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To travel alone in the Middle East is to move at your own pace, tracing ancient paths and modern skylines without compromise. It's a region that surprises solo travellers with its warmth – in the easy conversation struck over coffee, in the sincerity of souks and traditional markets and in the stillness of desert horizons that feel endless when experienced in solitude. Here, independence doesn't have to mean isolation. Each city and landscape offers its own form of companionship, whether through history, culture or community. This collection brings together personal stories from across the region, tracing how solo travel can be both an act of independence and a path to connection.
When I travel alone, I’m not the ‘woman with one leg’ – I’m just Zainab
“I was halfway up a cliff in northern Oman when I realised I hadn’t thought about my prosthesis in more than an hour – which, if you’ve ever worn one, you’ll know is no small thing. The socket was slick with sweat against my thigh. The ridge of my liner had started to roll slightly, but not enough to make me stop. I’d already hiked for five hours that day and was now hauling myself – and my leg – up the blunt edge of a rock face.” Read the full story here.
Three months of solo travel in Saudi Arabia showed me kindness I have rarely encountered
"Even as I sat drinking deliciously bitter Arabic coffee, waiting for Rafiki, my trusted 4x4, to be examined by Saudi Arabian border officials, I suspected my time crossing this vast country would be different. When I did eventually enter the kingdom, my hands were filled with gifts: dates, water, camel milk, oranges and chocolate. From then on, I was treated with a kindness I have rarely encountered." Read the full story here.
40 years of solo travel has taught me the true pleasure of connection
"I mounted the motorbike demurely, side-saddle of course, and tucked my long skirt behind my calves. My bag was wedged between me and the driver, Ahmed. Off we sped, bouncing over the many holes in the road. With each bump, I clutched at my bag so I wouldn’t have to grab Ahmed around the waist – wondering if perhaps that was the intention. It was Egypt, I was 22 and I was hitching a lift across the Western Desert to the oasis of Farafra." Read the full story here.
These halal trips are designed for solo Muslim women
"Increasingly, Muslim women travellers have come to view the concept of halal travel beyond dietary restrictions. Travel-savvy female Muslims of today are offering trips with more holistic conceptions of halal, including faith-driven values of community, compassion and respect for others. These women-only group tours designed for modern Muslimat embrace a more holistic concept of halal. They don’t shy away from the challenge that visiting non-Muslim-majority countries can bring, and they support local communities regardless of religion." Read the full story here.
The best solo travel destinations in the Middle East
“There's a particular freedom that comes with travelling alone – the ability to linger in a souk stall, lose track of time sketching a mountain landscape or decide on a whim to join a local group for dinner. Across the Middle East, more itineraries are now designed with this spirit in mind, offering safe, sociable and rewarding routes for those setting out solo. Whether it's painting in the Atlas Mountains, wild camping in the Algerian Sahara or tracing ancient trails in northern Iraq, these experiences combine self-discovery with shared connection in the heart of Arabia.” Read the full story here.