United Arab Emirates

The oldest existing building in Dubai, built from coral and limestone circa 1787, now housing the Dubai Museum — a compact but richly documented introduction to Dubai pre-oil era and its transformation.

The world's tallest building (828 m) in Downtown Dubai, completed 2010, part of a mixed-use mega-development that redefined the Dubai skyline and city geography.

The Hajar Mountains run along the east coast of the UAE from Fujairah to Musandam, offering dramatic rocky scenery, deep wadis, terraced agriculture, and the Arabian Peninsula's best alpine-style hiking.

The southern Abu Dhabi desert at the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), famous for towering red sand dunes, date palm oases, and the dramatic Moreeb Dune — one of the world's highest dunes.

A palm-tree-shaped artificial archipelago off the Dubai coast, built by Nakheel Properties from dredged sand, home to luxury hotels, residences, and a boardwalk with panoramic Gulf views.

The largest mosque in the UAE, with 82 domes, 1,000+ columns, and large crystal chandeliers; a masterwork of contemporary Islamic architecture in white Greek and Macedonian marble.