The Great Souks
Gold, saffron, oud and frankincense in the bazaars of Istanbul, Dubai, Muscat and Amman.
Year-roundFuturistic skylines and ancient bazaars, world-class museums and legendary hospitality — Dubai, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat and Amman.
Futuristic skylines and ancient bazaars, world-class museums and legendary hospitality — the region's cities are among the most exciting on Earth.
Nowhere else swings so dramatically between old and new. Dubai and Doha are cities of superlatives — the tallest towers, the boldest museums, the finest airline hubs. Istanbul layers Byzantine and Ottoman splendour above the Bosphorus. Muscat keeps the grace of old Arabia, and Amman blends Roman ruins with a buzzing modern food scene. Each rewards a few unhurried days.
Family-run since 1974, Cooee links the region's great cities into seamless trips — and turns a Gulf stopover into a highlight in its own right.
Skyline, souk and museum — combine two or three on one rewarding trip.
UAE · towers, souks & beaches
The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and fountains, the gold and spice souks and Jumeirah's beaches — the ultimate stopover city.
Türkiye · Hagia Sophia & the Bosphorus
UAE · Grand Mosque & the Louvre
Qatar · Museum of Islamic Art
Oman · Grand Mosque & Mutrah Souq
Jordan · citadel & Roman theatre
The experiences that make a Middle East city break unforgettable.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the towers of Doha and Abu Dhabi — sunset over city and desert.
Year-roundGold, saffron, oud and frankincense in the bazaars of Istanbul, Dubai, Muscat and Amman.
Year-roundAbu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Muscat's Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
Year-roundDoha's Museum of Islamic Art and National Museum, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Year-roundDubai is the easiest and most spectacular introduction, and a natural stopover; Istanbul is the most historic and atmospheric; and Doha makes a superb short stopover. Many Australians combine two on one trip. See our itineraries guide.
The Gulf cities and Istanbul are modern, welcoming and easy, with metros, ride-hailing apps and English widely spoken. As always, plan around current Smartraveller.gov.au advice. See our getting there guide.
Smart-casual is fine in the Gulf cities and Istanbul, but dress modestly at mosques and religious sites — cover shoulders and knees, and women should carry a scarf. See our Middle East guide.
Dubai 3–4 nights, Abu Dhabi 1–2, Istanbul 3–4, Doha or Muscat 2 each. Most pair naturally with a desert night or a country add-on. See our itineraries guide.