Emirates 2019 - 2021 Worldwide Brochure

WHERE TO BE in the Middle East and North Africa

Feast your eyes on the sights of Petra, Jordan

Get afloat on the Dead Sea, Jordan

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Travelling through the kilometre-long, narrow, high-walled canyon of the Siq only heightens the anticipation for your first glimpse of the rose gold city of Petra, with its ancient architecture chiselled impossibly from copper sandstone. This isn’t just a must see while you’re in Jordan, or even the Middle East, but a genuine wonder of the world. Take a hike or ride a donkey up to the huge rock-cut Monastery, and enjoy breathtaking views over worlds both ancient and modern. p. 248 The red-tinged dune and sandstone landscape of Wadi Rum is particularly dramatic at sunset. This vast UNESCO protected wilderness of canyons and waterholes conceals 4,000 year-old rock drawings and many other treasures. To experience the romance of Wadi Rum and understand why it so captured the heart of Lawrence of Arabia, spend the night in a Bedouin tent and enjoy a traditional campfire meal accompanied by lilting Arabic music. p. 248 Camp under the stars in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Enjoy the fabulous landscape and curious properties of the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea. Take advantage of the water’s unique properties and float awhile on your back, perhaps with your favourite novel. Afterwards, allow yourself to be covered in mineral-rich mud; not only is it the best way to balance out the high salt content on your skin, it does wonders for your complexion and makes for a great photo. p. 248 In Lebanon, you really could be on the beach enjoying some warm winter sunshine in the morning, and barrelling down a ski slope in the afternoon, with the country’s biggest ski resort of Mzaar reachable from the coast in less than an hour. Where else can you enjoy sweeping views of the Mediterranean whilst on a downhill run? p. 250 Trade your swimwear for ski wear in Mzaar, Lebanon Egypt’s ancient monuments are legendary. Giza’s Great Pyramid, otherwise known as the Pyramid of Khufu, is the largest and oldest at over 4,500 years, and the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Whilst it’s possible to climb inside and view its Great Gallery, for ancient Pharaonic artefacts head to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum where most famously displayed is the gold death mask of Tutankhamen, retrieved from the Valley of the Kings in Luxor in the 1920s. p. 246 The call of the shopkeepers; the heady scent of spices; the constant hubbub of trade: these are the sights, sounds and smells of Cairo’s largest and oldest market that will transport you to a bygone age. Great for gift shopping, here you will find silver and gold, jewellery and ornaments, pharaonic statues, carpets and papyrus papers, all prices negotiable. If you get lost in the labyrinthine alleyways and stumble into Café El Fishawi, you won’t be disappointed. p. 246 Lose track of time in Cairo’s Khan El Khalili Bazaar Located in the heart of Oman’s dry desert, this unique turquoise swimming hole is an unexpected but welcome sight on a warm day. Despite local legend maintaining that the sinkhole was created by a falling star, gradual limestone erosion has created this peculiarity, and the 40x20 metre hole is filled with both fresh and sea water thanks to a subterranean tunnel that connects it to the sea. A must for any visitor to Oman. p. 251 Take a dip in the Bimmah Sinkhole, Oman Relive the legends of the Pharaohs in Egypt

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Watch day turn to night on the Beirut Corniche

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Sunset is the most atmospheric time to be on the corniche in the Lebanese capital. It brings the locals out in numbers, who set up their chairs to watch the world go by in a late afternoon glow. Vendors expectantly push their carts of hot nuts, corn and coffee up and down. As dusk descends, the city’s young and glamorous prepare for the long night to come. p. 250

Drift awhile along the Nile, Egypt

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There really is no better way to explore the antiquities and landscape of Egypt than by cruising along the mighty Nile River, with most attractions accessible directly from its banks. But the smaller details are just as charming; the fishermen casting their rods, the locals taking morning tea on the riverbank, the swaying wheat fields, the farmers tending their crops and the smiling children waving as you pass serenely by. p. 246 Known as the green jewel of the Al Hajar mountain ranges, this labyrinth of wadis and terraces stretches 2,000 metres above sea level, affording stunning views of village life below. Farmers have toiled on this mountain for hundreds of years, the fresh air and frequent rainfall aiding the growth of pomegranates, walnuts, apricots, black grapes and peaches, as well as the production of Oman’s renowned honey. p. 251 Pick up a pomegranate at Jebel Akhdar, Oman

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