DUBAI: WONDERS NEARBY

OMAN

Oman, or the Land of a Thousand Forts, invites you to enjoy a journey back in time, away from the tourist crowds.

The Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani greet you at the port of Muscat. Excursions to the Nakhl Fort, built over 1,500 years ago, are available from the capital. Despite its venerable age, it is remarkably well-preserved and considered one of the most photogenic in the country. Healing hot springs gush from the Rustaq Fort. A visit to Muscat would not be complete without a helicopter tour over the coast.

The Jebel Akhdar Mountains enchant with terraced gardens and the scent of damask roses, mountain villages lost in time, and the Arabian "Grand Canyon" of Wadi Ghul. During your tour of Nizwa Fort, climb its tower for fantastic panoramic views, then head to Bahla Fort, the country's oldest fort, Jabreen Castle, and the new Oman Through the Ages Heritage Museum.

Continuing south, enjoy an off-road adventure through the dunes of the Wahiba Desert and search for Arabian leopards in the Dhofar Mountains. Then relax on the tropical beaches of Salalah, home to the luxurious Hawana Salalah resort. Heading north, explore the fjord-like bays of the Musandam Peninsula on a dhow or kayak accompanied by dolphins. Swim with whale sharks in the fall, and swim with sea turtles year-round in the waters of the UNESCO-protected Daymaniyat Archipelago.

In 2026, three luxury The Malkai camps will join Oman's collection of hotels: on the Gulf of Oman coast in the northern part of the country, on the cliff edge of the Hajar Mountains, and in the Wahiba Desert.

QATAR

Qatar is a cosmopolitan country on the shores of the Persian Gulf. This is easily confirmed by visiting the Place Vendôme Mall with its 580 boutiques, water canal, and dancing fountain show, or the Doha Oasis, home to the Parisian department store Printemps, which is present only in France, the United States (New York), and Qatar. Doha Oasis also features cafés by Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, the Cova pastry shop, whose history began in 1817 in central Milan, Flavio Briatore's Twiga, the Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb hotel, an innovative cinema, and a theme park with the world's tallest indoor roller coaster.

Gourmets can enjoy restaurants by Masaharu Morimoto and Nobu Matsuhisa, Tono with Nikkei cuisine by Akira Beck, Peruvian La Mar by Gastón Acurio, Latin American Curiosa by Jean-Georges by Jean-Georges Vongerichter, Peruvian fusion Coya, Cantonese Liang, Michelin-starred IDAM by Alain Ducasse, Indian Jamavar (Michelin star), and Asian fusion Zengo Doha by Richard Sandoval. And the revolving Three Sixty Doha on the 47th floor of The Torch Doha combines signature cuisine with breathtaking panoramic views.

Experience the thrilling waterslides of Meryal Waterpark with its 85-metre tower, the Rig 1938, the zipline and giant swings at Banana Island Adventure Park on the beach, the golf course, the 4x4 experience in the 40-metre-high dunes of the Inland Sea, the stadiums that hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the National Museum designed by Jean Nouvel and the Education City Mosque, and the Katara Cultural Village with its opera house, philharmonic hall, and amphitheater.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia has it all: from open-air multimedia galleries to traces of settlements estimated to be 1.3 million years old.

Given the country's size, each visit allows you to focus on a specific region. In Riyadh, explore the National Museum with over 4,000 artifacts, enjoy shopping and entertainment at VIA Riyadh, featuring a selection of unconventional luxury brands, a VIP cinema with limited-capacity screenings, the St. Regis Riyadh Hotel, North Indian restaurants like Gymkhana – a branch of the London-based two-Michelin-starred restaurant – Scott's, originally from London, where it opened over a century and a half ago, Spago by Wolfgang Puck, Hōchō, where Japanese cuisine is complemented by the culinary traditions of the Silk Road countries, and Les Deux Magots (1885), a guest from Paris.

The capital's Boulevard complex, with its Disney castle, sports arenas, and concert venues, is the center of family fun. While in the capital, visit the historic city of Ad Diriyah and the cliffs of Jebel Fihrain, or "The End of the World." The Six Flags amusement park will soon open in the new Quiddiya City.

From November 20 to December 6, the capital will host the Noor Riyadh Light Art Festival, during which the city will be transformed into the largest open-air art gallery on the planet. Light installations created by local and international artists will fill the city with a magical atmosphere at night.

In addition to AlUla, explore the northern region of Al Jawf, the center of olive oil production. The Marid Fort, whose earliest traces date back to the 3rd century, is also located here. Traces of the first settlements on the Arabian Peninsula, dating back over 1.3 million years, have also been discovered in Al Jawf. This is the Ash Shuwayhitiyya complex, consisting of 16 villages where 2,000 artifacts have been found, ranging from stone tools to rock paintings. In Ha'il, see UNESCO-protected rock art dating back over 10,000 years.

In the west of the country, relax at the luxurious resorts of The Red Sea Project, visit the perfume factories of the "City of Roses" of Taif, and ride a cable car over Mount Al-Hada.

For those who enjoy long mountain walks, Asir National Park in the southwest of the country is their element. Here, you can ride a cable car over forested mountains, spot hamadryas baboons and over 300 species of birds, and even go mountain biking.

In Jizan, experience the country's coffee culture by visiting numerous coffee plantations and farms, and head to the Farasan coral islands for some excellent diving.

ABU DHABI

The Zayed National Museum, the UAE's national museum, will open in December 2025 in the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. Visit the teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi multimedia exhibition now. Abu Dhabi will delight you with winter sports at Snow Abu Dhabi, rafting, surfing, wakeboarding, ziplining, and giant outdoor swings at Al Ain Adventure Park, and over 20 new attractions at Yas Waterworld. The emirate's marine reserves will offer the chance to encounter dugongs, sea turtles, and dolphins.