Travelers exploring the beauty of Saudi Arabia - a country the size of Western Europe

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

Steppe in Northern KSA:





Umluj
wheat harvest in Al-Shabha



























Al-Wajh city.

No man I like heritage a lot. The photos of older parts of your cities you posted makes me feel like want to go there now. Those older buildings with their balconies made out of timber are just gorgeous. Also the village photos with the village streets with stone pavement are just awesome.

What I meant was modern tourist cities like Phuket, Hong Kong like places where there are too many modern futuristic looking buildings and man made tourist attractions just put me off.

When I was in Madinah, I stayed in a hotel right next to the Masjid Nababi. I didn't like those parts of the city TBH because of too many modern hotels and buildings but we were taken on a guided tour on the other parts of the city where you can get the vibe of older times. Also went to see mount uhud, I didn't want to come back. Inshallah I want to go back, this time not really for Hajj but probably for tourism. I just need to find a long holiday.

I went hajj in 2014 around September and I had no issues with the heat, is that your hotter times or cooler times?

You are very much welcome. Yes, I love the architecture. It is mostly Hijazi but also Najdi and other regional architectures. Sadly nowadays most people prefer modern architecture and it is easier to built and less time-consuming. Many of the old artists are a dying breed as well. Sad.

Not a huge fan of this either. That is not really a thing in KSA as tourism has been such a small thing until recently. So no Dubai's and such areas although that also has its charm and Dubai has an old area as well.

You are very welcome any time.

June, July and August are the hottest months in KSA. May and September can also be hot. But it depends on region and what one is used to and if you can handle heat. For a person from say Finland it would be difficult the first few days (weeks) but for people from the region, South Asia, South East Asia, Southern Europe, Latin America etc. it would not be much of a trouble. Humidity is mostly a thing in the coastal areas and the mountainous areas in the South but here the temperature is much lower. In the center (Najd) the temperatures are higher but due to much lower humidity (very little) the heat is different if you understand what I mean. In Bangladesh you have a very tropical climate for instance and little variety in temperature between day and night. In an arid climate (which most of KSA has) there can be big differences. it is another type of heat so to speak.

Also have in mind that unlike in say Bangladesh, it can get quite cold in KSA during the winter, spring and autumn. Snow fall is common in large parts of the country. That, without knowing it, is hardly ever the case in Bangladesh but I might be wrong here. As an example. Of course nothing like Siberia but it can get genuinely cold.

Best time for travel is definitely spring and autumn (March, April, May, September, October November) but one can obviously travel in the summer too but temperatures (like most places in the region) will be a challenge for those not liking temperatures above 30 degrees. 35-38 is normal. Often above 40 degrees as well. In some instances even 45 depending on the day and region. So in the middle of the day with a sharp sun and 40 degrees it is probably not the best idea to do some sightseeing in the Rub' al-Khali for instance, lol, unless you are hardcore.

 

[Bengal71]

Steppe in Northern KSA:





Umluj
wheat harvest in Al-Shabha



























Al-Wajh city.
















You are very much welcome. Yes, I love the architecture. It is mostly Hijazi but also Najdi and other regional architectures. Sadly nowadays most people prefer modern architecture and it is easier to built and less time-consuming. Many of the old artists are a dying breed as well. Sad.

Not a huge fan of this either. That is not really a thing in KSA as tourism has been such a small thing until recently. So no Dubai's and such areas although that also has its charm and Dubai has an old area as well.

You are very welcome any time.

June, July and August are the hottest months in KSA. May and September can also be hot. But it depends on region and what one is used to and if you can handle heat. For a person from say Finland it would be difficult the first few days (weeks) but for people from the region, South Asia, South East Asia, Southern Europe, Latin America etc. it would not be much of a trouble. Humidity is mostly a thing in the coastal areas and the mountainous areas in the South but here the temperature is much lower. In the center (Najd) the temperatures are higher but due to much lower humidity (very little) the heat is different if you understand what I mean. In Bangladesh you have a very tropical climate for instance and little variety in temperature between day and night. In an arid climate (which most of KSA has) there can be big differences. it is another type of heat so to speak.

Also have in mind that unlike in say Bangladesh, it can get quite cold in KSA during the winter, spring and autumn. Snow fall is common in large parts of the country. That, without knowing it, is hardly ever the case in Bangladesh but I might be wrong here. As an example. Of course nothing like Siberia but it can get genuinely cold.

Best time for travel is definitely spring and autumn (March, April, May, September, October November) but one can obviously travel in the summer too but temperatures (like most places in the region) will be a challenge for those not liking temperatures above 30 degrees. 35-38 is normal. Often above 40 degrees as well. In some instances even 45 depending on the day and region. So in the middle of the day with a sharp sun and 40 degrees it is probably not the best idea to do some sightseeing in the Rub' al-Khali for instance, lol, unless you are hardcore.

We don't have any snowfalls in BD, the coldest temperature ever we get is probably 6-7 degrees Celsius. We always heard about the extreme heat in Arabia but when we went for hajj we didn't find it anything extraordinary. Although I must say the heat is different in the sense it lacks humidity, so you rapidly lose water from your body and must hydrate yourself continuously. I felt that on the day of arafat, that place was kind of like desert, the heat was ok for me but I sensed I was loosing water from body rapidly, so had to drink water a lot. Also, in BD and other parts of south and south-east Asia, the heat comes with humidity which makes it very uncomfortable.

The photo that shows a big lake in the middle of the desert, where is it located? Where is the nearest city to that place and how to get there. Is it possible to rent a landcruiser from the nearest city and go there on a day trip or few days are required? What other transportation are available?

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

We don't have any snowfalls in BD, the coldest temperature ever we get is probably 6-7 degrees Celsius. We always heard about the extreme heat in Arabia but when we went for hajj we didn't find it anything extraordinary. Although I must say the heat is different in the sense it lacks humidity, so you rapidly lose water from your body and must hydrate yourself continuously. I felt that on the day of arafat, that place was kind of like desert, the heat was ok for me but I sensed I was loosing water from body rapidly, so had to drink water a lot. Also, in BD and other parts of south and south-east Asia, the heat comes with humidity which makes it very uncomfortable.

The photo that shows a big lake in the middle of the desert, where is it located? Where is the nearest city to that place and how to get there. Is it possible to rent a landcruiser from the nearest city and go there on a day trip or few days are required? What other transportation are available?

The warmest and most humid area of Arabia is actually Eastern coastal Arabia. That is where the greatest humidity coupled with high temperatures in the summer months are. Most of KSA is colder than even Iraq in the north due to being much more mountainous and most cities being located at least 500 meters above sea level. Case in point Riyadh which is located 700 meters above sea level although not located in a mountainous area of Najd. Najd means highland/plateau in Arabic btw.

Yes, I very much dislike that humidity (experienced it in Malaysia) but you can get used to it.

Yes, that is due to the sun. In any case you need to drink plenty of water in very humid conditions as well and generally when the temperature is above 30 degrees and you are active.

That is in Najd. Al-Zulfi is the nearest town.

IN PICTURES: How Saudi Arabia's al-Zulfi sand dunes became a symbol of love

Photographer Ahmed al-Qasem, documented scenes of the lake in the past two days after heavy rains. (Supplied)

In the past years, photographers’ lenses have captured the forming of the beautiful lake, which keeps its water for a considerable time, making it a great location for lovers of the sand-water combination.




Heart-shaped sands
Photographer Ahmed al-Qasem, documented scenes of the lake in the past two days after heavy rains.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, Qasem said: “I document rain falling to form the lake every year, along with many other photographers of the deserts of Saudi Arabia.”




Qasem said that this year the sands formed in a unique way, which made it look like a heart.

He added: “Zulfi is a perfect winter spot where lakes form in the middle of sand dunes and desert plants grow. Many people visit it in winter for camping.”




Official authorities in al-Zulfi forbids cars from entering the Sabilla meadows to preserve the seasonal plants.





http://english.alarabiya.net/en/lif...Zulfi-sand-dunes-became-a-symbol-of-love.html

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

Sakakah














Jeddah




















Najran




Northern KSA. Love the lavender fields and sheep combination. Very idyllic.

20-30% of the population is quite knowledgeable. they might not know saudi geography but they know bunch of things.
Half the population is quite ignorant

As in every country, really. My impression is that Americans know a bit more about KSA due to the long-standing political ties and the fact that many Americans have worked/lived or been deployed to KSA and due to events in the Middle East. Many English teachers in KSA are actually fairly young Americans wanting to earn some money or at least that was once the case. Nowadays it is probably less.

 

[Bengal71]

The warmest and most humid area of Arabia is actually Eastern coastal Arabia. That is where the greatest humidity coupled with high temperatures in the summer months are. Most of KSA is colder than even Iraq in the north due to being much more mountainous and most cities being located at least 500 meters above sea level. Case in point Riyadh which is located 700 meters above sea level although not located in a mountainous area of Najd. Najd means highland/plateau in Arabic btw.

Yes, I very much dislike that humidity (experienced it in Malaysia) but you can get used to it.

Yes, that is due to the sun. In any case you need to drink plenty of water in very humid conditions as well and generally when the temperature is above 30 degrees and you are active.

That is in Najd. Al-Zulfi is the nearest town.

IN PICTURES: How Saudi Arabia's al-Zulfi sand dunes became a symbol of love

Photographer Ahmed al-Qasem, documented scenes of the lake in the past two days after heavy rains. (Supplied)

In the past years, photographers’ lenses have captured the forming of the beautiful lake, which keeps its water for a considerable time, making it a great location for lovers of the sand-water combination.




Heart-shaped sands
Photographer Ahmed al-Qasem, documented scenes of the lake in the past two days after heavy rains.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, Qasem said: “I document rain falling to form the lake every year, along with many other photographers of the deserts of Saudi Arabia.”




Qasem said that this year the sands formed in a unique way, which made it look like a heart.

He added: “Zulfi is a perfect winter spot where lakes form in the middle of sand dunes and desert plants grow. Many people visit it in winter for camping.”




Official authorities in al-Zulfi forbids cars from entering the Sabilla meadows to preserve the seasonal plants.





http://english.alarabiya.net/en/lif...Zulfi-sand-dunes-became-a-symbol-of-love.html

was talking about this lake

 

[Numerous]

Are you saif al arab?

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

was talking about this lake

There are 100's of such lakes in the Rub' al-Khali. 1000's in fact whenever there is rainfall which admittedly is rare in that desert. Some of the largest underwater ground reserves in the region and world can be found there. However it is very difficult to extract.

See post 53.

Are you saif al arab?

I am Al Watan Al Arabi.

 

[Numerous]

I am Al Watan Al Arabi.

Yeh I can read that but I'm asking whether you have another account on here called saif al arab. You two post awfully similar.

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

I can say that I am Al Watan Al Arabi and that I have been a member since the summer of 2016. Not sure what relevance your posts have to this thread or at all.

A beach in Jeddah:



Ras Tanura beach in the Eastern Province:

Ras Tanura Beach by Andrew A. Shenouda, on Flickr

Beaches of Saudi Arabia - Ras Tanura by Justin Scott, on Flickr

Neighborhoods nearby:

Al Wadj Bank, Saudi Arabia (NASA, International Space Station Science, 12/30/07) by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, on Flickr


فرسان by Jazan Know, on Flickr

Tabuk area منطقة تبوك by tabuk تبوك, on Flickr

١طريق الحوطه by عبدالله العيدي, on Flickr

كشته بحريه by عبدالله العيدي, on Flickr


Historic Jeddah_12 by AHMED SAMIR, on Flickr


KAFD Skyline Dec-2-16 by Bader Alotaby, on Flickr


KAFD Skyline II Dec-2-16 by Bader Alotaby, on Flickr

 

[prashantazazel]

Scenic! A lot of potential for tourism.

Scenic! A lot of potential for tourism.

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

Scenic! A lot of potential for tourism.

Scenic! A lot of potential for tourism.

Indeed. KSA is already the in the top 15 of most visited countries in the world. That is mostly due to Hajj, Umrah, business visas, laborers etc. Less so traditional tourism. Yet. However HUGE investments are being made into developing a real modern tourism infrastructure that will gather for every taste. From your traditional beach/tropical island holiday, to heritage orientated holidays to nature. For instance "safari" like experiences given the many and huge national parks and wild areas in KSA. There is obviously tremendous potential.

Read not long ago plans of reintroducing the lion to KSA which last lived (in the wild) some 100 years ago.

Saudi Arabia’s al-Ula to invest $20 million in world leopard conservation

Prince Badr said the partnership between RCU and Panthera comes as part of efforts to prevent “the extinction of the Arabian Leopard.” (Supplied)

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for al-Ula (RCU) commits to investing $20 million over 10 years in order to aid world conservation of the leopard and revitalize the population of the Arabian leopard, which is indigenous to al-Ula.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan al-Saud, the Saudi Minster of Culture and Governor of RCU, has signed an agreement on Friday with Dr. Thomas Kaplan, the Chairman of Panthera, to support important regional and international conservation initiatives, according to a press release by Panthera.

Prince Badr said the partnership between RCU and Panthera comes as part of efforts to prevent “the extinction of the Arabian Leopard, and protecting the Kingdom’s history and heritage,” in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1137064542427635712

Panthera describes itself as an organization devoted to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat species and their ecosystems.

The joint initiatives between RCU and Panthera include “the establishment of a global fund focused on the protection and enhancement of remaining wild populations, captive breeding programs, international collaborations, community-based conservation projects, and scientific research to support the future of this rare species,” according to the press release.

“The signing of the agreement is a major milestone in our shared ambitions to reintroduce the Arabian leopard population in the region and join global partners to support the preservation of these wild cat populations worldwide,” Prince Badr said.

“It is our duty to protect, conserve, and build the population numbers to preserve the species from becoming a footnote of history,” the prince added.

Earlier in February, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched mega tourism projects in the ancient desert city of al-Ula, which is located 300km north of Medina in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

During the launch, RCU announced its commitment to protecting the Arabian leopard through the creation of The Global Fund for the Arabian Leopard, which is the largest conservation fund for this endangered species.

Al-Ula is notable for its natural heritage and rich history, and is home to a series of important historical and archaeological sites such as Mada’in Saleh and al-Khuraybah.

Last Update: Saturday, 8 June 2019 KSA 13:49 - GMT 10:49

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/li...20-million-in-world-leopard-conservation.html

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince launches mega tourism projects in ancient area of Al-Ula

1 / 5

Updated 11 February 2019
MO GANNON
NOOR NUGALI
February 10, 2019

• Jean Nouvel, the French architect who designed Louvre Abu Dhabi, will build a resort in the mountains of Al-Ula
• The Sharaan Resort will include residential estates, a summit center, a spa, restaurants and 925-square-kilometer nature reserve

AL-ULA, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched on Sunday mega tourism projects in Al-Ula, including a resort designed by a renowned French architect and a nature reserve, both called Sharaan.
Jean Nouvel, the French architect who designed Louvre Abu Dhabi, will build a resort in the mountains of Al-Ula as part of a plan launched on Sunday night to transform the home of ancient civilizations into a destination for visitors from around the world.


The plan for sustainable development of the region, which includes the Sharaan Resort inside a designated nature reserve, was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Maraya theater. The mirrored concert hall was built for the Winter at Tantora festival, which has brought visitors to the untouched area every weekend since December, giving them a taste of what’s to come.

“The decision to build in this place is brave and will allow Sharaan to be revealed on a world-wide scale,” Nouvel said during a presentation at the launch.

Several hundred guests were welcomed in the concert hall, including Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Princess Reema bint Bandar and Yanni, who performed at the Winter at Tantora festival last weekend.

“This is just so beautiful, the desert and the sky at night, the stars… the natural beauty here is stunning,” Yanni told Arab News. “I have never experienced this type of beauty before in my life.”



The charter for Al-Ula was presented on a stage made of sand, with a multimedia sound and light show involving local men and women, the “guardians” of Al-Ula. The rocks of Al-Ula, visible through glass at the back of the stage, served as a backdrop.

Al-Ula is home to spectacular sandstone rock formations and the archaeological site of Madain Saleh, the largest Nabatean settlement south of Petra that contains the ancient civilization’s rock tombs with their carved facades. In 2008, it was designated as Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage site.

There are only so many architects in the world who have the power to draw visitors on the strength of the building alone, and Nouvel is one. Just ask anyone who has stood under Louvre Abu Dhabi’s 7,500-ton geometric canopy, inspired by a grove of palm trees and designed to cast dappled light onto the water and walkways below, in what he called the Rain of Light.

Nouvel’s architecture is rooted in the local context, and so with the Al-Ula resort, he will take inspiration from the surrounding rocks. “In the thickness of the rock, everything is possible, everything is stable and protected, as if weightless,” Nouvel explained. “Rock is an absolutely fantastic material because of its inertia. To put yourself in rock is to protect yourself. To protect yourself from extreme temperatures, to protect yourself security-wise. We’ve chosen to live in these rocks once more. To be able to frame the Sharaan landscape at different heights is amazing, discovering the distant horizons, discovering the different qualities of light, and all this in total thermal comfort.”

There is already a link between Nouvel and Al-Ula: A number of ancient treasures from the area are now on display as part of the Roads of Arabia exhibit in Louvre Abu Dhabi. But the Sharaan Resort is a link that is even closer to home.

The resort will include residential estates, a summit center, a spa and restaurants. The full design will be completed by the end of this year; construction is expected to begin in early 2020, with a completion date of 2023.

The resort will be located in a valley deep inside the 925-square-kilometer Sharaan Nature Reserve. Both take their names from the surrounding canyon with its ancient rock formations. The reserve will conserve and restore the region’s natural desert habitats, including the Arabian leopard, with the help of local rangers trained by international experts.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1094658603758374912

https://twitter.com/x/status/1094659387543748608

While the details of the plan are new, it is very much in keeping with the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030, which aims to develop the Kingdom’s tourism sector and provide the younger generation with the skills that they need for the future as it diversifies the economy away from its dependence on oil. The vision also pledges to celebrate the country’s national identity by preserving its cultural sites, making them accessible and building world-class museums to “create a living witness to our ancient heritage.”

The Royal Commission for Al-Ula was created for this purpose in 2017, and the French Agency for Al-Ula Development was established last July, after Paris and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral agreement during the Crown Prince’s visit in April last year.

The commission aims, by 2035, to attract 2 million visitors to the area, creating 38,000 jobs and generating SR120 billion ($32 billion).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1094657558466478080

The commission has already launched a scholarship program to train Saudi students in the US, the UK and France in the fields of tourism and archaeology; this year, it will add architecture and environmental planning to the mix. The Hammayah program will also provide up to 2,500 opportunities for local men and women to get involved in a community effort to preserve the wonders of Al-Ula.
There are only so many architects in the world who have the power to draw visitors on the strength of the building alone, and Nouvel is one. Just ask anyone who has stood under Louvre Abu Dhabi’s 7,500-ton geometric canopy, inspired by a grove of palm trees and designed to cast dappled light onto the water and walkways below, in what he called the Rain of Light.

The project is all about “locals, locals, locals,” Rami Al-Sakran, capabilities development manager for the commission, who is leading the Al-Ula scholarship program, told Arab News. “Without the locals, we can’t succeed.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1094644838694375424

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

Southern Hijaz:

Here is a fantastic video showing parts of the Al-Faifa mountains:

Albida Volcano, Kybar, saudi Arabia by Abdullah Alturaigy, on Flickr


Jazan region South Saudi Arabia KSA by Life-Style, on Flickr


Asir region South Saudi Arabia KSA by Life-Style, on Flickr


Faifa Mountains by Abdullah khalid, on Flickr


Old Jeddah by BA&AA, on Flickr

View . by Hmood Al Nasseer, on Flickr

 

[The SC]

There must have been some sophisticated tools to do theses rock cuts!

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

There must have been some sophisticated tools to do theses rock cuts!

The work of the mighty ancient Nabateans brother native to Hijaz. A civilization and people that have created more World UNESCO Heritage sites in the region than anyone else in ancient/pre-Islamic times. Many scholars and historians consider them one of the most gifted people of antiquity. With good reason.

Jane Taylor, a writer, describes them as "one of the most gifted peoples of the ancient world".[8]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeans

They have built World UNESCO Heritage Sites in KSA, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Palestine.

Petra, Bosra, Mada'in Saleh, Shivta, Avdat, Memphis, Haluza, Dahab etc.