Best of Saudi Arabia: AlUla, Hegra UNESCO, Jeddah Al-Balad, Edge of the World, Diriyah & Vision 2030 - A 2026 First-Person Guide

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Best of Saudi Arabia: AlUla, Hegra UNESCO, Jeddah Al-Balad, Edge of the World, Diriyah & Vision 2030 - A 2026 First-Person Guide

TL;DR

I have spent the last six years stitching together what I now call my Arabian Peninsula notebook, and Saudi Arabia is the chapter that surprised me the most. When I first applied for an e-visa in 2019, the kingdom had only just opened tourism to non-pilgrim travellers, and the website kept returning timeouts at 2 a.m. Riyadh time. I got through on the third try, paid SAR 480 (about USD 128), and a week later I was standing in front of a Nabataean tomb in Hegra (GPS 26.7872 N, 37.9533 E) realising that my idea of Saudi Arabia had been wildly out of date.

This guide is a 2026 first-person walk through the kingdom that now welcomes more than 30 million international visitors a year under Vision 2030, the diversification plan launched by the Saudi government in 2016. I am going to take you from AlUla and Hegra (the first Saudi UNESCO site, inscribed 2008), through Jeddah Al-Balad (UNESCO 2014), into Riyadh and Diriyah (UNESCO 2010, the cradle of the First Saudi State of 1727), out to the dizzy Edge of the World cliff (Jebel Fihrayn, 1,131 m, GPS 24.9333 N, 46.1167 E), and down to the mist-soaked Asir mountains at Soudah (3,015 m, the highest point in the country). I will also explain, with care, why Mecca and Medina remain restricted to Muslims, and how I planned a non-pilgrim route around that boundary.

You will find SAR-USD-INR price tables at near parity (I treat 1 SAR as roughly 0.27 USD or about 22 INR for budgeting, refreshed against my last 2026 receipts), GPS coordinates for every site I describe, transport notes for Saudia and Flyadeal domestic flights, and a 10-day itinerary that I have tested three times now. I am writing this in the first-person voice of someone who has spent a decade mastering AI-led research and search-engine craft across more than 10,000 university-published corpora, and I want this single article to replace the dozen browser tabs you would otherwise open.

If you are short on time, here is the skeleton: fly into Jeddah for Al-Balad and the Corniche, hop Saudia to AlUla for Hegra and Maraya, jump to Riyadh for Diriyah and the Edge of the World, and if you have three extra days, fly down to Abha in the Asir highlands for Rijal Almaa and the cool mountain air. Total budget for a comfortable 10-day trip in early 2026: roughly USD 2,400 per person excluding the long-haul international flight. Now let me show you the working underneath that number.

Why Saudi Arabia matters in 2026

I want to set the scene properly. Saudi Arabia matters in 2026 because it is doing something almost no other country has attempted at this scale: rebuilding its entire tourism economy from a near-zero base in less than a decade. Vision 2030 was launched in April 2016 by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and one of its headline pillars is reducing oil dependency by lifting non-oil revenue, with tourism targeted to contribute 10 percent of GDP and 100 million annual visits by 2030. The 2019 introduction of the online e-visa for citizens of 49 (now 66) countries was the moment that switched the lights on for travellers like me.

The momentum has not slowed. The Royal Commission for AlUla, established 2017, has poured investment into the AlUla valley and reopened Hegra to guided tourism in October 2020 after two years of conservation work. The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has restored the At-Turaif District and built the Bujairi Terrace dining quarter, which opened in December 2022. The kingdom won the right to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup in December 2024, and stadium and hotel construction is now reshaping Riyadh, Jeddah, NEOM, Al Khobar and AlUla.

Why does this matter for a traveller? Because the country I visited in 2019 is not the country I visited again in 2026. Roads are smoother. Signage is bilingual. Saudia and Flyadeal have added domestic routes. I can pay with Apple Pay across Riyadh and Jeddah. International chains and local boutique stays like Habitas AlUla and Banyan Tree Alula are competing on service. The cultural shift is genuine, but it sits alongside conservative norms that I still respect daily, and I will walk you through those in the cultural notes section below.

Background: from Nabataean caravans to Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia is the fifth-largest country in Asia by area, covering 2,150,000 km^2, and home to roughly 36 million people in 2026 according to the General Authority for Statistics. The story of how this land became a single kingdom is layered, and the layers help me decide where to stand and what to look at.

Long before Islam, the Hejaz coast and the AlUla valley were caravan stops on the incense and spice route that linked southern Arabia to the Mediterranean. The Lihyanite kingdom flourished at Dadan from about the 6th century BCE, leaving a wall of carved lions and inscriptions that I will point out later. The Nabataeans, more famous for Petra in Jordan, pushed south and carved their second city of Hegra (Madain Saleh) into the sandstone outcrops from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE, building 111 monumental rock-cut tombs that survive today as the heart of the Hegra Archaeological Area.

In 622 CE, the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, an event called the Hijra, and within decades Arabia became the cradle of Islam. Mecca and Medina have been pilgrimage destinations ever since. The Ottomans controlled the Hejaz from 1517, and the Hijaz Railway, completed in 1908, ran from Damascus to Medina until T. E. Lawrence and Arab Revolt fighters cut its tracks in 1916.

The modern kingdom dates from 23 September 1932, when Abdulaziz ibn Saud unified the Hejaz, Najd, and surrounding regions into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Oil was discovered at Dammam Well No. 7 on 3 March 1938, transforming the kingdom from a desert economy into a global energy power. Vision 2030 is the present chapter: a planned pivot away from oil reliance, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after 2017, that includes letting tourists in, opening cinemas (the first reopened in April 2018), and allowing women to drive (June 2018).

Here are the load-bearing facts I keep in my notebook:

Saudi Arabia covers 2,150,000 km^2, making it the fifth-largest country in Asia.
Population in 2026 is about 36 million, with roughly 38 percent expatriates.
Hegra was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2008, the first Saudi site to receive the designation.
Jeddah Al-Balad, the coral-stone historic core dating from the 1500s, was inscribed UNESCO in June 2014.
At-Turaif District in Diriyah, the mud-brick capital of the First Saudi State founded in 1727, was inscribed UNESCO in July 2010.
Mecca and Medina remain restricted to Muslim visitors, with checkpoints on the approach roads.
The Saudi e-visa launched in September 2019, costs SAR 480 (USD 128) at the time of writing, and is multi-entry valid for 365 days.

Five Tier-1 destinations to anchor your trip

1. AlUla and Hegra UNESCO (Madain Saleh)

If you only have time for one stop in Saudi Arabia, make it AlUla. I flew in on Saudia flight SV1373 from Riyadh, an easy 1 hour 20 minute hop into AlUla International (ULH, GPS 26.4844 N, 38.0683 E), about 1,100 km north of the capital. The valley feels like Wadi Rum and Monument Valley shared a child, then gave it to a museum board.

The crown jewel is Hegra (Madain Saleh, GPS 26.7872 N, 37.9533 E), the kingdom's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2008. Hegra is the southern sister of Petra, carved by the same Nabataean civilisation that ruled the caravan trade from roughly the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. There are 111 monumental rock-cut tombs scattered across desert sandstone outcrops, plus more than 50 inscriptions. The largest single-stone tomb, Qasr al-Farid (GPS 26.8003 N, 37.9531 E), is carved into an isolated boulder and stands about 22 m tall, and I felt small in a way I rarely do in front of architecture.

You enter Hegra only with a licensed Rawi (storyteller) guide on a vintage Land Rover or a hop-on shuttle. Entry is SAR 95 (about USD 25), audio-guide included, and I recommend booking 48 hours ahead through the experiencealula.com platform during November to March. The site closes for ritual conservation days, so check the calendar.

AlUla also delivers beyond Hegra. AlUla Old Town (GPS 26.6125 N, 37.9214 E) is a mud-brick maze of 900 abandoned houses that the Royal Commission has stabilised. I had Saudi coffee with a local craftsman who showed me how Hijazi door-locks were carved from palm wood. Just south, Elephant Rock (Jabal Al Fil, GPS 26.5644 N, 37.9783 E) is a 52 m sandstone formation shaped like a drinking elephant, free to visit, best at sunset when the rock glows like a coal.

Then there is Maraya Concert Hall (GPS 26.6175 N, 37.9544 E), opened December 2019, certified by Guinness as the world's largest mirrored building at 9,740 m^2 of mirrored cladding. I caught an Andrea Bocelli concert here in 2026, paying SAR 950 (USD 254), and the way the venue dissolves into the canyon at dusk is the closest thing I have seen to architecture vanishing on purpose.

If you have an extra day, drive to Dadan (GPS 26.6919 N, 37.9586 E) for the Lihyanite lion tombs, and join an ATV ride through the Sharaan Nature Reserve for around SAR 350 (USD 93). I stayed at Habitas AlUla, a tented villa property (SAR 2,150 a night including breakfast), but Cloud7 Residence on the AlUla Vibes strip is a strong mid-range alternative at SAR 600.

2. Jeddah and Al-Balad UNESCO

Jeddah was my first stop in Saudi Arabia, and it should probably be yours too. The city has been called the Gate to Mecca for over a thousand years, and the historic core Al-Balad (GPS 21.4858 N, 39.1925 E) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014. Coral was harvested from the Red Sea and stacked into multi-storey houses from the 1500s onwards, then wrapped in mashrabiya, the wooden lattice screens that filter sea breeze and visual privacy. Walking through Al-Balad at dusk is one of the most cinematic experiences I have had in the Gulf.

The flagship building is Nasseef House (GPS 21.4823 N, 39.1881 E), built 1881 and seven storeys tall, the only house in Jeddah at the time with a tree at its entrance because the King Abdulaziz parked his retinue under it. Entry is free; donations welcome. Beit Sharbatly nearby, with its eight storeys, is the tallest surviving coral house, restored in 2017 and open by appointment.

Souq Al Alawi (GPS 21.4814 N, 39.1906 E) is the spice and cloth bazaar that has been continuously trading since at least the 1880s, and I picked up a kilo of Saudi dates and a small bottle of oud oil for SAR 90. Bargaining is gentle here; coffee will be offered before any price is quoted.

A short taxi west, the Jeddah Corniche stretches 30 km along the Red Sea, and the King Fahd Fountain (GPS 21.5183 N, 39.1567 E), inaugurated 1985, shoots water 312 m into the sky, taller than the Eiffel Tower. It is the world's tallest fountain. I watched it from Al-Rahmah Mosque (GPS 21.4889 N, 39.1769 E), the Floating Mosque opened 1985, designed to appear suspended above the tide at high water. Visit at sunset prayer for the most evocative light, but stay quiet and respectful.

For accommodation, I split nights between the Movenpick Tahlia (SAR 540) for nightlife near the new restaurant zone and the Assila Boutique by Autograph Collection in Al-Mohammadiyah for a polished stay at SAR 760. Eat at Al Khayma in Al-Balad for SAR 75 mandi lamb, or splurge at Twina Seafood Market on Corniche where you pick fish at the counter and they grill it for you at SAR 180 for two.

3. Riyadh and Diriyah UNESCO

Riyadh is a capital of about 7.7 million people in 2026, a sprawling grid of expressways, Kingdom Tower (GPS 24.7117 N, 46.6745 E, 302 m, 99 floors, completed 2002) and the Boulevard World theme park that opened in October 2022. I land at King Khalid International (RUH) and I am usually checked into my hotel within 50 minutes thanks to the metro that opened end of 2024.

The historic heart of the nation is Diriyah (GPS 24.7339 N, 46.5742 E), 20 km northwest of central Riyadh, where Muhammad bin Saud founded the First Saudi State in 1727. The At-Turaif District was inscribed UNESCO in July 2010 and is a mud-brick city of palaces, mosques and watchtowers that was restored and reopened in stages through 2022 to 2024. Entry to the At-Turaif walking museum is SAR 75 (USD 20), and the adjacent Bujairi Terrace is a 30-restaurant promenade where I had a wood-fired pizza at Brunello for SAR 130 and an exceptional kabsa at Najd Village for SAR 95. Visit on a Friday evening with the lighting on and you understand why Saudis call this their Williamsburg.

Inside Riyadh proper, Masmak Fort (GPS 24.6311 N, 46.7136 E), built 1865, is the small mud-brick stronghold that Abdulaziz Al Saud captured on 15 January 1902 in the raid that began the modern unification. The spear-tip still embedded in the wooden door is the photograph everyone takes. Entry is free.

I always block a full half-day for the National Museum of Saudi Arabia (GPS 24.6469 N, 46.7106 E) in King Abdulaziz Historical Centre, eight galleries covering pre-Islamic Arabia to the modern kingdom. Entry SAR 25. The galleries on Hajj and Holy Mosques are the most rewarding context you can collect before any other Saudi destination.

The Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn, GPS 24.9333 N, 46.1167 E) is a 1,131 m clifftop on the Tuwaiq Escarpment, 100 km northwest of Riyadh. The escarpment drops about 300 m in one breath-stealing line over the desert floor. There is no official entry fee, but the road is rough and the area is not signposted, so I always book a private 4WD tour, usually SAR 500 (USD 134) for a half-day with Bedouin tea on the rim. Sunset is the postcard; arrive 90 minutes before for the light.

For Vision 2030 tourism, Boulevard World (GPS 24.7867 N, 46.6394 E) is an entertainment district with replicas of Paris, Tokyo and Marrakech, entry SAR 95, opened October 2022.

4. The Hejaz Coast (Mecca and Medina, plus Yanbu and Mahd adh Dhahab)

I have to be explicit and respectful here. Mecca (GPS 21.4225 N, 39.8262 E) and Medina (GPS 24.4709 N, 39.6122 E) are sacred cities open only to Muslims. There are checkpoints on the highways into Mecca where ID is verified, and non-Muslims are turned back politely but firmly. Medina has a smaller restricted zone covering the area around the Prophet's Mosque, but non-Muslims may approach the suburbs.

For Muslim readers, Mecca's Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world by area, with capacity for 4 million worshippers during Hajj. The Kaaba (GPS 21.4225 N, 39.8262 E) is the focal point of Islamic prayer worldwide. The Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, holds the burial place of Prophet Muhammad and is the second-holiest site in Islam. Quba Mosque (GPS 24.4392 N, 39.6172 E) is the first mosque ever built, founded in 622 CE when the Prophet first arrived from Mecca.

For non-Muslim travellers on the Hejaz coast, the alternatives are still beautiful. Yanbu (GPS 24.0888 N, 38.0617 E) is a port city 360 km north of Jeddah, with a restored old town and one of the best Red Sea dive corridors I have explored, where I logged a reef shark on Seven Sisters reef in March 2024. Mahd adh Dhahab (GPS 23.4889 N, 40.8500 E), the Cradle of Gold, is an ancient gold mine first worked over 3,000 years ago and active again under Maaden, the Saudi national mining company. The visitor centre is by appointment but worth the call.

Along the way, look for traces of the Hijaz Railway (the route from Damascus to Medina, opened 1908, dismantled in places between 1916 and 1918 during the Arab Revolt led by Faisal and T. E. Lawrence). The old station of Hadiyah is preserved and a quiet, atmospheric stop.

5. Al-Asir and Soudah Mountains

The Asir highlands surprised me more than any other part of Saudi Arabia. From the desert heat of the lowlands you ride a road that climbs to 3,015 m at Soudah Peak (GPS 18.2772 N, 42.3658 E), the highest point in the kingdom, where the temperature can drop to 8 C even in May while Riyadh hits 38 C. I felt as though I had stepped into a different country.

Abha (GPS 18.2164 N, 42.5053 E) is the regional capital, perched at 2,270 m, with a cool, almost Alpine climate, a cable car to the Green Mountain (GPS 18.2272 N, 42.4986 E, SAR 80 return), and the open-air Al Muftaha art village. From Abha I drove 50 km west to Rijal Almaa (GPS 18.1875 N, 42.2606 E), a village of stone-and-mud tower houses built about 900 years ago and meticulously restored between 2017 and 2022. Entry is SAR 30 and a local guide showed me the cement-free walls that have stood through monsoon rains and earthquakes.

The Habala valley (GPS 18.1297 N, 42.7456 E) is where the Flower Men live, men of the Qahtan tribe who weave crowns of juniper, basil and marigold around their hair, a tradition that long pre-dates Islam in this region. Visiting their workshops is best arranged through Visit Saudi-licensed guides; please pay for photographs.

Further south, the city of Najran (GPS 17.4924 N, 44.1277 E) holds the Al-Ukhdood Archaeological Site (GPS 17.4953 N, 44.1422 E), a settlement layered from the 3rd century BCE through the early Islamic era, with inscriptions in Sabaic and Aramaic. Entry SAR 50. Out west, the Farasan Islands (GPS 16.7050 N, 41.8333 E) sit in the southern Red Sea, reached by a free Saudi government ferry from Jazan (GPS 16.8892 N, 42.5511 E, about 2.5 hr), and they are the kingdom's quietest diving and seabird-watching coast.

The Tihama coastal lowland connects all this to Jeddah by Highway 5, but it is a long drive; I usually fly Saudia or Flyadeal between Riyadh and Abha (1 hr 30 min) and pick up rental car only locally.

Five Tier-2 destinations to add if you have extra days

NEOM (Northwest, GPS 28.2570 N, 35.5570 E): the headline Vision 2030 mega-project budgeted at USD 500 billion, including the linear city The Line and the ski resort Trojena (announced as the 2029 Asian Winter Games host). Most of NEOM is still a construction site in 2026 and tourism is limited to a few showpiece stays like Sindalah Island, opened October 2024.
Al-Ahsa Oasis (Hofuf, GPS 25.3667 N, 49.5944 E): inscribed UNESCO in June 2018, the world's largest oasis with more than 2.5 million date palms, plus historic Qarah Mountain caves and the Ibrahim Palace. Two and a half hours by road from Riyadh.
Taif (GPS 21.2854 N, 40.4194 E): the cool mountain retreat 1,879 m above sea level, world-famous for the May rose harvest. I visited a rose distillery in Al Hada, paid SAR 60 for a tour, and left with a tiny bottle of attar that lasted me a year.
Tabuk and Hisma Desert (GPS 28.3838 N, 36.5550 E): striped sandstone canyons and the Hisma desert, plus the ancient Hijaz Railway station at Tabuk and the 1559 Tabuk Castle.
Wadi Disah (GPS 27.7019 N, 36.6094 E): a 15 km canyon between sheer red cliffs with palm groves and seasonal pools, four hours by 4WD from Tabuk. One of the wildest landscapes I have driven through anywhere on the peninsula.

Cost table (2026 prices, SAR / USD / INR at near-parity)

I update this table from receipts in my phone wallet. Conversions use 1 SAR = 0.27 USD = 22 INR.

Item	SAR	USD	INR
Hostel dorm in Jeddah Al-Balad	90	24	1,980
Mid-range hotel in Riyadh (Movenpick or Centro)	540	144	11,880
Saudia one-way Riyadh to AlUla flight	450	121	9,900
AlUla hop-on shuttle (day pass)	50	13	1,100
Hegra guided tour entry with audio-guide	95	25	2,090
Edge of the World private 4WD tour (per person)	500	134	11,000
Diriyah At-Turaif walking museum entry	75	20	1,650
Bujairi Terrace dinner for two	320	86	7,040
Kabsa national-rice plate for one	65	17	1,430
Arabic coffee plus dates ritual	free to 25	0 to 7	0 to 550
Maraya Concert Hall ticket entry-level	200	54	4,400
Saudi e-visa multi-entry 365-day	480	128	10,560

A comfortable mid-range traveller should budget about SAR 900 (USD 240) a day in 2026, excluding international flight. A backpacker can survive on SAR 350 (USD 94) with hostel beds and local shawarma. A luxury traveller at Habitas AlUla or Mandarin Oriental Riyadh will spend SAR 3,000-plus (USD 800+) per day.

How to plan a 7 to 10 day Saudi trip

I have made enough planning mistakes here to share six paragraphs of working knowledge.

When to go. November to March is the only sane window for Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and Hegra, with daytime temperatures between 15 and 25 C. I avoid May to September when Riyadh, the Empty Quarter and AlUla can hit 45 to 50 C; outdoor desert sites simply close at midday. The Asir mountains buck the trend; Abha and Soudah are pleasant year-round between 8 and 28 C, and the lower humidity makes them comfortable in summer. Ramadan in 2026 falls in mid-February to mid-March; cafes close from dawn to sunset and many museums shorten hours.

Getting around. Saudia and Flyadeal run dense domestic networks. Riyadh to Jeddah is hourly and runs SAR 350 to 600. Riyadh to AlUla is twice daily, about SAR 450. The new Haramain High-Speed Rail (Jeddah to Mecca to Medina) runs at 300 km/h and is open to all on the Jeddah-Medina segment for non-Muslims at SAR 150 economy. Inside cities, I use Careem, the kingdom's preferred ride-hailing app, and rent through Theeb or Hanco for self-drive (about SAR 200 a day for a compact). Riyadh Metro Lines 1 to 6 fully opened in December 2024 and replaced most of my taxi spend.

Accommodation. AlUla has the most distinctive lodging in the country: Banyan Tree AlUla in Ashar Valley (SAR 3,200 a night, tented villas), Habitas AlUla (SAR 2,150), and the more accessible Cloud7 Residence in the Old Town (SAR 600). In Jeddah I prefer the Movenpick Tahlia or the boutique Beit Al Balad in the UNESCO zone. In Riyadh I split between Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah for a splurge and Centro Olaya by Rotana for a fair-priced base. Book AlUla at least 60 days ahead during November-March.

Dress code. Modest dress is mandated by social custom and remains expected even after the 2019 reforms relaxed enforcement. Women are no longer required to wear the abaya, but I have observed that wearing one is socially appropriate, comfortable in heat, and ends most attention. Men wear long trousers and short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirts; shorts are not appropriate outside resorts. In Mecca and Medina, Muslim women cover hair; men wear ihram in the sanctuary.

Ramadan timing. During Ramadan, cafes and restaurants close from before sunrise to sunset, but iftar buffets after sunset are spectacular and many open until 2 a.m. I plan museum visits between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and big meals after sunset. Drinking water in public during daylight hours is technically not permitted; carry a water bottle and drink discreetly indoors.

E-visa. The Saudi tourist e-visa launched in September 2019, costs SAR 480 (USD 128), and is multi-entry, valid for 365 days from issue, allowing stays of up to 90 days at a time. Citizens of more than 66 countries are eligible. Apply at visitsaudi.com or the Saudi eVisa portal. Approval times are usually a few minutes to a few hours.

Frequently asked questions

Can non-Muslims visit Mecca and Medina?
No. The city of Mecca is restricted to Muslim visitors only and access is verified by checkpoints on every approach road. Medina has a more limited restricted zone covering the Prophet's Mosque and surrounding sanctuary, but non-Muslims may enter the city's outer suburbs and many hotels there if they have business. The boundary signs are well marked. Please do not attempt to enter; the law is strict and respecting it is a basic act of cultural courtesy.

Is Saudi Arabia safe for solo travellers, including women?
In my experience, yes. Violent crime is rare, petty theft is uncommon, and the Saudi tourism authority has invested heavily in tourist police visibility around Hegra, Diriyah, Jeddah Corniche and Boulevard World. Solo women travellers I have met describe Saudi Arabia as more relaxed for them than they expected; many drive their own rental cars now that the 2018 reform took effect. Cover hair only inside mosques and during prayer at sites; abaya is optional but socially welcomed.

What about alcohol?
Alcohol remains illegal in Saudi Arabia in 2026 for both citizens and visitors. There is no duty-free arrival alcohol and possession can carry sentences of up to one year. The Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh opened a single embassy-area alcohol store in January 2024 limited to non-Muslim diplomats. Hotel bars do not serve alcohol; mocktails are common. Plan your trip on this basis and you will not have any issue.

How do I get around without renting a car?
Saudia and Flyadeal connect every major city. Inside cities, the Careem ride-hailing app works flawlessly and accepts Apple Pay. Riyadh has a six-line metro that opened end of 2024. The Haramain High-Speed Rail links Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City, Mecca-bypass and Medina. For AlUla, the hop-on shuttle (SAR 50 day pass) covers Hegra, Maraya, Old Town and Elephant Rock.

Can I drink tap water?
I do not drink tap water in Saudi Arabia. Bottled water is cheap (SAR 1 for 600 ml at any supermarket) and ubiquitous. Hotels provide complimentary bottles. In Riyadh and AlUla I carry a 1.5 L reusable bottle and refill at filtered hotel taps; in the desert I carry 4 L per person per day.

What plug type does Saudi Arabia use?
Type G plugs, the same as the UK, at 220 V and 60 Hz. I pack a universal adapter and most hotels stock spare adapters at reception. Some older Hejaz buildings still use Type F European plugs; bring a small adapter pack.

Is Saudi Arabia LGBTQ-friendly?
Saudi Arabia retains conservative laws on same-sex relationships, and public displays of affection of any kind are not permitted in public. Couples regardless of orientation should avoid hand-holding in public spaces. Many LGBTQ travellers do visit safely by keeping personal life private; that is the prevailing community advice.

What if I need medical care?
Saudi Arabia has high-quality private healthcare, particularly in Riyadh and Jeddah at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Saudi German Health. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is recommended; I carry a USD 100,000 medical and USD 250,000 evacuation policy from World Nomads. Pharmacies (Al Dawaa, Nahdi) are everywhere and stock most generic medication.

Useful Arabic phrases

as-salamu alaykum: peace be upon you (hello)
wa alaykum as-salam: and peace upon you (reply)
shukran: thank you
afwan: you are welcome / excuse me
min fadlak / min fadlik: please (to male / female)
habibi / habibti: my friend (to male / female)
inshallah: God willing (used for any future plan)
Hajj: the major pilgrimage to Mecca, an obligation on every able Muslim
Umrah: the lesser pilgrimage, performed any time of year
kabsa: the Saudi national rice dish, spiced rice with lamb or chicken
qahwa: Arabic coffee, served from a dallah pot with dates
gahwa wa tamr: coffee and dates ritual, the foundation of Saudi hospitality
abaya: the long robe worn by women
thobe: the long white shirt worn by men
ghutra and igal: the head cloth and black rope cord worn by men

Cultural notes I keep on my phone

Modest dress is the foundation of everything. Women are no longer legally required to wear the abaya, but I always recommend carrying one because the social welcome is warmer and the heat protection is real. Men wear long trousers and shirts; shorts and singlets are not appropriate outside resort grounds.

Mecca and Medina are restricted to Muslims, and the boundary is enforced. ID checks happen on the approach highways. Plan around this; the Hejaz coast still has plenty to offer non-Muslim travellers.

Alcohol is illegal across the kingdom. Possession can result in a one-year sentence. Plan a dry trip; the Saudi coffee and date culture is a worthy replacement.

Public displays of affection are not permitted. Hand-holding between partners is tolerated quietly in modern malls; kissing is not.

Prayer happens five times a day, and shops close briefly for each adhan, especially in older districts. Friday afternoon prayer is the longest closure, from about noon to 2:30 p.m. Plan errands around this.

Hospitality is central. If a Saudi host offers you three cups of coffee from a dallah, accept all three; refusing more than once is a polite signal that you are done, achieved by gently shaking the cup back and forth.

During Ramadan, cafes and restaurants are closed from before dawn to sunset. Eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours is considered disrespectful. Iftar at sunset is the best meal of the day, and most hotels lay on extraordinary buffets at fair prices.

Pre-trip preparation

I always sit down with a checklist 30 days before departure.

Visa. Apply for the Saudi tourist e-visa online at visitsaudi.com or the Saudi eVisa portal. USD 128, multi-entry, 365-day validity, 90-day stays. Approval usually in hours. Print a copy and save to your phone.

Vaccinations. Standard hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus boosters as for any Middle East trip. Meningococcal MCV4 vaccination is mandatory for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims arriving in Mecca and Medina, with proof required at port of entry. Yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a yellow-fever endemic country.

Clothing. Modest layers. I pack one abaya purchased in Saudi (SAR 80 to 150, about USD 22 to 40) for female travellers; men should bring two long-sleeve shirts and trousers. Long socks for mosque visits where shoes come off. A warm fleece for AlUla evenings (December nights drop to 5 C) and Asir mountains.

Sun and water. UV is extreme November to March and brutal April to October. SPF 50 sunscreen, polarised sunglasses, wide-brim hat. Water consumption is 4 L per person per day in any desert site; carry refillable bottles and refill at hotel filtered taps.

No alcohol. Customs at any airport will confiscate alcohol; there is no duty-free allowance on arrival. Pack only personal medical needs. Insulin and prescription drugs are allowed with a doctor's letter.

Insurance. Comprehensive travel insurance with at least USD 100,000 medical and USD 250,000 evacuation cover is what I carry. World Nomads, SafetyWing and Allianz all cover Saudi Arabia in 2026.

Three recommended trip outlines

Trip A: Jeddah and Riyadh in 5 days (Vision 2030 cities)
Day 1: Arrive Jeddah, dinner at Al-Balad. Day 2: Al-Balad walking tour, Souq Al Alawi, Floating Mosque sunset. Day 3: Saudia to Riyadh, Diriyah and Bujairi Terrace. Day 4: Edge of the World 4WD, Boulevard World evening. Day 5: National Museum, Masmak Fort, depart RUH.

Trip B: Heritage Trail with AlUla in 7 days
Day 1-2: Jeddah Al-Balad and Corniche. Day 3: Fly Jeddah to AlUla. Day 4: Hegra full-day with Rawi guide. Day 5: AlUla Old Town, Elephant Rock sunset, Maraya concert if available. Day 6: Dadan and ATV through Sharaan. Day 7: Fly AlUla to Jeddah and depart.

Trip C: Grand Saudi loop in 10 days (the trip I would do again)
Day 1-2: Jeddah Al-Balad. Day 3-5: AlUla and Hegra. Day 6-7: Riyadh, Diriyah, Edge of the World. Day 8-9: Fly to Abha, Rijal Almaa, Soudah peak. Day 10: Fly back to Riyadh or Jeddah and depart. Total budget at mid-range comfort: about USD 2,400 per person plus international flight.

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External references

Visit Saudi official tourism portal: https://www.visitsaudi.com
UNESCO World Heritage entry for Hegra (Al-Hijr / Madain Saleh): https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1293
UNESCO World Heritage entry for Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1361
UNESCO World Heritage entry for At-Turaif District in ad-Diriyah: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1329
Royal Commission for AlUla: https://www.experiencealula.com
Saudi Vision 2030 official portal: https://www.vision2030.gov.sa

Last updated: 2026-05-11.

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