Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wadi Dharbat, Oman
Camels and cows share abundant herbage in the region's seasonal mists. (
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)
Wadi Ghul, Oman
Vertiginous glimpses into the Grand Canyon of Arabia from the top of Jebel Shams. (
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Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Magnificent wind-blown pillars of sandstone turning copper-coloured at sunset. (
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)
Al-Soudah, Saudi Arabia
Peregrine-eye views of the coastal plain from the soaring escarpment. (
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Liwa, UAE
Date plantations punctuate the sand dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter. (
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Shaharah, Yemen
Switchback glimpses of livid green, terraced fields. (
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Mughsail, Oman
Blowholes fling fish, seaweed and unsuspecting crabs into the air beneath Dhofar's dramatic under-
cliff. (
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)
Musandam Peninsula, Oman
Deeply incised fjords of leaping dolphins and hidden villages. (
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Architecture
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are putting the Arabian Peninsula on the map for innovative architecture. A few ancient
wonders in Saudi and Yemen show it has ever been thus.
Madain Saleh, Saudi Arabia
The Nabataean monuments of this 'petite Petra' lie in a wind-sculpted desert of sand-
stone. (
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)
Burj KhalifaandBurj Al-Arab
,
Dubai
Both equally cutting edge, and winning the prize for height and flare respect-
ively. (
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)
and (
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)
Beit Sheikh Isa bin Ali
,
Bahrain
Best example of the air-conditioning wizardry of 18th- and 19th-century wind-tower
architecture. (
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)
Arab Fund Building, Kuwait
The interior is a demonstration of the unity of Islamic art. (
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)
Al-Corniche, Qatar
A monument to 21st-century postmodern architecture, setting a benchmark for daring design.
(
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)
Grand Mosque, Muscat
Elegant, understated masterpiece reflective of the traditional restraint of Omani architecture.
(
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)
Shibam, Yemen
Called 'Manhattan of the Desert' by the traveller Freya Stark, this medieval town is where the art of
high-rise began. (
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)
Kuwait Towers
Used as target practice during the Iraqi invasion, these iconic towers have come to symbolise more than
just water in the desert. (
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)
Yas Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi
The only hotel in the world to straddle a Formula One racetrack. (
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)
Mutrah Corniche
A picturesque sweep of balconied houses, mosques and forts in the heart of Oman's capital. (
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here
)
Wildlife
With the exception of Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, the Arabian Peninsula countries offer spectacular wildlife experien-
ces. Swim with dolphins, watch turtles lay their eggs or track oryx across the plains and you'll quickly realise that desert
does not mean deserted.
Turtles
Watch record numbers of turtles return to the beach of their birth at Ras Al-Jinz Turtle Reserve in Oman. (
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)
