Middle East

22,142 square meters. 40,000 worshippers. 82 marble domes. 1,096 exterior white marble columns. The largest handwoven carpet and chandelier in the world. 12 years and $545 million to build. The…

If you’ve read my Dubai Destination Guide or my advice for exploring Dubai On A Shoestring Budget then you’ll have noticed two things. Firstly, I’m not a massive fan of…

Let’s start with an obvious statement: Dubai isn’t cheap! Far from it. In fact, never have I been to a place where the cost of a bang average meal made…

Up until the 19th Century, international maps of the Middle East didn’t even include Qatar. Now, with the country set to be the stage for the World Cup (whether you…

Bahrain lies just off the coast of Saudi Arabia, and Manama, perched neatly on its northeastern tip, is its capital city. Although this archipelago is the smallest country in the…

From the bustling Arabic market place of Mutrah Souk where the fragrant frankincense wafts through the air, the beautiful intricacy of the city’s forts and mosques, to the turquoise sheltered…

Where to start! To a certain extent, Dubai is a destination that defies both logic and, potentially, your budget. I’ve traveled through Dubai on my way to Asia and Africa…

When you say you’re going to Beirut most people seem to recoil in horror seemingly recalling details of the civil war they undoubtedly heard very little about (myself included). Sure,…