As Saudi Arabia celebrates its 91st National Day, under the theme "A Home for Us", the kingdom is also gearing up for the return of international visitors now that travel restrictions have started to ease.
Tourists have been able to travel to Saudi Arabia since August, when the kingdom opened up to vaccinated visitors from 17 countries. This month, travel between the UAE and Saudi Arabia also resumed after a 17-month closure, with immunised tourists now able to visit.
Spanning some 2.15 million square kilometres, the country has a wide variety of things to see, places to visit and landscapes to wander. Should its national day celebrations pique your interest, here are some of Saudi Arabia's must-try experiences to add to your bucket list if a trip to the kingdom is on your radar.
1. Hike to the Edge of the World
Located about a 90-minute drive from Riyadh, Jebel Fihrayn or The Edge of the World, is one of the best spots in the entire kingdom for scenic views that will leave a lasting impression.
Forming part of the vast Tuwaiq cliffs, which stretch more than 600 kilometres through central Saudi Arabia, this destination guarantees you a picture-perfect moment and a feeling of insignificance as you stand next to the unending landscape.
Go early in the morning to see the sunrise over the canyons and avoid the crowds that flock to what has fast become one of the capital’s most popular tourist sites.
2. Explore Taif’s Rose Gardens
Perfume fans will want to schedule a trip to Taif. This historic city is famed for its rose gardens and is the main exporter of perfume in the Arab world. The region’s mild weather and mountainous landscapes allow beautifully scented roses to grow in abundance.
Known as 'taifi" flowers, they are used to make a very distinct perfume that's highly sought after. Their by-products are cultivated for rosewater and oil. Visit in spring to see more than 900 rose farms begin to harvest some 300 million flowers.
And don’t miss a stop at Al Rudaf Park, which transforms into a rose village every year with sections carpeted in the blooms and enjoy local songs, dances, plays and performances devoted to roses.
3. Go Stargazing at Moon Mountain
Take advantage of the dark skies and endless desert on the outskirts of Jeddah, the perfect setting for stargazers.
Located about an hour from Saudi Arabia's second-largest city is Moon Mountain, named after its lunar-like landscape that's filled with jagged rock formations, pitted dunes and craggy outcrops. Part of the Jebel Al Jadib mountain range, this is the ideal place for camping and getting set to enjoy a night under a dizzying blanket of stars.
The jet-black skies and solitude of the sands here draw travellers from across the country, and when day breaks, there's hiking, quad biking and other desert adventures to keep you entertained.
4. Head underwater in the Red Sea
Saudi Arabia's underwater kingdom lays claim to some of the best diving in the world, and it's all largely undiscovered. The Red Sea is home to more than 1,200 species of fish, several of which can only be found in this body of water, meaning divers can expect never-seen-before adventures.
Spinner dolphins, dugongs, turtles, mantas and sharks are just some of the marine species that also call these waters home. And with underwater tourism in the kingdom in its infancy, scuba divers can expect uncrowded waters and a pristine sandy seabed when it comes to exploring Saudi Arabia's dramatic marine life.
5. Go island-hopping in Umluj
If you want to feel like you’re in a tropical paradise, then Saudi Arabia’s Umluj, in the northern Tabuk province, is the place to go. This coastal town is home to swaying palm trees and untouched stretches of shoreline, plus plenty of casual cafes and restaurants.
But the real draw of this region are the 100-plus small islands to the north of the town. Hire a boat, pack your swimwear and go explore the pure white sand, clear waters and splendid isolation.
6. Step back in time at Al Balad
Jeddah’s Al Balad is famous for its intricately designed houses that were built using coral from the depths of the Red Sea. The buildings have colourful rawasheen balconies, known as mashrabiyas, and the entire district is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Wandering through the maze-like streets, you'll soon get a feel for what the medieval city’s ancient walls once looked like. The unique architecture, which is still preserved today, is not seen anywhere else in the world and serves as a reminder of what life used to be like. It’s believed that the town may date back to the era before Islam.
7. Journey to the past in Al Ula
Deep in the desert in the north-west of the country is Al Ula, a vast 22,000 square kilometre territory that was once a major hub along the ancient Incense Route connecting the Arabian Peninsula with Mediterranean countries.
This is where visitors will find Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site and the largest conserved site of Nabataean civilisation outside of Petra. Unlike in Jordan, in Al Ula, tourists have the sandstone rocks largely to themselves as the district remains well off the tourism trail.
Al Ula is also home to Elephant Rock. Towering about 52 metres above the ground, this ancient rock has been sculpted by wind, water and sand over millions of years, shaping it into a mammoth sandstone structure that now quite clearly resembles an elephant standing with its trunk on the ground.
And adding to Al Ula's draw as an outdoor museum is Jabal Ikmah, a place that's been called the country’s largest open-air library, thanks to the hundreds of pre-Arabic inscriptions scrawled on the rocks.
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Company%20Profile
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
LOVE%20AGAIN
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Barbie
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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