World’s greatest places in 2026, according to Time Magazine

Time Magazine has unveiled its 2026 list of the ’World’s Greatest Places’, celebrating exceptional hotels, cruises, restaurants and attractions worldwide, with six destinations highlighted across the Gulf.

 

Egypt is among the destinations gaining momentum, with tourism rising by more than 20% in 2025, supported by major openings such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, which debuted in November. Brazil and Bhutan are seeing similar growth.

 

Nature-driven escapes continue to grow in popularity, from Türkiye’s Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia, nestled among the rock formations, to Switzerland’s Huus Quell by Appenzeller Huus, a five-star wellness retreat in the country’s northeastern region.

 

Thailand was also spotlighted as a standout destination, with four entries including Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, DaiDib DaiDee, an off-the-grid farm stay in Nan province, and The Blue Jasmine, a beautifully restored 1960s sleeper train, that runs nine-day journeys from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. 

 

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In the GCC, six locations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar were included in the list.

 

UAE

Breaking three Guinness World Records, Surf Abu Dhabi is among the top attractions in the UAE capital, featuring the world’s largest wave pool and longest artificial surfing wave. Developed in partnership with the Kelly Slater Wave Company, the venue opened in late 2024 and is set to join a surfing championship circuit in 2026.

 

Zayed National Museum, the latest cultural attraction in the Saadiyat Cultural District, was also recognised, offering visitors large digital projections and interactive displays that showcase the country’s history.

 

Elsewhere in the UAE, Dubai’s Jumeirah ⁠Marsa Al Arab made the list. Shaped after a super-yacht, the 387-room hotel offers a luxury beachfront stay with proximity to landmarks such as Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah.