Disney’s timeless classic Aladdin literally created a whole new world that hadn’t been seen before in children’s movies. Introducing majestic palaces, markets, magical deserts, and new cultures in the storyline. 

While Agrabah itself may be fictional, its essence is drawn from real-life locations across the Middle East. From Morocco’s souks to Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert tombs, this roundup takes you on a journey to the heart of Aladdin’s magical inspirations.

Street rat adventures in Fez

Fez’s old city (Fes el-Bali) is among the world’s largest living medieval cities, where vibrant markets and alleyway networks transport visitors to an era reminiscent of Aladdin’s street-rat adventures. The bustling souks, and open-air merchants sell spices, carpets, and maybe even a brass lamp or two, just like the bazaar of Agrabah. 

The palaces of Marrakech

The Medina of Marrakech is a UNESCO site and also gives an ‘Arabian nights’ feeling to travellers who want to experience the bazaars of Agrabah. In the central Jemaa el-Fnaa square, storytellers, snake charmers, and food stalls often come together for nightly carnivals. But, the most obvious is the Bahia Palace courtyards and Ben Youssef Madrasa’s ornate tilework. This Arabesque architecture and courtyards feel like something out of the Sultan’s palace in Aladdin. 

The Cave of Wonders in Petra

Hidden behind a narrow canyon, Petra emerges like a real-life Cave of Wonders. Its famed Treasury (Al-Khazneh), carved from pink sandstone is stunning by day and by night as candlelight flickers along the canyon path. Once a thriving caravan city on the incense trade route, Petra’s grand temples and tombs are a New7Wonders of the world site and easily capture the mystique of Agrabah’s caves. 

Live action in the desert of Wadi Rum 

This protected desert valley served as a backdrop for Aladdin’s live-action desert scenes and the Cave of Wonders in 2019. Wadi Rum’s landscape of red dunes, cliffs, and natural rock arches feels otherworldly and embodies the magic of Aladdin. 

In the vast “Valley of the Moon” travellers are invited to camp under the stars in a setting of adventure and romance, much like Aladdin’s journeys across the sands. 

The silhouette from Jasmine’s palace in Cairo

Cairo’s Khan el-Khalili is a centuries-old bazaar where you can find pyramids of spices, rich textiles, and even stalls for tourists selling “ancient Aladdin lamps” as souvenirs. The market has hardly changed since the 14th century. Just beyond the bazaar, the silhouettes of medieval minarets and domes create a skyline that brings to mind Jasmine’s palace city at dusk.

Royal pageantry in Luxor and Aswan

Rooted in history from the pharaohs, the towns along the Nile with hookah cafes, ancient trade routes, and lit colonnades of the Karnak Temple form a procession that wouldn’t be out of place in Agrabah’s royal pageantry. 

The deserts of the Gulf in the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali)

For a true “Arabian nights” desert, venture to the Rub’ al Khali, the world’s largest sand desert, spanning the UAE, Oman, and Saudi. In the Liwa region of Abu Dhabi, you can stand atop 300ft golden dunes with nothing but wind and sand in sight. With these dunes it’s easy to picture Aladdin and Jasmine’s carpet swooping over these waves singing a ‘whole new world’. 

The Sultan’s palace in Oman

The Sultan’s Al Alam Palace, with its blue-and-gold columns, and the city’s grand mosques with their domes give Muscat a regal character reminiscent of Agrabah’s skyline. By the harbour, Portuguese forts watch over traditional dhows on the water in the bay. 

Ultimately, travellers enchanted by Disney’s classic, Aladdin, can step directly into its magical world by exploring these destinations across the Middle East.