Rose water, street food, and UNESCO heritage: Welcome to Saudi

Hospitality is at the heart of Saudi society. The country’s geographical position made it an important point on ancient trade routes, so welcoming travelers is part of the culture. 

Riyadh, the lively capital sits near the center of the country.  While glass and steel touch the clouds in parts of the city, old Riyadh still bustles below, with beautiful, historic buildings and destinations such as the 120-year-old Souq Al Zal market, where you can immerse yourself in traditional day-to-day life in this busy capital. Explore narrow streets, smell the oud and street food filling in the air, and chat with vendors and artisans while you peruse handwoven rugs and antiques.  

In November the city transforms with Riyadh Season, a lifestyle celebration. Guinness World Record-breaking amusement parks and the largest cinema in the Middle East form a 900,000 square meter district that brings locals and visitors together. It also hosts SOUNDSTORM MDLBEAST, a four-day festival featuring a lineup of over 200 artists, including global superstars like David Guetta, Eric Prydz, and Martin Garrix. As soon as the sun goes down, the lights come up and it’s time to party until 4am.

Riyadh’s charms aren’t limited to the city center; it’s a fantastic base for day trips. Just outside the city limits is Diriyah, the ‘pearl of Saudi’, with a history dating back over 1,000 years. Diriyah’s vast ruins are made of preserved mud bricks, making them a unique architectural gem. Diriyah is also the home of the UNESCO-listed site of At-Turaif, the original seat of Saudi’s royal family. Closed for works since 2010, At-Turaif will soon reopen, with visitors being able to experience the ruins like never before and learn about its fascinating past in the area’s multiple museums. 

Given the historic importance, visitors might be surprised to learn that it’s also the home of the Diriyah E-Prix, which will be the opening race in the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Saudi is also a Formula 1 host country, with round 21 taking at Jeddah’s brand-new Corniche Circuit.  

Jeddah also offers quite incredible shopping and cuisine – including the street food crawl through the historical center of UNESCO-listed Al Balad. Try freshly cooked kebabs with yoghurt dip, local favorite fried fritters, and visit a 100-year-old bakery. 

The Corniche that runs along the waterfront boasts over four kilometers of restaurants, piers, swimming spots where you can dive the clear waters of the Red Sea, and lush landscaped paths and cycleways. It also boasts sculptures by Henry Moore and Joan Miró, as well as King Fahd’s Fountain, the world’s tallest at 300 meters. 

The more adventurous will take a seven-hour drive along the coast and through dramatic scenery, but most will take a short flight from Jeddah to AlUla, home to Saudi’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. AlUla is a truly stunning destination, home to Hegra’s tombs, the largest conserved Nabataean site south of Petra, and surreal but beautiful rock outcrops. It also boasts its own oasis, a unique and increasingly rare natural phenomenon. Global travelers seeking a spiritual connection to the past will appreciate the lack of crowds and extraordinary beauty.

Taif is one of the Kingdom’s jewels, known for its roses and museums. Take in the Shubra Palace Museum, 4×4 through the Daka Mountain Park, and prepare yourself for the sensory overload of the rose harvest at the Al Qahdi factory (best experienced between May and July). Watch the petals become rose water and perfume and get to know why Al Qahdi has been so popular for over a century. For more natural marvels, the two-kilometer Al Wahba crater is a short drive away, and provides a breathtaking moment of calm.