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.
Middle East
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.
The astounding antiquities of Egypt and Jordan
THE sheer scale of human achievements he found in the Middle East made Rory Gibson wish he had known more about the region before he visited.
Stop over for all kinds of thrills in Dubai
WHETHER you’re seeking modern luxuries and cutting-edge architecture or ancient customs, Dubai has plenty to offer, writes Louise Treccasi.
Aussie surfs 3.5m high desert waves
AUSTRALIA’S number one female surfer Sally Fitzgibbons has tackled a new challenge: 3.5m barrels at a wave machine in the desert near Dubai.
This flight has really gone to the dogs
WOMAN booted off British Airways plane after she smuggled a dog in a bag onto the flight. The question is – how did she get it past security?
Three ways to discover Dubai
FROM opulent palaces to fragrant souks and Arabian architecture, we show you how to explore the old and new city state.
A big brunch in Abu Dhabi
ANGELA Saurine explores the international city where expats love to brunch on a Friday.
Millions of Muslims gather to stone Satan
MUSLIM pilgrims symbolically stone Satan as part of the last and most dangerous rite of the annual hajj.
Abu Dhabi shines in glitz and glamour
MUSIC royalty Janet Jackson is sitting about three metres away.
Answering the need for speed
GOING from zero to 240km/h on the world’s fastest roller-coaster gives me serious bragging rights with my teenage son back home.
Boys weekend in Abu Dhabi
TAKE a turn in Maserati mecca, visit Ferrari World or jump in a 4×4 for some dune bashing in the UAE’s newest entertainment destination.
Five things to try in Dubai
FROM dinner on the sand dunes to shopping in the Gold Diamond Mall, here are five unmissable experiences Dubai has to offer.
From the desert to the drop in Dubai
NO longer just a stopover destination, Dubai blends the futuristic, cultural and cosmopolitan into one exhilarating travel experience.
Underwater world of Atlantis
IMAGINE waking up, pulling open the curtains and staring into the mouth of one of the biggest fish in the world.
Move over Dubai
ABU Dhabi is where the Arabian action is, not Dubai, writes Toni Salama of the city widely regarded as the world’s richest.
Banksy graffs the Holy Land
BRITISH graffiti artist Banksy is trying to bring cheer and boost tourism in Bethlehem this Christmas with a series of subversive murals in the town revered as Jesus’ birthplace.
Beirut the Sin city of the Middle East
FROM nude beach parties and wild bashes to gay clubs and showgirls, Beirut is rapidly earning a reputation as the sin city of the Middle East.
‘Mermaid town’ lures tourists
AN Israeli town hopes dozens of reported mermaid sightings and a hefty reward will help boost tourism to the region.
Lebanon swamped with record number of tourists
MORE than one million tourists visited Lebanon last month, a record number for the tiny Mediterranean country, the tourism ministry said.
Heaven sure tastes good
KERALA and its surrounds are closer to paradise than most other parts of India offering visitors a real taste of India’s rich cuisine and culture, writes Sam Wundke.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/middle-east/page/4