TREASURES OF THE ARABIAN GULF

Doha is the beautiful capital of Qatar, located on the Persian Gulf and home to the majority of the country's population. In 2006, the city hosted the world's largest Asian Games yet and has since continued to thrive and grow, now preparing for the prestigious FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Doha has a surprisingly laid-back atmosphere and is a good base from which to explore the rest of the country. The city is also renowned to be safe, clean and accommodating of foreigners, which is not surprising considering the huge amount of expats that call Doha home.

As a cultural and commercial centre, Doha offers plenty to see and do. Topping the list of popular activities is shopping, an obsession fuelled by both mammoth modern malls and exotic traditional markets (souqs). Many of the travellers who visit Doha are primarily visiting on business, but the glitzy hotels, quality museums and booming restaurant scene keep everyone entertained.

Doha's modern seaport, busy airport and great infrastructure make it exceedingly accessible to visitors, and Qatar is pouring wealth into an already sophisticated city in order to transform it into a cultural and economic powerhouse to rival the likes of Dubai.

The skyline becomes more impressive and attractive every year and more and more travellers are discovering the wonders the city has to offer. A stroll along the Doha Corniche, ocean on the one side and glamorous cityscape on the other, should leave nobody in any doubt as to why Doha is emerging as a hugely desirable travel destination.

Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Desert, Dubai has grown rapidly into a futuristic landscape of skyscrapers, man-made islands, shopping malls and beach resorts. There is a sense of outlandish possibility about this modern and progressive city.

Dubai has become a truly global city and influential business hub, growing particularly fast in areas such as aviation, tourism and real estate. Standing as testament to its success are architectural marvels such as the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, the Burj Al Arab, widely billed as the world's only seven star hotel, and the iconic Palm Jumeirah island, to name just a few.

Dubai is a city of superlatives, home to the highest skyscrapers, the fastest cars, the most luxurious hotels and the biggest shopping malls. The enormous expatriate population, as well as millions of tourists each year, can enjoy shopping, partying, sunbathing and fine dining. From within these high standards of luxury, visitors can also experience exotic Arabia in the bustling souks of the Deira district, or a night in a Bedouin tent with belly dancing under the starlit desert skies.

Dubai's attraction lies in the contrast between the ultra modern and the enchantingly traditional, which gives the city a personality like no other. From desert oases and unspoiled beaches, camel races and old wind towers, to top-class shopping opportunities and the finest international cuisine, Dubai has more than enough depth to satisfy even the most seasoned of explorers.

The brash, bold city of Abu Dhabi is a modern marvel, capital of the wealthy United Arab Emirates and headquarters of the world's richest oil operating companies. The pulsating city, with futuristic skyscrapers and wide tree-lined boulevards, is capitalising on its sophistication, amazing duty-free shopping zone, luxury hotels and top-class transport and communication infrastructure to attract tourists. They come not only for the 'retail therapy' and glitz, but also to explore the fascinating culture of the vast Abu Dhabi Emirate itself (it is the largest of the seven Emirates), with its miles of desert and interesting oases.

The city juts out into the Persian Gulf, with land having been reclaimed from the sea to make way for a long seafront Corniche lined with lush gardens and gushing fountains. It is a relatively young city, the area having been first settled by nomadic tribesmen in the mid-18th century. It remained little more than a fishing village until oil was discovered in the 1950s and the financial and trading boom began.

Today the international airport and deep water port bring in visitors from around the world, most clutching credit cards and cash, set on spending as much as possible in the enticing shopping malls and buzzing souk (market). Limousines are a common sight in the congested streets, and restaurants that offer the cuisine of many nations do a roaring trade, especially along the waterfront. Shopping fever is at its height during the annual Shopping Festival. Those taking a break from modern luxury can escape to the desert for a Bedouin feast under the stars, or a camel ride through the dunes.

See Khasab’s jutting fjords, and the dolphins playing in the emerald waters, and it’s forgivable to think you’ve stumbled across a surreal Norway. The burning sun and scorched earth, serve as a constant reminder that you're a long way from Europe, however - although the Portuguese roots mean there's a colonial tint to the city. Sitting on the Northern coast of Oman, reaching across towards Iran, this is an isolated and fascinating destination to explore. The remote location, and limited infrastructure here, until recent times, means Khasab has been left to live life at its own pace, and the city sings to its own song sheet. Even now you can see a blind eye being turned to the smugglers who whisk electronics across the Gulf to Iran, in small speed boats.

Once a central trading port for East Africa and India, Sur was also renowned for the wonderful wooden ships it produced. Having lost some of its prestige when the French completed the Suez Canal in the 19th century, and struck by a cyclone in 2007, the city has nevertheless retained its scenic dunes and crystal waters. Sur’s most recognisable monument today is the Ras al Haad castle, a gem of Islamic architecture built in the 13th century to protect locals from Christian attacks, and which now serves as a regional political centre. While in town, science aficionados will be lured by the impressive Ras Al Jinz Scientific & Visitor Center, offering modern facilities and apps to discover the local wonders of fauna and flora. Alternatively, for an in-depth discovery of the city’s history, the maritime museum is an excellent choice.

Muscat is the capital and largest city in Oman, but tourists will find that the mundane activity of the busy modern capital is easily forgotten among the exotic delights of bustling markets, cannon-guarded forts, ornate palaces and historic city harbour. The once important maritime city underwent a resurgence in the 1970s, when the Sultan Qaboos bin Said began to develop museums, mosques and palaces, and worked to restore relics of Muscat's history.

Muscat is made up of three cities grown together: the original walled city of Muscat (home to the royal palaces); the former fishing village of Matrah with its maze-like souq; and the commercial and diplomatic area of Ruwi. These areas, along with other districts further from the city centre, each have their own distinct personalities and attractions.

Although Muscat is a popular destination for sightseeing tours, many of the attractions are primarily regular fixtures of Omani life. The mosques are important religious sites, the ancient forts are still operated by the military and the sultan's palace is the seat of Oman's government.

The beauty of the city is what makes Muscat so alluring, especially near the harbour. The smooth, curved stone architecture is a transition from the rocky landscape to the inviting water of the harbour. Many new buildings have continued with classic Arabic architecture, further protecting the city's legacy from the ravages of the modern world. Muscat is one of the safest, most cosmopolitan and most open-minded cities in the entire Gulf Region and fast becoming a Middle East tourism hotspot.