I was sailing down the Nile…

…on a cruise from Luxor to Aswan this month when I was genuinely stopped in my tracks by the beauty: lush riverside banks with clusters of palms, but just a few hundred metres behind, golden dunes and mountains. In Aswan, our terminus, I was stopped again – this time by my view from our balcony at the iconic Old Cataract hotel. It was like a painting: a vista of ancient temple ruins, the famous waterway with feluccas gliding past and the same soaring dunes topped by spectral mausoleums. This view sums up the Middle East, a destination I’m so proud to call home. It manages to wonderfully encompass deserts, oceans, beaches, rivers, mountains, thriving and futuristic cities and some of the world’s best hotels – all while looking to the future, but not forgetting the past. In Near+Far, we hope to bring this magic to the world, but also inspire residents to get out and explore beyond our borders. 

I’m delighted to introduce the debut issue of Near+Far, the region’s newest independent travel magazine, bringing the world to the Middle East, and the Middle East to the world. Through photography, personal stories, tips and more, we spotlight what’s actually good and worth doing, not just new and exciting – both near, and far. We spend our days with our heads in tiny screens, so Near+Far’s print is the antithesis: large and all-consuming, tangible and a temporary distractor from the digital world. In our debut issue, we see some of the most beautiful images of the Middle East and Northern Africa, captured by world-leading photographers, but also explore more complex corners (we meet the man trying to change perceptions of travel to Afghanistan).

We look at the hotels embodying the meaning of hospitality, from a wellness-focused high rise to a historic property amid a shake-up – and the people making it all happen. The demand for private rentals is also soaring, and we bring you (possibly) the world’s chicest private rental service, which offers up the eclectic homes of collectors, photographers, magazine editors and more. Sadly, our region is also facing troubles that we cannot ignore. We also meet the Palestinian creators at home and in the diaspora who are preserving their heritage and rejecting oppression through the arts. Welcome to the world of Near+Far; we hope you enjoy it.

Founder+Editor: Isabella Sullivan

Art Director: Leanne Botha

On the cover

Al Moudira Hotel in Luxor, Egypt, an antiquey pink palace founded by Lebanese hotelier, Zeina Abou Kheir. Shot by Mark Anthony Fox

Moroccan championship surfer Maryam El Gardoum surfing the waves in Taghazout. Shot exclusively for Assouline’s Morocco Kingdom of Light by Oliver Pilcher

Back cover: also shot at the Al Moudira Hotel in Luxor by Mark Anthony Fox

Shop the digital and print issue of Near+Far magazine online now

Sign up for the latest travel news, reviews, inspiration and so much more from the Middle East and beyond straight to your inbox.