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Questions tagged [middle-east]

Region that encompasses Western Asia and North Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East.

The Middle East, also referred to as the Near East or the Levant is a wide geographic area, roughly located between Northeastern Africa and Western Asia. As well as (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) the area typically includes:









Kingdom of Saudi Arabia







Syria

(United Arab Emirates)

Some definitions also include the and Asian countries like and .

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Is there any list of countries I should not visit if I want to go to the US?

I have heard that if I have been to some countries I might be refused entry to the US. I'm planning to travel (vacation) a bit in the Middle East; that will include Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman and Jordan. At the end of the year I will go to the US.…
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Can I be refused entry due to my place of birth?

Usually entry requirements are based on country of citizenship, but is it at all possible to be denied entry if you were born in a country in conflict with your travel destination ? This is a specific question that I'm trying to make more general.…
blackbird
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"No nudity" signs in changing rooms in Doha?

The changing rooms for the gym and pool at the Doha hotel I'm currently in has a sign up saying Please respect local customs, and avoid nudity whilst using this changing room However, it's laid out local a "normal" western style changing room -…
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How does one get a visa to go to Saudi Arabia?

I am not going for the Hajj or for the Jeddah Season Events. I understand that there is no tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, but I have friends there to visit. This website has a visa application form for "personal visit" but everything is in Arabic,…
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Is it safe to travel to Socotra, Yemen?

I have been wanting to travel to Socotra, Yemen to see the dragonblood trees and bizarrely beautiful landscapes for a while now, but given the current instability in the rest of Yemen, is it advisable? Are Socotrans heavily involved in the current…
John Lyon
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Would it be disrespectful for a Westerner to wear a thawb in the Arabian peninsula?

When traveling to another country I like to try on their local dress, if one is still prevalent in the local culture. For example when traveling to Ukraine I sometimes put on my Vyshivanka, in Central Asia I might put on a tubeteika and in Jerusalem…
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Travel implications when going to Muslim countries after a visit to Israel

I would like to visit Israel, but I have heard that if you visit some Muslim countries, they won't let you in, and visa versa. Does it depend on which Muslim countries? I imagine there would be different policies say between Egypt and Iran. Does…
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Does the laptop ban in cabin luggage from Middle Eastern airports impact connecting flights?

This is a follow up to this question which discusses the ban on medium to large size portable electronic devices. If I'm flying an itinerary into the US where I need to transit via one of the airports which are under the purview of the recent ban,…
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Are some parts of Iraq currently possible to visit for the brave, adventurous, and open-minded traveller?

OK I know Iraq is utterly totally off the vast majority of people's itineraries for the immediate future. But I am pretty sure I have heard of some extreme adventurous types going there and following the "ask the locals which parts really should be…
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Should I cover up my tattoo when visiting the Middle East?

I stumbled upon a question on blending in in Egypt, in which one user warns that Egyptians regard tattooed people as criminals or foreigners. How big of a problem will tattoos be for a regular tourist? Obviously you should cover your ink when…
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Recreating Paul's missionary trips (from The Bible) / itinerary optimization and visas

I would like to go on Paul's missionary trips on a tour of the Near East (I'm a US citizen). However, I am not sure what visas are needed (and will likely have to avoid Syrian Antioch, seeing that they are in the middle of a civil war right…
warren
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Does the term "middle east" cover a certain set of countries? Could I be misunderstood when using it?

This, to me strange, topic has come up a few times lately, usually about Iran not being a middle eastern country. In fact it just came up in the chat room but pretty regularly when chatting to people travelling here in Georgia too. Here's the…
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Is there any restriction/limitation against female passengers who travel to the Arab countries of the middle east by these countries?

I was searching for visa rules of some Arab countries in the middle east which may limit or prohibit women (in relation to marital situation, age, male accompaniment, etc) to travel to their countries. Like Oman for example. Arab countries of the…
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Do self-contained luxury resorts exist in the desert in North Africa or the Middle East?

I want to take my two elderly parents on a once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad. They have never left the UK in the past so it's very important that wherever we visit feels very different from the UK in terms of climate and language. I picked North…
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Countries you may not visit after Israel - even if you don't have an Israeli stamp

There's been a lot of discussion of issues that arise when you visit Israel and countries like Lebanon and Iran. However, the discussion, both on this website and in other places, almost always focuses on Israeli stamps, which countries will reject…
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