From Kuwait to Oman: The Gulf’s 5 Amazing Countries

Dubai

The Gulf rarely springs to mind when deciding on a winter getaway; at least not from Canada or the USA.

Dubai, of course, has long been a magnet for tourists from Europe, and increasing access from North America is drawing more and more visitors to their guaranteed sun and astonishing array of entertainment. But the joys and delights of the United Arab Emirates have been discussed and written about at length, and it is not for me to add to the literature.

Dubai epitomises excess. Extraordinary hotels, extravagant shopping, extreme dining and an array of wild activities that blend deserts, camels and 4WD vehicles. In short, Dubai is probably the most exciting tourism destinations on the planet. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the smaller northern Emirates are also most interesting, and a vacation spent wandering around The Emirates would be time very well spent.

Suffice it to say that I first visited Dubai in 1985, loved it and have been mesmerized by its development ever since

But Dubai is only one of many options in this fascinating region. There are five individual countries along The Gulf, in addition to Saudi Arabia. Each offer a surprisingly different opportunity for visitors, and each are quite fascinating.

Kuwait

Kuwait is the oddest. It is the most definitively work-oriented, serious and the city relatively uninteresting beyond the obligatory National Museum. It is, however, a relatively large country, and most Kuwaitis that I met were anxious for the weekend when they would escape to the desert and camp, hike and play with their 4WDs.

The desert is a fascinating ecosystem. From the city, there are a series of quite wonderful excursions for anything from a couple of hours to a few days. Although to our untrained eyes the landscape and fauna may appear to be spartan, there are dozens of different mammals, a wide variety of remarkable flora and a deeply interesting and specialised ecosystem that thrives in these arid conditions.

One of the most interesting features of the region to me is the architecture. There is a clash between the pre-1980, dusty colonial-outpost buildings lying alongside the most futuristic 21^st century structures that one can find anywhere. And Kuwait does not disappoint. Its skyscape of twisted futuristic buildings is truly overwhelming.

But two days was enough.

Bahrain and Qatar

Bahrain and Qatar, the next nations to the south are other peculiarities. They, like most of the region, are unashamedly geared to the energy industry, but looking to expand their economies through the development of new industries, and tourism is a favourite.

Bahrain tries to be fun but doesn’t quite make it. Fabulous museums, daunting shopping malls and a gorgeous corniche are a good start, but visitors are still a minor curiosity (other than oil workers). The most surprising element of the country is how concentrated the development is in the capital Manama. Rent a car for a day and drive to the south, and apart from some isolated energy installations, you are in a desert environment unchanged for millennia.

Of course, the desert is a major fact of life in each of these countries, and a few hours spent in the national museums will tell a fascinating tale of life that revolved around the brutality of the environment and the difficulties of the ocean. Pearling, long a staple of the region, is an age-old industry that seems to be waning, but one senses that beyond the extraordinary wealth that the past forty years of showered on the region, there is a deep connection with a long, rich past.

Qatar tried to turbo charge its tourism industry by hosting the World Cup, but it seems that the landscape, now dotted with abandoned, hi-tech stadiums and hotels, suggests a vision that was years ahead of reality. Qatar is interesting, but in comparison to its neighbours it is yet to fascinate too many visitors.

Oman

The biggest and historically most powerful country in the region is Oman. The Sultanate has a rich and powerful past, formerly controlling the Indian Ocean as far south as Zanzibar and north to Baluchistan. The Sultan gave land to five of his Emirs some years ago to create the United Arab Emirates, but alone, it is a fantastic country to visit.

In its development, the Sultan decreed that the architecture should reflect historical, regional thought and not emulate Western skyscrapers. The result is gorgeous and the blend between its ancient culture and modern development captivating.

It offers beaches, mountains, deserts and the Omanis are wonderful hosts, welcoming and obviously a people comfortable with their rapid development, but firmly anchored in their past.

Oman is also a large and very varied country. From the arid, sharp and quite beautiful mountains that run along the Saudi border to a magical and completely surprising rain forest in the south west, the country is a delight for explorers or those seeking a peaceful and different destination to chill.

I love Mutrah. It is the old city of Muscat and is a perfect place to unwind, enjoy the city and gaze at the traditional dhows in the harbour. Along the waterfront there are some delightful restaurants, a comprehensive souk and some of the regions most gracious people.

Roads are good; driving from Abu Dhabi across the border is easy, and driving in Oman is very straightforward. The scenery is remarkable, roadside accommodation reasonable, and for a driving vacation there are few parallels. Heading into the mountains and finding a restored and striking fort is an eye opener; heading to the coast and finding untouched coves with a deep blue sea and pure white sand beaches is a treat. It can turn us all into modern day explorers.

As a region, The Gulf will never rival the Mayan Riviera or the Costa del Sol. It will, however, become more interesting to travellers seeking winter sun in a region that truly deserves attention as a destination.  It is surely a part of the world that will delight any inquisitive visitor.