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Destinations
Middle East
Desert starscapes and resplendent oases await.
Travel Advisory
Due to the current situation in the Middle East, we have temporarily suspended travel arrangements to and via the Middle East. We will resume services once the situation stabilises. Please feel free to contact your concierge for the latest updates.
Introduction
Where ancient civilisation meets the city of the future
The Middle East is at once the cradle of human civilisation and the most dynamic travel destination of the twenty-first century. The wisdom of the ancient Nabataeans inscribed upon the rock of Petra in Jordan, the futuristic skyline of Dubai's supertall towers, the serene wadis and fjords of Oman. Millennia of heritage and cutting-edge luxury coexist here in remarkable harmony.
A Middle Eastern journey with NEWT Bespoke is designed to reveal the deep, layered allure of the region. In Dubai, reside at the Royal Suite of Burj Al Arab and dine privately in the heart of the desert. In Jordan, explore Petra with an archaeologist and sleep beneath the stars in the Mars-like desert of Wadi Rum. In Türkiye, soar above Cappadocia by hot air balloon and immerse yourself in the Byzantine heritage of Istanbul.
The hospitality of the Middle East is among the finest in the world. The spirit of 'daifa', the traditional Arabian ethos of guest-welcoming, ensures that visitors are received as the most honoured of guests. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where the world's most distinguished hotels are concentrated, and Oman, where traditional palace hotels are found throughout the sultanate. In the quality and scale of its service, the Middle East stands without peer.
Why journey through the Middle East with Bespoke
Where modernity meets tradition
Soaring towers and ancient ruins coexist. The only place where future and past converge. The contrast of desert and skyscraper viewed from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the dialogue between East and West at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the ancient mysteries inscribed at the AlUla heritage site in Saudi Arabia. Experiences that transcend time and space are found only in the Middle East.
The world's most extraordinary hotels
An unrivalled concentration of the world's finest hotels. The pinnacle of scale and service. Burj Al Arab, Emirates Palace, Amanjena. The hotels of the Middle East, in their grand scale, meticulous attention to detail, and devoted guest service, have established the benchmark for the global hospitality industry.
Experiences found nowhere else
Desert camps, hot air balloon flights, ancient ruins exploration. Encounters unique to this region. Sleep beneath the stars in the desert of Wadi Rum, float above the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, and stand before Al-Khazneh at the end of the Siq in Petra. In their singularity and emotional depth, the experiences of the Middle East continue to captivate travellers from every corner of the world.
Countries
Destinations in this region
UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
Dubai is crowned by the world's most distinguished luxury hotels, from Burj Al Arab to Atlantis The Palm, alongside desert glamping of extraordinary refinement and the world's largest shopping mall. In Abu Dhabi, the resplendent architecture of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, art at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and private beach resorts on Saadiyat Island await.
Recommended stay: 4-7 nights
Best season: November to March
Oman
The Middle East's hidden jewel, Oman offers a serenity and adherence to tradition that contrasts markedly with the bustle of Dubai. Cruise the fjords of the Musandam Peninsula aboard a dhow, camp amidst the dunes of the Wahiba Sands, and swim in the emerald natural pools of Wadi Shab. The royal palaces and souks of the capital, Muscat, hold their own allure. Stays at resorts such as Alila and Anantara are exceptional.
Recommended stay: 5-7 nights
Best season: October to April
Jordan
Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Dead Sea at the lowest point on earth, and the Mars-like landscape of Wadi Rum. Jordan is a nation of astonishing wonders wrought by antiquity and nature. A candlelit night tour of Petra's Al-Khazneh, a Dead Sea mud spa, and a Bedouin-style luxury camp in Wadi Rum: singular experiences concentrated in one extraordinary destination.
Recommended stay: 4-6 nights
Best season: March to May / September to November
Türkiye
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque at the crossroads of civilisations in Istanbul, the fairy chimneys and hot air balloons of Cappadocia, the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, and the resort coast of Bodrum on the Aegean. Türkiye is the sole nation where European and Asian cultures may be experienced simultaneously. Turkish cuisine, inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list, from kebab to meze to baklava, ensures that culinary exploration knows no bounds.
Recommended stay: 7-10 nights
Best season: April to June / September to November
Israel
The Old City of Jerusalem, where three faiths converge at their holiest sites, the remarkable buoyancy of the Dead Sea with its thirty per cent salinity, and the vibrant modernity of Tel Aviv's Mediterranean waterfront and start-up culture. Israel is one of the world's most multi-layered destinations, where ancient devotion and cutting-edge innovation reside side by side. Watch the sunrise from the desert fortress of Masada, stay at a luxury lodge in the Negev Desert, and savour innovative Middle Eastern cuisine from Tel Aviv's new generation of chefs.
Recommended stay: 5-8 nights
Best season: March to May / September to November
Saudi Arabia
Since the introduction of tourist visas in 2019, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the Middle East's newest frontier of discovery. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Madain Saleh in AlUla rivals Petra in grandeur with its monumental rock-cut tombs. Along the Red Sea coast, the ambitious NEOM resort development is under way, and the historic district of Al-Balad in Jeddah, with its ancient coral-stone architecture, merits exploration in its own right.
Recommended stay: 5-7 nights
Best season: November to March
Qatar
The futuristic skyline of Doha, the serene geometry of the Museum of Islamic Art designed by I. M. Pei, a luxury desert safari across the inland sea, and the elegant waterfront promenade of The Pearl-Qatar. This small peninsula nation on the Arabian Gulf commands world-class hospitality and cultural institutions that belie its modest size. An exploration of falconry traditions at Souq Waqif, a dhow cruise at sunset, and an architectural tour of the stadiums that captured global attention during the 2022 FIFA World Cup: a compact yet richly concentrated journey.
Recommended stay: 3-5 nights
Best season: November to March
Itineraries
Sample itineraries
Dubai and Oman: Luxury Immersion
Reside at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, enjoy a private dinner in the desert and a helicopter tour of the city, then transfer to the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. Cruise the fjords by dhow and sleep beneath the stars at a luxury camp in the Wahiba Sands. A journey revealing two faces of the Middle East: the modern and the traditional.
Jordan: Ancient Ruins and the Dead Sea
Travel from Amman to Petra with a dedicated driver and guide, where an archaeologist illuminates the mysteries of the ancient Nabataean civilisation. Experience a candlelit night tour before staying at a Bedouin-style luxury camp in Wadi Rum. Conclude the journey at a Dead Sea spa resort.
Türkiye: Istanbul to Cappadocia
Begin with a Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul and a privately guided tour of the historic quarter, then fly to Cappadocia for a dawn hot air balloon flight. Stay in a cave hotel, visit the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, and conclude with a resort sojourn in Bodrum on the Aegean coast. A journey distilling Türkiye's remarkable variety into a single itinerary.
Experiences
Experiences unique to the Middle East
Dubai helicopter cruise
Survey Dubai's soaring skyline and desert expanse from above. Sunset flights available. The Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and The World Islands unfold below as you comprehend the full scale of the city Dubai has built from the desert. Private charter flights along your preferred route and at your preferred hour are arranged.
Luxury camp in Wadi Rum
A night beneath a canopy of stars in a Martian desert landscape of otherworldly beauty. The red desert of Wadi Rum, celebrated as the filming location of Lawrence of Arabia and The Martian, presents a landscape of austere grandeur. In a luxury tent upholding Bedouin tradition, savour traditional cuisine by the fire and the unobstructed night sky overhead.
Private Petra exploration
Accompanied by a dedicated archaeological guide, uncover the secrets of the rose-red city. The breathtaking sight of Al-Khazneh, revealed at the end of the narrow Siq, never fails to take one's breath away. Routes beyond the reach of general tourists, panoramic viewpoints from above, and the candlelit Petra by Night experience are all available.
Dubai's ultra-luxury hotels
Burj Al Arab, Atlantis. The very summit of global hospitality and service. The Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab, often described as seven-star, is a duplex residence with a dedicated butler and Rolls-Royce transfer. The pool suites at Atlantis The Royal, with their commanding views of Palm Jumeirah, are equally impressive.
Travel Tips
Practical travel information
Getting there
Direct flights from Tokyo to Dubai take approximately eleven hours (Emirates). Istanbul is approximately 12.5 hours direct (Turkish Airlines). Amman (Jordan) is reached via Dubai or Doha in approximately fifteen hours. Muscat (Oman) is a short domestic flight of approximately one hour from Dubai. First and business class arrangements on all carriers are available.
Visa requirements
Japanese passport holders enjoy relatively straightforward entry: the UAE grants 30-day visa-free access, Oman requires an e-Visa, Jordan offers a visa on arrival, Türkiye permits 90-day visa-free access, and Saudi Arabia requires a pre-obtained e-Visa. We handle all visa procedures and provide the latest entry requirement information.
Currency and payment
Currencies include the UAE dirham, Omani rial, Jordanian dinar, Turkish lira, and Saudi riyal. Credit cards are widely accepted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Cash is required at souks in Jordan and Oman. Tipping customs are common in several countries; we provide comprehensive guidance on local etiquette.
Climate overview
The Middle East is characterised by an arid climate. Summers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (June to September) may approach 50°C and are best avoided, whilst November to March offers a pleasant 20-25°C. Jordan and Oman are also best from October to April. Türkiye is the exception, with its Mediterranean coast optimal from May to October. Cappadocia's winter snowscapes possess their own beauty.
Health and safety
The Middle Eastern nations featured here are generally safe, with the UAE ranking among the world's most secure countries. As Islamic nations, modest dress covering shoulders and knees is expected when visiting mosques. During Ramadan, some restaurants close during daylight hours, though hotel restaurants continue to serve as normal. We provide comprehensive cultural etiquette guidance in advance.
Best Season
Best Time to Visit
Oct — Dec
Autumn to Early Winter — Desert Breezes Descend
The entire Middle East enters its most inviting season for travel. Dubai and Abu Dhabi settle into temperatures of 25-30°C, ideal for desert safaris and beach pursuits, and the view from the Burj Khalifa observation deck extends to a crystalline horizon. In Jordan, Petra's Siq canyon and the Treasury of Al-Khazneh are comfortable to explore in the autumn warmth, and the candlelit night tour — hundreds of luminaries illuminating the ancient façade — is an experience that stirs the soul. Oman's wadis reveal their most beautiful emerald-green natural pools during this period. In Cappadocia, hot-air balloons ascend into autumn's clearest skies, offering panoramic views over the fairy chimneys that achieve their most vivid definition at this time of year. Israel's Jerusalem is a pleasure to walk, and a starlit dinner at a luxury lodge in the Negev Desert crowns the day in the most memorable fashion.
- •Jordan's Petra candlelit night tour experience
- •Cappadocia's autumn-sky balloon flights with pristine views
- •Oman's wadi emerald-green natural pools
Jan — Mar
Winter — Culture and Festival Season
Dubai enters its most glamorous chapter. The Dubai Shopping Festival (January to February) draws discerning shoppers from across the globe with exclusive luxury offerings and limited editions, while Art Dubai in March showcases the cutting edge of contemporary art. In Saudi Arabia, the ancient Nabataean site of Madain Saleh at AlUla may be explored in comfortable temperatures, and a night in a desert luxury camp amid these ruins — where antiquity and modernity converge — is an experience found nowhere else on earth. In Qatar, Doha's cultural institutions, led by I. M. Pei's Museum of Islamic Art, are ideally visited in the mild winter air, and a falconry experience at Souq Waqif connects one with centuries of Arabian tradition. Dubai's New Year countdown, centred on the Burj Khalifa's spectacular fireworks, is a global event that draws celebrities and luminaries from every corner of the world.
- •Dubai Shopping Festival and Art Dubai cultural calendar
- •Saudi Arabia's AlUla ancient ruins and desert luxury camp
- •Qatar's Doha cultural tour and Souq Waqif falconry experience
Apr — Jun
Spring — Ancient Lands in Bloom
Türkiye and Jordan are at their most beautiful. In Istanbul, tulips — for which Türkiye is the ancestral homeland — line the Bosphorus promenades in vivid profusion, and the city's mosques and palaces are a pleasure to explore in the spring warmth. In Cappadocia, the soft spring light gilds the fairy chimneys in shades of amber, and the early-morning balloon flights are at their most atmospheric. Jordan's Dead Sea invites floating and mud-spa indulgence in the season's most agreeable temperatures at the lowest point on earth. Wadi Rum's Martian desert occasionally blooms with spring wildflowers, adding an unexpected note of colour to the red landscape. In Tel Aviv, beach season begins along the Mediterranean, and the city's new-generation Middle Eastern cuisine has captured the attention of food connoisseurs worldwide. The UAE and Oman see rising temperatures, yet outdoor activities remain comfortable through May.
- •Istanbul's tulip festival and Bosphorus promenade
- •Jordan's Dead Sea floating and mud-spa indulgence
- •Tel Aviv's beach season and avant-garde Middle Eastern cuisine
Jul — Sep
Summer — Türkiye's Brilliance and Arabian Nights
The Arabian Peninsula is best avoided for most destinations due to the extreme heat, yet Türkiye enters its most magnificent summer season. Cappadocia's early-morning balloon flights unfold beneath the clearest summer skies, and the panorama of fairy chimneys illuminated by the first rays of dawn is a vision beyond the reach of words. Along the Aegean coast, Bodrum offers yacht cruises and rooftop dining that embody the Mediterranean summer at its finest, while the turquoise waters and ancient Lycian ruins of Antalya compose an experience of remarkable breadth. Istanbul's summer evenings are defined by Bosphorus-side seafood dinners — a quintessential Turkish pleasure. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, temperatures soar beyond 40°C, yet a distinctive culture of indoor luxury has taken root: vast climate-controlled malls, indoor theme parks, world-class hotel spas, and summer sales of extraordinary generosity ensure that the season holds its own refined appeal.
- •Cappadocia's summer-sky balloon flights at their most spectacular
- •Bodrum yacht cruises and Aegean rooftop dining
- •Dubai's indoor luxury culture and exclusive summer sales
Testimonial
Client testimonial
“
Our nine-day journey through Dubai and Jordan was truly a portal to another world. The emotion upon arriving at the Burj Al Arab suite, the extraordinary atmosphere of a private dinner in the middle of the desert, and the grandeur of Al-Khazneh emerging at the end of the Siq at Petra. The star-filled sky I gazed upon whilst lying in the sands of Wadi Rum was a beauty unimaginable from Tokyo. Our concierge's depth of local knowledge proved invaluable at every turn.
R.T. (Gentleman in his 40s, Tokyo)
Dubai and Jordan, 9 days
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