Ibn Al Hamra

I’ve lived, worked, and travelled in the Arab world since 1985 and visited each country in the Arabian Peninsula - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen since 1986.

My first steps in the Arabian Peninsula were in Oman and the UAE in 1986, when Al Bustan Palace had just opened and Dubai’s World Trade Centre stood alone on Sheikh Zayed Road.

In Saudi Arabia my earliest stop was Jeddah in the late 1980s; since then I’ve driven around the kingdom from Dumat Al Jandal to Najran and from the Red Sea to the Gulf, riding Riyadh’s new metro and the Haramain high-speed line along the way. I first visited Qatar in the early 2000s and have returned often, exploring by Metro, tram, and electric bus – and of course hiring a car.

Every country has undergone incredible transformations since my first visit and all are now welcoming tourists.

Like most visitors who wish to travel around these countries, I travel independently - no fixers, no government organiser - so my written guides mirror the way independent visitors will experience them. I speak Gulf Arabic and have provided cultural briefings to senior executives relocating to the Gulf, which helps me cut through clutter and keep advice practical. If you value clear directions, candid detail, and context that links places to people, you’ll find these books useful.

Thank you for your purchase of one of my books - I hope these “ARABIA GUIDES” help you make the most of your journey.