Top Gear - Middle East Special Full Episode [2026 Edition]

As they move south into Syria, the tone shifts. The cars begin to fall apart—especially Hammond’s Fiat, which suffers from electrical issues and the desire to set itself on fire. This segment is famous for James May’s breakdown. In a fit of frustration, May physically assaults his BMW with a rock, destroying the windscreen in the process.

It is a perfect piece of television: May, usually the calm voice of reason, losing his mind in the heat, only for Clarkson to point out that he has now made his car "open top" (and technically illegal for the next checkpoint). top gear - middle east special full episode

By 2010, the "Clarkson, Hammond, and May" dynamic was fully matured. We saw character arcs that had been building for years: As they move south into Syria, the tone shifts

They were no longer just presenters; they were a dysfunctional family unit. The bickering felt real, but so did the camaraderie. When they worked together to navigate a border crossing or push a car out of sand, it was a reminder that for all their insults, they actually liked each other. They were no longer just presenters; they were

When fans debate the greatest episodes in the 22-year history of Top Gear, three specials always rise to the top: the Bolivia Special, the Botswana Special, and what many call the perfect balance of chaos, beauty, and danger—the Middle East Special.

Officially titled Top Gear: Middle East Special (Series 16, Episode 0), this 75-minute epic follows Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they attempt to retrace the path of the Three Wise Men. Armed with three cheap, crumbling convertibles and a £3,500 budget, the trio set off from the holy city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, aiming to reach the birthplace of Jesus: Bethlehem in the West Bank.

If you are searching for the Top Gear – Middle East Special full episode, you have come to the right place. Below, we break down why this episode is a masterpiece, where to find it legally, the iconic cars involved, and the unforgettable moments that make it essential viewing.