Practical guides to Saudi cities and destinations, including Ha’il, Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. Itineraries, heritage sites and how to get around.
Al-Tawqi Season is back for a second year. The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has launched the 2026-2027 edition, which runs from October until April and offers nature, adventure and heritage experiences inside the reserve (Tfaseel, from SPA). Here is what has been confirmed so far, and how to plan a visit. What was…
There are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia, according to UNESCO’s own list for the Kingdom, checked on 17 October 2026 (UNESCO World Heritage Centre). Seven are cultural sites and one is a natural site. Here they are in the order they were listed, with the details UNESCO gives for each. 1. Hegra…
Al-Hutaymah Crater (also written Al-Hutaima) is described by SPA as one of northern Saudi Arabia’s most striking geological landmarks. It sits east of Salma Mountain, measures 1.25 km across and drops 110 metres deep (Arab News, from SPA). It is also a highlight of the Salma UNESCO Global Geopark. If you have already seen Ha’il’s…
If you only have one day in Ha’il, Visit Saudi’s “A Full Day in Hail” guide suggests a relaxed loop of local food, open desert, cafés and an evening viewpoint over the city. Here is that plan in short, with what each stop offers. Morning: a traditional Ha’il breakfast Visit Saudi starts the day at…
Most visitors to Ha’il head first for the rock art at Jubbah or the forts in the city. Southeast of town, though, is a site that tells a different story about the region: Faid, an old oasis city…
Feature Ha’il, also spelled Hail, sits in northwest Saudi Arabia between granite ranges and the Great Nafud. Visit Saudi calls the destination the mountain heart of the north and, on a separate itinerary page, the Bride of the North. The official pages describe rock art, mudbrick landmarks, markets, and open country, and they treat local…
Feature On 11 September 2026 the Ministry of Tourism updated four sets of rules that cover much of a trip inside Saudi Arabia: travel and tourism services, tour guiding, hospitality facilities, and private hospitality units. The Saudi Press Agency and Saudi Gazette both reported the announcement that day. SPA says the aim is to modernize…