Kuwait City, Kuwait
In port 7th-9th November
Depart 10th November

The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate bordred by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning ‘fortress built near the water’ and home to a population of nearly 3 million. Kuwait City was first settled in the early 18th Century by the Al-Sabāh clan, later the ruling family of Kuwait and a branch of the Al-Utūb tribe (that also included the Al-Khalīfah clan, the ruling family of Bahrain), and their leader, Sheikh Sabāh.


Manamar, Bahrain
In port 12th-14th November
Depart 15th November

The Kingdom of Bahrain (Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn literally ‘Kingdom of the Two Seas’) is an Arabic island country in the Arabian Gulf ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway, which officially opened on 25 November 1986. Qatar is to the southeast across the Gulf of Bahrain.

Bahrain is sometimes described as “Middle East lite” because it combines modern infrastructure with an Arabian Gulf identity and, unlike other countries in the region, its prosperity is not solely a reflection of the size of its oil wealth, but is also related to the creation of an indigenous middle class. This unique socioeconomic development in the Arabian Gulf has meant that Bahrain is generally more liberal than its neighbors. There is a Freedom of religion in Bahrain and Arabic is the official language. Doha, Qatar In port 16th-17th November Depart 18th November Qatar’s largest city, Doha, is also the country’s capital with over 80 per cent of the country’s population residing there. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south; otherwise the Perisan Gulf surrounds the state. Qatar is an absolute monarchy, ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s. The visual highlight of Doha is Al-Corniche, a long seaside promenade that curves around Doha Bay and affords views of Palm Tree Island and the city’s skyscrapers.

Abu Dhabi & Dubai, United Arab Emirates
In port Abu Dhabi, 19th-20th November
Depart 21st November In port Dubai, 21st-26th November

Abu Dhabi is the capital city and emirate under the sovereignty of the Al Nahyans family and, in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Arabian Gulf from the central western coast. Abu Dhabi houses important offices of the federal government, and is the seat for the United Arab Emirates Government and the home for the Emarati Royal Family. Abu Dhabi has grown to be a cosmopolitan metropolis. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed Abu Dhabi.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates and the most populous state of the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. Dubai’s current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.

Muscat, Oman
Arrival end of November, 2009

Looking at the phenomenal achievements that have been made in Sultanate of Oman over the last years – the multi-lane highways, modern hospitals, schools and universities, it is tempting to think of the Sultanate as a ‘new’ country. However, archaeologists have shown that civilization flourished in the area of modern day Oman at least 5,000 years ago and probably before, albeit under a series of names, the best known being Majan – the name of Oman Sail’s new Arabian 100 trimaran.

The country’s breathtaking coastline stretches for over 1,700kms from the Arabian Sea and the entrance to the Indian Ocean at its south-western extremity, to the Oman Sea and Musandam in the north, where it overlooks the Strait of Hormuz and the entrance to the Arabian Gulf. The Sultanate is divided into nine governorates and regions. Muscat is the capital of Oman and the largest city enjoying a vibrant economy and multi-ethnic society. Chief of state and government is the hereditary Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.