The social and political crises in some of the Middle East countries have left national authorities warning against travel to the conflict-ridden nations.
From the anti-government protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen to the violence in Jordan and Bahrain, the mayhem has hit tourism the most in all these nations.
However, there is a beautiful side too, of these Arabian countries that is being veiled by the recent uprisings seeking reforms in governance.
Despite travel warnings, some sites are worth to keep in mind, in case tourists wish to travel there next time.
Start the slideshow to see places depicting the diverse culture and rich history of the countries, which are going through a phase of political turmoil and civil unrest.
The Yemeni capital Sanaa abounds in ancient monuments and historical sites. The Old City of Sanaa, a World Heritage site, truly offers an old world charm taking you back to the walled streets, ancient buildings, old markets, one of the oldest mosques and more attractions.Historical cities of Tarim and Shibam, a UNESCO world heritage site with towering 16th century mud brick buildings, also known as the "the Manhattan of the desert", are also an architectural delight and worth a visit places in Yemen.Socotra island that is located in the Arabian Sea, 380 kilometers south of mainland Yemen, has many unique species of birds and plants, and offers visitors beach holiday experience against the backdrop of rugged mountains.Besides, the country's famous mosques, including Al-Saleh mosque in Sanaa, which is the largest in Yemen, and al-Abbas Mosque at the Asnaf village (about 40 kilometers east of Sanaa) are a great way to understand depict Islamic culture through architecture.
REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Ali AlAl Khazneh or The Treasury is a structure carved out of a sandstone rock in the ancient city and the “world wonder” Petra in Jordan. A stone urn on the second level of this building is believed to be filled with jewels looted by bandits and pirates. The urn is also believed to be the treasury of the Egyptian Pharaoh. A lot of bullet marks can be seen on the stone urn, which hasn’t broken and still upholds the mystery of a hidden treasure intact.REUTERS/Muhammad HamedAbout 60 kilometers east of Tripoli, lies the Roman city of Sabratha. The ruins of the ancient city of Leptis Magna in Al Khums is located around 130 kilometers east of the Libyan capital. Both the archaeological sites contain some of the finest remains of Roman architecture in the world.In Picture: The ruins of the ancient city of Leptis Magna.
REUTERS/Louafi LarbiThe archaeological site of Carthage was a trading town of Roman Empire alongside the Mediterranean in Tunisia. The ruins harbor Roman architectures mainly amphitheatre and Antonine Baths, which were once the largest baths built by the Romans.
stock.xchngBahrain, located near the Persian Gulf has monuments, museums, forts as well as modern day architectural delights depicting Arab culture. With rich, ancient and authentic Arab heritage of over five thousand years of civilization, Bahrain is one of the most visited countries of the Arab world. Famous sites include the Bahrain Fort (Qalat Al Bahrain), a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Bahrain National Museum and more.In Picture: City view of Bahrain's capital Manama REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
