Matador's Ultimate Guide to Saudi Arabia

This country is quickly becoming a tourist favorite ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Saudi Arabia]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Saudi Arabia Hi all, Home to one of the world's largest oil reserves and the birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia is sometimes still stereotyped as a closed and forbidden Kingdom, with rich sheiks and palaces in the desert next to oil gushing wells. However, under the conservative blanket lies a country full of surprises, with plans to become a global leader in sustainability and tourism. With all this country has to offer, there is something undeniably appealing about taking a trip to this destination. Immerse yourself in thriving cities like Riyadh and Jeddah or explore the stunning desert beauty of ancient ruins in Hegra. If you feel adventurous, go dune bashing in the Empty Quarter desert or scuba diving in the unspoiled coral reefs of the Red Sea. Explore the articles below to learn more about the [best things to see and do]( and important information about traveling to this Kingdom. [EXPLORE SAUDI ARABIA]( Get Inspired [Hegra]( This Ancient City in Saudi Arabia Is Like Petra Without the Crowds The ruins of the site consist of water wells and huge rock-hewn monuments and tombs adorned with elaborately-decorated facades and inscriptions. According to UNESCO (Hegra became Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO Heritage Site in 2008), there are over 110 monumental tombs remaining, 94 of which are decorated. [READ MORE]( [Prague]( Take a Journey through Jeddah Jeddah is a bustling city located on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in the Makkah Province and serves as a major economic and commercial hub in the country. [READ MORE]( [AlUla]( AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Is the Middle East’s Most Underrated Hot-Air Balloon Destination When we think of hot-air ballooning, we tend to imagine the Albuquerque Balloon Festival in New Mexico or the balloon-filled skies above Cappadocia, Turkey. With Saudi Arabia bursting onto the tourism scene, however, it’s perhaps no surprise that AlUla is hosting its own hot-air balloon festival called AlUla Skies. The region is marked by gorgeous desert landscapes and otherworldly rock formations, making it a no-brainer for hot-air balloon enthusiasts looking for a cool flyover environment. [READ MORE]( [Saudi Arabia]( How To Get a Visa To Visit Saudi Arabia and What To Do Once You Get There In 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially opened its doors to international travelers, issuing tourist visas to nationals of 49 countries for the first time in history. Previously, only those traveling to Saudi Arabia for work or Muslim pilgrims were permitted to enter the country. Now, citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, many European nations, and more can obtain an e-visa to travel to Saudi Arabia. [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [Maraya]( The World's Largest Mirrored Building Is in the Middle of a Desert Erecting a large and modern building in the middle of an almost-untouched and stunning natural landscape can very easily turn out to be a catastrophe. It could mar the beauty of the place and ruin it for decades to come. The people behind the design of Maraya, an event venue in the AlUla desert of Saudi Arabia, found a way to not only preserve the beauty of the environment it sits in, but to enhance it dramatically. [READ MORE]( [NEOM]( NEOM Is on Track To Be the World’s First “Sustainable” City. Here’s What We Know NEOM, an acronym for “new future,” is garnering increased publicity due to its concept as the ultimate “smart city.” But if you’re like most of us, even if you’ve heard the term, you may not fully grasp what NEOM is all about. Let’s cover the basics of what NEOM is, where NEOM is, and when NEOM will be complete. [READ MORE]( [roller coaster]( The World’s Fastest Roller Coaster Is Coming To Saudi Arabia A new roller coaster currently under development in the Middle East will break records of speed, track length, and height. Planned to open in Saudi Arabia in October 2024, the “Falcon’s Flight” roller coaster will debut at the new Six Flags Qiddiya. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [Awna Restaurant ]( A Unique Dining Experience in Saudi Arabia We sent Matador's Creator In Residence, Natalie Chaban, on an unforgettable culinary journey to Saudi Arabia. Here’s how it went at Awna Restaurant in AlUla. [READ MORE]( [Desert X]( This Open-Air Art Exhibit in the Saudi Arabian Desert Will Make You Doubt Reality AlUla has been nicknamed “The World’s Masterpiece” by the public relations people at the Saudi Arabia tourism board, and while this moniker may sound like an exaggeration only fit for advertising purposes, it’s actually not far from the truth. Especially since Desert X started. [READ MORE]( [Drew Binsky]( YouTuber Finishes 197-Country World Tour in Saudi Arabia, and It's Nothing Like You Imagine It took Drew Binsky nearly ten years to visit every country in the world. On October 29, 2021, Binsky crossed the border into Saudi Arabia, his last country to visit. [WATCH NOW]( [cruise]( I Went on the First Cruise To Saudi Arabia in 17 Years. This Is What It Was Like. Traveling to Saudi Arabia has been all but impossible for the past 17 years, which is when Scenic CEO Glen Moroney tells me the last cruise took place here. My group is one of the first few international visitors to experience a change in the kingdom, thanks to a project called Saudi Vision 2030 led by the kingdom’s de facto ruler, 36-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Alula Resorts]( [Saudi Arabia]( [hotel cave]( Share with friends, get cool stuff! Have friends who love to travel? Share your unique referral link with them and earn points to redeem for rewards when they subscribe! [( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Whatsapp]( [Email](mailto:?subject=Check%20this%20out&body=I%20just%20signed%20up%20on%20this%20awesome%20newsletter!%0A%0A3Futm_source%3Demail) You have 0 points so far [See how many referrals you have]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. 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