2023 Travel Guide to the Middle East

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Sat January 14, 2023

2023 Middle East Travel Guide

1/13 The Middle East is quickly becoming a tourist region that is all its own, with glittering skyscrapers, rich cultural heritages, a history that spans further than the written word and a vastly unique landscape, from dry deserts to colorful coral reefs and lush desert oases. Check out this slideshow to get some of the best information for traveling to this region of the world this year, learn about its greatest attractions and why the Middle East is seeing a tourism boom like never before.

Best Destinations

2/13 For millennia the center of the ancient world, bridging the gap between Europe, Africa and Asia in both trade and knowledge, the Middle East is likely to be a popular region of the world for tourists this year, with more cruise ships and river ships sailing down the Red Sea and the Nile than ever before and destinations like Saudi Arabia ramping up efforts to attract international visitors. In 2023, there are several destinations in the Middle East to visit, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

These destinations typically offer greater safety and ample opportunities to experience and explore, from bucket-list attractions like the Great Pyramids of Egypt to newer wellness-centric destinations like AlUla, Saudi Arabia (not to mention some of the first resort openings in the highly anticipated Red Sea Project).

Best Attractions

3/13 A city where three of some of the world's largest religions coexist. Ancient cities carved from cliffsides. Lush oases enshrouded by barren deserts. Elaborate tombs of kings long past. From Israel to Egypt to Saudi Arabia, there's bound to be something you can't experience anywhere else. Israel and Jordan are where you'll find the most biblical history.

Jordan and AlUla are where you'll find the ancient cliff-carven Nabatean ruins of Petra and Hegra. Egypt is where you'll find some of the most photographed ancient man-made landmarks in the world: the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx and other Egyptian ruins. Yet it's important to also note that the Middle East isn't just a place where history has been remarkably preserved in stone: it's also home to a myriad of cultures that are worth experiencing for yourself, from the food to the marketplaces, or souqs.

Must See 2023 Events

4/13 From high-intensity car races in glittering metropolises to annual celebrations in ancient temples, the Middle East is certainly home to a large calendar of events both annual and specific to 2023. Each year, the temple of Abu Simbel offers the Abu Simbel Sun Festival, which celebrates Ramses II's ascension to his throne on February 22 and his birthday on October 22.

Saudi Arabia will once again host the fourth annual adrenaline-inducing Dakar Rally 2023. Riyadh is hosting the Janadriyah Festival, a two-week event that offers camel races, traditional craft displays, local music, dance performances and much more. Each country typically offers a large calendar of events that's worth researching on your own. Saudi Arabia, for example, offers seasonal festivals in each city throughout the year, which are worth checking out.

Best Places for Families

5/13 Travel can be a great source of education for both children and adults, but the top consideration with traveling as a family is considering safety and appropriateness of experiences available in a destination for the age level of your children. It's why we recommend visiting a destination like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman or another destination that ranks high on the list for safety.

They also offer great experiences to connect with local cultures (especially when it comes to the food) and offer historical attractions where children can learn about the ancient world. Many also offer large contrasts between hyper-modern cities and their ancient wonders, giving children and their parents a truly memorable travel experience they won't soon forget.

Cruising is another great and safe way to visit this region of the world: cruise ships sailing in the Mediterranean can visit destinations along the coastline like Egypt and Israel, while some, such as MSC Cruises, are beginning to offer itineraries into the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia or Oman. One of the only family-friendly river cruise lines, AmaWaterways, is also sailing the Nile beginning this year.

Best Places for Couples

6/13 Romance travel abounds with a sense of adventure in the Middle East, from wandering the souqs to trying sweet mint tea to discovering ancient wonders. AlUla is a great luxury destination for couples, with plenty of sustainable and adults-only resorts offering glamping-style accommodations and a direct connection with the best sights. Christian couples looking to strengthen their bond with each other and with God can visit Israel and Jordan to experience Biblical history for themselves. River cruises along the Nile or luxury cruises along the Red Sea or Persian Gulf are also great options for couples celebrating milestone events.

Best Places for Group Travel

7/13 Group travel to the Middle East can range from church groups taking guided tours of the Holy Lands to families or friends wanting to reconnect while discovering a place they've never been. Large cities like Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi or Doha offer great locations from which to enjoy reconnecting together, with plenty to see and do in a single city, from cultural events and festivals to hyper-modern attractions and luxury shopping experiences.

Cruises can also be a great way to visit the Middle East on a group trip, as everything is usually all-included and destinations are pre-planned, leaving the person who organized the trip with a lot less work to do - plus, cruising in this region of the world is a relatively newer travel experience, so groups have the benefit of experiencing something truly unique.

Best Places for Solo Travel

8/13 Solo travelers are typically concerned with affordability and safety while traveling alone. The safest destinations in the Middle East are also the ones with large numbers of English speakers and offer great destinations to explore on your own, from Saudi Arabia to Egypt.

Do your due diligence researching whatever country you'll be traveling solo in, as many of these countries have more conservative rules about dress; Saudi Arabia, for example, does not require head-coverings for women (except for some religious buildings), but requires women travelers to cover their knees and shoulders. As always, we also recommend learning a bit of the language, as understanding the language is a crucial aspect of personal safety.

Best Foodie Destinations

9/13 Foodies, you're in luck! No matter where you travel in the Middle East, you're sure to find some incredible food that will make your stomach happy you traveled there. Middle Eastern cuisine varies by region to region and culture to culture, but many offer spiced, aromatic dishes with incredible flavors, from mint to rose to cinnamon to dates and more.

Travelers can find a wide variety of foods to suit their own tastes, from freshly cooked fish to rice dishes and plenty of lamb. We recommend researching the foods in the destination you're considering traveling to, especially if you have a specific food allergy, so you can ensure you can experience the culture's cuisine without worrying too much. As always, make sure to carry an EpiPen with you, especially if your allergy is serious or life-threatening.

Best Places for Adventure Travel

10/13 The Middle East does adventure travel like no other destination on the planet. From horse races and car races in its large, modern cities to tours through the desert ending in gleaming oases, there's more than enough experiences for any adventurer.

AlUla, Saudi Arabia is a great adventure destination for luxury travelers, able to offer everything from hiking to ancient Nabataean ruins to hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours and more. Egypt is a great adventure destination that offers relatively easy transit between historic sites (including scenic cruises down the Nile), while travelers less interested in history can find the glittering cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha to be an adventure all on their own.

Best Places for Sports Enthusiasts

11/13 Sports enthusiasts will most likely remember that Qatar was the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the country is expected to continue hosting sports fans this year because of it. Besides soccer, many of the major cities in the Middle East all offer major sporting events, from major races with horses and cars to sports like tennis. Often these are international events, garnering attention within their respective groups of fans. Those who want to enjoy participating in a sport like racing along sand dunes on a motorbike will find that opportunity in places like Saudi Arabia.

Unique to the Middle East

12/13 The Middle East can often seem a region of stark contrasts: ancient wonders live in tandem with glittering new jewels of cities, great bodies of water lie next to barren deserts and cultures that have over a millenium's worth of history change seemingly overnight in this increasingly interconnected world. It's one of the reasons why this region is so enticing for many travelers, and as the world continues stepping away from the pandemic, more travelers are expected to travel in this fast-growing tourism region in 2023 because of it. It truly does have something for everyone, and the discerning, respectful traveler will find plenty to learn in the Middle East.

Safety Index Check-In

13/13 The Middle East is a difficult place to describe in terms of safety; war and conflict can sometimes overshadow entire regions of the world, when in reality many destinations are open and welcoming to American travelers, as long as they travel respectfully and follow the rules of the destination.

Destinations like Egypt and Israel have long been visited by Americans, while new destination Saudi Arabia is also very welcoming. For travelers heading to this region of the world, do your research about laws that are different in your chosen destination, how to dress while there and what is socially acceptable and what isn't.

If you're overly concerned about traveling to a place in the Middle East, consider taking a cruise or guided tour by a reputable tour operator; both travel methods can offer increased levels of security for those who are nervous about traveling on their own.

Check out the latest guide to traveling to the Middle East this year.

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