This is the Bahrain chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

Like an oyster, Bahrain has a rough exterior that takes some prising open, but it’s worth the effort for its growing art and foodie scene and wealth of activities enjoyed on its azure waters.

• explore the narrow streets and alleyways of Manama Souq
• maps
• plunge into the azure waters like a seasoned pearl diver and seek your fortune on a pearl diving tour
• transport
• put your feet up and enjoy street food with a 70-year heritage at Haji’s Cafe 1950
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Manama, Muharraq Island, Around Bahrain Island, Bahrain Fort & Museum, A’Ali, Saar, Al Jasra, Riffa & Around, Bahrain International Circuit, Al Areen, Tree of Life, Oil Museum, Sitra & Al Dar Islands, Understand Bahrain, Bahrain Today, History, People & Society, Environment, Survival Guide.

This is the Kuwait chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

Kuwait remains an oasis in a land of desert plains, and visitors may be surprised by the intri-guing attractions on offer, from excellent museums and galleries to a fine souq, to a corniche with beaches and lively restaurants.

• catch a sense of Kuwait’s living history at bustling, authentic Souq Mubarakiya
• maps
• marvel at the bulbous Kuwait Towers, an icon of the nation
• transport
• admire ancient artefacts from the region’s rich past at Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Kuwait City & Around, Failaka Island, Al Ahmadi, Mi-na Alzour & Al Khiran, Al Jahra, Mutla Ridge, Understand Kuwait, Kuwait Today, History, People, Religion, Environment, Survival Guide.

This is the Oman chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

With an abundance of natural beauty, from spectacular mountains and wind-blown deserts to a long coastline, Oman is the obvious choice for those intrigued by the modern face of Arabia, while still wanting to sense its ancient soul.

• haggle with carpet sellers on a precipice above Wadi Ghul at Jebel Shams
• maps
• survey the flat panorama of the Batinah region from the battlements of Nakhal Fort
• transport
• ramble around the battlements of Unesco World Heritage Site Bahla Fort
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Muscat & Around, Seeb, Bandar Jissah, Jebel Seifa, Qurayat, Mazara, Eastern Coast, Tiwi, Sur, Ayjah, Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, Ras Al Hadd, Al Ashkharah, Shana’a, Masirah Island, Jalan Bani Bu Ali, Selma Plateau, Al Kamil, Al Mintirib, Al Wasil, Ibra, Hajar Mountains, Nizwa, Birkat Al Mawz, Jebel Akhdar, Tanuf, Sharfat Al Alamayn, Al Hamra, Misfat Al Abriyyin, Jebel Shams, Bahla & Jabreen, Al Ayn, Ibri, Buraimi, Batinah Plain, Sohar, Nakhal, Wakan, Al Awabi, Rustaq, Mussanah, Barka, Al Sawadi, Musandam, Khasab, The Khors, Jebel Harim, Western Coast, Dhofar, Salalah, Eastern Salalah Plain, Jebel Samhan, Mirbat, Hasik, Western Salalah Plain, Shisr, Al Hashman, Al Wusta, Haima, Duqm, Understand Oman, Oman Today, History, People & Society, Religion, Arts, Environment, Food & Drink, Sur-vival Guide.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Arabian Peninsula, Arabian Peninsula’s Top 15, Need to Know, What’s New, If You Like..., Month by Month, Itineraries, The Hajj, Expats, Activities, Fam-ily Travel, and Countries at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

Your journey to Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on family travel.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about the Hajj
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Arabian Peninsula, Arabian Peninsula’s Top 15, Need to Know, What’s New, If You Like: Desert Landscapes, Adventure, Museums, Forts & Castles, Architecture, Wildlife, Shopping, Month by Month, Itineraries, The Hajj, Expats, Activi-ties, Family Travel, and Countries at a Glance.

This is the Qatar chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

Qatar is developing rapidly, with the capital Doha a world-class city in the making, thanks to its spectacular modern skyline, peerless Museum of Islamic Art, a fine and expansive traditional souq, and burgeoning arts and culinary scenes.

• step into the past in the cardamom-scented alleyways of Souq Waqif
• maps
• view the world’s largest collection of Islamic treasures at the Museum of Islamic Art
• transport
• ruffle feathers by bidding for a peregrine at the Falcon Souq
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Doha, Al Wakrah & Al Wukair, Mesaieed, Khor Al Adaid, Al Khor, Al Zubarah, Bir Zekreet, Understand Qatar, Qatar Today, History, People, Arts, Environment, Survival Guide.

This is the Saudi Arabia chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsu-la guidebook.

The birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, Saudi Arabia is rich in attractions and stirring symbolism. For Muslims, the cities of Mecca and Medina, rich in Prophetic significance, have no equal.

• wander beneath coral architecture and look for bargains in the country’s biggest souq in Jeddah
• maps
• admire the country’s greatest open-air gallery of sophisticated ancient rock art at Jub-bah
• transport
• stare in awe at the hypnotic tawaf (circumnavigation of the Kaaba) inside the world’s big-gest mosque at Mecca
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Riyadh, Hejaz, Jeddah, Taif, Mecca, Medina, Yanbu, Northern Saudi Arabia, Al Ula, Madain Saleh, Tabuk, Al Wajh, Central Najd, Buraydah, Eastern Province, Al Hofuf, Dammam, Southern Saudi Arabia, Abha, Jazan, Farasan Islands, Under-stand Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Today, History, People, Religion, Environment, Survival Guide.

This chapter contains the Arabian Peninsula Today, History, People & Society, Arts, Sports & Leisure, Islam in Arabia, Flavours of Arabia, The Natural Environment, Safe Travel, Directory A–Z, Transport, Health, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabi-an Peninsula guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, Islam and the environment to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and les-bian travellers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversations with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on the best food and drink on the peninsula
• info on Islam, people and society in Arabia
• full coverage of the history of the region and its rapid transformation
• details on the pristine shores, golden dunes and high mountains of the peninsula

Coverage includes: Arabian Peninsula Today, History, People & Society, Arts, Sports & Leisure, Islam in Arabia, Flavours of Arabia, The Natural Environment, Safe Travel, Directory A–Z, Transport, Health, and Language.

This is the United Arab Emirates chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

For many, the UAE means Dubai: the sci-fi-esque city of iconic skyscrapers, palm-shaped is-lands, city-sized malls, indoor ski slopes and palatial beach resorts. But beyond the glitter awaits a diverse mosaic of six more emirates, each with its own character and allure.

• soar up Dubai’s Burj Khalifa before cocktails at the Burj Al Arab
• maps
• gaze at the magnificence of Sheikh Zayed Mosque, then at the collection under the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s dome
• transport
• soak up the Empty Quarter’s rippling dune beauty at Liwa Oasis
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Dubai & Around, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Hatta, Northern Emirates, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Eastern Abu Dhabi Emirate, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Madinat Zayed, Liwa Oasis, Jebel Dhanna, Sir Bani Yas Island, Fujairah & the Eastern Coast, Fujairah City, Khor Fakkan, Al Aqah, Dibba, Kalba, Under-stand the United Arab Emirates, UAE Today, History, Government & Politics, People & Society, Arts, Environment, Survival Guide.

This is the Yemen chapter from Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula guidebook.

In days past, the sons of Noah knew Yemen as the land of milk and honey. But today, Yemen is in crisis. Mired in a civil war, its infrastructure and economy have been destroyed, and the vio-lence is taking a desperate toll on most of the population, with famine conditions in the worst-hit regions and a cholera epidemic sweeping through the country. Needless to say, it is not safe to travel here.

Coverage includes: understand Yemen, Yemen Today, History, Country in Crisis, Further Reading.