What to do in January in the Middle East - 2026

The Middle East is a geopolitical term that refers to a region spanning the vast majority of Western Asia and all of Egypt (mostly in North Africa).

The most populous countries in the region are Egypt, Iran, and Turkey, while Saudi Arabia is the largest Middle Eastern country by area.


Before we have a look at what you can do in the Middle East, let's first look at the weather you can expect in January.

January weather in the Middle East

To get a good overview of the type of weather you can expect in January in the Middle East, we will look at the day and night temperature, minimum and maximum water temperature, and if January is comfortable or humid

Generally, January in the Middle East will be really nice. Historical data shows that you can expect an average temperature of around 69°F / 21°C. As the humidty is low, it will feel very comfortable. During the night, it will cool down to around 46°F / 8°C.

the Middle East does not have a lot of rainy days in January. You can expect around 3 rainy days, with on average 0.3 inches / 7 mm of rain during the whole month.

Average temperature
Average Sea temperature
Wintersun Comfort grade and huricane risk

The forecast for January 2026 is based on historical data and are averages. They will give a good indication what you can expect, but the daily temperature and rain will fluctuate during the month.

Things to see and do in the Middle East

the Middle East has many things to soo. With help from our visitors we have dived a list of things to see in. If you have any sugestions or improvements for this list, please let us know.

Dubai Shopping Festival
Event/FestivalJan, Dec
Dubai Shopping Festival is a six-week-long sale where different brands offer huge discounts.
Dahab
Nature/Wild LifeThroughout the Year
Dahab is a diver's spot in Egypt.
The Pyramids
LandmarkThroughout the Year
The Pyramids are a landmark in Egypt telling the stories of the Pharoah.
Coptic Christmas
Event/FestivalJan
Coptic Christmas is a festival in Egypt. On the Coptic Christmas Day (January 7th), people gather in homes for the festivities and give out the sweet Kahk as gifts. Christmas morning usually starts with a cup of tea with a plate of Kahk el Eid.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai
LandmarkThroughout the Year
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is one of the most wonderful places on Earth. It is the tallest skyscraper on the planet so far.
Jerusalem
CulturalThroughout the Year
The history of Jerusalem is very interesting.
Beirut
CityThroughout the Year
Beirut is one of the fastest developing cities in the Middle East.

Shopping in the Middle East

The Middle East is famous for its markets or souqs.
Many souqs sell good quality products, but many sell a range of fake or tacky souvenirs.
We reccomend to visit:

  • Dubai Gold Souk
  • The Abu Dhabi Mall
  • Mısır Çarşısı (Turkey)
  • City Center Mall Doha (Conference Center, street, Doha, Qatar)
  • Sandal Bedesteni (Turkey)
  • Villaggio Mall (Al Waab St, Doha, Qatar)

Activities in the Middle East

Dead Sea Swimming
Read a news paper in probably the most salty sea, Dead Sea

Archeological sites
Join a tour of one of the many ancient archeological sites.

Cultural activities
Enjoy one of the many cultural experiences, like watching Sufi dancers.

Museums
Visit some of the most beautiful rich museums in the world.

Food tastings
Get to experience some of the favorite local dishes. Each area has different dishes and flavors.

Fishing
If you are into fishing, there are great opportunities.

Cruise
Enjoy the area by joining a Ship or Ferry cruise.

Restaurants in the Middle East

Meat (except pork) is very popular, as are vegetables such as eggplant, chick peas and tomatoes. Pork is rare or in some countries banned due to Islamic customs.
Fish, on the other hand, is very common in coastal areas, especially in Turkey and Oman.

Among the drinks, coffee and tea, both served without milk, are very popular. Highly sweetened sweets are often enjoyed as an accompaniment to tea and coffee, rather than as a dessert at the end of a meal. Fruit or yoghurt-based drinks are widespread and widely consumed everywhere, while alcohol is difficult to find as it is forbidden to Muslims.

More things to see in the Middle East

Hagia Sophia Museum
Located in Istanbul, Turkey, the Hagia Sophia museum was once a Greek Orthodox cathedral, later a mosque during the Ottoman empire, and now serves as a museum.

Luxor Temple
This is the site of what remains of an ancient place of worship in Egypt.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem dates back to the 4th century. It is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and contains 2 of Christianity's holiest sites.

Topkapi Palace Museum
This is a historical museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological rock-cut city in a deep valley in Southern Jordan.

The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a Salt lake that shares borders with Jordan to the East and Israel & the West Bank to the west. It is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, making swimming in the sea similar to floating. It is a major attraction for tourists all year round.

Dome of the Rock
An iconic Islamic Shrine white a huge golden dome.

Jerusalem, the Western Wall. Snowbirds can visit the iconic ancient sacred site of Jewish prayer, where people pray or write their prayers in a paper and place it in the cracks of the wall'.
Giza Necropolis
The Giza necropolis is the site in Egypt of the great pyramids like the Great pyramids of Giza, the pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, other pyramid complexes, and the Great Sphinx of Giza. The area is approximately 9 km (6 Miles) west of the Nile River and about 13 km (8 Miles) southwest of the city center of Cairo.

Pamukkale
This is a very beautiful clear thermal spa terraces and Hierapolis ruins in Turkey.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
For car enthusiasts, this is a motorsport-themed entertainment complex in Abu Dhabi, Dubai.

The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a functioning mosque that attracts lots of tourists each year that come to see the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the interior of the mosque and see the mosque bathed in blue by lights in the night.

Mount of Olives
East of Jerusalem's old city, you will find a mountain ridge called the Mount of Olives. It got its name from the many olive trees that covered its slopes long ago. From there you have a really good view of the old city of Jerusalem.

The Sheikh Zayad Grand mosque
this is an iconic landmark with 82 white domes, elaborately decorated artworks on the walls and floors. It is the largest mosque in Dubai.

The Grand Bazaar
Located in Istanbul, The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Hundreds of thousands of visitors visit the over 4,000 shops daily.

The Burj Khalifa (Dubai)
This is the tallest structure and building in the world. It is a 160-story building. It has been a major tourist attraction to Dubai. Tourists can get to the very top of the building and gaze down at the growing city of Dubai from an observation deck.

Valley of the Kings
Located in Egypt, the valley of the kings is the site of many Pharaohs' tombs and burial grounds.

More information about the Middle East

What to do in the Middle East in other months

Weather in the Middle East for each month


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