Fascinating cultures and epic landscapes abound in the sandy swathes of the Middle East, home to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. From the advent of ancient civilisations, these countries have grown into modern-day marvels. Where Dubai and Abu Dhabi have flourished into glittering metropolises of ever-taller towers and the latest innovations, Oman has languished quietly as the more traditional choice, with its pretty corniche and traditional Arabic architecture.
That’s not to say that the Emirates don’t have their own share of culture. Holidays to Dubai could see you sail along Dubai Creek in a traditional abra boat, shop for gold and spices in the souks followed by shopping in the many malls or scale the dunes to the twinkling Bedouin camps of the endless desert. This is the curious clash of the ancient and modern in a region that surges ahead with revolutionising while clinging to its traditional roots.