25 OFFBEAT THINGS TO DO in the MIDDLE EAST

1 VISIT THE EMPTY QUARTER IN OMAN

The enigma of Oman’s Rub Al Khali, or the Empty Quarter as it is widely known, is so great that it isn’t advisable to venture there without a reliable guide. Thankfully, a few reputed tour operators offer full-day private trips to the gargantuan desertland from Salalah. Viator lets you drive to this untouched region with a guide who can handle off-road trails and will ensure you don’t get lost. Go dune-bashing, check out the ruins of Ubar—the lost city that is said to be swallowed by the desert—and absorb the remote emptiness of the land at Thumrait, which was once a famous Bedouin settlement and an important point on caravan routes. viator.com

2 GO BACK IN TIME AT ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA

With expansive deserts dotted with gigantic boulders and precious remnants of the most ancient civilisations on Earth, AlUla has always been a hidden treasure, until now. Saudi Arabia finally opened itself to international tourism last year and chose AlUla as the flagbearer of its glorious heritage. The ancient land boasts 2,00,000 years of history and is home to the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, which has over 100 well-preserved tombs with elaborate rock-cut facades. There’s also Jabal Ikmah, which acts as an open library with hundreds of ancient inscriptions from the Dadanitic and Lihyanic cultures, and the ancient rock city of Dadan to explore. experiencealula.com

3 Take a Private Desert Safari in Dubai

The Private Heritage Desert Safari offered by Platinum Heritage takes you through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve in a vintage Land Rover. The private retreat features traditional entertainment and a four-course Arabic dinner, but what sets this safari apart is the presence of a dedicated conservation guide who will make sure that