The 7 Best Places to Escape Winter in the Middle East

For some people, winter is the worst of all the seasons. Grey skies, short days, long nights, and cold weather to top it all off. If that sounds like you, then a winter sun getaway could be your perfect seasonal escape. While there are plenty of places in southern Europe which offer good winter sun getaways, if you want to combine a cultural trip with even warmer weather than Europe can offer, then a trip to the Middle East is a must. Here are the 7 best places to escape winter in the Middle East.

Where Can I Get My Winter Sun Fix in the Middle East?

1. Hurghada – Egypt

A well-known holiday resort city on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, Hurghada also has the advantage of being reachable via short-haul flight (under 6 hours) from almost anywhere in Europe, making it a popular destination for winter sun seekers.

Thanks to its dry climate and winter temperatures which rarely fall below 22℃ during the day, Hurghada is the perfect place to escape the grey and miserable winters of northern Europe.

Instead, you can enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the glorious waters of the Red Sea, topping up your tan on the city’s many beaches, visiting beachside bars and restaurants, and exploring the city.

Hurghada is an excellent choice for travellers with young families too, as many of the resorts are family-friendly.

2. Amman – Jordan

The Jordanian capital is another perfect winter sun destination in the Middle East.

While the temperatures can get slightly cooler than those in Egypt, it is nevertheless significantly warmer than most of Europe during the winter months.

Amman is an excellent choice for those who enjoy the best of a cultural visit and a winter sun holiday. The city itself is filled with excellent hotels, many of which have rooftop swimming pools – perfect for lounging around and topping up your tan at the same time.

As for those who prefer a cultural holiday, Amman is a great place to base yourself, as it is under three hours' drive from Petra – one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and under an hour from the world-famous Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on Earth.

Bathing in the Dead Sea in the heart of winter is absolutely possible because it is so warm, while exploring Petra is a great way to spend a day in and out of the sunshine.

3. Manama – Bahrain

A tiny island nation in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Bahrain has all the advantages of a tropical island getaway without the threat of monsoons, hurricanes or torrential downpours.

And the capital city’s dry and warm climate makes it a perfect destination to escape winter in the Middle East, and because it is located on an island, it's the perfect place for beach holiday enthusiasts.

However, you can guarantee that you’ll escape the noisy and often overcrowded holiday resorts that places such as Tenerife and the Costa del Sol are known for, because many fewer people visit Bahrain than Spain or the Canary Islands.

As such, you can expect all of the advantages of an all-inclusive beach resort holiday, with less than half of the crowds, exceptional service, and winter weather that rivals the summer temperatures of many European countries.

4. Salalah – Oman

With winter temperatures often soaring well over 30℃, if you’re a sun worshipper, there are few better places where you can escape winter in the Middle East than Salalah, Oman.

Found on the country’s southern coast bordering the Arabian Sea, Salalah is also one of the few places which is better to visit during the winter than in the summer.

This is because, due to its geographical location, Salalah has a wet and a dry season – the dry season runs from October to May, so the winter months are right in the height of the dry season, meaning warm temperatures and low humidity.

And because of its climate, it means that tropical fruits and vegetables such as coconuts can be cultivated year-round, so you can enjoy sipping on a tropical coconut under the baking hot Arabian sun in the middle of January, without the worry of experiencing even one drop of rain. What’s not to love about that?

5. Sharm el-Sheikh – Egypt

Another popular holiday resort on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, Sharm el-Sheikh, is perfect for escaping winter temperatures in the Middle East.

Found on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el-Sheikh’s temperatures hover just under the 30℃ mark, making it nice and hot but not overbearingly hot for many visitors. 

Like Salalah, Sharm el-Sheikh is arguably better to visit in the winter than the summer – not because of monsoons, but because winter holidays in Sharm el-Sheikh are much cheaper than summer visits, when the majority of tourists visit, and also because the temperatures in the summer are known to soar well above 40℃, which is too hot for many people to enjoy the sun.

If you want all the benefits of a summer holiday – good weather, comfortable sea swimming temperatures, beach activities and more – without the crowds and without the expense, then make sure to book a winter holiday to Sharm el-Sheikh.

6. Lusail – Qatar

The second-largest city in Qatar, Lusail is a great place to escape the winter in the Middle East for those who enjoy city breaks combined with sunshine.

Lusail is also a great place to visit for sports fans, as it is home to the Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix, while Lusail Stadium hosted the 2022 World Cup Final. Both the race track and the stadium can be visited year-round, and guided tours are available for both.

If you’re afraid you’ll get cold winter FOMO, then Lusail is also a great place to visit – while the temperatures are generally in the mid-20s, it is home to an annual Winter Wonderland festival, where seasonal attractions, including rides and entertainment, bring the cold winter vibes to Qatar.

Qatar is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, and this is simply another reason to visit this wonderful country – families are more than welcome, and there are many child-friendly resorts in the city, too.

7. Dubai – United Arab Emirates

It goes without saying that Dubai is one of the best cities in the world to visit, full stop, but especially so in the winter months.

With temperatures hovering around the mid-20s to 30℃ for the most part, it is comfortable and not unbearably hot like the summer months, where temperatures can soar as high as 50℃.

These temperatures make it perfect for both relaxing on the beach and exploring the city. Climb to the top of the Burj Khalifa to say that you’ve been in the highest building in the world, before spending a day soaking up the sun on the beach.

Dubai is also known for being one of the safest cities in the world, and it is also very child-friendly, making it a perfect destination to escape winter in the Middle East.

Like Qatar, Dubai also offers many winter-themed activities, including Christmas markets, while the city’s indoor ski slope offers guests the chance to experience this classic winter sport while the sun beams down outside.

Winter is generally the busiest time of year to visit Dubai, so booking in advance is essential to secure the best deals on hotels and activities while you’re in the city.