1. Taj Mahal
Located in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most famous buildings and a must-see if you’re living in the UAE (it’s only a short flight away). Its white marble facade and beautiful symmetry is a striking sight at any time of day but especially arresting at sunset and sunrise when the building gets a slight blue hue due to the light. Shah Jahan, a Mughal emperor, commissioned the mausoleum in 1632 for his late wife Mumtaz Mahal but it wasn’t completed for another 21 years. In 1983 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now attracts a massive 8 million visitors – foreign and Indian nationals – a year.
Flight time: Flight from UAE to New Delhi is 3hrs 25mins, then from New Delhi to Agra is 3 hours
2. Petra
This ancient Nabatean city in Jordan dates back to as early as 300BC and fully deserves its reputation as one of the most fascinating places on earth. Its rose-colored temples are built into the rock and weren’t discovered by the western world until 1812, when it was already inhabited by Bedouin communities. Its most famous sites are The Siq, Petra’s main entrance along a narrow gauge, Al Khanza, which is also known as the treasury, and Al Dier, the Monastery. The sheer scale and detail of Petra earned it a place in the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Flight time: Flight from UAE to Amman, Jordan is 3 hours. Petra is a 3 hour drive from Amman.
Read more: Inside Jordan’s Lost City: a practical guide to exploring Petra.
3. Pyramids of Giza
You shouldn’t leave the Middle East without visiting the Pyramids of Giza. You’ll regret it, we promise. These incredible structures are more than 4,000 years old and are one of the most popular places to visit in the world. The three main sites are: Great Sphinx of Giza, Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Khafre. The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest and the only remaining Seven Wonder of the Ancient World. Do you really need another reason to visit? The best way to see the pyramids is on a guided tour. To read more about what to do in Cairo while you’re there, check out our article on the 8 things everyone should see and do in Cairo.
Flight time: Flight from UAE to Cairo is 3hrs 45mins
4. Kerala Backwaters
It’s more the experience of boat life that makes Kerala a world gem on your doorstep. The backwaters and lakes cover almost half of this Indian state’s coast and make the perfect destination for a once-in-a-lifetime houseboat experience! You can hire a traditional Indian houseboat and while made of all-natural materials, they have many of the comforts of a hotel (staff, modern bathrooms, kitchens, comfy beds, and even hot tubs!). You can moor the boat at little colonial towns along the waters and admire the Portuguese/Indian fusion architecture, while feasting on delicious fish curry.
Flight time: Flight from the UAE to Kochi is 4 hours
Read more: Best things to do and places to visit in Kochi.
5. Hagia Sophia
Not only is this one of the most popular destinations in Istanbul, it’s one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East. It’s a stunning Byzantine church (and later mosque) which is now the home of Turkey’s second most popular museum. It was built between 532 and 537 as a church dedicated to the Wisdom of God. It was then converted into a mosque in 1453 when what was then Constantinople was conquered by Mehmed the Conqueror. Some of the original church features (including the altar and bells) were removed and a mihrab and four minarets were added instead. It ceased being a mosque in 1931 and opened as a museum in 1935.
Flight time: Flight from the UAE to Istanbul is 4hrs 30mins
6. Maldives
It’s not so much the location (although the location is very special) but the experience you can have in the Maldives that makes it a world gem in our opinion. Nowhere else in the world can you experience this level of ultimate island luxury. Most hotels are on their own individual islands so you never need to feel guilty for not going off exploring or sightseeing. There’s also some seriously impressive Maldive hotels to choose from – a private villa on stilts in the ocean with a glass-bottomed floor is pretty much the norm! There’s also a growing number of Eco hotels (such as the Barefoot Eco Hotel) which try to be more environmentally friendly than their neighbors. And you’d be hard pushed to find a hotel without a fancy spa and all kinds of water activities (snorkeling and diving being the main two). If you really want to splash out, check out the Soneva Fushi or [Velaa Private Island](https://www.skyscanner.ae/hotels/hotel/Velaa+Private+Island?idx=0&id=136412524&sd=2017-09-10&ed=2017-09-11&na=2&nr=1&q=Velaa%2BPrivate%2BIsland%252C%2BMaldives&jbi=0&tq=Velaa%2BPrivate%2BIsland%252C%2BMaldives&eid=o_136412524&trps=0&trld=1. Check out more hotels in the Maldives here. https://www.skyscanner.ae/hotels/q/?q=Maldives&sd=2017-09-10&ed=2017-09-11&na=2&nr=1&bpt_eid=o_29475313#f_PRICE=PR_BK_4&sb=6&so=2) where every villa has a private pool and beach.
Flight time: Flight from the UAE to Male is 4hrs 15mins
7. Mount Everest
You don’t have to spend a lot of money seeing the world’s best sights. A flight to Kathmandu can cost as little as Dh1,000* and the hotels and food are about as cheap as you’ll get on any vacation. The city itself is a feast for the senses and filled with amazing foods, lively markets and beautiful religious sites. But probably its most famous attraction is Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. You can choose from dozens of tour companies that operate flights over and near the mountain, usually spending a couple of hours in the sky. You’ll want to fly on a clear day so check the weather forecast and make sure you book with a good company (check your travel insurance too, if you’re taking a helicopter ride).
Flight time: Flight from the UAE to Kathmandu is 4hrs 15mins
Read more: Best things to see and do in Kathmandu
Find a cheap flight to Kathmandu
8. Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque – officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque – is another of Istanbul’s incredible historical buildings, and a must-see when you’re living just four hours away. It’s known as the Blue Mosque because the inside is decorated with more than 20,000 handmade 16th century blue tiles. Its dome and six minarets were built according to Classical Ottoman design principles and stand out clearly on the Istanbul skyline.
Flight time: Flight from the UAE to Istanbul is 4hrs 30mins
*Published September 2017. Prices correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change and/or availability.
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