Keys to the Kingdom: Saudi Arabia Rolls Out the Welcome Mat for Adventurous Travelers
With a host of intriguing — and relatively unexplored — highlights in its armory, Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz among travelers seeking something new.
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM:
SAUDI ARABIA ROLLS OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR ADVENTUROUS TRAVELERS
With a host of intriguing — and relatively unexplored — highlights in its armory, Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz among travelers seeking something new. The birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, the vast nation spanning the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula is rich in attractions and stirring symbolism. And Saudi Arabia’s leaders believe that these highlights are ripe for a wider audience. The government is targeting that tourism revenues will account for 10% of the nation’s GDP by 2030. Despite only opening for tourism in 2019, this confidence seems justified with the country's fascinating cities and grand landscapes offering fresh experiences for adventurous global travelers.
Remote Lands is now accepting bookings for Saudi Arabia.
RIYADH & BEYOND
"The Edge of the World"
One of the wealthiest cities in the world, Riyadh is a showcase for modern Saudi Arabia. Once a walled, mud-brick way station along desert trading routes, the capital is now a hyper-contemporary metropolis with the best hotels and restaurants in the country. Its organized grid layout is lined with more than 4,000 mosques, numerous busy shopping centers and traditional souks, public recreational spaces, and compartmentalized communities and neighborhoods. Visitor highlights here include Masmak Fort, Souq al Zel, the Kingdom Center tower, and cultural centers such as the King Abd al-Aziz Historical Center, the National Museum, and the National Library. Minutes outside Riyadh is Ad Diriyah, the birthplace of the first Saudi state called At-Turaif which ruled between 1744 and 1818. The UNESCO World Heritage site has been restored to its former glory and is poised to become a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s tourism offerings. Arguably the standout attraction, however, is the breathtaking "Edge of the World" rock formation, just a short drive from the capital.
ROSE IN THE DESERT
The view from a helicopter over Al Ula
Al Ula, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits deep in the desert in the northwestern region of the country. It is an area rich in historical and geographical significance, an ancient city that once sat at the crossroads of the Silk Road and the Incense Route. The draw to this remote destination is its remarkable natural rock formations and canyons, extensive and varied pre-Arabic rock art, and immaculately preserved tombs built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans. In 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Al Ula vision, which features a nature reserve called Sharaan, as well as the establishment of the Global Fund for the protection and revitalization of the Arabian Leopard.
RISING ON THE RED SEA
Jeddah's old town, Al-Balad
Jeddah is a commercial hub sitting to the west along the Red Sea with the second busiest seaport in the Middle East. It’s the principal gateway to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, and sees over a million pilgrims a year on their way to perform the Hajj. Despite this, Jeddah is perceived to be the most liberal city in Saudi Arabia and is a popular tourist destination, offering the beauty of ancient architecture mixed with the latest luxuries. At its center is Al Balad, a historical Old Town with traditional multistory buildings and merchant houses that gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. Jeddah’s proximity to the Red Sea puts local seafood at the forefront, unlike elsewhere in the country. The Red Sea also offers opportunities for diving, snorkeling, and maritime activities around the colorful corals just off the shore.
SAUDI OFF THE RADAR
The summit of Al Qarrah
Other highlights of Saudi Arabia include the pristine Farasan Islands dotted in the Red Sea near the town of Jazan and the mountainous south where summer rainstorms bring greenery to dramatic mountain viewpoints and local men wear fragrant crowns of flowers in their hair. Popular activities include hiking and touring the historic village of Rijal Alma. Among the sites worth visiting in northwestern Saudi Arabia is Wadi Tayib Ism, a narrow valley between two cliffs where residents believe Moses landed when he crossed over the sea from Egypt. The area also boasts excellent Red Sea diving. Al Ahsa oasis is an excellent place to explore the Kingdom's culture, which varies from region to region. The area's urban center is called Hofuf. Use it as a base to explore sites like the Al Qarrah caves, which stay cool in the summer, and the Qasariah souq.
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