Middle Eastern hotspots 2010

Oman's Ras Al Jinz beach © Creative Commons / storymary

Dubai

Fact: Dubai's rise to fame has been meteoric.

Fiction: It's not all 7-star hotels and swanky shopping malls. 

Suite dreams:
The self-dubbed ‘lifestyle experience' Armani Hotel, housed in the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, is opening its doors later this week. We'll find out if it lives up to expectations or simply bulldozes ahead as another tacky overdone designer venture.

The Address Dubai Marina opened last November and has somehow injected some freshness into the cookie-cutter, 5-star formula. Even if you don't stay there, slap on the sunscreen and your sunnies and sip a cocktail at Shades, their hot-to-trot poolside bar.

The Asian-themed Royal Amwaj, The Palm, set to open later this year, is going to give the nearby Atlantis a run for its money with its beachside villas and huge 25-treatment roomed spa.

Must sees/dos:
We'd like to say the observation deck at the Burj Khalifa for an amazing overview of the city from above, but that's still closed. So you'll have to make do with one of the skyview bars - check out Bar 44 at Grosvenor House or Skyview at Burj Al Arab.

Make like the pros and play on the courses at the Jumeirah Golf Estates whose Earth course hosted the Dubai World Championship last year. Or take your pick from the numerous courses dotted around the city.

Shop till you drop at the Dubai Mall. Apart from the shops, there's an ice rink, a massive aquarium, not forgetting the indoor theme park Sega Republic - enough to keep you entertained for a week.

Authentic Dubai: The Bastakiya is the oldest part of Dubai and the best place to see traditional Arabian architecture. Wander around the small art galleries and pop into Dubai Museum for a lowdown on the history of the emirate.

Insider tip: The cheap and lively area of Satwa is your chance to eat your way around the world at a smidgen of the price of the hotel restaurants. Ravi's is the undisputed king of the curry; everyone should try their butter chicken.

Abu Dhabi

Fact: Abu Dhabi is the largest and richest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. 

Fiction: It's a sleepy backwater with nothing to do and nowhere to see, outshone by glitzy Dubai.

Suite dreams:
Part of the Yas Island development, the Yas Hotel opened just in time for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year and is perfect for people who like to live life in the fast lane.

The Fairmont Bab al Bahr is shaking off the sterility of a brand-new hotel and evolving into a chic destination in its own right. If you're bringing the kids though, you're probably better off elsewhere.

The desert hideaway Anantara Qasr Al Sarab is a long way away from the city at the beginning of the Rub Al Khali, the biggest desert in the world. Party central it is not, but it's fab for a stylish escape.

Must sees/dos:
The Emirates Palace is still the city's most glamorous location. Book yourself into the best spa in town - the Anantara Spa's Oriental Hammam. 

Abu Dhabi's aim to become the cultural destination of choice is well under way but by 2013, it's going to get even better with the opening the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which will showcase the best of Middle Eastern and international art in their iconic buildings.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the eighth largest mosque in the world. Visitors can marvel at the breathtaking beauty during specified hours, but you're best off joining one of the tours for an unparalleled insight into the creation of this modern icon.

Authentic Abu Dhabi: Revel in the beauty of the desert with an organised excursion - they'll take you out for a rollercoaster ride through the dunes before settling down for an Arabic feast. However, it's much more fun to arrange a private 4x4 escort, grab a tent and relax around a campfire in the golden sand for a night in the desert Bedouin-style.

Insider tip: Soak up the atmosphere and hang with the locals at Tche Tche shisha café. Sample the seemingly endless flavours of hubby bubbly (liquorice anyone?) in a laid-back setting.

Oman

Fact: Oman is a beautiful, underrated country that's gradually establishing itself on the tourist map.

Fiction: It's a dull and dozy place not worth visiting. 

Suite dreams
The Six Senses Zighy Bay has remained very much a secret pleasure only indulged in by those in the know, providing an oasis of calm amongst the rugged crags and azure seas. 

Salalah Marriott Resort is the newest hotel in Oman. Rooms come with either beach or mountain views (plump for the beach views, they're better). The diving is exceptional, so don't miss it.

When it opens in 2012, Fairmont, The Wave is guaranteed to be big news. The Wave is set to do for Oman what the Palm Jumeirah has done for Dubai (without the sinking rumours).

Must sees/dos:
The building of the Old Muttrah Souk is beautiful and the sellers are laid back. It's the place to go to find some intricately engraved Omani silver and a few souvenirs.

A trip to Oman is about getting out into the open and enjoying the natural surroundings. The Ras Al Jinz area is famed for the endangered green turtles that hatch their eggs on its beaches. Access is only by escorted tours, though try and avoid these at weekends and public holidays when it's unpleasantly busy.

Oman is home to some stunning wadis (riverbeds), which are ideal for a day's exploration. Wadi Shab is only a two-hour drive from Muscat. Bring a camera and some swimming garments to take a dip in the refreshing lagoon pools.

Authentic Oman: The country's oceanside setting means that seafood is cheap, plentiful and deliciously cooked - in beachside areas, it's often fresh out of the ocean. Atmosphere wise, in Muscat, Kargeen is a local institution serving Arabic food - sit down around the majlis seating and order from the vast menu.

Insider tip: The Al Sawadi islands are a diver's paradise - get off the beaten track and hire a local fisherman to ferry you over to the islands in one of their boats for a solo snorkelling trip or contact the Al Sawadi Beach Resort's dive centre to discover the secrets of the deep blue. Divers can expect to see a rich array of sea life - similar to that found in the Red Sea but without the crowds. Keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles, a huge array of fishes and, if you're lucky a dugong or two.