Top 5 Travel Destinations in Saudi Arabia

In Middle Eastern Asia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country. Internationally, it is the second-largest Arab country and gets situated in the desert. It holds a beauty that comes from golden dunes and dazzling sunlight. Some of the modern cities here look exceptional and have an extremely developed infrastructure. Tourism in Saudi Arabia is also quite developed. The holiest site of the Islamic world, Mecca is located here along with Medina, another popular site for tourism. Non-Islamic visitors are not allowed in Medina and Mecca. But there are other glorious, fascinating, and important spots in this country that one can visit. If one is planning to visit Saudi Arabia, there are some spots they should not miss. Hence, we made a list of the top 5 travel destinations in Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Arabia for foreign tourists

International tourists who possess a new visa regime for forty-nine countries get welcomed to visit Saudi Arabia for the first time since they have opened their doors to visitors worldwide. Even recently, visas to Saudi Arabia were granted only to pilgrims visiting either or both of the two holy cities Medina and Mecca, people visiting on business, and expatriate workers. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s kingdom has pledged to minimize its strict dress codes for female visitors and permit women to visit the country unaccompanied. The new rules comprise the economic reform push of this kingdom. The purpose here is to minimize the kingdom’s dependence on oil.

This method is also an attempt amid criticism of the records of human rights to rebrand itself. The records include the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist, and last year, along with crackdowns on the activists for women’s rights.

There are also some caveats here. The holy cities of Medina and Mecca welcome only those tourists who are Muslim by religion. However, non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to enter these cities. Apart from the religious discrimination, you will notice the same between genders. So, we made a list of places tourists can expect to see in Saudi Arabia.

1. The volcanic crater of Al Wahbah

Al Wahbah is situated some two hundred and fifty kilometers (a hundred and fifty-five miles) away from the city of Taif. This huge volcanic crater is situated in the middle of the desert and has in its center a salt field. In recent years, Al Wahbah has become popular among hikers, although it is a challenge. The crater has a depth of eight hundred and twenty feet. Therefore, even if the hiker is competent, it would take them around two to three hours to reach the crater’s bottom and get back up again. For tourists looking for an experience a bit less active, Al Wahbah is also a famous camping spot.

2. Madain Saleh, the ancient city

Madain Saleh is the second-largest city of the Nabateans. Haven’t heard of them? They are a group of people who settled across the Jordan Valley and ancient Arabia until the Romans annexed their empire in 106 CE. However, it is all in ruins now. But one will find a hundred and thirty tombs with a vast cemetery, among the ruins. You will see structures made from earth. There used to be the living quarters of the city in these structures. The ruins hold some adobe houses and small, pre-Islamic altars. In 2008, a Unesco World Heritage Site got designed in the ancient city of Madain Saleh. It was the first site in Saudi Arabia that got accolades.

3. The gate to Mecca and Historic Jeddah

Located in Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Mecca is another World Heritage Site of Unesco. Jeddah got established as the entrance point for Muslim pilgrims who are on their way to Mecca’s holy city and arrived by sea and a major port for trade routes of the Indian Ocean. Jeddah got established in the seventh century CE.

4. Masmak Fortress in Riyadh

First built in the Saudi capital Riyadh around 1865 was Masmak Fortress. However, it is most popular for what happened thirty-seven years since then. Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud, the exiled royal, returned to Riyadh, his ancestral hometown, and seized the fortress of Masmak in 1902. He was based in Masmak and went on to conquer other kingdoms of this region before uniting them eventually to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

5. The fountain of King Fahd’s

King Fahd’s Fountain is located in Jeddah and is known as the tallest fountain in the world. The late King Fahd donated the mountain to the city of Jeddah. According to conservative estimates, King Fahd’s Fountain can shoot saltwater up to eight hundred and fifty-three feet (two hundred and sixty meters) high. On the other hand, some estimates put this closer to a thousand feet. When it is night, the fountain gets lit up by more than five hundred spotlights.

These are the top five destinations in Saudi Arabia that a tourist must visit. There are other noteworthy travel destinations, such as Umluj, which is known as the Maldives of Saudi Arabia. It is referred to as the Saudi Maldives due to the sandy beaches of Umluj. The beaches get located on the Red Sea coast of the country. Apart from the mango farms nearby, one can see inactive volcanoes and mountains from the beach. One cannot miss the settlement of Najran, close to the border of Yemen if one is interested in visiting old settlements with intriguing things. Najran is an old settlement in Saudi Arabia, with its different architecture and culture. Tourists can visit the old houses, places, and big residential sites to see their unique architectural patterns.

Besides, the local market is a source of attraction to the visitors. In fact, starting from these local markets to dazzling malls and atmospheric souks, the list of popular shopping centers in the UAE is never-ending. Add to it the advantages of online shopping in Saudi Arabia and you will have the perfect shopping paradise here. Unesco states that there used to be a lake near Shuwaymis and Jubbah’s rock formations, due to which it has developed into a significant gathering spot for both animals and human beings. The Neolithic art of Shuwaymis and Jubbah has affected the Neolithic ancestors in the form of drawings on these rocks’ faces.