Best Place to Visit in the Middle East in 2021

Arab Weather - The Middle East includes 14 countries that differ greatly from each other, namely: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

To see the huge natural and cultural contrast between these countries and the role they play in world history, we have compiled a list of the 15 best places to travel to in the Middle East in 2021 according to visitor experiences. These choices are based on the level of safety, historical importance and natural beauty of these places.

Amadiyah - Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan)

Located in northern Iraqi Kurdistan, just 10 kilometers from the Turkish border, Amadiyah is a very beautiful and attractive village located on top of a flat mountain with a history of at least 5,000 years.

From the Assyrians to the Persians, as well as numerous Jewish and Christian communities, dozens of civilizations and religions have left their mark in this historic place. Today, Amadiyah is a Kurdish Muslim village, surrounded by the most beautiful mountain scenery, distinct from northern Iraq and one of the most beautiful places to travel in the Middle East.

Baalbek - Lebanon

The Roman Empire stretched from Western Europe to North Africa and the Middle East, and was the largest empire ever. Today, most of its ruins (and some are in relatively good condition) are major tourist attractions, receiving hundreds of visitors each day. And if we talk about the effects of the Roman civilization outside Rome, the monuments in Baalbek are among the greatest and unique Roman monuments.

Coast of Dhofar Governorate - Oman

Dhofar's coast stretches from southern Oman all the way to the Yemeni border, and it can be very different from what you'd expect from Omani beaches. The swirling cliffs, turquoise blue waters and the natural beauty of southern Oman's beaches are barely accessible to the average tourist, who tends to visit the northern part of the country.

If you are a fan of random camping and road trips in the Middle East, you will not get better than this place.

Old Damascus - Syria

Damascus is indeed one of the oldest cities in the world - founded in the second millennium BC, it was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750, and is one of the most important cities of the Caliphate stretching from Spain to Iran. Old Damascus is home to the Umayyad Mosque, a prominent mosque that went from being a temple of Jupiter in the Roman era to a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist and later became one of the largest mosques in the world. Today, Damascus is considered a safe city, and the old city remained that way through most of the war.

Old country in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is filled with ancient and historical places, and one of the best examples is the Old City of Jeddah, which was founded 1,300 years ago as a gateway for Muslims on their way to Mecca, most of whom arrived by sea from Africa.

Today the country is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a lively area full of colorful facades, and by far the most beautiful ancient city in the bay.

Jerusalem, Palestine

One of the most important places for Christians, Muslims and Jews, Jerusalem is a city that perfectly combined tradition and history with 21st century modernity, which means that you can wander around the old city and its historical sites for days, and at the same time find modern places.

Erbil - Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan)

Not many cities in the world have as much history as Erbil. With nearly 30 thousand years of history, according to historians, today Erbil is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Erbil is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, a city with many traditions, filled with a lot of old bazaars, cafes and historical sites.

Petra - one of the seven wonders of the world - Jordan

Petra was founded in the sixth century BC. By the Edomites, but it did not flourish until the Nabateans took over the place and built the city by carving it out of the rock, which made it an important trade center.

The rose city of Petra has amazing architecture.

How do you visit Petra? Find out the details here

The rolling green hills of Jizan - Saudi Arabia

Asian-style gradient fields, greenery and monkeys make up the mountain villages of Jizan, this Saudi province that borders Yemen, and differs little from the stereotypes in Saudi Arabia, from the traditional food items there to the traditional dress of the people of the region.

The Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth - Jordan

The waters of the Dead Sea have the highest salt density in the world and also, the Dead Sea region is the lowest point on Earth, dropping 430 meters below sea level. Because of the high concentration of salt, animals and plants cannot live in it, hence the name.

Swimming in the Dead Sea is very beneficial, and due to the high water density, drowning is almost impossible. And along the coast there are many hotels and resorts where you can relax on their beaches and bathe in healing mud.

Are you planning to visit the Dead Sea? Find out the details here

Dahab - Egypt

Dahab is a beautiful Bedouin-inhabited beach town in the Sinai Peninsula. Dahab attracts travelers from all over the world for having some of the best snorkeling activities in the country. Visitors come to Dahab to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere on the beach and dine at its many seafood restaurants.

Jerash - Jordan

If making a trip to Lebanon to visit the Roman ruins of Baalbek seems too difficult for you but you still want to travel to the Middle East, then perhaps you should consider visiting Jerash , one of the greatest Roman ruins outside of Italy, constructed in some of the most fertile valleys In the area, today it has green rolling hills filled with olive and fig trees.

And the choice of this site was not accidental because when it was built about 2,000 years ago, the Romans wanted to make it a great city because of the richness of the land.

Do you want to travel to Jerash, one of the most magnificent Roman ruins in the Middle East - details here

Musandam - Oman

A rocky desert land made up of picturesque rocks, stunning cliffs, and one of the largest wildlife species in the Middle East, Musandam (often called Middle Eastern Norway) lies north of the United Arab Emirates towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Musandam is a very popular destination among expats living in Dubai, and along the coast you will find many beaches occupied only by local Omanis, who like to gather with their families for barbecues during the weekends.

In Musandam, you can also rent an abra (a local traditional boat) to sail around the fjords and observe wildlife, meet dolphins, and if you go snorkeling, you can see coral reefs, turtles and unique fish.

Luxor Egypt

Established on the shore of the Great River Nile and surrounded by both mango plantations and the desert, Luxor is the largest open-air museum in the world. This is where the most famous pharaohs, such as Tutankhamun, came from, and most of the temples are either in excellent condition or perfectly restored, all dating back to between 3200 BC. and 1500 BC.

Salalah - Oman

It is an incredible place where it rains in the summer, it is full of green lawns, and the locals sell coconuts and pineapples. Salalah is a city located in the far south of Oman, very close to the Yemeni border.

Salalah and the Dhofar region witness the monsoon season every year. This season is called Khareef Salalah, and it occurs from July until September. During this season, Salalah becomes beautiful and lush green, attracting visitors from all over the country, and from the Gulf countries, to escape the hot and humid weather.

Some images source: Blog