Eight Day Dream Itinerary to Explore the Modern Wonders and Desert Beauty of Dubai and Oman

Countries – United Arab Emirates and Oman

Description of the Destinations- Flying into Dubai or arriving by cruise ship is an unusual experience. You do not expect to see skyscrapers, resort hotels, highways, beaches, and blue waters emerge out of the desert. The projects completed over the past forty years in Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates defied conventional wisdom and generated unprecedented commercial and tourism activity. Nearby on the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is also welcoming an increasing number of visitors each year because of the beautiful desolation of its mountains, deserts, and coastline and the modernized tourist facilities in its capital city of Muscat.

The 8-day dream  itinerary presented here begins with a flight into Dubai where you will spend several days experiencing the  modern marvels and traditional culture of the city. On the fifth day of the journey, you will visit some of the entertainment attractions available in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, before flying to  Muscat, to spend a few days exploring forts, mountains, beaches, and Omani culture. 

Background and History of Dubai- How did this extraordinary transformation occur in these remote parts of the Arabian Peninsula? It is an interesting story. Throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, Emirati and Persian traders and local fishermen established a series of small ports along the eastern banks of the Persian Gulf. They hoped for a quiet life free from the heavy taxation of the Iranian monarchs across the gulf and the oversight of the British empire. The emirs who controlled local affairs were content to allow their people and these merchants to tend to their own affairs for generations. Everything changed during the 1950s when the discovery of vast petroleum reserves in Abu Dhabi, some other emirates, and Oman focused new attention on the region. No one imagined, however, that a transformative group of leaders would respond to these events by forming a federation of seven autonomous states called the United Arab Emirates in 1971. The UAE used its economic resources and ingenuity to turn the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula into an international center for transportation, commerce, and entertainment.

The region is now one large economic development project after years of frenetic construction and investment. Dubai emerged at the center of this juggernaut because lacking significant oil reserves, the emirate needed to be creative. The leader of the Al Maktoum family, Sheikh Rashid, first built a World Trade Center and the modern Jebi Ali port to serve merchant ships seeking a connection to various Asian, African, and European destinations. He also made land available at favorable prices with low taxation for developers hoping to create a new resort destination for European and Middle Eastern travelers. However, it was his grandson, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who attracted billions of dollars of capital and spent it to build a modern city with impressive infrastructure. 

Dubai has developed into a location where international business is conducted in dazzling venues alongside some unique attractions, shopping options, festivals, and other forms of entertainment. Dubai attracts over sixteen million visitors each year and generates an estimated $28 billion of economic activity from tourism visits alone. After decades of hard work, Dubai has grown exponentially into a state with a population of approximately 3.3 million people. Some residents are expatriates from the United Kingdom and North America employed in professional fields, finance, and international trade. Many others are guest workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and elsewhere employed in the construction trade, retail, or domestic services. The collective efforts of these diverse people implemented the vision of Dubai’s determined leaders and its citizens to transform their country into a world player that demands to be noticed.

Background and History of Oman- The story of Oman’s success has similarities and differences. For centuries, traders from the Sultanate of Oman have looked across the Persian Gulf and to the Indian Ocean for commerce and cultural interaction to supplement the limited resources and barren landscape of their homeland. Despite an outward focus, the Omanis avoided colonization by outside powers. Instead, the monarchs of the ruling Al Said family established their own satellite states and trading centers in Zanzibar and parts of Mozambique and Yemen during the 17th and 18th centuries. After the discovery of oil, Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Saids used these resources to build infrastructure and public buildings and connect the sparsely populated mountain and desert regions of the country to the coastal cities. The monarchy also preserved the religious traditions of Ibadism, a separate denomination of Islam which predates the Sunni and Shia branches. 

The result is a country which has maintained its traditions while introducing modern accoutrements including facilities for tourists. Oman is not part of the UAE, and it has not attempted to keep up with the fast-paced development of the neighboring emirates. Nevertheless, the oil boom increased the country’s wealth substantially and expanded opportunities for its people. Petroleum products now account for close to half of the GDP of the nation. The oil profits enabled its sultan to modernize the country’s infrastructure and achieve the top ranking for his people in a recent measure of the Quality of Life among countries in the Arab world. Oman now provides unique experiences for visitors seeking outdoor adventure and unusual landscapes through the wadies, mountains, and fjords that envelope the country. 

DAY ONE – FLY INTO DUBAI FROM THE UNITED STATES

The Arabian Peninsula is a twelve-to-fourteen-hour flight from most places in the United States, but it is an easy place to get to thanks to the emergence of Emirates Air as one of the world’s leading airlines. Adopting an audacious strategy of servicing hundreds of destinations around the world with a modern fleet and routing many international flights through its hub in Dubai, Emirates offers direct flights to Dubai from twelve different cities in the United States including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Seattle. Round trip fares for these flights are around $1000 per person for an economy seat, about $8000 for a business class seat, and slightly over $3500 for one of Emirates’ popular premium economy seats. United Airlines recently began providing direct service to Dubai from Newark Airport for the same fare and coordinates some of its ticketing and routing of passengers with Emirates. Finally, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Etihad Air offers connected service to Dubai from several U.S. cities after short stopovers in their hub cities in Doha, Istanbul, and Abu Dhabi. 

DAY TWO- SETTLE INTO YOUR HOTEL AND SAMPLE THE ACTIVITIES OF DUBAI’S AMAZING MALLS

Hotel- Some flights from the United States to Dubai leave during the evening. However, if you can book a daytime departure, it may be possible to arrive in Dubai  early enough on the second day to enjoy some of the city’s activities after you arrive. Even if your flight arrives later on the second day, the best strategy is to pick a hotel located adjacent to one of the two major malls in the city and take a taxi or a hotel shuttle there from the airport. After you unpack, if you are not too tired, you can then use whatever time you have available to explore the retail, food, and entertainment wonders of one of the city’s modern shopping paradises. The Mall of the Emirates features adjacent hotels from leading chains such as Novotel, Kempinski, Hilton and Sheraton, while the Dubai Mall has an adjacent Armani Hotel, a boutique hotel called The Address, and the IDG Hotel Indigo. The Traveling American has found that the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates Hotel with its rooftop pool, direct connection to the Mall of the Emirates, and proximity to the airport is a good place to start your vacation. Once you are refreshed, a walk around either of these Dubai malls to look at the stores, see the special attractions, and have a nice dinner will put a cap on this otherwise exhausting day. Both destinations have plenty to see:

Mall of the Emirates- The Mall of the Emirates opened in Dubai in 1999. It boasts over five hundred stores featuring flagship luxury brands, plenty of restaurants, tons of electronics and familiar retail outlets from all over the world. From the start, entertainment was part of the mix. In addition to a large theater with twenty screens showing international cinema films, a bowling alley, and a fantasy attraction, the desert kingdom-built Ski Dubai. The half mile long indoor ski and sledding facility provides a place to enjoy a hint of winter even during the six months of the year when temperatures top one hundred degrees regularly. The concept of skiing or sledding down a slope in the middle of a desert on snow is just another way of Dubai telling the world that normal rules and limitations do not apply here.

Dubai Mall- Within a decade, the Mall of the Emirates encountered stiff competition from the $20 billion Dubai Mall built in the center city, adjacent to the Burj Khalifa skyscraper and several residential complexes. The Dubai Mall now attracts an estimated eighty million visitors annually to its more than 1300 retail outlets and two hundred food and beverage locations. It also claims to be the fashion capital for the Middle East because of the many designer stores located along the Fashion Avenue corridor. The Dubai Mall features a wide range of attractions of its own including an ice rink, an aquarium, a virtual reality park, movie theaters, electric go karts, a horror attraction known as the Hysteria Experience and an 80-foot-high shimmering waterfall. 

DAY THREE – TOUR THE HISTORIC SOUKS OF DUBAI, VISIT ONE OF ITS MODERN WONDERS, AND ENJOY A DESERT FEAST

The third day of your Arabian adventure will be a busy one. It starts with an introduction to the trading history and culture of Dubai, continues with a visit to one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, and ends with a desert adventure and traditional feast. Getting around Dubai by taxi or using the Metro system is not too difficult. However, you should book a group tour or private guided tour of the Dubai Creek, the souks, and the Burj Khalifa in advance with the concierge of your hotel or an online company.

Dubai Creek and the Souks- Dubai’s role as a place for merchants to sell their wares has been a longstanding tradition. Even the ubiquitous British East India Company had a trading post on Dubai Creek during the 19th century to keep an eye out for precious stones, spices, and other luxury items for purchase. Today, the waterways of the Dubai Creek remain the center of commerce for importers bringing goods from exotic locations around Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The shops and stalls located on both banks of the creek attract thousands of locals and tourists daily. This location also gives tourists an opportunity to enjoy the Dubai experience of crossing the creek in small wooden boats known as abras just as travelers have done for over a century. 

What is unusual about the souks is that each area specializes in certain types of goods so that if you are interested in clothing you go to one area and if you are interested in jewelry you go to another. This provides certain advantages for the shopper because if one store does not have exactly what you are looking for, the one next door may. There are also plenty of opportunities to bargain for the best price. One of the most popular souks is the gold souk at which quality 18 and 22 carat gold chains and jewelry pieces are the norm. Other popular souks feature spices, textiles, perfumes, carpets, and copycat designed merchandise.

Burj Khalifa - After seeing the souks, there will be time to enter an air-conditioned building again and have a sensory experience by visiting or just viewing the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa is a half mile high building and tower that is considered the tallest structure in the world by some measures. Built over a period of five years by thousands of workers, the tower houses 163 floors of residences, office space, broadcasting centers, a hotel and an observation deck that provides an awe-inspiring view of the wonders of Dubai to the east and the desert to the west. Some people can get a little woozy from the elevator ride or the thought of being that high, but others cannot get enough. Viewing the tower and its futuristic architecture from various places on the ground such as the fountains surrounding the building is also worthwhile.

Desert Adventure and Feast - After seeing these two unusual slices of Dubai, it will be time to explore the ever-present desert environment that permeates daily life. There are two ways to do this. The first way is to book a tour through your hotel or a reputable agency for a half day desert safari. These late afternoon and evening adventures include a ride through the desert by jeep and usually some “dune bashing” up and down the sand dunes for those that are interested. The tour will then take you to a modern desert encampment where a buffet feast will be prepared incorporating local favorites and plenty of meats. At the feast, other cultural activities such as camel riding, belly dancing, musical performances and possibly a falconry demonstration will take place. 

For a more elaborate desert experience, you can book a sunset feast and Bedouin village experience which the Bab Al Shams luxury resort provides at the Al Hadheerah Restaurant out in the desert. The Al Hadheerah has a large outdoor pavilion outfitted with carpets and lanterns. It serves Arabic cuisine featuring dozens of different dishes of lamb, chicken, and fish prepared in wood fire ovens and roasted on spits which are served at ten cooking stations. In addition to the abundance of meats, there are fruits, vegetables, vegetarian dishes, rice, potatoes, and everything else you can think of at the buffet. A wide selection of alcoholic beverages, juices, soft drinks, teas, and coffee keep everyone well-hydrated. 

There are so many different serving stations and choices that the receptionist guides you through the food offerings on the way in. Once seated, you can visit the cooking stations for food, drinks and desserts as needed throughout the evening. More important than the quantity though is the quality of the food available. While the cooking at Al Hadheerah is done above ground instead of in traditional earth pits in the desert sand, the meats are tender, and the sauces add interesting flavors to the food. We tried out the lamb, chicken, seafood, and other meat offerings and went back for more helpings.

The facilities at the restaurant include large tables for groups and families along with intimate tables for couples to relax and enjoy the stars. There is also live entertainment throughout the evening that includes light music, a band, belly dancers and Dabkeh dancers. This is followed by a live performance of a desert adventure story featuring horses, camels and heroes that play out on the hillside above the stage. Adjacent to the dinner area is a model of a traditional Arab village displaying arts and crafts and a falconry exhibition. Some people might find the cultural immersions to be a bit hokey but when you are outside with family and friends under the sky eating tasty food, the entertainment adds to the dining experience rather than distracts you from it. 

DAY FOUR- TOUR DUBAI’S WATERFRONT WONDERS AND STAY AT THE JUMEIRAH BEACH RESORT

On day four, it is time to relocate from your downtown hotel near the mall to Dubai’s shoreline on the Persian Gulf, and then to explore two landmark projects which embody the 40 years of frenetic development and construction in Dubai. 

Hotel- Dozens of resorts have been built in Dubai by international hoteliers in recent years. Your hotel in Dubai for the next two days will be one of the initial resorts built there in 1995 which was funded by the royal family. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel is a waterfront family hotel which set a high standard for later developers. It features six hundred rooms, six swimming pools, numerous restaurants, a water park, and an excellent beach. Jumeirah Beach is known for its design which resembles a cresting wave. All the brightly colored rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views of the water and the hotel’s adjacent marina for large yacht owners. The hotel was recently renovated and upgraded but it remains one of the most iconic places to stay in Dubai.

Burj Al Arab - The Burj Al Arab, a pet project of Sheikh Mohammed, cemented Dubai's reputation for over-the-top buildings and projects. The Burj is located on a man-made island next to the Jumeirah Beach and offers guests a unique and expensive experience. Built to resemble the sales of a ship, the opulent Burj is a photo stop for everyone visiting Dubai and is often used as a symbol of the city. 

Unless you want to pay for a room, the best way to see the Burj Al Arab is to book a tour. We recommend booking a tour through the concierge at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in advance of checking in. Ideally, you will be able to book a tour that includes the lobby, some of the hotel rooms, and a meal or afternoon tea in one of the luxurious lounges, but access to some areas is limited to hotel guests. In any event, the exterior and interior of the hotel are unique. The Sheikh directed his architects and contractors to design a building that would become an attraction in and of itself. He wanted the building to represent the image of Dubai worldwide like the Statue of Liberty in New York or Eiffel Tower in Paris. After spending a reported $1to $2 billion, they succeeded in creating a unique structure that looks like the white and blue sails of a sleek dhow rising more than 1,000 feet out of the water by day and looks like a lighted lantern drifting down from the sky at night. The hotel is one of the tallest in the world and is visible throughout Dubai across the flat landscape of the city and surrounding desert areas. The engineering required for the construction is truly impressive when you consider that the hotel was built on reclaimed land near the shore, hundreds of steel pilings had to be driven into the sand to secure the immense structure, and some parts of the building including its parking garage are located in an underwater basement. 

One journalist designated it as a seven-star hotel when it opened even though hotel classifications range from one star to five stars. The hotel was built with approximately two hundred suites, each of which contains two stories and a minimum of 7,200 feet of space. Rooms cost between $1500 and $6,000 per night. Among the special amenities available for guests are a helipad on an upper floor, a fleet of chauffeured Rolls- Royce cars for transportation, and a restricted beach. You may even spot one of Dubai’s famous “gold bar vending machines” on the premises. Inside there are nine chic restaurants, lounges and bars including one at the top of the building and another which serves an excellent Arabian buffet. The interior décor is very colorful with elaborate designs and lots of gold leaf. The most prominent features are the interior atrium which rises to the top of the building and an explosive fountain. The hotel is particularly popular with Chinese, Russian, and Arab guests. 

Palm Jumeirah Island- Another place to tour on this day is the adjacent Palm Jumeirah Island. More than two decades ago, the Nakheel real estate company, now owned by the government of Dubai, decided to build a residential and resort community several miles offshore of Jumeirah Beach by dredging the gulf and creating a 1400-acre island paradise on reclaimed seabed. Built for an estimated $12 billion, this island is sculpted in the shape of palm leaves extending off a central causeway that runs about 3.1 miles from the mainland.

The dozens of streets on the island are lined with over 4500 penthouses, villas, and apartments, each with its own beachfront and in many cases a dock and swimming pool. There are over thirty hotels on the island, but at the far end of the causeway stands the 2000 room Atlantis the Palm Hotel which looms over the entire island. It offers features such as a lobby aquarium, boutique shops, a huge water park like the Paradise Island Atlantis, and other accoutrements. There is a large boardwalk type promenade that circles some of the outer rim of the island and serves as a gateway for active watersports as well.

The Palm Jumeirah may not exactly be the “eighth wonder of the world” as its owners claim, but it does represent a monumental engineering and construction achievement. Many of the residences on the island were purchased by wealthy expatriates and celebrities from all over the world, and some are infrequently used. Nevertheless, the central part of the island includes active offices, retail, and resident services. There are enough residential units and hotel rooms to accommodate an estimated 80,000 people on Palm Jumeirah. Visitors can drive onto the island via the main causeway or take a monorail that transports up to 20,000 people daily from the shore. Most Dubai tours include a visit or photo stop on the island, or a meal at one of the island’s restaurants. 

DAY FIVE – RELAXATION OR AMUSEMENT PARK DAY

The fifth day of your trip will be dedicated to entertainment and relaxation at some of the region’s attractions. Our itinerary gives you three options to pick from:

Relax on the Beach and Visit One of Dubai’s Amusement Parks- There is no shortage of attractions and amusements for adults and families in Dubai. If you are staying at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, you can spend the day swimming in the gulf, lounging in the large pools, or visiting the Wild Wadi waterpark adjacent to the hotel which is free for hotel guests. Alternatively, you can head off to Dubai’s premier theme park, Dubai Parks and Resorts which opened in 2016, for some entertainment and thrill rides. This theme park can be easily reached by taxi from the hotel or by taking the metro to one of the nearby stops. Dubai Parks has three theme parks and a waterpark. The most popular attraction there is a motion picture theme park called Motiongate Dubai which brings to life the movie creations of Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Lionsgate using various rides and immersion into the world of film making. Another park called Bollywood Parks Dubai is the only theme park in the world which focuses exclusively on Bollywood movies and themes. This colorfully decorated park uses live music and dance performances, motion simulators, action performances, and interactive rides to recreate the fantasy and romantic world of selected Bollywood blockbusters. Finally, for families with young children, the park includes Legoland Dubai which has several dozen rides and shows, plus models created from millions of Lego bricks. After experiencing one or all three parks, families with young children can then relax in the Legoland Water Park or else visit the Riverland Dubai which has numerous dining and entertainment options. 

Visit Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World – Another alternative for your fifth day is to visit Abu Dhabi and the Ferrari World theme park. Tours are available in Dubai which include a bus or van tour of Abu Dhabi followed by transportation to the theme park and admission tickets to Ferrari World. Abu Dhabi has modern and traditional landmarks like the elegant Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Emirates Palace, and a Heritage Village which are worthwhile seeing and photographing. Ferrari World has provided stiff competition to the many glitzy attractions of Dubai. Built in 2010, this attraction located a little more than an hour away from Dubai on Yas Island is the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi’s entertainment district. A huge indoor and outdoor complex, Ferrari World has appealed to adults and children by emphasizing racing-based rides, roller coasters and simulations. New activities include a zip line attraction and a roof walk that allows guests to climb over the large red roof that envelops the park. A virtual tour of a Ferrari factory and plenty of Italian food round out the activities there. Yas Island also has its own water park and more entertainment planned. 

Sports and Music Events- A third way to spend this day is to attend one of the many sports events and concerts held in Dubai. The city placed itself at the center of the action for a wide variety of festivals by building modern sports facilities and hosting a wide variety of competitions. Owing in part to Sheikh Mohammed’s love of horses, the Dubai World Cup held at the beautiful Meydan racetrack in March offers the richest purse of any horse race in the world, and other races are held throughout the year. Professional tennis players and golfers also flock to the Dubai Tennis Championships and Dubai Desert Classic held in February and March. Conventions and music festivals add to the ongoing efforts to attract tourists year-round. 

DAY SIX- SHORT FLIGHT TO OMAN AND RELAX AT YOUR HOTEL IN MUSCAT

On day six of your trip, it is time to say goodbye to the glitz and glamour of Dubai and visit another important kingdom on the Persian Gulf by spending two days in the Sultanate of Oman. The port city and national capital of Muscat is the best place to explore Oman. Muscat is a large city of 1.4 million people with a young population and there is much to see in the area. Some visitors reach Muscat from Dubai by driving across the desert and then taking the scenic coastal highway, but there can be delays at border crossings and it takes about 5 hours to drive there. So, our itinerary recommends that travelers take a morning one hour flight from Dubai on Fly Dubai airline, a subsidiary of Emirates, which costs about $400 for a round trip ticket.

Hotel-   The city of Muscat extends for miles along the coast with its various sections separated by mountains which come down to the sea, ravines, and the central harbor. There are modern hotels in the capital’s business district such as the Grand Hyatt and Kempinski, but we recommend staying about fifteen minutes outside of the city in one of the resorts along the coast. The Shangri-La Resort and Spa is a popular choice since it is three different hotels which collectively offer a wide range of facilities along with shuttles to important locations in Muscat. It overlooks a half mile of stunning coastline. The hotel emphasizes the Arabian spirit of hospitality and caters to family, business, and leisure travelers. Everything from watersports to a lazy river, a secluded spa and protected turtle nesting sites, and fine dining options enhance your stay. As a result, your only responsibility during your first day in Oman is to explore the amenities of the resort, walk the beach, and gaze at the mountains that surround the sea. 

DAY SEVEN – EXPLORING THE TRADITIONAL AND MODERN SITES OF MUSCAT

For day seven, you should arrange a local tour with a private guide through your hotel concierge to drive you around to some of the more interesting sites in the Muscat area. Here are a few enjoyable destinations:

The Grand Mosque – A tour of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is an essential part of your introduction to Oman. Completed in 2001, the mosque complex includes over one hundred acres of gardens and walkways but the building itself remains the main attraction. Constructed out of imported Indian sandstone, the mosque is massive with clean architectural lines that emphasize the minarets and rotunda of the building. It can accommodate 20,000 worshipers at a time and includes a large section for female devotees. Although Oman is a conservative Islamic country, this mosque is welcoming for people of all faiths. Tours and walkthroughs are permitted by properly clothed visitors from 8 to 11 a.m. except on Fridays. Two unusual areas to observe are the huge library housing tens of thousands of books which emphasize Islamic studies and the ablution rooms where worshipers perform a cleansing ritual before entering the mosque.

The most impressive section of the building is the interior which includes a stunning central chandelier with gold plating and thousands of lighting crystals. Underneath is a Persian carpet covering an area of 230 feet by two hundred feet that is reputed to be the second largest of its type in the world. Traditional calligraphy and geometric designs adorn the walls and ceilings areas as well. The overall impression one receives from visiting the mosque is that the sultan intended to convey a message of solemnity, cleanliness, charity, and unity to his people. Those virtues seem to have been absorbed by the many people visiting the mosque without charge that day also.

Mutrah Souk - The Mutrah Corniche is a walkway around the harbor. Although traffic now intrudes along portions of this route, you can still envision the strong impression that the city made on merchant sailors or fishermen arriving after long voyages. At the heart of this crescent-shaped area is a traditional Souk which includes standalone buildings and carts where merchants sell their wares under a covered walkway. The Mutrah Souk is small in comparison to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, and it is not as glamorous as the malls of Dubai, but the genuine spirit of the merchants there makes it worthy of a visit. In addition to producing items like dates, some interesting offerings in this souk are frankincense, silver jewelry, traditional daggers, and comfortable clothing that can be worn in the country’s desert climate.

Forts - There are over one thousand forts in the country of Oman. One fort in Muscat known as Al-Marini, originally built by Portuguese forces in the early 1500s, is located on a hillock next to the harbor and has a commanding view of the entrance and the city. The Portuguese were eventually driven out around 1650. Oman’s sultans used the fort thereafter to defend their land and avoided colonization by the British, Ottoman, or Persian empires who recognized the strategic importance of the region. Today, the fort is used as a private museum but a visit here to get an overview of the history of the old city, take some pictures, and have a refreshment is useful.

Other local activities - Many boat tours are available to see the coastline, take a swim and watch dolphins. Other people enjoy seeing the Royal Opera House Muscat which matches the Grand Mosque in elegance and cultural ambiance, or the National Museum completed in 2016 to highlight the cultural heritage and history of Oman. For those seeking a relaxing evening or to just sit out and take in the flavor of the community, the Shatti Al Qurum Beach area is a pleasant area to visit. Located near many diplomatic residences and some hotels, the streets near the beach have many al fresco restaurants, cafes, and shops along the traditional food items available.

DAY EIGHT AND NINE –LONG FLIGHT HOME 

On day eight, it is time to return home to the United States by flying out of Muscat. Unfortunately, there are very few departing flights available which arrive back in the U.S. prior to the morning of the ninth day. Three airlines - Qatar Airlines, Etihad Airlines, and Turkish Airlines - offer morning flights from Muscat to New York, Chicago, and other locations. So by flying to one of these hub cities from Muscat  first and then connecting to a U.S. bound flight, you will be able to arrive home in the evening of the trip’s eighth day. Other airlines such as Emirates and United require you to take a Fly Dubai flight back to Dubai, and then catch an overnight flight from there back to the United States arriving on the morning of the ninth day. So, you should review the timing of the available flights carefully and be sure to leave up to two hours between connections, particularly if you are changing airlines or have to recheck your baggage along the way. In any event, after experiencing the wonders and beauty of Dubai and Oman, you should return with pleasant memories. 

Notice: The information provided in this Dream Itinerary is true and accurate to the best actual knowledge of The Traveling American. However, my family's experience with any particular hotel, attraction, airline, or company mentioned here may not reflect the experience of other travelers using these services. Travelers should rely on their own judgment and information in retaining any company mentioned on the website and in developing their itinerary.