The waft of frankincense drifting through a maze of alleyways in mystical souks, a Dhow boat gliding through calm waters at sunset before a skyline of pink shimmering high rises, falling asleep in the pristine desert to the sound of distant drums under a clear star filled night sky, awakening to the melodic prayer calls carried on dawn breezes, tracing footsteps of nomadic Bedouins on sure footed camels through desert villages, sighing at the romance of crumbling forts depicting ancient times and customs, marvelling at the opulence of mosques and palaces, clutching your sides with delight and nervous laughter as you traverse down giant sand dunes at thrillingly high speeds in a 4WD, feeling a part of the daily catwalk like procession of shoppers in the Dubai mega malls as they pass by dripping in gold and designer labels, feeling awe-struck by the sheer decadence of the world’s only 7 star hotel, soaring above the landscape in a hot air balloon tracing the contours of the sand dunes and the glittering skyline, experiencing the sights and smells of the busy street food vendors and the bewitching snake charmers, navigating through the chaotic city roads full of Mercedes, sitting astride a stocky mule climbing steep narrow paths to see ancient rock formations, gazing at enchanting dark eyes peering out from the veils of modestly dressed women, men in turbans evocative of Arabian nights, being bombarded by every colour, smell, taste, noise you could ever imagine and feeling alive from it all, being watched by sun wizened faces of desert nomads and feeling the warmth when they break into a toothless grin, kicking back on beautiful sandy beaches a world away from the hustle and bustle – Arabia is all of these experiences and more, the stark contrast between timeless traditions and high end modern consumerism, a land of fables and legends but also of advanced technology and contemporary architecture, the local hospitality and the melting pot of cultures, the desert and the dazzling lights of the new age cities – it all fits together in a style unique to the Arabian countries and is ready and waiting to be discovered by intrepid travellers. 



The term Arabia refers to the Arabian Peninsula in South West Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia, between the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The peninsula includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Geographically, the Arabian Peninsula also includes parts of Iran and Syria although politically these are not considered to be part of the peninsula. Although not strictly belonging to Arabia, there are other countries dominated by the Arab language and religion, including Algeria, Egypt, Iraq and Morocco and in the twentieth century attempts have been made by Arab leaders to combine the Arab speaking world into a united Arab nation, creating an Arab League, the purpose of which was to consider issues of common interest and to create the Arab Common Market. 



Arabia is a place of mystery and intrigue, of wealth and commercialism and of ancient cultures and beliefs. It offers many different experiences and perspectives of life and those who come with an inquisitive mind and a sense of adventure will not be disappointed.