The hottest openings and travel news you missed in the Middle East

It’s been a while since we’ve been out there, but the world hasn’t stopped moving. From the latest hotels to new retreats in far-flung destinations to museum openings and what’s trending, here is all the inspiration you need to inform your travel plans to the Middle East this year and beyond.

Three new hotels in the Middle East

Dubai EDITION

The EDITION brand’s expansion continues at pace, with its sleekly modern 275-room property in downtown Dubai having thrown open its doors in late 2021.

Jumeirah Muscat Bay

Sitting in Oman’s ruggedly stunning landscape between the imposing Al Hajar Mountains and the cool waters of the Arabian Sea, the pleasure resort promises sea views, expansive and sophisticated interiors and a luxe wellness offering.

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som

Located just 90 minutes’ drive from the capital of Doha, this stylishly understated wellness retreat will boast stringent sustainable practices and an immersive focus on wellbeing that comes with the gravitas of the celebrated Thai wellness brand.

Marvel at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt

Possibly the biggest opening of 2022 will be the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum. Almost 20 years in the making, and costing about $1 billion, the museum will cover some 500,000 square metres close to the pyramids of Giza and house a staggering 100,000 Egyptian artefacts. One of the largest inclusions is the 11-metre-high granite statue of Ramses the Great installed in the atrium, while the crowd-pleaser is the collection of 5000 relics from the famed tomb of Tutankhamun, displayed in its entirety for the first time.

Grand Egyptian Museum, Middle East — The much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum will be a crowd-pleaser.

Visit Qatar’s world-class museums

While the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in November, is all about football, the long build-up to kick-off has resulted in the transformation of Qatar, with myriad new hotels soaring skyward from the desert sands. Eschew the games and head to Frank Gehry-designed National Museum of Qatar or the streamlined Museum of Islamic Art, the work of architect I.M. Pei.

National Museum of Qatar designed by Frank Gehry, Qatar, Middle East — Frank Gehry created the distinct design of the National Museum of Qatar.

See the Fields of Abstraction exhibition at the Israel Museum

Famed for housing antiquities such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Israel Museum, Jerusalem also has a small but significant modern art collection, pieces from which have been curated to create its headlining Fields of Abstraction exhibition, in place until 15 October. Works by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Gerhard Richter and Willem de Kooning, to name a very few, are featured.

Dzubas Friedel Steppe 1964, Artwork in Israel Museum, Middle East — Peruse the beautiful art collection at The Israel Museum. (Image: Elie Posner, Painting by Friedel Dzubas © The Israel Museum)

As-Salt named Jordan’s latest World Heritage Site

Known as ‘a place of tolerance and urban hospitality’, the Jordanian city of As-Salt, an easy journey from the capital, Amman, prospered as an important trading link between east and west. This history has left a compelling legacy of tolerance, as well as a unique architectural imprint, with the Old Town boasting some 650 historic buildings embracing Art Nouveau, Neo-Colonial and local, traditional styles. Little wonder the city was recently inscribed as Jordan’s latest World Heritage site, joining the likes of Petra and the ruins of Umer-Rasas.

City of As Salt, Jordan, Middle East — The Jordanian city of As-Salt is known as ‘a place of tolerance and urban hospitality’.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The hottest openings and travel news you missed in the Middle East

Three new hotels in the Middle East

Dubai EDITION

Jumeirah Muscat Bay

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som

Marvel at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt

Visit Qatar’s world-class museums

See the Fields of Abstraction exhibition at the Israel Museum

As-Salt named Jordan’s latest World Heritage Site

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