SAUDI ARABIA
GEOGRAPHY
The Kingdom itself, which occupies approximately 2,250,000 square kilometers (868,730 square miles), is bounded on the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait; on the east by the Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; on the south by the Sultanate of Oman and Yemen; and on the west by the Red Sea.
Located between Africa and mainland Asia, with long frontiers on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf and with the Suez Canal near to its north-west border, the Kingdom lies in a strategically important position.
CLIMATE
Summer temperatures are very hot, reaching 40 °C (104 °F). The average high temperature in July is 42°C. However, the winters are mild and have cold nights. Despite being located in a highly arid area, it receives some rainfall. During the winters Riyadh experiences hail. Many instantaneous dust storms are a common feature and the dust is often so thick that visibility is less than 10 meters.
CAPITAL
Capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. Riyadh is situated in an oasis and connected by road and rail with Dammam 450 km/280 mi away on the Gulf; it has a population (2004) 4,087,200. Exploitation of the country's huge oil deposits since the 1930s greatly increased the prosperity of the city, which has a modern airport and industries which include an oil refinery.
As an outcome of the discovery of oil in Nejd the old walled city was largely demolished to make way for its expansion and modernization. The historic royal palace too was flattened during this modernization wave, but has since been rebuilt. Date gardens irrigated from deep wells, are located outside the city. Riyadh was previously principally inhabited by Wahabi Muslims but now has a cosmopolitan population.
CURRENCY
The Currency of Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabian Riyal. Arabia is currently one of the richest countries in the world and therefore the currency of Saudi Arabia has a global significance now. Tourism in Saudi Arabia has been growing at a rapid rate and that is another reason, why the Saudi Arabian Currency has gained such prominence.
ECONOMY
The Government, through the public sector, plays a major role in the Kingdom's industrial activity but, in recent years, the private sector has, with the Government's encouragement under the Kingdom's system of free enterprise, become increasingly involved in, and responsible for industrial
Development and diversification In order to see the Kaabah Enclosure the Muslim visitors should take the pilgrimage to Mecca in January, the Mountain of Light, the Plain of Arafat and the House of Abdullah Bin Abdul Muttalib, where Muhammad was born. Entry to these holy cities is denied to non-Muslims.
THINGS TO DO
The traditional souks, large department stores and mall complexes provide great shopping opportunities to avis shoppers. - Possibly since there are no bars, casinos, nightclubs, theatres or cinemas, shopping is a much-loved way to spend time in Saudi Arabia.
Exploring Riyadh, a modern city built on the site of the first town captured by Ibn Saud in 1902, could be an interesting pass time. The Masmak Fort and a few traditional Najdi palaces near Deera Square are the only traces of the old town that remains. At the center of the great Al-Hasa oasis is Hofuf, which has a strong Turkish influence and a very good camel market. The Agriculture is still the mainstay here and the food is sensational.
Timna and Shiban, ancient cities resting amidst orchards of pomegranates, limes and bananas will transport you into the old world.
The Obhir Creek, north of Jeddah is worth exploring. It has good facilities for water sports, including swimming, waterskiing, fishing, snorkeling and sailing, and there are similar beaches on the Gulf coast south of Al Khobar.
Saudi Arabia does not boast great driving conditions and has a high incidence of car accidents, so drive carefully down the astounding modern corniche road that winds along the sheer cliffs of the Taif escarpment to the hot coastal plain.
Find some of Saudi Arabia's ancient crafts and skills. Eight generations of the same family have worked the potteries in Jebel-al-Qara, don’t miss those.
THINGS TO SEE
Watch the King's Camel Race in April or May during the national Heritage and Cultural Festival at Jenadriyah. The annual event is one of the world's most important camel races, with something between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators, plus 2,000 camels and riders.
The ancient city of Jeddah with its ragged, coral-colored Ottoman buildings form great sights to see. The hotels and hotels and restaurants are cosmopolitan here and there are good fish and meat markets.
Asir, a range of coastal mountains has some astonishing landscapes and wildlife and the only a part of the kingdom there has significant wild vegetation. The remoter areas are inhabited by baboon, gazelle and leopard. See the ancient gasaba towers whilst you are in the region, the ancient caravan city of Qaryat-al-Fau, the great dam and temple at Najran.
See an ancient salt mine in use. In Abqaiq a 5,000-year-old salt mine is still in operation!
Visit Taif to see pink palaces in between the stunning cliff-tops. Such beauty and a mild climate have made this town Saudi Arabia's the official summer capital.
The settlement of fishermen and weavers on Tarut Island presents a very pleasant and picturesque sight. Additionally this settlement is also the site of the oldest town on the peninsula.
MAJOR CITIES
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. Additionally it is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama. It is home to over 5 million people and is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau.
Jeddah is located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh and is considered the second commercial capital of Saudi Arabia. Jeddah, Islam's holiest city is the principal gateway to Mecca, which able-bodied Muslims are required to visit at least once in their lifetime.
Mecca is a modern, cosmopolitan and ethnically diverse city and the holiest meeting site of the Islamic religion.
In the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia lays Medina city, which serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the burial place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and thus the second holiest city in Islam. It is also historically significant for being the prophet’s home after the Hijrah.
Dammam the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi Arabia. The largest port on the Persian Gulf is Dammam, which is served by the King Fahd International Airport, the largest airport in the world in terms of land area.
Ta’if is a city in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia on the slopes of the Al-Sarawat Mountains. The Saudi Government moves each summer from the heat of Riyadh to Ta'if. The city is the center of an agricultural area known for its grapes and honey
Buraydah is the capital of Al-Qassim Province in north central Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.
Tabuk, the capital city of the Tabuk province lies in north western Saudi Arabia. The Battle of Tabouk took place in this city in the time of Prophet Muhammad.
GETTING AROUND
All domestic air services are run by Saudi, which is quite reliable and reasonably priced. The bus is a pretty good option in case you're not pressed for time and you don't have a car., has Comfortable, air-conditioned buses are run by the bus company, SAPTCO, but you can buy tickets only one day in advance or on the day of travel. In place of buses you can take service taxis, which go to most of the same destinations as buses for the same price, but don't run to a timetable.
The only stretch of railway track in the entire Arabian Peninsula is in Saudi Arabia- one line from Riyadh to Dammam, via Hofuf and Abqaiq. On this track, trains run three times a day except on Thursday. In case you would like to drive around, a western driving license is acceptable and you must be a man. The Saudis drive on the right.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
There is a good range of hotel accommodation throughout the country. Except during the pilgrimage season when advance reservations are recommended accommodation is generally easy to find. Service charges are fixed at 15% for deluxe and first-category hotels and at 10% for all others. Hotel charges double in Mecca and Medina during the pilgrimage season, and increase by 25% during the summer months in resort areas such as Abha, Al-Baha, Kamis Mushait and Taif.
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