MIDDLE EAST
A Few Possibilities
Dubai, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Tehran, Jerusalem, Amman, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Haifa, Basrah, Sharjah, Ankara, Shiraz, Doha, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Muscat, Manama, Jeddah, Aqaba, Islamabad, Kabul, Sana'a, Mecca, Tripoli, Petra
Sites Worth Seeing
The Middle East brings with it a complicated past mixed with culture and rich history. Visit the Isalamic Museum of Art in Qatar. Explore the Al Hoota caves in Oman. See the great Roman ruins in Ephesus, Jerash and Baalbek. Lay out on the beautiful beaches of Tel Aviv. This region is known for its deserts, so an adventure in the desert is a must. Explore the largest souk, Souk Al-Mubarakiya found in Kuwait. Go floating in the Dead Sea. Dubai has a ton of activities to do including a visit to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The ancient city of Petra in Jordan where you can find the famed Al Khazneh carved in rose sandstone walls. Take in the grand vision that is the Red Rose City. Visit the Golestan Palace in Tehran and see the Shah Mosque in vibrant Esfahan, Iran, where some of the most brilliant architecture can be seen. Visit the village Amadiya in northern Iraq, known as home to the Three Wise Men and surrounded by mountainous scenery that is said to be one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Middle East. And of course, there is the city of Jerasulem, where you can literally spend several days exploring the historical aspects of the city while also indulging in its more modern side offerings of dining, shopping and nightlife.
Shopaholics
Dubai is certainly known for its over the top malls and super lux price tags like at the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world. It not only houses 1,200 stores, it also has a skating rink, sleep pods for napping, a haunted house, an aquarium, a virtual flight simulator, a virtual rollercoaster and a fountain show to name a few. The second largest mall is the Middle East is the Avenues Mall in Kuwait. The Isfahan Mall is the largest mall in Iran, which includes a 5-star hotel, an indoor theme park and a museum. The Red Sea Mall is another large mall in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia and, in addition to shops, has a 7D cinema (who knew there was even such a thing?), karting, bowling and laser tag.
There are so many bazaars and souks in the Middle East, which offer outdoor markets to find homemade items, carpets, gold, spices, foods, and fabrics. You can shop and bargain at The Grand Bazaar of Tehran, the ancient Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz, the Al-Balad souk, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the Muttrah souk, Muscat, Oman and the many gold and spice souks found in Dubai. There is also Al Hamidiyak Souk is the largest in Syria and the Souk el Tayeb in Beirut which features fresh produce and foods. Erbil, Iraq is another suprisingly westernized city with plenty of shopping available.
Nightlife
Although somewhat conservative, nightlife in the Middle East can be an experience. Some areas are dry, but many have nightclubs that go til dawn. In Beirut, Club B 018 is hosted in a bomb shelter and has retractable roof that slides open at sunrise exposing all the night dwellers to the morning sun. Sky Bar in Biel has a balcony overlooking the sea, and Yukunhkun spins disco to hip hop. In Tel Aviv, be sure to cruise down Lilinblum Street, Levontine Street, and Nahlat Binyamin Street, where you’ll find a huge selection of pubs and clubs. You might was to drop into Lansky for classic cocktails, or the gay-friendly area at Evita nightclub on Yavneh Street.
Public drinking is technically illegal in the UAE, so many of the clubs and bars are found in hotels. In Dubai, go to Neos for spectacular city views, or stop at Atlantis near the beach, and 360 Degrees at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. You may also want to go to Billionaire Mansion at the Taj Hotel, Cavalli Club and Cirque du Soir at the Fairmont Hotel, and Boudoir at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa. In Abu Dhabi, begin your eve with dinner and drinks at Skylite, Left Bank or Hemingway's in the Hilton Hotel, then join the expats at The Captain's Arms or Ray's Bar. Get some Polynesian cocktails at Wakatua Terrace.
Manama in Bahrain was once on the top 10 most sinful cities in the world. Although the government has since cracked down on prostitution and drug-trafficking, it still boast a hot nightlife at clubs like Club XS and Wrangler featuring global DJs, and pubs with live music like Harvester's and JJ's.
And we can't forget about Jerusalem, where you will find Glen Whiskey Bar and Sira Pub, plus lots of other interesting little bars to discover around the Mamilla Pool area. For something with more energy, go to Justice nightclub, and for live music, check out Uganda and HaTipa. And go to Hoaman 17, for a gay-friendly vibe in a warehouse nightclub.
NOTE: This listing of nightclubs and lounges was created pre-pandemic and will be updated soon.