Best of the Gulf: 8 iconic landmarks in the GCC that will blow your mind

The GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, is a group of six Middle Eastern countries that share more than just oil wealth and desert. These nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — team up on economics, culture, and has some pretty fantastic travel destinations. Here, you will find landmarks that aren’t just buildings, they’re marvellous structures that redefine skylines, and are worth visiting for at least once. Bookmark these iconic landmarks for your Gulf trip.

The undisputed landmark of all, Burj Khalifa isn’t just a tallest building, it stands at a height of 828 m, where you thank the elevators for the ride.

Oman doesn’t scream for attention. It whispers elegance. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat is a masterpiece in sandstone, featuring a chandelier the size of your average apartment and a carpet that could moonlight as a football field. Modesty meets grandeur here—bring socks, the floors are serious.

Shaped like a bottle opener, Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre offers 360-degree views of the city—and, if you’re lucky, a sandstorm ballet in the distance. The Sky Bridge is not for the faint hearted.

Floating like a minimalist mirage in Doha, this museum looks like something just out of the world, and is a sight to behold. Centuries of Islamic art, which is so beautiful that you’ll forget to scroll your Instagram for a change.

Twin towers, wind turbines, and a skyline that’s basically what this place is all about. Bahrain’s WTC is where futuristic design meets old-school Gulf charm. Bonus: it glows like a sci-fi ship at night.

These space-age water towers from the 1970s are the Gulf’s must-visit places for some cool reasons. You need to visit to know the reasons. With blue mosaic balls and panoramic views, they’re proof Kuwait was cool before hashtags were a thing.

History buffs, here’s your pit stop. A UNESCO site that once guarded a bustling pearl-trading town, this fort whispers tales of merchants and pirates while looking like a Game of Thrones location with way better weather.

Not a “landmark” in the building sense, but the Green Mountain deserves its spot. Because sometimes, in the desert, finding roses, mist, and cool breeze feels more iconic than concrete.