Best places to visit in Saudi Arabia

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is part of the Middle East countries, and is blessed with 2 coastlines of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Known as the birthplace of the Islamic religion, it is home to two of Islam’s holiest sites: Mecca, the site of the Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram mosque, the destination of the annual Haj pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims around the world. The other holy site is Medina, featuring Prophet Mohammed’s mosque, the imposing Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, which is the burial site of the holy prophet.

Despite its international visa restrictions, Saudi Arabia is the 19^th most-visited country in the world, with over 18 million international visitors in 2014. Although religious pilgrimages are the major reason for international visitors, the land of Saudi Arabia is home to several world heritage sites, museums, and modern cities.

Listed below are some must-visit destinations if you happen to be in Saudi Arabia:

• Riyadh

The capital city of Saudi Arabia is endowed with modern and traditional architecture, and is the most populous city in Saudi Arabia. Modern architecture includes the magnificent Kingdom Tower featuring 99 storeys and a connecting sky bridge walkway, which offers a spectacular view of the city. Other skyscrapers include the 1010-feet tall Burj Rafal and the Riyadh TV Tower. Visitors, interested in history, must go to the King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre for a look at Arabic history and traditions. The Royal Saudi Air Force Museum offers a glimpse into the history of the Royal Saudi Air force, since its inception in the 1920s.

• Dammam

The fastest growing city in Saudi Arabia, Dammam is known for its museums, markets, zoos, and shopping. Popular tourist destinations in Dammam is the Sea front, the King Fahd park, Cobra amusement park, and Adventure World. It is also home to the Dammam Historical Museum and the Dammam Public Library.

• Jeddah

Jeddah is a coastal city on the Red Sea and is the gateway for pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina. Popular attraction is the Jeddah (or King Fahd’s) Fountain, the tallest in the world, and the Corniche seafront promenade. The Souq Al-Alawi, located in the Al-Bahad district, is a busy marketplace area. Another prominent attraction is the Al-Tayebat International City museum, which showcases antique artefacts from Saudi and Arabic history.

• Heritage sites

Saudi Arabia is also home to 4 world heritage sites including the Aj-Hijr Archaeological site, the Historic Jeddah gate to Makkah, the district of At-Turaif in ad-Dir’iyah, and Rock art in the Hail region.