السعودية
Saudi Arabia is not one destination. AlUla is a sandstone valley with a Nabataean necropolis in it. Jeddah is a coral-stone port town on the Red Sea. Riyadh is a capital rewriting itself in real time. The country only opened to tourist visas in 2019.
The Rewrite
Riyadh is a driving city with a walking heart in Diriyah. The restored mud-brick district of At-Turaif is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and open to visitors. Winter weekends are cold enough for a coat.
The Old Port
Al Balad is the reason to come. Centuries of merchant houses with carved rawasheen shutters, listed by UNESCO as Historic Jeddah and under restoration. The reefs start a short boat ride offshore.
7 in Saudi Arabia
Short trips that work without taking leave.
Hegra, AlUla/Experiences
A guided visit through Hegra with transport inside the heritage site.
Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi/Experiences
A museum on Saadiyat Island built around connections between cultures.
Doha/Experiences
A waterfront museum covering Islamic art across more than 1,400 years.
Muharraq/Experiences
A walking route through Muharraq that follows Bahrain's pearling history.
Abu Dhabi/Experiences
The UAE's largest mosque, open to visitors of all faiths outside prayer times.
Doha/Experiences
Jean Nouvel's desert rose museum on the Corniche, telling the story of Qatar and its people.
Abu Dhabi/Experiences
The Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, open to visitors with an audio guided tour of up to two hours.
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Umluj, The Red Sea/Hotels
An inland Red Sea resort set among the Khuff dunes near Umluj.
Hegra, AlUla/Experiences
A guided visit through Hegra with transport inside the heritage site.
Al Hada, Riyadh/Hotels
A palace style hotel in Riyadh's Al Hada district with five restaurants, about 44 kilometres from the airport.
Ashar Valley, AlUla/Hotels
A villa resort in AlUla's Ashar Valley, set among sandstone canyons with a sustainability focus.
Practical notes from our own trips and the mistakes worth avoiding.
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