When we hear the Middle East, the first thing that comes to mind is a dry landscape and scorching temperatures. But some of these extremely hot regions experience the magic of snowfall. The Middle East is a vast and diverse region stretching from Morocco to Iran, Turkey to Yemen. It is home to more than 400 million people who speak different languages, practice different religions and live in different climates. The region is known for its arid landscape and scorching temperatures, but due to its unique geological conditions, heavy snow falls in some places. Here are some of the best destinations to experience snow in the Middle East.

∙ Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world. It is located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains at an altitude of about 800 meters. Jerusalem has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers as well as cold and rainy winters. Although snow is rare here, it is not unheard of in Jerusalem. Due to the unique climate of the country, snowfall occurs at least once or twice in every decade.

∙Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, near the Jordanian border, is the largest country in the Middle East. Most of it is covered by the Arabian desert. The city of Tabuk is located in the northwestern part of the country, close to the Jordanian border, at an altitude of about 770 meters. This city experiences mostly semi-arid climate. Tabuk receives snowfall, usually in January or February, when cold air masses from Europe or Siberia reach the region. Sometimes it looks like a desert of snow. At that time it might be doubted whether this area is part of the scorched desert.

∙Amman, Jordan

Amman, Jordan’s capital and largest city, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is situated in a series of hills and valleys at an average altitude of 900 meters. The country has a semi-arid climate with hot and dry summers and mild and wet winters. Although snowfall is an unusual sight in Amman, it is not a new thing for the locals as it happens occasionally. It usually occurs once every few years when a low pressure system from the Mediterranean Sea brings cool and moist air to the region. Depending on the altitude and temperature, light snowfall to heavy snowfall occurs here during this time.

∙ Ifran, Morocco

Morocco is the westernmost country in the Middle East. It is the only country with a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The region has a diverse geography with the Sahara Desert in the south, the Atlas Mountains in the center and the Rif Mountains in the north. Ifran is a small town in the Middle Atlas at an altitude of about 1,650 meters. It has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, sunny summers. Ifran is one of the snowiest places in the Middle East and Africa. An average of 1.5 meters of snow is received annually, sometimes more than 2 meters. It is a popular destination for skiing and winter sports.