© Lonely Planet Publications
13
Contents
On the Road 4 Sights
Activities
122
124
Courses 124
Arabian Peninsula Manama for Children 124
Highlights 6 Tours 124
Festivals & Events 124
Sleeping 124
Destination Oman, Eating 127
UAE & the Arabian
18
Drinking 128
Peninsula Entertainment 128
Shopping 129
Getting Started 20 Getting There & Away
Getting Around
129
130
AROUND BAHRAIN
Itineraries 25 ISLAND
Qala’at al-Bahrain
130
33
(Bahrain Fort) 130
History Barbar Temple 131
Ad-Diraz Temple 131
The Culture 45 Bani Jamrah
Al-Budaiya
131
131
Islam 59 Souq Al-Khamis Mosque
A’ali
131
131
Sar 132
The Haj: the Ultimate King Fahd Causeway 132
Traveller’s Tale 70 Al-Jasra
Riffa Fort
132
133
Food & Drink 82 Bahrain International
Circuit 133
Al-Areen Wildlife Park &
Expats 91 Reserve
Tree of Life
133
133
102
Oil Museum 134
Environment MUHARRAQ ISLAND 134
Beit Sheikh Isa Bin Ali 135
Bahrain 109 Beit Seyadi
Qala’at Arad
136
136
Highlights 110 Rashid Al-Oraifi Museum 136
Itineraries 110 OTHER ISLANDS 136
Climate & When to Go 110 Hawar Islands 136
History 110 Dar Island 136
Government & Politics 113 BAHRAIN DIRECTORY 137
Economy 113 Accommodation 137
People 114 Activities 137
Sport 115 Books 137
Religion 115 Business Hours 138
Arts 115 Children 138
Environment 116 Customs 138
Food & Drink 117 Dangers & Annoyances 138
MANAMA 118 Embassies & Consulates 138
History 118 Festivals & Events 138
Orientation 118 Holidays 139
Information 120 Internet Access 139
Dangers & Annoyances 120 Internet Resources 139
14 CONTENTS
Maps 140 Children 174 Wadi Mayh 212
Media 140 Customs 174 Bandar Khayran & Al-Seifa 213
Money 140 Dangers & Annoyances 174 Qurayat 213
Photography & Video 141 Embassies & Consulates 174 SHARQIYA REGION 213
Post 141 Festivals & Events 175 Qurayat-Sur Coast Road 214
Shopping 141 Holidays 175 Sur 217
Telephone & Fax 141 Internet Access 175 Ras al-Jinz 221
Visas 141 Internet Resources 175 Ras al-Hadd 222
Women Travellers 142 Maps 175 Al-Ashkarah 222
TRANSPORT IN BAHRAIN 142 Media 175 Jalan Bani Bu Hassan &
Getting There & Away 142 Money 176 Jalan Bani Bu Ali 223
Getting Around 143 Photography & Video 176 Al-Kamil 223
Post 176 Wadi Bani Khalid 223
Kuwait 145 Telephone & Fax
Visas
177
177
Gaylah
Wadi Khabbah
224
Highlights 146 Women Travellers 177 & Wadi Tayein 224
Itineraries 146 TRANSPORT IN KUWAIT 178 Al-Mintirib 225
Climate & When to Go 146 Getting There & Away 178 Sharqiya (Wahiba) Sands 225
History 146 Getting Around 179 Ibra 226
Government & Politics 150 Sinaw 227
180
Economy 151 Masirah 228
People 151 Oman AL-DAKHILIYAH REGION 230
Religion 152 Highlights 181 Birkat al-Mawz 230
Arts 153 Itineraries 181 Jebel Akhdar 230
Environment 153 Nizwa 231
Climate & When to Go 181
Food & Drink 155
History 181 Al-Hoota Cave 233
KUWAIT CITY 155
Government & Politics 184 Mountain Road via Hatt &
History 155 Wadi Bani Awf 233
Economy 185
Orientation 157 Al-Hamra 234
People 185
Information 157 Misfat 234
Sport 187
Sights 158 Jebel Shams 234
Religion 187
Activities 165 Bahla 235
Arts 188
Courses 166 Jabrin 236
Environment 190
Kuwait City for Children 166
Food & Drink 191 AL-DHAHIRAH REGION 236
Tours 166
Festivals & Events 166 MUSCAT 192 Ibri 236
History 193 Bat & Al-Ayn 236
Sleeping 166
Orientation 193 Buraimi 237
Eating 168
Information 194 AL-BATINAH REGION 237
Drinking 170
Sights 196 Barka 237
Entertainment 170
Activities 201 Nakhal 238
Shopping 170
Getting There & Away 170 Walking Tour 202 Wadi Bani Awf 238
Getting Around 171 Courses 203 Rustaq 238
AROUND KUWAIT 171 Muscat for Children 203 Wadi Hoqain 239
Failaka Island 171 Tours 204 Sawadi 240
Al-Ahmadi 171 Festivals & Events 204 Damanayat Islands 240
Fahaheel 172 Sleeping 204 Sohar 240
Ras al-Zour 172 Eating 206 Wajaja & Khatmat Milahah 242
Wafrah Farms 172 Drinking 208 MUSANDAM 242
Entertainment City 172 Entertainment 208 Khasab 242
Al-Jahra 172 Shopping 208 Khasab-Tibat Road 244
Mutla Ridge 172 Getting There & Away 209 Musandam Khors 244
KUWAIT DIRECTORY 173 Getting Around 210 Jebel Harim 245
Accommodation 173 AROUND MUSCAT 210 Rawdah Bowl 245
Activities 173 Seeb 210 AL-WUSTA REGION 246
Books 173 Bandar Jissah 211 Hayma 246
Business Hours 174 Yitti 212 Jaaluni 246
CONTENTS 15
DHOFAR
Salalah
247
247
DOHA
History
272
273
Saudi Arabia 298
Highlights 299
Around Salalah 251 Orientation 273
Itineraries 299
Mirbat 253 Information 275
Climate & When to Go 299
Jebel Samhan 253 Dangers & Annoyances 275
History 299
Hasik 253 Sights 275 Government & Politics 305
Job’s Tomb 253 Activities 279 Economy 305
Mughsail 253 Courses 279 People 305
Sarfait Road 254 Doha for Children 280 Religion 307
Ubar 254 Tours 280 Arts 308
OMAN DIRECTORY 254 Festivals & Events 280 Environment 308
Accommodation 254 Sleeping 280 Food & Drink 310
Activities 255 Eating 282 RIYADH 311
Books 255 Drinking 283 History 311
Business Hours 256 Entertainment 284 Orientation 311
Children 256 Shopping 284 Information 311
Customs 256 Getting There & Away 286 Sights 313
Dangers & Annoyances 256 Getting Around 286 Courses 314
Disabled Travellers 256 AROUND QATAR 286 Festivals & Events 314
Electricity 256 Al-Wakrah & Al-Wukair 287 Sleeping 315
Embassies & Consulates 256 Mesaieed 287 Eating 316
Festivals & Events 257 Khor al-Adaid 287 Drinking 316
Umm Salal Mohammed 288 Entertainment 317
Holidays 257
Umm Salal Ali 288 Shopping 317
Internet Access 257
Al-Khor 288 Getting There & Away 317
Internet Resources 257
Jebel Jassassiyeh 288 Getting Around 318
Maps 258
Al-Ghariya 289 AROUND RIYADH 318
Media 258
Al-Ruweis 289 Camel Market & Races 318
Money 258
Al-Zubara 289 Dir’aiyah 318
Photography 259
Bir Zekreet 289 Sand Dunes 319
Post 259 THE NAJD 319
Al-Shahaniya 290
Responsible Travel 259
QATAR DIRECTORY 290 Hail 320
Shopping 259 Accommodation 290 Jubba 321
Solo Travellers 259 Activities 290 HEJAZ 321
Telephone & Fax 259 Books 290 Jeddah 322
Tours 260 Business Hours 291 Al-Nakheel 329
Visas 260 Children 291 Taif 329
Women Travellers 260 Customs 291 Yanbu 332
Work 261 Dangers & Annoyances 291 MADAIN SALEH &
TRANSPORT IN OMAN 261 THE NORTH 333
Disabled Travellers 291
Getting There & Away 261 Al-Ula 333
Embassies & Consulates 291
Getting Around 262 Around Al-Ula 336
Festivals & Events 292
Madain Saleh 336
Holidays 292
264
Taima 337
Internet Access 292
Qatar Internet Resources 292
Sakaka 338
Highlights 265 Around Sakaka 339
Maps 293 Domat al-Jandal 339
Itineraries 265 Media 293 ASIR 340
Climate & When to Go 265 Money 293 Abha 340
History 265 Photography 294 Around Abha 343
Government & Politics 267 Post 294 Najran 344
Economy 268 Shopping 294 Around Najran 347
People 268 Telephone & Fax 294 Jizan 347
Sport 270 Visas 295 Farasan Islands 348
Religion 270 Women Travellers 296 THE EMPTY QUARTER 348
Arts 270 TRANSPORT IN QATAR 296 ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid
Environment 271 Getting There & Away 296 Protected Area 349
Food & Drink 272 Getting Around 296 Al-Faw 350
16 CONTENTS
Al-Khamasin Dubai for Children 393 Money 443
(Wadi al-Dawasir) 351 Sleeping 393 Telephone 443
EASTERN PROVINCE 352 Eating 395 Visas 444
Dammam 352 Drinking 398 TRANSPORT IN THE UAE 444
Al-Khobar 353 Entertainment 398 Getting There & Away 444
Dhahran 356 Shopping 399 Getting Around 445
Nairiyah 356 Getting There & Away 400
Al-Hofuf
SAUDI ARABIA
DIRECTORY
356
358
Getting Around
Around Dubai
401
402 Yemen 447
Hatta 402 Highlights 448
Accommodation 358
THE NORTHERN Itineraries 448
Activities 359 EMIRATES 404 Climate & When to Go 448
Books 361 Sharjah 404 History 449
Business Hours 361 Ajman 410 Government & Politics 452
Children 361 Umm al-Quwain 412 Economy 452
Customs 361 Ras al-Khaimah 413 People 452
Dangers & Annoyances 361 Around Ras al-Khaimah 416 Sport 453
Embassies & Consulates 363 ABU DHABI 417 Religion 454
Festivals & Events 364 History 417 Arts 454
Holidays 364 Orientation 418 Environment 455
Internet Access 364 Information 420 Food 456
Internet Resources 364 Sights 420 Drink 456
Legal Matters 364 Activities 423 SAN’A 456
Maps 364 Courses 424 History 457
Media 364 Abu Dhabi for Children 424 Orientation 457
Money 365 Sleeping 424 Information 457
Photography 365 Eating 425 Sights & Activities 459
Post 365 Drinking 426 Courses 463
Telephone 366 Entertainment 426 Tours 463
Visas 366 Shopping 427 Sleeping 463
Women Travellers 367 Getting There & Away 427 Eating 464
TRANSPORT IN Getting Around 428 Drinking 465
SAUDI ARABIA 368 WEST OF ABU DHABI 428 Entertainment 465
Getting There & Away 368 Liwa 428 Shopping 465
Getting Around 370 EAST OF ABU DHABI 429 Getting There & Away 466
Al-Ain 429 Getting Around 466
United Arab Around Al-Ain 433 AROUND SAN’A 466
Emirates 373 THE EAST COAST
Fujairah
433
433
HARAZ MOUNTAINS
Shibam
467
467
Highlights 374 Khor Fakkan 436 Kawkaban 468
Itineraries 374 Badiyah 437 Thilla (Thula) 468
Climate & When to Go 374 Dibba 439 Hababah 469
History 375 UAE DIRECTORY 439 At-Tawila & Around 470
Government & Politics 377 Accommodation 439 Al-Mahwit 470
Economy 377 Activities 440 Manakhah 470
People 377 Books 440 Around Manakhah 472
Religion 379 Business Hours 440 NORTHERN YEMEN 472
Arts 379 Children 441 Amran 473
Environment 381 Customs 441 Around Amran 473
Food & Drink 381 Dangers & Annoyances 441 Hajja 473
DUBAI 381 Embassies & Consulates 441 Shaharah 474
History 382 Emergency 442 Sa’da 475
Orientation 383 Festivals & Events 442 Around Sa’da 477
Information 384 Holidays 442 TIHAMA (RED SEA COAST) 478
Sights 387 Internet Access 442 Al-Hudayda 478
Activities 390 Internet Resources 442 Beit al-Faqih 480
Courses 393 Media 443 Zabid 480
© Lonely Planet Publications
C O N T E N T S 17
Al-Khawkha 482 YEMEN DIRECTORY 512 Arabian Peninsula
Al-Makha
SOUTHERN YEMEN
483
484
Accommodation
Activities
512
512
Directory 524
Ibb 484 Business Hours 513
Transport in the
545
Jibla 485 Children 513
Ta’izz 485 Courses 514 Arabian Peninsula
Around Ta’izz 489 Customs 514
Aden
EASTERN YEMEN
489
494
Dangers & Annoyances
Embassies & Consulates
514
515
Health 560
Ma’rib
Shabwa
494
498
Holidays
Internet Access
515
515
Language 566
Al-Mukalla
South Coast
499
501
Internet Resources
Language
515
515 Glossary 573
575
Suqutra 502 Media 515
WADI HADRAMAWT 505 Money 516 The Authors
577
Shibam 505 Photography & Video 517
Sayun 507 Post 517 Behind the Scenes
Tarim 509 Telephone & Fax 517
Around Tarim
Wadi Daw’an
510
510
Tourist Information
Visas
517
517
Index 583
AL-MAHRA
Al-Ghayda
511
511
Women Travellers
TRANSPORT IN YEMEN
519
519
World Time Zones 594
Hawf
Makinat Shihan
511
512
Getting There & Away
Getting Around
519
521 Map Legend 596
Regional Map Contents
KUWAIT
p147
BAHRAIN OMAN
p111 p182
QATAR
p266
UNITED ARAB
SAUDI EMIRATES
ARABIA pp376-7
pp300-1
OMAN
p182
YEMEN
pp450-1
