Tips & Tricks
Jeddah (city) – this Saudi port city is located on the Red Sea, which acts as a modern commercial hub & gateway for pilgrimages to holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Resort hotels, beaches and outdoor sculptures line the Corniche (a seafront promenade anchored by the iconic King Fahd’s fountain). Jeddah’s al-Balad historic district dates […]
Mina – this place is located inside a low-lying valley in the province of Mecca (and is appx. 8 km. east of Mecca city). Mina is called the “City of Tents”, since it has over 100,000 air-conditioned tents to provide temporary shelter to 3 million pilgrims. Mina is located between Mount Arafat and Mecca’s […]
Mount Arafat (Makkah Region, Hejaz) – best known for being the site of Mohamed’s last sermon, Mount Arafat is a granite hill about 20 km east of central Mecca in the plain of Arafat. Mount Arafat reaches about 70 meters in height, and is also known as the “Mount of Mercy”. Nowadays, this mountain is […]
Qusur al Muqbil (Old City, Riyadh) – this mud brick abandoned village, located on the outskirts of modern Riyadh, gives visitors a glimpse of how locals lived for centuries (well before the country’s oil boom). Free admission. Open 24 hours.
Mecca (City) – located in a desert valley in the western part of the country, Mecca is Islam’s holiest city. It’s also the birthplace of the Prophet Mohamed and the Islamic faith. Only Muslims are allowed there. Millions of Muslim worshippers arrive in Mecca for the annual Hajj (pilgrimage), a tradition that began in the […]
Riyadh – located in a desert plain in the country’s center, this is the capital of Saudi Arabia, as well as its main financial hub. Business district landmarks include the 302 meter-high Kingdom Center, with a sky bridge connecting two towers, and 257 meter-high Al Faisaliah Center, with a glass globe summit. In the […]