karbala with mawkib rest stops along the way, and four nights near the shrines, subject to current government travel advice.
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10D / 9NMashhad · Najaf · KarbalaIran & Iraq Ziyarat
The shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, then Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, linked by flights, subject to current government travel advice for both countries.
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8D / 7NIsrael · Amman & the Dead SeaHoly Land: Israel & Jordan
Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, then across to Jordan for Mount Nebo and Bethany beyond the Jordan, the baptism site, subject to current travel advice.
View itinerary →5D / 4NDubaiDubai & Abu Dhabi Delight
Four nights in Dubai with the Burj Khalifa, a dune-bashing desert safari, a Marina dhow cruise dinner and a day in Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the BAPS Hindu Mandir.
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