The Middle East:
Flights to the Middle East
The Middle East is a region of the world incorporating a number of countries geographically as well as politically, and partly religiously too. There are no defining borders for the Middle East and so which countries are included and which are not varies depending on the source. Turkey, for example, is sometimes included, though often not as this is situated on the edge of the area. Commonly the following countries are considered to be part of the Middle East: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.
There are a great variety of flights to the Middle East from South Africa. Some of the countries are easier to access than others, both in terms of the flights available and entry requirements and restrictions. You can choose flights to the Middle East with a number of airlines flying varying routes and often requiring one or two stops. Examples include… Emirates, who offer flights to many of the countries in the Middle East. Emirates also has flights to its home country, United Arab Emirates, landing in Dubai. Qatar Airways is also a common carrier in and around the Middle East, flying via its capital city Doha. Turkish Airlines also offers flights to the Middle East, all of which will be via Istanbul.
Book a Flight To The Middle East:
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The Tourist Attractions in The Middle East:
Although the countries in the Middle East share some similarities they have all developed their own unique identities and cultures which can set them apart from each other. Although a tour of the Middle East may be possible, it may be easier to visit each country individually rather than trying to fit them all in on one holiday.
Here are some of the highlights of the Middle East:
Iran
Iran offers visitors tons of history and culture. Great ancient cities like Persepolis and Pasargad plus the modern capital, Tehran.
Syria
Syria attracts visitors with its capital city, Damascus, plus the ancient Roman cities of Palmyra and Apamea.
Lebanon
Lebanon also offers ancient ruins, plus bustling cities like the capital, Beirut.
Israel
Israel offers the inspiring city of Jerusalem as well as Eilat, the Red Sea, great diving and Tel Aviv.
Jordan
Some of the world’s greatest ancient treasures can be found in Jordan, in particular Petra. This part of the Middle East also benefits from the Dead Sea.
Saudi Arabia
Popular for religious pilgrimages as Saudi Arabia has the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, plus there’s the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh.
Bahrain
Bahrain offers visitors a look at the lighter side of the Middle East with its more relaxed attitudes. The capital city, Manama, is popular.
United Arab Emirates
Best known for Dubai and all its increasingly tall and immense buildings including indoor ski slopes, huge shopping malls and artificial islands!
When Should You Visit?:
The Middle East is typically known for being hot and dry with large areas of desert, though there are also regions which are fertile and support forests. July highs across the Middle East are commonly in the mid to high 30’s C and some cities, such as Baghdad and Riyadh, even average in the low 40’s C. January highs can be quite pleasant across the Middle East though some cities are far more continental. Tehran for example drops to a high of 7C and a low of -3C.