{"id":5735,"date":"2025-11-14T11:59:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T16:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/?p=5735"},"modified":"2025-11-14T11:59:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T16:59:52","slug":"busting-5-myths-about-traveling-to-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/busting-5-myths-about-traveling-to-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Busting 5 Myths About Traveling to the Middle East\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Busting 5 Myths About Traveling to the Middle East\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Goway Travel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the West, there\u2019s no region of the world that people misunderstand more than the Middle East. This ancient part of the world is pitched as an area of unending political conflict in the news, but the reality is much more nuanced and startling, especially when traveling there. As travelers, we should strive to see other parts of the world clearly. Travel brings clarity and wisdom and humility about what it\u2019s like to live in other parts of the world. So let\u2019s bust some myths and learn about what travel to the Middle East is really like.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Goway Travel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s not too dangerous.\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the big one and perhaps the most controversial the longer that wars within the region cloud out any other news about the Middle East. But it\u2019s true, even if it seems hard to believe. The Middle East is not dangerous. It\u2019s a place that people have been travelling to for as long as there have been travel routes across our great planet. Arabs are notoriously hospitable. It\u2019s a core part of their culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all rank as safer than the United States according to the Global Peace Index<\/a>, which measures safety and social peace based on 18 different national factors. We\u2019re not talking about entering warzones (God forbid). And petty crime exists everywhere (walk down an alley at night in any North American city and you might run into trouble). But that doesn\u2019t mean you should worry when exploring the pyramids outside Cairo, touring Petra in Jordan, or shopping through the metropolises of the Arabian Peninsula, including Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Goway Travel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s not too hot.\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Middle East is a desert region, and the desert is hot, especially in the height of summer in July and August, but it is not exclusively hot. Furthermore, if you travel in the spring, fall, or winter, it can be downright temperate, comfortable even. Deserts are warm under the heat of the blazing sun, but they can be cool once that sun dips towards the horizon. Spend a night under the stars in Wadi Rum, Jordan and you\u2019ll be surprised at the chill of the wind on your face as you watch some of the brightest stars you\u2019ve ever seen. The Jordanian capital, Amman can even get snow from December to February, as the high elevation attracts low temperatures and precipitation. In hotter destinations such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, travel in the winter months and you\u2019ll assure yourself comfortable conditions to see historic wonders and modern marvels.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Middle East is not only desert.\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There’s more to the Middle East than just desert. Northern Jordan is mountainous, with a temperate climate and even snow (as mentioned above). Coastal stretches of Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are almost tropical, with sandy beaches and humid temperatures perfect for a beach vacation. Head to Sharm el Sheik in Egypt, Tel Aviv in Israel, or Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and you\u2019ll be shocked at the coastal vibes. The diving is also great in many spots, notably along the Red Sea, where the coral reefs are stunningly vibrant. And even within the rocks and sands of the desert, there are oases that explode the idea of a desert being dead. AlUla in Saudi Arabia is a perfect example of this, where palm plantations stretch as far as you can see within the valley, providing a burst of green in the red desert.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Goway Travel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s not too old-fashioned.\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you been to downtown Riyadh, where the streets are buzzing with people chatting energetically over espresso at 1am? Have you been to the malls of Dubai, where people shop for designer goods and walk around in outfits worth more than most people\u2019s homes? Have you been to the streets of Amman, where young Jordanians bond over football matches and hit up the clubs for a night on the town (drinks included)? The Middle East might be ancient, but being there shows the vibrancy of youth and development and the promise of life as it\u2019s lived in the 21st century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Middle East is a diverse, welcoming, youthful region of the world. Don\u2019t let the news dissuade you from experiencing its breathtaking landscapes, ancient landmarks, and astounding culture for yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Goway Travel<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goway is one of North America\u2019s leading travel companies, offering customized travel experiences to over 115 countries on all seven continents. Goway is a family-owned company still owned and operated by Founder & President Bruce Hodge that employs over 700 staff members worldwide. Its global headquarters is in Toronto, and it also has offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Manila. Goway sells both retail and wholesale travel packages, planning trips for Globetrotters and helping travel professionals make their clients\u2019 travel dreams a reality. It also has groups, air consolidation, and corporate travel departments.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Busting 5 Myths About Traveling to the Middle East\u00a0 By Goway Travel In the West, there\u2019s no region of the world that people misunderstand more than the Middle East. This ancient part of the world is pitched as an area of unending political conflict in the news, but the reality is much more nuanced and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,67,236,131,237],"tags":[103,8,122,10],"class_list":["post-5735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-egypt-2","category-jordan","category-qatar","category-saudi-arabia","category-united-arab-emirates","tag-culture","tag-live-like-a-local","tag-travel-tips","tag-travel-together-2"],"yoast_head":"\nBusting 5 Myths About Traveling to the Middle East\u00a0 - USTOA Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Busting 5 myths about travel to the Middle East including that it's too dangerous, too hot, too old-fashioned, and only desert.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/busting-5-myths-about-traveling-to-the-middle-east\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Busting 5 Myths About Traveling to the Middle East\u00a0 - 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