Jomana Karadsheh visits a hotel designed as one of Jordan's first eco-lodges which transports people back in time.
CNN's Jomana Karadsheh visits the Jordan Museum which will exhibit more than 4,000 artifacts once it opens.
Jomana Karadsheh looks at how the Arab nation has been influenced by Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans, Arabs and Europeans.
Few books truly invade a national psyche. When a work manages to do so for 1,000 years, it's a pretty spectacular feat.
In many ways, the Middle East makes a strange -- and at times perilous -- hotbed for caricature.
Traditionally, Saudi Arabia hasn't had much time for film. The country boasts no cinemas, and until last year, nothing but a handful of shorts had ever even been filmed on Saudi soil.
Last April, images of Kurdish men dressed in drag started making the rounds on Facebook.
A few weeks ago, an Arabic campaign exploded on Twitter. The Arabic hashtag -- #??????_??????_?????? (loosely translated as "the salary does not meet my needs") -- reached 17 million tweets in the first two weeks.
Chef Arda Turkmen stops for dessert at Gulluoglu, one of the oldest baklava bakeries in the world.
Chef Arda Turkmen meets the owner of a restaurant that's bringing historic food back to life in Istanbul, Turkey.
Chef Arda Turkmen explores the Turkish city's buzzing food scene, a great way to experience its rich past.
Turkish restaurant owner Batur Durmay is a leading voice in Ottoman cuisine with recipes dating back hundreds of years
Chef Arda Turkmen discovers the city's street food -- including a market that sells barbecued sheep heads.
Turkish chef Arda Turkmen stops for dessert at Gulluoglu, one of the oldest baklava bakeries in the world.
The Middle East is currently the setting of a new form of airspace race. As the economies grow in a handful of countries in the region, so too do ambitions -- and few things symbolize a country's aspirations as aptly as an airport.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has intervened to help a man who has become one of the heaviest people in the world.
Climbing the world's highest mountain is challenge enough, but for Raha Moharrak, it also meant breaking a taboo.
Two Israeli bands, one Jewish and one Arab, are joining together in "metal brotherhood" to spread a message of peace through rock 'n roll.
The Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, ended this week, marked across the Islamic world by the feasts of Eid el Fitr.
Tel Hazor in northern Israel has long been a treasure trove for archeologists, but a recent discovery of part of a 4,000-year-old Egyptian sphinx has been a most unexpected find.
As Ramadan has drawn to a close -- and with it, mandatory daytime fasting -- Muslims can breathe a sigh of relief as their diets return to normal. Many, however, will be surprised to find their clothes a little snugger, and their health in a perilous state.
CNN's Leone Lakhani meets an archeologist whose team has made a discovery that could rewrite history.
CNN's Leone Lakhani visits Acre, an Israeli city with both rich history and cultural diversity.
CNN's Leone Lakhani meets Amnon Ben-Tor who manages Tel Hazor, the largest archaeological site in Israel.
CNN's Leone Lakhani visits Sebastia, an ancient city in desperate need of preservation.
Leone Lakhani travels to the Israeli city of Acre, one of the best preserved and oldest settlements in the Middle East.
The Arab world's relationship with media is -- like the region itself -- complicated and often contradictory and one that has been changing rapidly since the Arab Spring.
Can car-loving Saudis be convinced to step out of their air-conditioned comfort and take public transport?
A young Yemeni girl stares defiantly into the camera. Her question is a shocking one, coming from an 11-year-old:
For those that live and work in the Middle East, Ramadan is a period of considerable downtime. In many countries, special laws require the working day is reduced to accommodate those fasting (observers are meant to abstain from food, water, cigarettes -- even gossip -- during the daylight hours of the month-long holiday).
I approached Baalbek on a hot, dry day out of Beirut, down a broken road where children played, oblivious to passing cars.
In the scorching desert of Qatar, scientists are showing that saltwater can be used to help grow crops.
Things are looking up for entrepreneurs in the Middle East as a new breed of crowdfunding is emerging to help bring life to innovative ideas from the region.
Qatar's youthful new ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has acquired another jewel in his burgeoning crown. The archaeological site of Al Zubarah on the northern tip of the tiny Arab emirate has been added by UNESCO to its list of World Heritage sites.
High in the hills between Ramallah and Nablus in the West Bank sits a huge construction site its developers hope will transform the lives of Palestinians for generations to come.
Fancy a stroll around the observation deck of the tallest building in the world?
Leaping from rooftops and doing backflips off walls is when Prince Haydar feels the most free.
Those countries in the Middle East that have been spared political upheaval find themselves enmeshed in a different sort of battle of late. As Qatar, the UAE and Jordan split what's left of the region's tourists, each is fighting to pull in the lion's share. Their weapon of choice? Theme parks.
Even during difficult times, Iraqi Airways is aiming high.
Filing nervously into a sports hall in Mosul, northern Iraq, around 20 girls prepared to practice gymnastics. Compared to their male counterparts at Mosul University's Faculty of Sport, their number is small. Another difference is that the gates to the sports hall were locked behind them and an announcement made that the hall was exclusively allocated for women.
Playboy magazine recently published its first Hebrew language edition in Israel -- but has anyone actually been reading the articles to notice?
In the last few months Iranians have found themselves in a cyber no-man's land.
The United Arab Emirates is no stranger to superlatives: the world's tallest building, among the world's most expensive hotels, even the largest kebab.
In popular culture, butlers are usually portrayed as "Made in Britain" and tend to stately homes somewhere in the English countryside. The last few years has revealed a different reality, however. Increasingly, "Jeeves" and his ilk are as likely to be found managing a palace in Saudi Arabia as a manor in England.
One contestant on "Arab Idol," the Middle Eastern version of American Idol, has been drawing attention because of more than just his impressive vocals.
Last month, thousands of people in Saudi Arabia opened up their newspapers to find a full-page picture of a woman with a black eye clearly visible underneath her burqa.
If Facebook is the ultimate popularity test, then the most famous art institute on the planet is not in Paris, New York or London.
It has been a rocky couple of years for the people of Egypt. Since the 2011 revolution, the economy has tanked, street protests are an almost daily occurrence and the political situation remains volatile.
The arts are thriving around the Arabian peninsula. From Doha to the smallest state of the United Arab Emirates, museums and galleries are making an ambitious mark on the Middle East's cultural landscape.
For the generation of Iraqi artists who came of age under Saddam Hussein's regime in the 1980s, one common subject was the dictator himself, often depicted holding a sword or riding an Arabian horse.
Young Egyptian comedians explain their craft and how their newfound freedom allows them to expand on material.
CNN's Leone Lakhani meets Sara Rahbar, an Iranian-born artist who uses the U.S. flag as her canvas.
Inside the Middle East meets two young comedians who are on a mission to make Qataris laugh.
Iraqi artist Natiq Al-Alousi, who once worked for Saddam Hussein, struggles to find buyers in the UAE.
Aisha Al Khater, director of Doha's Museum of Islamic Art, talks about making the city a cultural capital.
A mysterious, circular structure, with a diameter greater than the length of a Boeing 747 jet, has been discovered submerged about 30 feet (9 meters) underneath the Sea of Galilee in Israel.
In 2003, former newspaper editor Ali Reza Eshraghi made a mistake that cost him his freedom: he published a cartoon.
Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has reiterated his support for giving women the right to drive in Saudi Arabia, announcing via Twitter that it would help the economy and reduce the number of foreign workers there.
Dubai already has the world's tallest building, the world's largest shopping mall, and the largest man-made archipelago. So it's no surprise that the country's police would drive one of the world's most extravagant and expensive cars.
After generations of conflict, the clamor of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute has the tendency to drown out other voices and stories from the region.
Beset by war and sectarian violence, Iraq has not had a lot to laugh about in recent years.
Babylon was one of the glories of the ancient world, its walls and mythic hanging gardens listed among the Seven Wonders.
"Ako Fad Wahed" ("There is this guy") is pushing social boundaries in Iraq -- and angering some conservatives.
Arwa Damon gets taken white water rafting by a group of Iraqis hoping to turn Kurdistan into a haven for eco-tourists.
Iraq's autonomous northern region of Kurdistan is eager to display its distinct cultural heritage and booming economy.
The newest residents of the ancient city are fighting to protect a site trampled by Saddam Hussein and new developers.
Once the world's capital of literature, mathematics and the arts, Baghdad is struggling to recapture its former glory.
Film-making was not an obvious career path for the young Annemarie Jacir.
Getting anyone in Lebanon to weigh in on where to find the best shawarma or falafel is asking for trouble.
In a remote corner of the United Arab Emirates, a blue lake shimmers amid the sand dunes.
Bone-chilling cold is virtually unimaginable to the people of Oman, where temperatures routinely hit 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) during the hot season.
A dusty track in the remote western region of the United Arab Emirates is one of the last places you'd expect to find a beauty pageant.
CNN's Sara Sidner meets two filmmakers whose documentaries were nominated for Academy Awards this year.
CNN's Leone Lakhani reports from the annual Muscat Festival which celebrates Oman's history and its animals.
CNN's Leone Lakhani looks at how Muscat is taking center stage on the cultural map with both opera and filmmaking.
CNN's Leone Lakhani reports on a lake that experts say formed as a side effect of increased desalination usage.
CNN's Leone Lakhani meets two men who are preparing for a remote research expedition.
CNN's Leone Lakhani explores how Oman is using its rich history to attract tourism.
Soraya Bahgat, a Cairo-based HR executive and postgraduate student, was on her way to join Tahrir Square protests on November 25 when an unwelcome thought stopped her in her tracks.
They've been described as the voice of their generation -- though not one that everyone is comfortable hearing.
Film-maker and artist Tina Gharavi grew up idolizing Muhammad Ali, the trailblazing American boxing great who was a hero to her Iranian father and millions of others around the world.
Lebanese women are taking to the streets to demand that the government takes domestic violence seriously, by introducing laws to protect women from abusive partners.
I come from Palestine. I have lived my entire life under military occupation, and I have no memory of a time without struggle.
Lebanon prides itself on its image as a melting pot on the Mediterranean: an ancient bastion of civilization boasting a diverse tapestry of cultures and creeds.
Arwa Damon speaks to a rights activist who says women are sold "superficial fake freedoms."
CNN's Arwa Damon explains what makes Beirut a top skiing destination in the Middle East.
Arwa Damon speaks to a band that doesn't shy away from controversy, singing about everything from politics to sexuality.
Arwa Damon speaks with Lebanon's Minister of Tourism who says defeating racism is key for the country's tourism industry.
CNN's Arwa Damon meets a British couple who claim Lebanon is a 'crown jewel' for those seeking an expat lifestyle.
An image juxtaposing a famous painting of lovers and the ruins of a building in Syria has gone viral, becoming a powerful symbol of the country's devastation from civil war.
Politicians, generals and clerics have all played their part in shaping the new Iraq, with varying results.
On the starting line of the Emirates Motorplex on Thursday (Jan 24) will be professional drift racing, one of the most dangerous disciplines in motorsport.
This month, Inside the Middle East travels to Beirut, the cosmopolitan, multi-lingual capital of Lebanon. Beirut's popularity among expatriate residents has not waned, despite the increased fears of instability spilling over from the conflict in neighboring Syria. Host Arwa Damon explores Beirut, discovering why the "Paris of the Middle East" is so appealing to foreign residents of the city.
When artist Nadia Jelassi exhibited work in Tunis last year, she hoped the piece would prove a talking point.
CNN's Ian Lee meets a 12-year-old boy who lost a leg to a landmine from World War II.
A new play in Abu Dhabi explores the heroic, and sometimes dark, history of Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran.
CNN's Leone Lakhani looks at how life has changed in Tunisia, the country where the Arab Spring started in early 2011.
Authorities in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem are hoping it won't be a silent night this Christmas Eve, following a spate of tourist cancellations due to recent violence in Gaza.
Women stood at the forefront of the Arab Spring, taking to the streets shoulder to shoulder with men in an effort to overturn oppressive old orders.
A look back at the highlights of 2012 covered on Inside the Middle East.
A look back at the highlights of 2012 covered on Inside the Middle East.
A look back at the highlights of 2012 covered on Inside the Middle East.
Thick, handsome mustaches have long been prized by men throughout the Middle East as symbols of masculine virility, wisdom and maturity.
In the 100 years since British army officer T.E. Lawrence traversed Jordan's desert and the half century since David Lean set out to capture it for his cinematic epic "Lawrence of Arabia," the blood red landscape that entranced both men has scarcely changed.
One week after leaving, my mom's words still echo in my ears: "Leave Gaza now, please. Don't think about us. I have many things to worry about."
As an American socialite and hotel heiress, Paris Hilton has built up a global brand on her sexy image -- and sometimes very few clothes.
At first glance, the brightness of the colors might just be enough to fool the casual viewer. But this abstract scene in "Play in the City" isn't a cheerful one. Pain infuses this painting.
A former military bunker in the desert is one of the last places you might expect to find nature bloom.
Inside the Middle East meets Ahmed Al Shamsi, one of many Emiratis who have shed weight after bariatric surgery.
Thanks to its large reserves of oil, the small Gulf state of Kuwait has transformed over the decades from a humble pearl-farming backwater into one of the world's richest countries per capita.
Inside the Middle East meets chop shop owner Hussain Salmeen who builds and customizes bikes in Kuwait.
Zain Verjee visists Sabah Al-Ahmed Reserve which experienced one of the biggest environmental disasters of all time.
Former British PM, Tony Blair talks to CNN about what Barack Obama's re-election could mean for the Middle East.
Kuwait's love affair with fast food has become a health disaster for its population. CNN's Zain Verjee reports.
A Dubai-based perfume, cosmetics and jewelry chain is set to become one of the first international luxury retailers to open its doors in previously war-torn areas of Iraq.
In the poor suburbs of Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, home-grown hip-hop artists blare from radios, clubs and street corners around the clock.
Hajar Hamdan lives with her mother, sister and her sister's two children in the concrete jungle of Deheishe refugee camp near Bethlehem in the West Bank.
In Agadir, the arid heartland of Morocco's indigenous Berber population, a quiet oil boom is gaining momentum, one drop at a time.
These pictures were taken within one week of each other in the center of Aleppo and show the incredible resilience of some of its residents in the face of Syria's bloody civil war.
A young woman claims she was in a car with her fiancé when three police officers came by. She says two of them raped her while the third kept guard and later attempted to extort money from her fiancé. All parties involved were arrested -- the woman, her fiancé, and the three police officers.
Moroccan rapper, Si Simo's music confronts the wealth gap in his county's society.
This month, Inside the Middle East travels to Morocco, a North African kingdom located on the western edge of the Arab world. Host Leone Lakhani visits the bustling commercial hub of Casablanca, which for many recalls the film classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. But modern-day Casablanca, like the rest of Morocco, is much different than the movies.
As bloody unrest has raged around him, artist Oussama Diab has been formulating his own response to Syria's civil war -- through art.
Fine Arabic calligraphy and street art may seem worlds apart, but for artist eL Seed, they're one and the same thing.
A year ago, nearly half a million protesters took to the streets across Israel in perhaps the largest social justice movement in the country's history.
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai talks about Israel's economic challenges and recent protests against social injustice.
One of Israel's best-known singers, Rita Jahanforuz -- known simply as Rita -- performed during her country's 50th anniversary celebrations and has met president Shimon Peres.
Some Palestinians are living the high life in Ramallah. But is the city relying too much on credit and foreign aid?
Mingling with customers in the bar he opened two years ago, Yazan Khalili is enjoying the booming consumer economy in his home city of Ramallah, in the West Bank.
Psychatrist Pesach Lichtenberg talks about what causes people of all religions to believe they are the 'chosen one.'
A major artist in both Israel and Iran, Rita Jahanforuz uses her music to bring the two countries closer.
Daphni Leef took to the streets in 2011 demanding economic change, a movement that inspired thousands other Israelis.
The overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi has had a messy and often confused aftermath, as rival groups jostle for a stake in the new Libya after four decades of dictatorship.
With horrors emerging from Syria's civil war with numbing regularity, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that the uprising has not been waged only with guns.
This month, Inside the Middle East journeys to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Host Leone Lakhani strolls along the ramparts of the wall surrounding the old city of Jerusalem, a place of enormous spiritual and cultural significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.
A British boy's sudden fear of flying has left his family stranded in the UAE looking for safe routes to get home.
A British boy and his father are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, traveling across the Middle East and Europe by land and sea after 11-year-old Joe Thompson suddenly developed a paralyzing fear of flying.
To the devout, the concept of becoming "Muslim for a month" -- or any other religion, for that matter -- could verge on the sacrilegious.
Ramadan proves challenging for Muslim athletes and weightlifter Khadija Mohammad is torn about fasting during the games.
The tumultuous months since January 2011 have confronted Egyptians with uncertainty, triumph and despair on an almost daily basis.
Judo champion Maher Abu Rmeileh is one of five Palestinians competing in the London Olympics.
CNN's Leone Lakhani looks at Olympic contenders from the Middle East.
Oman recently welcomed its first professional female sailors, achieving skills in strength, leadership and endurance.
On Friday morning, Wojdan Shaherkani will set a new Olympic record. By participating in the first round of the Olympic judo competition she will become the first Saudi woman to take part in any Olympic Games.
In Jordan and Lebanon, women married to foreigners are taking to the streets to fight for their children's citizenship rights.
An English-language magazine in Dubai has been accused of disrespecting Islam by recommending places to drink during Ramadan.
This month, Inside the Middle East aims for Olympic gold, exploring stories of adversity, faith, and triumph in the world of Middle Eastern sports.
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