Middle East Bird + Castles & palaces pictures

• World

Go dune-bashing on a desert safari, camp beneath the stars, take a dinner cruise on a dhow and bargain for gold and spices in traditional souks.

This 16th-century Portuguese fort was once a prison. It has been turned into a private museum and offers some of the best harbor views in Old Muscat.

Take a trip to see the largest entertainment and shopping destination in the world.

East meets west in this historical port city, home to lavish palaces, Portuguese forts and one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world.

A 20th-century fort rises above the excavation site for an 18th-century pearl-diving and trading town buried by the sands of the desert.

A 20th-century fort rises above the excavation site for an 18th-century pearl-diving and trading town buried by the sands of the desert.

This sultanate on the Arabian Sea features a wealthy capital, a mountain range cut by picturesque canyons and several sections of remote sand dunes.

This 16th-century Portuguese fort was once a prison. It has been turned into a private museum and offers some of the best harbor views in Old Muscat.

This cutting-edge island development is home to a picturesque golf course, a luxury resort and several top-class theme parks.

Take a break from the desert heat for the day and visit Dubai\'s lively indoor ski complex.

Perfect for a leisurely afternoon, Doha’s largest park is a great place for the whole family to run, play and have outdoor fun. 

The sultan’s official palace is a stunning example of contemporary Islamic architecture surrounded by lush gardens and the beautiful Mutrah Harbor.

Indulge in five-star hospitality, dining, shopping, spa treatments and views at this glittering multi-towered oasis in Abu Dhabi.

The sultan’s official palace is a stunning example of contemporary Islamic architecture surrounded by lush gardens and the beautiful Mutrah Harbor.

The sultan’s official palace is a stunning example of contemporary Islamic architecture surrounded by lush gardens and the beautiful Mutrah Harbor.

This 16th-century Portuguese fort was once a prison. It has been turned into a private museum and offers some of the best harbor views in Old Muscat.