The oldest surviving mosque in the UAE has mysterious origins and unusual architecture.

An abandoned desert hamlet swallowed up by sand.

On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.

The world's largest frame offers spectacular views of the city's past and present.

This futuristic building is yet another architectural wonder in Dubai.

One of the world’s largest suspended aquariums, located in Dubai Mall.

A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."

This indoor ski resort has a mountain contained inside a mall.

Billed as the "largest natural flower garden in the world" this Middle Eastern show field has little competition at 45 million flowers.

A unique configuration of blown glass can be found inside this hotel lobby.

A faithful reproduction of Al-Jazari's enormous water clock.

In an Emirati park near the Omani border, a reconstructed Bronze Age tomb with impressive reliefs.

A 3,000 acre historic oasis and farm in the middle of the UAE's "Green City".

The cluster of igloo-like domes forms the remains of an ancient burial ground.

The world’s largest LED display, built over an F1 race circuit.

Planned as the world’s first zero-carbon city, it had lofty ideals—but is only 5 percent completed and aiming for 50 percent carbon-neutral.

Whitewashed mosque contains the world's largest carpet.

No building in the world leans as far as the so-called “Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi.”

This seemingly random 30-foot statue of an oryx in Qatar's capital was a mascot for the 2006 Asian Games.

Fourteen sculptures showing the development of a fetus stand outside a hospital for women and children.

A superb spot to appreciate the traditional boats of the Indian Ocean.

This fountain pays homage to Qatar's history of pearling, the primary industry before oil.

The enormous diamond-shaped building packs a trove of academic and literary treasures into one futuristic space.

This 23-foot-tall bear stands amid the hustle and bustle of Hamad International Airport.