The Kingdom abounds with natural elements along its vast area that varies between coasts extending on the Red Sea in the west and the Arabian Gulf in the east. It includes hundreds of islands, green mountains in the southwestern regions, agricultural oases in Al-Ahsa and forests in Asir and Al-Baha.
The regions of the Kingdom are characterized by a cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, which extends in sites recorded in the UNESCO World Heritage, the most prominent of which are the historical Diriyah, the Hail Heritage Meal, the historical Jeddah, and the Al-Ahsa Oasis.
The Saudi Tourism Authority launched the Saudi Summer Season, “Breathe,” from June 25 to September 30, 2020. Through it, visitors can enjoy discovering the charming nature, climatic diversity, historical depth, and authentic Saudi culture in 10 tourist destinations.
The Kingdom is working today, through the Ministry of Tourism and the Saudi Tourism Authority, to shape the national tourism vision in line with the goals of its ambitious vision 2030, as the coming years will witness a major shift in the tourism industry, enhanced by the availability of quality infrastructure covering all regions, and natural diversity and historical treasures will have a presence in shaping The national tourism board, and the competition regionally and internationally.
The capital of the Kingdom, Riyadh, combines heritage with contemporary modern life, and embraces the historical roots of the Kingdom, and evidence of its renaissance.
Al-Diriyah is the beating heart of Riyadh for culture and heritage, as it consists of several areas, including: Al-Bujairi and Al-Turaif, and its ruins became a UNESCO heritage site in the year 2010, and this region is a beautiful witness to the architecture.
Evidence of the birth of the nation is spread in Riyadh and its environs, where Al-Masmak Castle stands tall among those sites, and it is a 150-year-old mud-built castle.
The trip will not be complete without visiting the old markets of Riyadh, and enjoying their products, such as the historic Al-Zal market in Riyadh, in which various products of traditional handicrafts are displayed from woven carpets, spices, incense, traditional clothes and antiques.
The edge of the “End of the World” is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Riyadh, as it is separated from its visitors by a winding road along a stretch of hills leading to the Tuwaiq Heights. To bring down the curtain on captivating landscapes of its barren valleys, and its breathtaking horizon on a towering tower called “the end of the world.” It is located 90 kilometers from the city of Riyadh, and it is part of the vast Tuwaiq slopes that extend for more than 600 kilometers in the center of the Kingdom, and it used to overlook an old trade route. It is used to cross the Arabian Peninsula from Yemen to the Levant.
When visiting the Kingdom, it is necessary to stop in Jeddah, as there is no place comparable to it in its charm, the pace of life in it, its markets, and the old town, not to mention its coasts, as it is the gateway to Makkah Al-Mukarramah with its ancient Islamic history.
Jeddah has acquired a historical dimension. When you visit the “Al-Balad” area, which was built in the seventh century AD, you will enjoy one of the unforgettable experiences.
The Jeddah Corniche is the most famous area, as it is a park of more than 30 kilometers that embraces the waters of the Red Sea, and there are many restaurants, entertainment places, and parks for rest and relaxation.
The art scene has flourished in Jeddah, and today the city's galleries cater to all tastes of modern art, the most prominent of which is the Jeddah Sculpture Museum, which is located on the Corniche, and includes an amazing collection of pieces dedicated to the Bride of the Red Sea, including works by Henry Moore, Jean Arp and Alexander Calder And Joan Miro, in addition to the global city of good deeds for science and knowledge, which is one of the important places to visit. The museum includes a wide range of antiquities dating back to Islamic history and the pre-Islamic era.
And Taif reaped the lion's share of the volume of domestic tourism in the Kingdom, which crowned it with the title of the City of Roses and the bride of Saudi summer resorts, due to its mild climate in the summer season.
Taif is famous for distinguished tourist places such as museums, gardens, popular markets, fruit farms, roses and aromatic flowers, in addition to cultural tourist places such as Okaz Market, which bears the name of one of the most important ancient markets, and it serves as a forum for intellectuals, poets and various arts.
The Bride of Resorts is characterized by a number of famous sites, such as the Shubra Palace, which houses the Taif Regional Museum, and the “Al-Hada Cable Car”, which runs down and up from the highest mountains at the summit of Al-Hada, down to the village and recreational resort of Al-Kur.
In the eastern region of the Kingdom, the visitor enjoys a historical, economic and cultural heritage. Dammam is the main city in the region, the home of cultural monuments and the center of the oil and gas industry in the Kingdom. The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, "Ithra", is a diverse cultural destination that includes arts, science, literature and innovation. Spend a day at the center and enjoy its library, as well as a theatre, cinema, museums, galleries, an idea lab and multiple workshop spaces.
Tourists can spend some time in the popular village in Dammam for an integrated interactive experience, through which they learn about life in the Kingdom.
The city of Al-Ahsa, located in the east of the Kingdom, is famous for its picturesque green lands, which are included in the UNESCO list and home to one of the largest oases in the world. It also includes historical sites dating back to the Stone Age.
The limestone hilltops of the continent offer stunning views of the surrounding areas from 200 meters above sea level, and explore the maze of caves and passages carved into the rock.
Al-Ahsa includes the Jawatha Mosque, which was built in the seventh year AH, and the Ibrahim Palace, which was built during the era of the first Saudi state, and inside it is the Dome Mosque, while various artifacts and pictures are displayed in the Palace Museum.
The Asir region is located in the south of the Kingdom between the mountains, and during his tour, the visitor explores the beauty and secrets of the city of Abha, which is the capital of the region, where he will enjoy the local historical sites, in addition to visiting the highest mountain peak in the Arabian Peninsula in the Al-Soudah Park, with a height of more than three thousand meters, which is a park It has unique environmental characteristics, and the highest rainfall in the Asir region falls on its green carpet, while it is covered with a dense forest of juniper trees.
The park was also equipped with cable cars to take its visitors to Al-Aws Park in Rijal Almaa, where the museum, heritage library and ancient palaces are located.
The Al-Baha region is an open historical museum on top of a mountain of white rocks, dating back more than 400 years. It includes the Raghadan Forest Park, which is a rugged natural area qualified to become one of the most important tourist attractions in the region, connected to the village of Dhi Ain through winding roads and valleys.
One of its famous landmarks is the village of Shada, which is located halfway to the top of Jabal Ibrahim, and is characterized by stunning landscapes between the high heights, green slopes and valleys of the Sarawat Mountains.
The sea coasts in the regions of Tabuk and Jazan, and the coasts of Yanbu, Rabigh and Jubail, compete in highlighting a distinctive image of tourism in the Kingdom.
“Breathe the spirit of Saudi Arabia” is the most beautiful title for spending the most enjoyable times, and getting to know the ancient civilizations, rich heritage, and diverse culture that narrates the history of the Arabian Peninsula.
SPA (Riyadh)