Inside $13k-a-night Saudi ‘gilded prison’
In 2017, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince imprisoned his rivals inside Riyadh’s glitzy Ritz-Carlton. This is what the notorious hotel is really like.
Middle East
Trillionaire kingdom’s strange new move
IT’S a kingdom of unimaginable riches which has made an incredible move.
Country that’s changed its mind about us
NOT long ago, this was an ultraconservative, closed-off place. Now it suddenly wants us to visit — but there are some big catches we have to agree to.
Mysterious pool at ancient site
AN INCREDIBLE discovery dating back 1500 years has got people asking a lot of questions.
Secret tombs uncovered in Egypt
THE two tombs, believed to belong to noblemen, date back some 3500 years and will soon be open to visitors.
Ancient city found by treasure hunters
THE lost city in Turkey dates back to the ninth century BC and is believed to be the burial place of royalty.
Eight reasons to visit the world’s richest city
YOU didn’t know you needed to experience it, but Doha will give you gold-plated bathrooms, and your very own pet falcon.
Side of Saudis we’ve never seen before
WOMEN jogging in bikini tops and working side-by-side with men: this futuristic megacity looks nothing like the rest of the ultraconservative kingdom.
Ancient city about to vanish forever
IN ITS 12,000-year-old history, the village was home to one of the oldest organised human settlements ever discovered. Soon it will be gone.
From high-risk to hotspot
WHO wants to visit a “rogue nation” that was once part of the “axis of evil”. Apparently lots of Australians, despite what the Government tells us.
Insane luxury next to war zone
THEY live next to one of the most horrific and dangerous places on Earth, but their luxurious life has to be seen to be believed.
Underwater city to open after 30 years
MORE than three decades since it was declared off limits, this unique sunken ruin may soon be seen again.
Airline’s strict dress code for women
FEMALE passengers flying with Saudia Airlines have been warned to cover up or risk being kicked off flights.
Saudi Arabia really wants you to visit
THE ultraconservative Arab nation is willing to relax restrictions on women’s dress and gender segregation to attract more tourists.
Luxury hotel costs less than you think
IT has seven stars and rooms comes with a personal butler. But it’s not as ridiculously expensive as you’d expect and there is a good reason.
World wonders tourists aren’t visiting
ONCE swarming with crowds, these famous sites are now all but deserted. But deciding to go is not that simple.
Dubai’s new $2 billion attraction
THE city is well known for its luxury lifestyle and now it’s spending big to attract more visitors.
This airline is seriously sassing Trump
DONALD Trump banned passengers from six countries from carrying electronics into the US, but this airline is highlighting just how ridiculous it is.
Natural wonder that’s disappearing fast
BY THE middle of this century, this incredible natural wonder could be gone for good. Here’s why you need to go now before it’s too late.
Jordanian airline trolls Trump
THE national carrier of Muslim-majority Jordan is getting a real kick out of Donald Trump’s presidency, as this new promotion shows.
Iran just bought $22B worth of planes
THIS national airline just signed a deal with Boeing for 80 — yes, 80 — new jets, as it prepares for a tourism boom.
The Dead Sea is literally dying
MAKE no mistake – the Dead Sea in the Middle East is drying up. The massive body of water is shrinking every year by about a metre, and we only have ourselves to blame.
Inside a paranoid Islamic republic
“SECONDS after landing we saw a corpse lying next to a burning car. Our rickety tourist bus seemed to be falling apart, despite having VIP on the side.”
Elusive cat caught on camera
“WHEN peace returns — and it will, as no war lasts forever — this region has great potential for eco-tourism.”
No vacancy at world’s biggest cemetery
INCREDIBLE drone footage reveals the world’s biggest necropolis — the final resting place of five million people — which is rapidly running out of space.
Is this the most cursed building in Mecca?
THIS glittering hotel in the middle of a desert promises to be the largest hotel the world has seen. But will it actually be built?
Truth behind Iran’s menacing war cries
MENACING calls ring out as thousands of protesters march through the streets. Their signs all bear a bloodthirsty message.
Bold plan for $6 billion artificial island
AN AMBITIOUS and expensive proposal to connect the Gaza strip to the rest of the world via a man-made island with an airport and huge bridge is being floated.
Would anyone really travel here?
IT IS the most dangerous country on earth, but in a huge display of optimism, its tourism minister says his country could be a great place for a holiday.
Huge discovery inside ‘lost city’
IT WAS hidden in plain sight for thousands of years at a popular tourist spot. Now, this ancient monument has been uncovered using Google Earth and drones.
Hosties furious at being forced to cover up
OUTRAGED female flight attendants are threatening mutiny after they were told they have to put on headscarves before flying into Iran.
‘I’m dying more and more each day’
THIS is Fadi. He’s been living at an airport for an entire year, trapped in the dreaded “problematic passengers room”.
Incredible find inside shipwreck
IT WAS lost in a storm 500 years ago. Now, divers have finally reached the wreckage of The Esmeralda and what they found inside shocked them all.
How pilots got the ultimate revenge
ON BOARD a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, these trailblazing women have blasted their way into a country where they’re not allowed to drive a car.
Rare coin found, taken away
A WOMAN was shocked to stumble across a rare coin dating back to 107AD while on a hike. But within hours, it was gone.
The hidden slaves behind glamour city
IT IS a city renowned for glitz, glamour and boasts the world’s tallest building. But there’s an ugly side that you won’t read about in its tourist brochures.
Travel agent’s terrifying idea
IT’S the last place in the world anyone should want to be, but one travel agent is planning tours to a brutal warzone. And they’ll cost you a fair bit too.
Tallest tower isn’t where you’d think
NO, this is not Dubai. The world’s tallest tower, reaching 1km into the sky and costing $3 billion, isn’t being constructed where you’d expect.
The most unliveable city on Earth
IT WAS once a thriving urban capital filled with leafy streets and trendy restaurants. It’s since become hell on Earth.
Expat suffers worst nightmare
THIS family went to Qatar to work, but it all went wrong. When their daughter died suddenly, they ended up losing everything.
Aussie did what in the Middle East?
IT’S not easy to travel alone as a woman in this part of the world, so this Australian decided to try something rather unusual. And she’s lucky to have made it through safely.
IS takes control of luxury hotel
THE Islamic State continues to expand its influence, and has commandeered a five-star hotel as a bizarre venue for jihadi weddings.
Something horrible’s in this lost city
IT’S one of the most famous architectural feats in the region, an ancient city that defies belief. But this lost city is hiding a dark secret.
The ancient city no one is visiting
HOTELS stand virtually empty and visitors are few and far between. What’s happened to this ancient city that was once bustling with tourists?
One man’s ‘war’ to set up his own country
ELI Avivi didn’t want to live in his country any more, so he created his own. And for a place that doesn’t technically exist, it certainly gets good reviews on TripAdvisor.
One of world’s deadliest places
SOLDIERS on almost every street corner. Homes riddled with bullet holes. While this is a land of despair, an Aussie traveller reveals there is beauty.
Is the world’s tallest building on fire?
HUNDREDS of photos appearing to show smoke billowing from Dubai’s Burj Khalifa have flooded social media, sparking fire fears.
Photos extremists don’t want released
THE pictures show rugged mountains, crystal clear lakes, lush green hills and a country brimming with life. But if you think this is Europe or North America, think again.
5 incredible places in Iran you don’t know
FORGET the tourist trodden sites of this country, you’ll find locals only at these ancient hidden gems. Here are five of the best.
Travel tips for Dubai
PERTH-raised Natalie Price is radio presenter in Dubai and shares her must-see tips for the UAE’s most glamorous city.
Aussies graffiti ancient relic
AN Ancient ritual site has been unearthed in the Holy Land — complete with graffiti from two Australians. Do you recognise their names?
Aussies graffiti ancient relic
AN Ancient ritual site has been unearthed in the Holy Land — complete with graffiti from two Australians. Do you recognise their names?
The stunning city no one is visiting
IT WAS supposed to be a record-breaking year for tourist visits but this city is full of empty hotel rooms and desolate sites. So what happened?
This rare waterfall is incredible
THIS triple waterfall was formed over thousands of years. When the mountain snow melts, water shoots down through a series of natural bridges into a spooky cave below.
Sinkhole opens temple of doom
A CRACK in the wall. A growing pothole. Strange rumblings in the night. When a sinkhole in suburban Abydos collapsed, it opened a portal to a long-lost temple.
Abu Dhabi to build incredible underground park
WHEN one of the richest countries in the world sits on a desert the best way to expand is to go underground. See the incredible design.
Is this the most insane view in the world?
AT 829 metres high, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest man-made structure. And it’s just as outrageous as it sounds.
‘The day I got lost in Iran’
IT WAS the day that changed this traveller forever. But his initial trepidation disappeared due to the friendly locals. It’s also one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Inside the most isolated tribe in the world
FEW outsiders have had the privilege of meeting the nomads of Afghanistan’s Pamir Mountains. This is a rare look at their isolated lives.
They want to do what to the world’s tallest tower?
IT’S the epitome of sky-high extravagance, but it seems the world’s tallest building just isn’t outrageous enough for some. You won’t believe what they want to do to it …
4600-year-old pyramid uncovered
A FASCINATING discovery has been made in Egypt: a step pyramid that’s some 4600 years old, predating the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Inside Iran’s creepy party island
THE island of Kish was designed as a playground for tourists and Iran’s elite. All that changed in 1979. Take a look inside the eerie place of broken tourism dreams.
Snow in Cairo first time in 112 years
SNOW has fallen in the Egyptian capital of Cairo for the first time in more than 100 years, as a powerful storm system struck parts of the Middle East.
‘Tomb raiders’ re-open Pyramid fight
TWO German students have damaged ancient writing in the Great Pyramid in order to “prove” the structure is far older than generally accepted.
Men arrested for offering ‘free hugs’
SAUDI religious police arrested two young men offering a "free hug" to passers-by in Riyadh, local media reported.
Tourists told: Turn off phone, get discount
A RESTAURANT owner near Jerusalem is on a mission to save culinary culture by making diners a simple offer: Turn off your mobile phone and get a 50 per cent discount.
Sometimes travel & politics clash
BRIAN Crisp soon runs into problems with officials trying to enter Lebanon after travelling in Oman and Israel.
Kingdom courts art of the ages
HOME to the world’s biggest collection of Islamic art, Qatar’s wonders are distinctive and varied, including a mystical ‘inland sea’, colourful souks, and a famous corniche.
Lonely Planet’s guide to Jordan
AT THE crossroads of history for more than 2000 years, the kingdom of Jordan is a treasure-trove of world-class heritage sites and spectacular desert scenery.
Petra: The secrets of a lost city
TWO hundred years ago, a Swiss explorer rediscovered the ancient city after more than 600 years. Follow in Jean Louis Burckhardt’s footsteps, and see Jordan’s greatest treasure for yourself.
Setting sail in the Dead Sea
BRIAN Crisp visits the salty and desolate resort – and one of the strangest hotels he has ever visited – in the land of biblical legend.
Archaeological treasures in trouble
THE ruins of this ancient complex sit on dunes by the sea, a world away from Gaza City’s noise and bustle. Now the race is on the save them.
Kuwaiti medical test will ‘detect’ gay travellers
KUWAIT’S director of public health says a new medical test will be used to detect homosexual travellers so they can be barred from entering the country.
Bigger than any mirage in the desert
SIZE matters when it comes to majestic Dubai and there are no plans to scale down the jewel of the Persian Gulf, writes Angela Saurine.
Flintstones-like resort in Oman
A LUXURY resort overlooking a deep gorge 2000m above sea level will open in Oman in the Middle East next year.
Tours cancelled amid Egypt unrest
TRAVEL companies are cancelling tours to Egypt and changing itineraries following the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi.
Aussie travellers in Egypt diverted
AUSTRALIAN tour companies are diverting guests away from political unrest in Egypt, changing itineraries and hotels.
US get Taliban office renamed
THE Taliban office in Doha will be renamed to remove any reference to the state of Afghanistan, the US has informed an angry Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Meet and greet at airport
EITHAD Airways is offering a new “meet and greet” service for guests arriving in Abu Dhabi.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/middle-east/page/2