Condé Nast Traveller Middle East
News & Advice
What the peace deal might mean for travel in the Middle East, according to experts
Four months after missiles, airspace closures and government warnings disrupted travel across the Middle East, the Gulf is welcoming visitors again
By Scott Campbell

Inspiration
I drove a tuk-tuk solo across Sri Lanka, and it gave me a new appreciation for slow travel
Travelling at just 40 kilometres an hour, travel writer Avantika Chaturvedi discovered the beauty of taking things slow
By Avantika Chaturvedi

Inspiration
July 2026 horoscope: life-changing trips lie ahead this month
Professional astrologer Steph Koyfman reads your July 2026 horoscope – and spells out how it may shape your travels
By Steph Koyfman

News & Advice
This country has just overtaken Thailand as the most-visited country in South East Asia
The multicultural nation received more than 10 million visitors in the first three months of this year
By Ronan O'Connell

Move over, cherry blossoms – Dubai’s flame trees are about to burst into bloom
More than 51,000 already line Dubai’s streets and parks – and now, a citywide expansion is bringing even more bursts of scarlet
By Scott Campbell

The best spa day deals to try in the UAE this summer
Wellness daycation packages to make the most of while it's too hot to be outdoors
By Sophia Dyer

The best bars in Colombo right now
From fashionable lounges to local watering holes, here are the best places to drink in Sri Lanka’s happening capital
By Lydia Swinscoe

We flew in Riyadh Air's business class cabin – here's what it's like on board the Middle East's new luxury airline
With its dusky lavender cabins, designer uniforms and cinema-sized seat-back screens, Saudi Arabia’s new national airline has officially taken to the skies – we stepped on board for a first look
By Scott Campbell

Where to find the best street food in Abu Dhabi
From curries to shawarma, falafel to pho, it’s easy to eat exceptionally well on a budget in the capital
By Harriet Shephard
Culture

Inspiration
Meet the antique dealers keeping Middle Eastern history alive at Sharjah’s Souk Al Arsa
In the UAE’s oldest marketplace, shop owners have been selling prized pieces for decades
By Katy Gillett

Food & Drink
The best Middle Eastern cookbooks to add to your kitchen shelf
Cookbooks today are as much armchair travel guides as educations in history, culture and diverse cooking and eating practices around the world
By Nicola Chilton
Inspiration
The best exhibitions to see in the UAE this month: July 2026
The best exhibitions to catch around the UAE this month, from works that explore artists' visions of the UAE to a showcase exploring connection, identity and belonging
By Romy Hunt
News & Advice
From Gaza to Beirut, the must-see Arab artists at this year's Venice Biennale
By Scott Campbell
Great UAE Day Trips
- Destinations
Great UAE Day Trips: Mleiha and the Sharjah desert
The route journeys through Ghost Village, Fossil Rock and Al Buhais Geological ParkBy Nicola Chilton - Destinations
Great UAE Day Trips: Al Ain
The ancient oasis town is a calm, quiet place that moves at its own gentle rhythmBy Nicola Chilton - Destinations
Great UAE Day Trips: inland Fujairah
Away from Fujairah's beautiful beaches, take a drive into the emirate's mountains to explore historic villages and attractionsBy Nicola Chilton - Destinations
Great UAE Day Trips: Khor Fakkan
While it may feel like a lowkey place these days, Khor Fakkan was fought over by several different powers in the 16th and 17th centuriesBy Nicola Chilton - Inspiration
19 of the most beautiful places to see in the UAE
From mangrove forests and desert dunes to colourful mosques, the UAE has more to offer than flashy skylinesBy Sophie Prideaux and Sophia Dyer
Destination spotlight: Cairo
DestinationsThe 22 best restaurants in Cairo
Flavourful street food, Egyptian classics and Nile river views are waiting to be discoveredBy Jake Emen and Farah Al-Toukhi
Food & DrinkThe best cafes and coffee shops in Cairo
From historic meeting places to tranquil garden hideouts, these are the best cafes to seek out in CairoBy Tommy Hilton and Sebastian Sele- Destinations
The best hotels in Cairo
Amid the colourful, chaotic sprawl of modern Cairo, find refuge in these top-class propertiesBy Jake Emen and Tommy Hilton - Destinations
17 of the best things to do in Cairo
Our list of must-sees when navigating Egypt's culturally rich capitalBy Nada El Sawy - Destinations
How to make the most of visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza
From tipping, timings and the most accessible entry points, here's how to get the most out of a visit to Cairo's best-loved pyramidsBy Scott Campbell
More inspiration
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Destinations
20 best things to do in Dubai this weekend: 3 – 5 July 2026
Condé Nast Traveller Middle East's edit of the best things to do in Dubai this weekend, from new cooking masterclasses to wellness and staycation deals
By Hana Al-Khodairi and Sophie Prideaux
News & Advice
Flying from Dubai over the next two weeks? Emirates issues special travel advice to passengers
The world’s busiest international airport is about to get even busier, as it prepares for the start-of-summer rush
By Sophie Prideaux
Food & Drink
The best cafes and coffee shops in Colombo
From Ceylon tea specialists to stylish spaces serving small batch coffee, these flawless spots are the capital’s finest
By Lydia Swinscoe
News & Advice
Why are almost all commercial planes painted white?
The reason has very little to do with aesthetics
By Karina Acharya
News & Advice
Saudi Arabia to let UK visitors stay for 180 days under new travel authorisation
The reciprocal scheme, which takes effect on Wednesday, 1 July, gives British travellers a longer stay option as the kingdom continues dismantling barriers to international tourism
By Scott Campbell
News & Advice
Dengue fever in Sri Lanka: what travellers need to know as cases rise
Sri Lanka is reporting one of its sharpest dengue surges in years, with more than 54,000 cases recorded so far in 2026. Here's what to know before travelling, from symptoms to prevention
By Hana Al-Khodairi
Inspiration
The coldest countries in Europe to escape the summer heat, according to a new ‘coolcation’ index
The continent's coolest summer escapes have been revealed in a new ranking, as travellers swap hot beaches for forests, fjords and bracing sea swims
By Scott Campbell

News & Advice
Etihad Rail is now live: timetable, ticket prices and everything you need to know about the UAE's first passenger train
The train will take passengers across the UAE, going from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in under two hours
By Keith J Fernandez and Scott Campbell

Destinations
The best hotels in Bali
Whether you're planning on staying in Ubud, Seminyak or further afield, these are the hotels to book for your trip
By CNT Editors

Destinations
The best restaurants in Colombo
Sri Lanka’s capital boasts elegant secret gardens, smart dining rooms, hip bars – and everything in between
By Lydia Swinscoe
News & Advice
Dubai and Middle East flight disruption: the latest updates as the US and Iran accuse each other of breaching ceasefire
With flight schedules and route networks being regularly updated, here's the latest news for passengers facing Dubai and Middle East flight disruption
By Hana Al-Khodairi and Sophia Dyer

Inspiration
This sparkling stretch of Spanish coastline is finally basking in the spotlight – here's what you need to know
Where to eat, stay and play on the stretch of Spanish coastline that's all too often overlooked by hispanophiles
By Paul Richardson

News & Advice
Europe heatwave: what to know if you are travelling right now
Extreme heat warnings are in place across Italy, France, the UK, Croatia and Hungary
By Sneha Chakraborty
News & Advice
Is it ever OK to lie to get an upgrade in a hotel or on a flight?
Hotel staff know guests stretch the truth, and for years, many didn’t mind. But as social media influencers encourage more guests to fib for an upgrade, the industry risks reaching breaking point
By Scott Campbell

Inspiration
Is there a best day to buy airline tickets? No hacks, only facts
When to book airfares to score the best deal, according to the data
By Jessica Puckett
News & Advice
UAE extends visa-on-arrival scheme to 6 new countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand
The new policy applies to citizens living outside their home countries
By Sophia Dyer
Inspiration
The most beautiful mosques in India, from Delhi to Kozhikode
Where spirituality, history and incredible architecture converge
By Kalpana Sunder

News & Advice
Travelling to Singapore? These are the 7 things you should never pack
What not to bring with you, and the things you'll need a prior permit for
By Karina Acharya

Destinations
The best cafes and coffee shops in Bali
From Canggu’s specialty coffee counters to Seminyak’s all-day institutions and Ubud’s serious roasteries, Bali’s cafe scene has something for everyone
By Scott Campbell
News & Advice
Airlines should continue avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, experts warn
The European Union for Aviation Safety has extended its conflict-zone advisory
By Sophia Dyer









