If you’re planning to escape chilly season with a trip out to the Middle East this winter, you’re in luck: the World Travel Awards have just unleashed a ton of trip ideas. At a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Amman, Jordan, the awards crowned the region’s finest destinations when it comes to everything from city breaks and romantic getaways to cultural attractions.
The title of the ‘Middle East’s Leading Destination’ went to Dubai, which is unlikely to be much of a surprise to many. Thanks to its glitzy skyscrapers, dazzlingly fancy hotels and year-round sunshine, Dubai is a pretty popular place to visit. The Emirati city also picked up the title of ‘Leading City Destination’.
But Dubai didn’t win all the Middle East WTAs this year. ‘Most Romantic Destination’ went to Jordan, ‘Leading Cultural Destination’ was won by Oman, ‘Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’ went to Ras Al Khaimah (no doubt helped by it having the world’s longest zipline) and ‘Leading Beach Destination’ was taken by Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
The 2022 WTAs included tourist attractions, too. Apparently the region’s ‘Leading Tourist Attraction’ is Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, which we’re sure has its admirers. ‘Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction’, meanwhile, went to the UAE’s Qasr Al Watan – the country’s presidential palace – and ‘Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction’ was won by adventure hub CLYMB Abu Dhabi.
The WTAs are decided by a poll that is open to the public, with the votes of industry professionals getting more weight than consumers. You can have a look at all the nominees and winners here.
And even if Warner Bros World doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, all the rest should provide you with more than enough travel inspo to see you through the winter.
Did you see? The World Travel Awards also named the best destinations in Europe right now.
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