Dubai & the UAE

Dubai works as a first international trip because everything is close together and the logistics are simple. Flights from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad take roughly three hours, and the tourist visa process is quick.

The city offers the obvious landmarks — Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, the Palm — alongside quieter counterweights: the restored Al Fahidi district, abra boats across the creek, and the gold and spice souks in Deira.

A desert safari is close to compulsory on a first visit, and Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a comfortable day trip that most travellers rate as the highlight of the week.