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Youssef Haddad

Field writer, Middle East and North Africa: entry, culture and desert trips, based in Amman

Covers Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia

Last field trip Aug 202665 guides published
  • Middle East
  • North Africa
  • Desert

Languages: Arabic, English, French

About

Youssef is a former tour leader who ran small-group trips from Amman to Petra and Wadi Rum for nine years. He writes about the Gulf, the Levant and North Africa with a focus on what changes a trip: visa rules, Ramadan hours, dress codes at religious sites and which roads are open. He flags travel advisories plainly and does not write things-to-do lists for places governments advise against visiting.

Field trips

Months, not dates, for privacy.

  • Aug 2026OmanMuscat, Nizwa and Musandam, 8 nights
  • Apr 2026EgyptCairo, Luxor and Aswan by train, 10 nights
  • Jan 2026JordanPetra and Wadi Rum in winter, 6 nights

Guides by Youssef Haddad

Bustling marketplace filled with various goods and shoppersItineraryMarrakech in 3 days: palaces, souks and the Majorelle gardenUpdated Oct 13, 2026Courtyard with ornate arches and a poolWhere to stayWhere to stay in Marrakech: medina riad or new town hotelUpdated Oct 13, 2026The Burj Khalifa and skyscrapers above a multi-level highway interchange in DubaiRulesDress laws for tourists: what the law says you can wearUpdated Oct 13, 2026a large building with a tower and a clock on itRulesOman visa-free entry and e-visa: 14 days free, 30 days for OMR 20Updated Oct 12, 2026The Burj Khalifa and skyscrapers above a multi-level highway interchange in DubaiRulesUAE visa on arrival: who gets 30 or 90 days, who needs a visaUpdated Oct 12, 2026a body of water with buildings and trees around itWhere to stayWhere to stay in Sharm El Sheikh: four bases from Naama Bay to NabqUpdated Oct 6, 2026green grass field with trees and brown concrete buildingHead to headHurghada or El Gouna: which Red Sea base is better for you?Updated Oct 6, 2026a body of water with buildings and trees around itHead to headSharm El Sheikh or Hurghada: which Red Sea resort fits your trip?Updated Oct 6, 2026green grass field with trees and brown concrete buildingThings to doDay trips from Hurghada: Giftun boats, desert, Luxor and what to skipUpdated Oct 6, 2026green grass field with trees and brown concrete buildingWhere to stayWhere to stay in Hurghada: town, marina or a resort bayUpdated Oct 6, 2026a body of water with buildings and trees around itHow toIs Sharm El Sheikh safe? What the UK advice says and what to doUpdated Oct 6, 2026The Treasury carved into sandstone cliffs in Petra, Jordan, with people belowItineraryPetra in 1 or 2 days: how long the Monastery really takesUpdated Oct 4, 2026A view of a city at night from across the waterItineraryDoha in 2 days: museums, Souq Waqif and the Metro by weekdayUpdated Oct 4, 2026A mountain range with a bird flying over itWhen to goBest time to visit Jebel Akhdar: blossom, roses, winter chill and heatUpdated Oct 4, 2026white structure during daytimeRulesTel Aviv entry rules: the ETA-IL, entry card and border questionsUpdated Oct 4, 2026A mountain range with a bird flying over itHow toJebel Akhdar day trip or overnight: how to decide and what to checkUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large white trailer parked in front of a buildingRulesSaudi visa for Jeddah: e-visa, ETA or visa waiver comparedUpdated Oct 4, 2026A view of a city at night from across the waterHow toGetting around Doha: Metro lines, trams, buses and Karwa taxisUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large white trailer parked in front of a buildingItineraryJeddah in 2 days: Al-Balad, the Corniche and heat timingUpdated Oct 4, 2026white structure during daytimeHow toShelters, alerts and getting around Tel Aviv: UK and Canada adviceUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large building with a fountain in the middle of a pondRulesTehran visa and entry rules: the tour or sponsor requirementUpdated Oct 4, 2026aerial view of green trees and blue sea during daytimeItineraryPaphos in 2 days: mosaics, Tombs of the Kings and Aphrodite's coastUpdated Oct 4, 2026a city at nightItineraryRiyadh in 2 days: National Museum, Metro and Diriyah at nightUpdated Oct 4, 2026Ornate building with arched windows and manicured gardensHow toLeaving Iran: borders, flights and emergency plans (UK, Canada)Updated Oct 4, 2026a large building with a tower and a clock on itItinerarySalalah in 3 days: frankincense sites, Wadi Darbat and Al MughsailUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large building with a tower and a clock on itHead to headKhareef or winter in Salalah: which season suits your tripUpdated Oct 4, 2026The Treasury carved into sandstone cliffs in Petra, Jordan, with people belowHow toPetra tickets, opening hours and the Jordan Pass: costs and sumsUpdated Oct 4, 2026a view of a city and a body of waterHow toMoney, power cuts and local laws in Beirut: what the UK and Canada sayUpdated Oct 4, 2026A mountain range with a bird flying over itHead to headJebel Akhdar or Jebel Shams: which Omani mountain is right for youUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large white trailer parked in front of a buildingWhere to stayWhere to stay in Jeddah: Al-Balad, Corniche or Art PromenadeUpdated Oct 4, 2026a view of a city and a body of waterRulesBeirut visa and entry rules: free one-month visa on arrivalUpdated Oct 4, 2026a city at nightWhere to stayWhere to stay in Riyadh: downtown, financial district, DiriyahUpdated Oct 4, 2026Ornate building with arched windows and manicured gardensHow toDress code and conduct rules in Esfahan: what the UK and Canada sayUpdated Oct 4, 2026Ornate building with arched windows and manicured gardensHow toTravel insurance and consular limits in Iran: UK and Canada adviceUpdated Oct 4, 2026a view of a city and a body of waterHow toShould you travel to Beirut right now? What the UK and Canada sayUpdated Oct 4, 2026aerial view of green trees and blue sea during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Paphos: Kato Paphos, Coral Bay or old townUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large building with a tower and a clock on itWhere to stayWhere to stay in Salalah: city center, beach resorts, Taqah or MirbatUpdated Oct 4, 2026A view of a city at night from across the waterWhere to stayWhere to stay in Doha: Msheireb, Souq Waqif, West Bay and moreUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large building with a fountain in the middle of a pondHow toShould you travel to Tehran right now? What the UK and Canada sayUpdated Oct 4, 2026a large building with a fountain in the middle of a pondHow toMoney, phones and rules in Tehran: what the UK and Canada sayUpdated Oct 4, 2026white structure during daytimeHow toShould you travel to Tel Aviv right now? What the UK and Canada sayUpdated Oct 4, 2026The Treasury carved into sandstone cliffs in Petra, Jordan, with people belowWhere to stayWhere to stay in Wadi Musa: gate, town, Taybeh or Al BaydaUpdated Oct 4, 2026a city at nightHow toRiyadh Metro guide: six lines, airport link, hours and ticketsUpdated Oct 4, 2026The Treasury carved into sandstone cliffs in Petra, Jordan, with people belowRulesJordan Pass: how it waives the visa fee and covers PetraUpdated Oct 3, 2026a large building with a clock on the side of itHead to headRabat or Casablanca: which city fits your Morocco trip?Updated Oct 2, 2026people walking on snow covered mountain during daytimeHead to headMerzouga or Zagora: which Sahara trip fits your days?Updated Oct 2, 2026people walking on snow covered mountain during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Merzouga: dune camp, village or ErfoudUpdated Oct 2, 2026a tall tower with a clock on top of itWhen to goThe best time to visit Egypt: Cairo, the Nile and the Red SeaUpdated Oct 2, 2026a large white building with a green roof next to the oceanHow toHassan II Mosque tickets and tours: times, fees and dress rulesUpdated Oct 2, 2026stack of orange stones on a beachThings to doThings to do in Agadir: beach, kasbah hill, souk and Souss-MassaUpdated Oct 2, 2026snow covered mountain under blue sky during daytimeHow toHow to climb Toubkal: guide, route, gear and what to askUpdated Oct 2, 2026snow covered mountain under blue sky during daytimeWhen to goBest time to climb Toubkal: snow, heat and the months that workUpdated Oct 2, 2026a large white building with a green roof next to the oceanItineraryCasablanca in one day: mosque, Art Deco center and the CornicheUpdated Oct 2, 2026stack of orange stones on a beachWhere to stayWhere to stay in Agadir: beachfront, marina, town or TaghazoutUpdated Oct 2, 2026brown pyramid under blue sky during daytimeRulesEgypt visa on arrival or e-visa: which to get and what it costsUpdated Oct 2, 2026Bustling marketplace filled with various goods and shoppersWhen to goThe best time to visit Morocco: cities, coast, mountains, desertUpdated Oct 2, 2026concrete buildings near shoreWhere to stayWhere to stay in Tangier: medina, Ville Nouvelle or the bayUpdated Oct 2, 2026a large building with a clock on the side of itItineraryRabat in one day: Kasbah, Hassan Tower, Chellah and a museumUpdated Oct 2, 2026snow covered mountain under blue sky during daytimeHead to headToubkal summit or Imlil valley walks: which Atlas trip fits you?Updated Oct 2, 2026a large building with a clock on the side of itWhere to stayWhere to stay in Rabat: medina, Ville Nouvelle, Agdal or HassanUpdated Oct 2, 2026concrete buildings near shoreHow toTangier to Chefchaouen: coach, taxi, car or tour, day trip or night?Updated Oct 2, 2026stack of orange stones on a beachHead to headAgadir or Marrakech: beach week or medina trip?Updated Oct 2, 2026a large white building with a green roof next to the oceanWhere to stayWhere to stay in Casablanca: Centre Ville, the medina or the CornicheUpdated Oct 2, 2026people walking on snow covered mountain during daytimeHow toMarrakech to Merzouga: tour, rental car, bus or flightUpdated Oct 2, 2026concrete buildings near shoreThings to doThings to do in Tangier: Kasbah, museums, souks and Cape SpartelUpdated Oct 2, 2026
DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

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Caribbean

Fort-de-FranceNassauPort of SpainNegrilSan JuanOcho RiosHavanaEleutheraEl Yunque National ForestSosúaAll Caribbean

Africa

MarrakechRabatToubkal National ParkMaasai MaraCape WinelandsDiani BeachMombasaNairobiAswanSharm El SheikhAll Africa

Events

Sapporo Snow FestivalCherry blossomGion MatsuriDía de MuertosOktoberfestKandy Esala PeraheraEvents calendar

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