5 trips to take during Oman and...

Best destinations for a long weekend break with Isra Wal Miraj long weekend starting 30 January

Omani and Kuwaiti residents will enjoy a long weekend for Isra Wal Miraj, with a public holiday on Thursday 30 January 2025.

This applies to both public and private sector employees, resulting in a three-day break from Thursday 30 January to Saturday 1 February, with the option to extend the long weekend even further by adding a day or more of personal annual leave.

This public holiday provides an opportunity for travel advisors to book last-minute trips for clients based in these countries.

Here are some of the best destinations for a short-haul and medium-haul getaways from Oman and Kuwait.

The UAE

Dubai, just over an hour's flight from Muscat in Oman and 90 minutes from Kuwait, offers an easily accessible three-day getaway with multiple daily flights operated by Emirates, Kuwait Airlines, Flydubai, Oman Air, Etihad and Air Arabia.

Recently recognised as one of the world's most lovable cities, as well as the world’s cleanest city, Dubai offers visitors a mix of experiences from theme parks and designer malls to traditional souks and desert adventures.

Two new desert experiences have emerged: Zerzura Desert Experiences, just 40 minutes from Dubai, offers self-drive safaris guided by experts in UNESCO Mleiha National Park, and Al Marmoom Domes, a luxury retreat in Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve features all-glass domes with panoramic dune views, private butler service, Arabian dining and activities including heritage safaris and stargazing sessions.

Al Marmoom Domes

For city stays, new options include Mama Shelter in Business Bay, offering views of the Burj Khalifa, four outdoor pools, rooftop bar and an open-air cinema, and Rove JBR on The Walk, a long promenade lining a public beach and playing host to street artists and outdoor markets. Ground-floor rooms have their own private terrace overlooking the promenade, with visitors able to explore the area on foot or travel around it on the Dubai Tram.

Also new in resorts, Atlantis, The Palm has redesigned its Explorers Club for children with 10 specialised areas, while Banyan Tree Dubai has upgraded its spa facilities with all-new treatment rooms, vitality pools and the Rainforest experience, a multi-sensory journey through a series of hydrothermal therapies.

Notable attractions include the recently reopened Ain Dubai, the world's tallest observation wheel, offering 38-minute rides with spectacular city views, and the world's first Real Madrid theme park. Opened in November 2024 in Dubai Parks and Resorts, it features 40 adventures, including thrilling rides, arcade games and a museum.

With similar flight times, direct flights from both cities to Abu Dhabi operate multiple times a day, with the earliest departure from Muscat at 04:20 and latest at 23:30.

Crowned the world’s safest city for 2025, Abu Dhabi offers a rich tapestry of outdoor activities and cultural attractions, from Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the Louvre. Thrill-seekers will enjoy Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World on Yas Island, while nature lovers can explore the Mangrove National Park, relax on Saadiyat Public Beach or head to Sir Bani Yas Island, the UAE’s largest natural isle with guided wildlife tours and kayaking trips.

Located on the eastern shores of the island, Anantara Al Yamm is an all-villa sanctuary reminiscent of an Emirati fishing village. Recently reopened following a revamp, the beachfront barasti-style villas come with private pools and around-the-clock villa hosts who can arrange private dining, spa treatments and outdoor adventures.

Anantara Al Yamm Villas

For those who want to remain in the city, the recently-opened Jannah Executive Hotel Apartments are a good option, just 10 minutes from the Corniche and offering a blend of Bedouin charm and contemporary amenities. Accommodations range from studios to sprawling one-bed and family suites, all with well-equipped kitchens.

Among places to eat, there are four one-Michelin-starred restaurants in the capital, including Hakkasan and Erth, the only Emirati restaurant in the world to be awarded a star. Inspired by the look and feel of a traditional majlis, guests can feast on deconstructed date cake and lamb machboos.

Bahrain

Flights operate daily between both cities and Manama with multiple options, the earliest departing Muscat at 12:40 (Oman Air), the latest at 23:25. Flight time is 90 minutes from Muscat and 60 minutes from Kuwait City.

Travellers can explore UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Qal'at Al Bahrain fort and the Pearling Path, visit the National Museum or Manama Souq or make a splash at Dive Bahrain, the world's largest underwater theme park featuring submerged structures. Opened at the end of 2024, Time Out Market Bahrain in Manama is the kingdon’s first-ever food market.

The country is made up of dozens of islands and visitors can hop on a boat from Sitra to Al Dar Islands in just 10 minutes, where there are beaches alongside activities including kayaking and dolphin watching.

Recognised by UNESCO for its natural history, Hawar Island is a wildlife sanctuary just a 30-minute boat ride from Bahrain with plenty on offer for nature lovers. The newly opened Hawar Resort by Mantis is an eco-luxury resort with 104 beachside and overwater villas, a spa, pool, sporting facilities and private beach. For younger guests, there’s a kids’ club, water park and the Bear Grylls Adventure Zone.

Hawar Resort by Mantis

Sri Lanka

Direct daily flights are available from Muscat and Kuwait City to Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, taking between four and five-and-a-half hours.

Unlike some Indian Ocean hotspots that revolve around beaches, Sri Lanka also delivers a rich blend of culture and history with sunny, dry days and pleasantly warm evenings in January. Encourage clients to start their journey in Colombo, where they can dive straight into the island’s vibrant coastal scene or visit the city’s many temples and markets.

Visitors can take the train from Colombo north to Sri Lanka’s cultural capital Kandy, a two hour 30-minute journey through tea plantations that is among the most scenic in the world. Kandy is famed for sheltering a tooth of the Buddha — the country’s most holy Buddhist relic — along with botanical gardens, temples and an artificial lake.

Also recommend beach towns like Trincomalee in the northeast for serene beauty or a two-hour road trip south from Colombo, the historic coastal city of Galle, which combines cultural landmarks such as the UNESCO-listed fort and long stretches of soft sand. To discover the local wildlife, suggest visits to the sea turtle hatchery or safaris in the lush forests.

The latest hotel to open in Galle, the Radisson Collection Resort, Galle, is a 106-key seafront sanctuary nestled directly on the beach near Unawatuna. Highlights include breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean from all 106 rooms and suites, a beachfront pool, dedicated kids’ club, and four dining venues including an immersive seafood dining experience. The Grand Penthouse features five bedrooms, a spiral staircase and an infinity pool.

Radisson Collection Resort, Galle

Türkiye

There are around 14 direct flights a week from Muscat to Istanbul with departure times ranging from 00:55 to 22:40. The flight time is just under five hours.

Heading to Turkey during February almost guarantees warm temperatures and sunny blue skies, and without the stifling heat of the summer months, visitors will be comfortable exploring Istanbul’s Grand Souk, the ultimate Aladdin’s Cave, and historic monuments, from the Byzantine masterpiece of Hagia Sophia to the glittering Blue Mosque and the opulent Topkapi Palace.

In and around Istanbul, the most talked-about tourism sites, according to data collated in 2024 by Mabrian, include the Topkapi Palace Museum, historical Üsküdar district and the suburbs of Beylikdüzü, known for its Black Sea beaches.

Istanbul has 85 accessible beaches or bathing spots, many of them no more than 30 or 40 minutes on the metro from the city centre, or visitors can hop on one of the public ferries that ply the Bosphoruus.

For a coastal retreat, the Turkish capital’s newest luxury hotel, Rixos Tersane Istanbul, is situated in the Golden Horn (Haliç), just 2km from the city centre and with views of the historic peninsula. The hotel provides guests with various dining options along with a range of sports and wellness activities.

Rixos Tersane Istanbul

Situated just steps from the Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque, the recently opened Marriott Sanasaryan Han, A Luxury Collection Hotel, is conveniently located and hosts cultural evenings in its library bar, including poetry nights.

Eight new Michelin stars were awarded in the city in December 2024, giving good reason for gourmands to visit. Set among gardens, one-Michelin-starred Casa Lavanda fuses the classic flavours of Turkey and Italy with vegetables sourced from the restaurant garden.

DISCOVER LUXURY AT LA VALLÉE VILLAGE