The most important general information related to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula and the second largest tourist destination in the entire Middle East. It is one of the most historically and culturally diverse Arab countries in the world, and has been a center of civilizations since ancient times.
Its population is about 35.01 million people according to statistics conducted in 2020.
The mother tongue is Arabic, and you may notice differences in some dialects depending on the different cities in the Kingdom.
The main currency of the Kingdom is the Saudi Riyal.
The capital is Riyadh.
With the passage of years and the many developments that have occurred and affected all aspects of life around us, the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has had a large share of this progress and prosperity, such that tourism has become one of the most important resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's constant interest in cities and tourist attractions and its continuous efforts to expand and develop them have contributed to making Saudi Arabia one of the most famous tourist destinations in the whole world.
It has managed to attract millions of tourists annually who come from all over the world to enjoy the unique harmony between natural luxury, ancient heritage landmarks, and diverse markets that are vibrant with all kinds of life.
Tourism in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia receives millions of visitors from all over the world to learn about historical landmarks that extend back many centuries. The Kingdom also includes many entertainment and cultural places that will guarantee its visitors to enjoy an unforgettable vacation.
Tourism in Saudi Arabia is divided into three main sections
Religious tourism
Every year, millions of Muslim visitors flock to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from all over the world to visit the religious sanctities in the Kingdom and perform the Umrah or Hajj rituals.
Among the most important Islamic historical places are the Grand Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, and others.
Domestic tourism in the Kingdom
Domestic tourism refers to the movement that occurs only within the cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the purpose of an enjoyable family trip or an exciting vacation with friends, for example, to spend enjoyable times and enjoy the picturesque scenery, as the climate varies from one city to another within Saudi Arabia.
Many residents also go on trips to visit historical and cultural landmarks, either to learn more about these landmarks or to enjoy watching the genius of ancient engineering.
Foreign tourism in the Kingdom
It refers to delegations of visitors coming from outside the Kingdom to Saudi Arabia to visit their relatives residing within the borders of the Kingdom.
Or for the purpose of taking a tour to learn about the ancient civilization and see the ancient historical landmarks and monuments.
With the presence of fun entertainment activities, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become a distinctive destination for tourists to spend an unforgettable family vacation.
Tourist cities in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is blessed with many attractive tourist places and charming natural landmarks that inspire a love of exploration and adventure, in addition to interactive festivals and entertainment activities. All these features and many more provide one with an unforgettable tourist trip.
Each city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has its own unique and distinctive story that reflects an ancient history and a renewed civilization. Therefore, we have collected for you in this article the most important tourist cities in Saudi Arabia to be your guide to creating a different trip, an enjoyable vacation, and exciting days that you carry in the pages of your memory.
Mecca
The city of Mecca has a historical religious value for all Muslims. It is one of the holiest places in Islam, as it contains the Grand Mosque, which includes the Kaaba, which is the holiest place on earth. Mecca is also the birthplace of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace.
Thousands of visitors come to Makkah to experience a unique spiritual and cultural journey that helps them learn about the culture and antiquity of Makkah, as it includes a large number of historical and cultural landmarks such as Mount Arafat, Mount Al-Nour, Mount Thawr, and the Makkah Museum, which displays the ancient Saudi heritage with real models that enable visitors to learn about the cultural identity of Makkah.
Visitors have a unique opportunity to experience shopping in its unique and ancient popular markets, and to experience its advanced shopping centers.
AL Madinah AL Munawwarah
It is one of the most important historical religious cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is ideal for tourists who want to experience a historical and spiritual journey, as it includes many religious, cultural and historical landmarks, such as the Prophet’s Mosque, which is one of the most prominent religious landmarks and attracts millions of visitors annually.
One of the most important tourist symbols in Medina
Mount Uhud, the Medina Museum, and Al-Baqi’, where most of the Prophet’s companions, may God bless him and grant him peace, are buried.
The city is also famous for its diverse markets, ranging from old markets to modern shopping malls, which together provide a wonderful shopping experience that will appeal to different tastes and ages.
As for food, Medina is famous for its group of restaurants that offer its visitors many distinctive types and dishes, both local and international.
Riyadh
The capital, Riyadh, is considered one of the most beautiful and largest cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a vibrant and active city in both business and tourism.
Riyadh's landmarks blend natural landscapes with modern architectural buildings and skyscrapers, leaving a distinct impression that invites you to venture into its surroundings and allow yourself to explore its tourist attractions and attend cultural events and festivals.
Visitors can have a unique exploratory journey by visiting the archaeological sites in Riyadh, such as the Saudi National Museum and Masmak Palace. Perhaps the most famous ancient historical monuments are located in the Diriyah Governorate in the city of Riyadh.
Riyadh is also the cultural center of the country, where many festivals are held, such as the Janadriyah Festival, which offers many cultural and social events with the aim of introducing visitors to the heritage and culture of the ancient Saudi people, traditional craft activities, and many other symbols of the ancient Saudi people.
grandmother
The Bride of the Red Sea and the second largest city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia.
It features a unique blend of rich culture and ancient heritage with modernity.
Modern urban. It is a destination for millions of visitors annually because it is
It includes a number of cultural landmarks and museums that tell the city's ancient history, such as Al-Bay'ah Mosque and Jeddah Gate.
Jeddah is home to many tourist attractions such as hotels and resorts, and is famous for its summer festivals that offer a variety of entertainment activities, making it the perfect choice for an exciting family trip.
Abha
If Jeddah is the bride of the sea as some call it, then Abha is the bride of the mountain as it is located at the highest point in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most beautiful Saudi cities ever, with many picturesque green landscapes. Many tourist resorts and wonderful parks have been established, such as Al-Soudah Park, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Tourist Park, Al-Habla Park, and Abu Khayal Park. As for the resorts, we advise you to visit the new Abha Tourist Resort.
Abha's climate is moderate, which makes it a destination for visitors who want to have an unforgettable vacation in the lap of nature, such as the mountainous terrain on the one hand, and historical landmarks such as the Asir Regional Museum, Al-Daql Castle, and Shamsan Castle on the other hand.
Taif city
Taif is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Some call it the city of roses and it is considered one of the most famous summer resorts in the Kingdom due to its moderate climate as it is located in the Hada Mountains, thus giving visitors the opportunity to spend a vacation among the picturesque natural areas and natural parks such as Jabal Daqqa.
Taif has a great social status because it was home to many poets and scholars in the pre-Islamic and modern eras.
Taif has historical importance as it includes a number of cultural landmarks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as museums, historical monuments, and exhibitions.
Taif has great touristic importance as it contains tourist attractions, the most important of which are Okaz Market, Al Hada Mountain, King Abdulaziz Park, and Taif National Park.
The city also organizes many recreational and cultural activities that will increase the enjoyment of your trip, such as camel races, the Taif Summer Festival, horse races, and others.
Jubail
Jubail is considered the largest industrial city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and with the developments of technology, the city has quickly turned into a tourist center with a distinctive character.
Visitors to Jubail have a long list and many options for fun adventures and entertaining times.
First, they can visit many interesting places, such as: Palm Beach, Jubail Corniche, Jubail Industrial City, and others.
Then they can enjoy marine activities and participate in fun water sports.
Al-Ahsa city
Al-Ahsa is one of the attractive tourist areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahsa includes many national historical landmarks that highlight the antiquity of the Saudi past, such as the Bay’ah House, the historic Jawali Mosque, and Ibrahim Palace.
Al-Ahsa is characterized by being primarily an agricultural land due to the fertility of its soil and the freshness of its water. It also contains the Al-Ahsa Oasis, the largest oasis in the world, which has been included in the Guinness Book of Records and has played a major role in showing the natural value of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia along with the heritage value.
It should be noted that Al-Ahsa city was chosen as the Arab Tourism Capital in 2019.
Tabuk
Tabuk is one of the most popular tourist cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, thanks to its picturesque nature and because it contains amazing tourist attractions that take your breath away with their magnificence. You can see the huge castles that tell in their details the story of an ancient heritage.
Tabuk city also includes many archaeological landmarks that tell the visitor a story of luxury that arose since ancient times.
What makes Saudi Arabia a unique tourist destination?
Working to establish cultural festivals and exhibitions and the cultural and social activities they offer that suit everyone’s tastes and reflect the richness of its history and the sophistication of its people. Festivals are not just entertainment activities, but rather they enhance national identity, support the economy, and provide platforms for social and artistic interaction.
The presence of many important religious sanctities, such as the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, on the lands of the Kingdom.
The presence of ancient monuments and historical and heritage landmarks, as it was a center of civilization for centuries past.
It contains many tourist places with picturesque views, such as Abha, Taif, and other tourist cities in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allows many nationalities to obtain an entry visa to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At the end of our article, we see that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been able, with great skill and precision, to combine ancient authenticity and modernity with the most beautiful colors and paintings that tell the whole world that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a shining destination that deserves pride and honor.