Group tours to the Middle East

From October to April, temperatures are milder and more pleasant for visiting the cities and archaeological sites of the Gulf (United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia). From May to September the desert heat can top 104°F, so it's best to plan around it. The region isn't uniform, though:

• Jordan: the most comfortable window is between spring and fall, because in winter Amman is cold and rainy, especially from December to February.
• Southern Oman: the Dhofar region, with Salalah, is the summer exception. The khareef, the monsoon season, brings fog, drizzle, and green landscapes roughly from June to September.
• Riyadh: winter is the ideal time.

Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so it shifts every year: check the dates before you book, since hours and local habits change.

For a single country like Jordan or the United Arab Emirates, 7-10 days are enough. For a multi-country itinerary across the region, plan at least 2-3 weeks. From the US, the region is about 7 to 9 hours ahead of the East Coast, depending on the country and the season, so give yourself a day or two to settle in.

• UAE: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are about 87 miles apart, roughly an hour's drive without traffic, so the two cities fit in a few days. To reach 7-10 days, add the desert or Al Ain.
• Jordan: Amman to Petra is about 145 miles, 3-3.5 hours by car, and Petra to Wadi Rum takes another 1.5-2 hours. Aqaba is about 4 hours from Amman. Petra deserves at least one full day, ideally two.

Requirements vary widely by country and nationality, so before you book check the country page on travel.state.gov and the embassy's website. You need a passport across the region, since a passport card is not valid for international flights. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan often offer visa-free entry or an electronic visa to many nationalities, while Saudi Arabia has an official portal for its e-visa, to be used online before departure.

Stick to the official portals, such as visa.visitsaudi.com for Saudi Arabia or hayya.qa for Qatar, since unauthorized sites may charge extra fees.

Dressing modestly is the golden rule, especially at religious sites and in more conservative areas, and it's worth learning the local rules on alcohol, which differ a lot from country to country.

• Alcohol: it is banned in Saudi Arabia. In Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi you find it only in licensed hotels, restaurants, and bars, and in Jordan it is not sold during Ramadan except in large hotels.
• Dress: in Saudi Arabia, tourists don't have to cover up like locals, but covered shoulders and legs are recommended. In Qatar and at cultural sites in Dubai, keep shoulders and knees covered, and save swimwear for pools and beaches.
• Mosques: at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, long, loose clothing is required for everyone, plus a headscarf for women. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat asks women to cover their heads, and non-Muslims visit in set time slots, so check the official site.
• Holy cities: Mecca is reserved for Muslims, and in Medina non-Muslims can visit the city but not the Prophet's Mosque.
• Ramadan: be discreet about eating and drinking in public during the day, especially in Qatar and Jordan.

The Middle East mixes ancient wonders with futuristic skylines:

• Jordan: the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert, explored with jeeps and local guides. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on land, more than 1,300 feet below sea level.
• United Arab Emirates: the skylines of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and the cultural sites of Al Ain.
• Oman: Muscat, with the Muttrah Souq, the Portuguese forts of Old Muscat, Al Alam Palace, and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, plus the UNESCO sites of Bahla Fort, the Land of Frankincense, and the Aflaj irrigation systems.
• Saudi Arabia: Hegra, in the AlUla area, the largest Nabataean site south of Petra, and At-Turaif in Diriyah.
• Qatar: Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and the archaeological site of Al Zubarah.

Each country has its own currency:

• United Arab Emirates: dirham
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi riyal
• Qatar: Qatari riyal
• Oman: Omani rial
• Jordan: Jordanian dinar

All five are pegged to the US dollar, so their exchange rate with the dollar has been stable for decades. Check your card's foreign transaction fees.

Budgets vary a lot: the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are expensive, while Jordan is more affordable. The flight from the US is a major part of the cost, and timing matters too, since winter is the busiest season in the Gulf.

A few extras are good to know. In Dubai, hotels charge a per-night Tourism Dirham fee, while the UAE offers VAT refunds to foreign tourists at participating retailers. In Jordan, the Jordan Pass includes entry to more than 40 sites, including Petra and Wadi Rum, but not transportation.

Getting around cities differs from one place to the next, while the desert calls for suitable vehicles and guides:

• Dubai: the metro has Red and Green lines, supplemented by a tram, and you pay with the nol card. Abu Dhabi has buses, with the Hafilat card, and taxis.
• Doha and Riyadh: both have a metro, and in Doha the Red line serves the international airport.
• Between UAE cities: Sheikh Zayed Road is the main route between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are also linked by scheduled buses. There is also a national passenger rail service, Etihad Rail, so check routes and stations on its website.
• Jordan: JETT buses link Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba. Check schedules on the operator's website.
• Wadi Rum: the interior is reached by jeep with guides from the visitor center or the camps.

Traffic keeps to the right throughout the region, as in the US.

The Gulf has a desert climate, with long, hot summers and mild, dry winters. July highs are typically 104-111°F, and even summer nights stay warm, while winter days in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Muscat are pleasantly mild, in the 70s °F. Rain is rare and falls in winter.

There are two exceptions. In Jordan, Amman is cold and rainy in winter, while Aqaba is much hotter. In Dhofar, in southern Oman, the monsoon arrives in summer, so Salalah is green and cool when the rest of the Gulf is scorching.

The capitals of the main Middle Eastern countries are:

• Jordan: Amman, between hills, desert, and the Jordan Valley.
• Oman: Muscat, on the Gulf of Oman.
• United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi, not Dubai, which is a different emirate.
• Qatar: Doha.
• Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, near Diriyah.
• Kuwait: Kuwait City.
• Bahrain: Manama.