Middle East Summary

Religious and political conflicts mark some countries in the Middle East, limiting or preventing travel in certain areas. But there are many wonderful places to visit. In Israel, Jerusalem is home to some of the most revered holy sites of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, the most important of which – the Western Wall, Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the al-Aqsa Mosque – are found in the Old City. Turkey is also home to many sacred sites of these three faiths, but also offers a stretch of Mediterranean coastline with the requisite luxury resorts. In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has become an international hot spot, in large part because of the sheer opulence it offers visitors. The iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, which stands more than 1,000 feet tall and is built to resemble a sail on a ship, will set you back thousands of dollars per night, but the chauffeur-driven Rolls that picks you up (if you opt not to take a helicopter) is just the beginning of the pampering you’ll receive. The former Soviet republics of Armenia and Georgia are more European than Middle Eastern, in terms of their history and culture. They’re both democratic nations that are predominately Christian, and they both have distinct cultural identities and long, rich histories.