18 Potential Tourist Hotspots You Won't Believe Are Located In The Arab World

And Why You Should Actually Travel This Part Of The World Too!

Large parts of the Arab World are war-torn at the moment, but there's much more to discover than just Dubai and Marrakech. Salaam Alaikum!

Let me know if I missed any!

1. Wadi Shab, Oman

Placestoseeinyourlifetime.com / Via placestoseeinyourlifetime.com

No, Wadi Shab isn't one of Mexico's cenotes, but just a lovely swimming pool on the Eastcoast of Oman. (Image: Placestoseeinyourlifetime.com)

2. Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Lebanon

Gaby Awad / Via gabyawadphotography.com

Forget about the crowded Niagara falls! Central Lebanon offers you the 255-meters high 'Cave with the three bridges', or the Baatara Gorge Waterfall. (Image: Gaby Awad)

3. Wadi Qelt, Palestine

Auja Eco Center / Via Flickr: 92281437@N03

Some 20 kilometers from Jerusalem, Wadi Qelt is a stream in the West Bank. St'George's Monastery has been hanging out there for 1500 years already.. (Image: Auja Eco Center)

4. Kuwait City, Kuwait

Savio D'Souza / Via Flickr: 30110673@N03

More of an urban person? Skip Dubai and head over to Kuwait to discover the wonderful architecture of vibrant Kuwait City! (Image: Savio d'Souza)

5. Doha, Qatar

Jon Bowles / Via jonbowlesphotography.co.uk

Or perhaps you'd prefer Qatar's Doha? (Image: Jon Bowles)

6. Constantine, Algeria

Aydin Photography / Via aydinphotography.com

You're a traveller that likes both? Then Constantine, the 'City of bridges' in Algeria is your hidden gem! (Image: Aydin Photography)

7. Omdurman Market, Sudan

Eric Lafforgue / Via ericlafforgue.com

What about a stroll over one of the largest markets of Africa: Omdurman market, on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum? (Image: Eric Lafforgue)

8. Al Hajjara, Yemen

alro2ya.com / Via alro2ya.com

Only 25 kilometers from Yemen's capital Sana'a, the beautiful village of Al Hajjara is balancing on the mountain tops.. (Image: www.alro2ya.com)

9. Hama, Syria

Obada911 / Via obada911.deviantart.com

Syria is nowadays notoriously known as a war-torn country, but we cannot deny the beauty of a place like Hama, only 50 kilometers from Homs. (Image: Obada911)

10. Chefchaouen, Morocco

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My personal favourite: the blue city of Chefchaouen! No need for further explanation where that nickname is coming from... (Image: CN Traveler)

11. Ksar Ouled Soltane, Tunisia

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Probably, Ksar Ouled Soltane doesn't ring much of a bell, but once I tell you some scenes of Star Wars feature this place, you're sure to put Tunisia on your bucket list right? (Image: reversehomesickness.com)

12. Leptis Magna, Libya

Unknownworld.co / Via unknownworld.co

Leptis Magna was a prominent city in the Roman Empire. A prominent city in the Roman Empire? Absolutely, and it's sure worth a visit... (Image: unknownworld.co)

13. Siwa Oasis, Egypt

5-five-5 Blogspot / Via 5-five-5.blogspot.nl

...and so does the Siwa Oasis, which shows that Egypt has more to offer than just your 5-star all-inclusive resort and the Giza pyramids. (Image: 5-five-5 Blogspot)

14. Laas Geel, Somalia

Somalimode.com / Via somalimode.com

Another country that is not the first destination you think of when planning your holidays.. At the outskirts of Hargeisa, in relatively safe Somaliland, the Laas Geel cave paintings are estimated to be over 10,000 years old. (Image: Somalimode.com)

15. Mada'in Saleh, Saudi Arabia

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This here is Mada'in Saleh in Saudi Arabia: a UNESCO World Heritage Site only since 2008! (Image: Saudixjapan)

16. Jerash, Jordan

Antikforever.com / Via antikforever.com

That must be the Forum Romanum in Rome, right? It cannot be located somewhere in the Arab World at least? Wrong! The temples of Jerash are just north of Amman, the capital of Jordan. (Image: Antikforever.com)

17. Great Mosque of Samarra, Iraq

skyscrapercity.com / Via roadtrippers.com

Unfortunately, the minaret and outer wall are the only things that remain of the Great Mosque of Samarra, but be sure not to miss out on this extraordinary mosque in Iraq, if you have the guts to pay a visit.. (Image: www.skyscrapercity.com)

18. Lake Assal, Djibouti

M. Matsumoto / Via panoramio.com

...and if you did, Lake Assal might be just what you're looking for to recover from the thrills. It is the world's largest salt reserve, located in Djibouti! (Image: M. Matsumoto)