One of the best things about this job is that once in a while you are invited to visit some incredible places around the world. But in terms of ‘dream destinations’ last week probably took the biscuit.

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) invited me over for a few days to experience first hand exactly why the destination is becoming so popular with the Middle East market. Over the last two years the numbers visiting from this region have surged from practically nothing to over 3,000 in just the first half of this year, and the STB predicts that they will double over the next two years - especially given the increasing flight links from the region (Emirates now flights once daily, Qatar has four flights a week and Etihad is apparently soon to announce a new route).

Made up of 115 tiny islands scattered in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles completely and utterly lives up to the picture book paradise you’ve always dreamed about – with powdery white deserted beaches, turquoise blue waters, and such a strong focus on protecting the natural environment that it must be one of cleanest, most eco-friendly places I have ever visited.

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For us in the Gulf, the Seychelles makes an ideal getaway. It’s a mere four and-a-half hour hop, there’s no time difference so you don’t even have to re-set your watch, and the beautiful year-round climate (no cyclones or even a monsoon season) means you can experience this stunning destination at any time of the year – I would certainly pitch this as the perfect Eid break for frazzled clients looking for somewhere to switch off and get away from it all.

While the dreamlike setting has made it a top choice for honeymooners, celebrities also tend to flock there as the tiny outlying islands offer up some much-needed privacy and exclusivity (David Beckham and his wife Victoria recently hired out the entire North Island for their 10th wedding anniversary).

And it seems the island paradise has caught the eye of a rather well-known Gulf resident too. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, president of the UAE himself has chosen the mainland of Mahe to build his holiday-home. Perched on the highest mountain in Mahe, the vast eight-storey palace, which is currently under construction, will offer the Sheikh breathtaking 360 degree views of the surrounding islands and the sparkling sea below. With the royal stamp of approval, it looks like the Seychelles is set to be a favoured holiday spot for the Gulf in years to come.