"Al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya as-Saudiya" Top 5 Page for this destination Saudi Arabia by TomorrowsAngel

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide: 4,047 reviews and 6,168 photos

I have been living in KSA since June 2002. My job is Riyadh-based, but I get to spend the summers in Jeddah working - which is cool.
A lot of people misconstrue KSA as being one big desert with bedouins roaming around with their camel herds. Actually, there is a broad spectrum from modern cities with all the trappings of modern day big-city life (Riyadh), and seaside melting pots of culture (Jeddah) to mountain villages (Taif, Abha), with all that sand and camel stuff in between them.

al balad souk, jeddah

The Kingdom covers 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. Its Red Sea coast stretches for 1800km from the border of Yemen (south) to Jordan (north) and is a dream destination for scuba divers and snorkellers with the large coral reefs and shipwrecks.
The northern frontier with Iraq and Kuwait leads to the East Coast, looking out onto the calm waters of the Arabian Gulf for 600km, and the the southern border shared with Qatar, the UAE and Oman.

morning sky, jeddah

Head of State King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

The Crown Prince His Highness Abdullah Ibin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, deputy Premier and head of the National Guard.

Capital Riyadh (4.300.000 people, estimation of 2001)

Population 17,050,934 (1992 estimate)

Land area 2,331,000 sq. km (900,000 sq. mi.)

Official language Arabic, but English is widely spoken in commerce and business

Official religion Islam, Saudi Arabia does not allow the practice of any other religion within its borders.

Currency Saudi riyal

Flag Green Banner of Islam, bearing the inscription: "There is no God but God; and Muhammad is his Messenger". The sword was added in 1906, symbolizing the military successes of Islam and of Ibn Saud, founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Anthem Sarei Lil Majd Walaya

Time zone GMT +3 hours

International dialing code +966

baboons, taif

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:Saudi Arabia is a vast land, largely desert but with mountains, rivers, oases of date palms that haven't changed in centuries, and steel and glass cities whose horizons transform daily, a history going back to the dawn of time.

Last visit to Saudi Arabia: Jan 2004
Intro Updated Jan 23, 2004
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Reviews (39)

matabbak Restaurants (2)

Matabbak is unleavened bread filled with vegetables, meat or fruit, usually held together with egg. You buy it off the... more travel advice

souk shopping Shopping (1)

Whatever town you're in, visit the local souk and soak up the local scenery. Smell the shwarma and gawa (arabic coffee)... more travel advice

janadriyah heritage & cultural festival Things to Do (1)

The annual Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival, organized by the National Guard under the command of the Crown... more travel advice

mind-boggling Favorites (9)

Some scenes are mind-bogglingly strange: imagine seeing a woman totally enshrouded in black, from head to toe, walking... more travel advice

Warnings Or Dangers (3)
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Transportation (3)
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Local Customs (19)
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Hotels (1)
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Comments (26)

gilabrand May 6, 2005 at 8:41 AM Report Abuse

People think Israel is also a desert with people riding camels...LOL
jolou Feb 6, 2005 at 10:32 AM Report Abuse

Really interesting Saudi page :o)
may1273 Jan 11, 2005 at 6:11 PM Report Abuse

Hi. I've never been to Saudi Arabia before. I hope to go there in the future.
abc_of_freedom Dec 23, 2004 at 10:47 AM Report Abuse

Very useful page. Greetings from turkey
tak_pap Oct 20, 2004 at 10:44 PM Report Abuse

excellent site ! so many well written tips and comments !
frockland Sep 9, 2004 at 12:46 PM Report Abuse

Wow -what a page! I enjoyed reading very much! I wanted to start a job in Saudi but at this time it seems to be impossible to get a visa :-((
aadil Jul 11, 2004 at 11:41 PM Report Abuse

Lovely and informative page!!!
buffymaus May 16, 2004 at 9:07 AM Report Abuse

Hey! I think you have a fascinating country, hopefully I get to see Saudi Arabia one day;)
Intrepidduck Mar 26, 2004 at 5:49 AM Report Abuse

It must be a facinating place to live for some period, but perhaps not too long.
EricaD Feb 25, 2004 at 5:13 PM Report Abuse

wow, a very fascinating page on an interesting place!