Warm up at winter vacation destinations in the Middle East

The give and take

When you think of these nations, you think of people in traditional dresses with women with veils, or you may have a negative impression with the news of wars or political troubles with protests. However, there is another side to this region and that is the cities with ultra-modern architecture, a thriving business community searching for alternatives to oil production on which the economy of most of the countries here depends, and the young generation with interest in other cultures of the world. But, when you come here you will have to be sensitive to the local culture which is based on the religion of Islam. While some people follow the religion strictly, others are more liberal understanding that people have different ways of life depending on the part of the globe they belong to. Here we suggest some destinations that welcome tourists with open arms in the Middle East.

Dubai for luxury and more

Winter is the peak season for the tourist sector here and as you can imagine the reason for this is the temperatures that most people from other parts of the world will be comfortable with. And why do they come here? This is a city with amazing infrastructure for businesses and tourists. You will find the tallest building of the world here and you can go to the higher floors for the views that not many will ever see. There are a few beaches here where you can try water activities like kitesurfing and there are a few water parks to keep your young ones busy for some time. Here you can expect to see people from all parts of the world, coming to shop for luxury items while others will be here to go for safari in the desert nearby.

Doha in the Arabian Gulf

Winter brings more tourists to this city than other months and there are a few festivals for them to enjoy like the food festival. You can even watch camel races here or try camping in the desert, though the temperatures at night can get too cold for comfort, so come prepared. You can join the locals watching the National Day parades and fireworks. There are islands that you can reach through boat rides for those looking for luxury treatment with marinas and boutiques. To understand the local traditions you must visit the local markets where you will be able to see the items that are part of everyday life and you will be able to find good souvenirs here unless of course, you have come here for luxury shopping.

Jerusalem, holy for some

If you don’t mind temperatures that are not too low you should come here for the winter break. You may think that most people coming here will have some religious inclination with sites important to different religions and the Christmas celebrations done the traditional way, however, there is much more to see and do here. You will find crowds in popular parts of the city and may get to rub shoulders with tourists like you, giving you the opportunity to make friends from other parts of the world. Here you will get to see how the west survives in the east at the bakeries and cafes, offering items that you will be used to. There are promenades and parks where you can walk taking in the green sights around you.

Iskenderun, the mild Mediterranean destination

Turkey is a popular destination with Europeans looking to get away from the icy temperatures in their part of the world. If you are looking for a budget destination in Turkey, you can come to Iskenderun on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, close to the Syrian border. Here you will find millennium-old churches and mosques, with towns with historic ruins within driving distance. If you enjoy kebabs, you will find plenty of restaurants adding their own flavors to their different varieties along with local seafood delicacies. As for nature lovers, there are mountains offering glorious views of the city along the coast.

Kuwait City like no other city

Most tourists will come here for the pleasant warm temperatures and a modern Arab city. If you are coming in the days of winter celebrations, you will find many citizens of this nation coming here for domestic holidays, so make sure that you have booked your accommodations in advance. The best way to travel around here is the cabs with limited public transport. If you can get to a ridge close to the city, you will see the views that are very rare, of the city and how it merges into the desert. You can choose to dine at the roof top restaurants offering glorious views of the seaside at the night.

Conclusion

Everybody knows that Middle East is the hottest part of the world but few are aware of how low the temperatures can get in the deserts in the winter. Yes, you can expect warm temperatures, temperatures that you will find suited to you if coming from the colder parts of the world. Here we have suggested some destinations that are safe for tourists, in fact, they rely on tourism to boost the local economy.