Once Upon a Dune in Arabia

When life is busy and the days just roll into each other, it is hard to realize our own milestones and achievements.. We need to sit with ourselves and scroll through our minds , our daily sheets in the calendars to know when we have traveled and what locations we have actually managed to see. This whole year has left almost all of us feeling that we haven’t been travelling as much, but sitting down and looking at the destinations makes us realize that, in fact, we have been to new countries with minimal prior planning and on a budget, which instantly lifts our spirits and reminds us of all our blessings.

Covid Life in General

Countries all over the world applied travel restrictions to limit the coronavirus spread. Airport closures, the suspension of incoming and outgoing flights, and nationwide lockdowns are just some of the measures that countries are implementing in an effort to help contain the pandemic.

After the spread of the pandemic in the first two quarters of 2020, at least 93 percent of the global population lived in countries with coronavirus-related travel restrictions, with approximately 3 billion people residing in countries enforcing complete border closures to foreigners.

However, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines offer hope, with many countries starting to vaccinate their populations and global agreements being put in place to help poorer countries across the world to inoculate their own. Travel, too, is beginning to show glimmers of recovery. Many people desperate to get a holiday under their belts are beginning to make tentative enquiries and bookings for later in 2021 and into 2022. And this is why we think the best time to visit Saudi Arabia EVER is just around the corner.

Here are a few reasons why Saudi Arabia is going to be the best place to visit .There are few histories that can ever be forgotten and the history of Saudi is one of them.

The History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Though histories are boring, I find this particular piece of history quite interesting. The history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates back to September 23, 1932, when the royal decree, the dual kingdom of the Hejaz and Najd with its dependencies, administered since 1927 as two separate units, was unified under the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Arabian countries were unified as Saudi Arabia.

The First Saudi State

During the early 18th century, a reformer named Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab sought protection in the town of Diriyah which was ruled by Muhammad bin Saud, as his teachings on religious views were controversial. A few years later Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and a scholar named Muhammad bin Saud agreed to form the first Saudi state.

As seen in the movies , the widespread popularity and successful reign of the ASaud rulers aroused the suspicion of the Ottoman Empire, who were the dominant power . It was then the Ottomans tried to besiege the olden City of Diriyah.This is the history of the first Saudi State and the oldest city in the kingdom

The Second Saudi State

The Saud family had gained political control of central Arabia. The next Saudi ruler, Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud, moved  his capital to Riyadh, which is about 25 kilometres to the south of the old city of Diriyah, and he established the Second Saudi Though the state enjoyed peace under Turki, it was completely shattered again by the Ottoman Empire who captivated a few parts of the Saudi state.It was then , Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Saud sought refuge with the Bedouin tribes in the vast sand desert and his family traveled to Kuwait, where they stayed for a few years.He was accompanied by his younger son Abdulaziz, who was already making his mark as a fierce warrior.

The Modern Kingdom

As the name suggests, the modern day Saudi Arabia was formed on September 23, 1932,as a unified single nation.The legendary King Abdulaziz was an outstanding leader of imagination and vision , who set Saudi Arabia on the road to modernization. He improvised the road systems and the communication.He also put forward steps to improve the education sector. Thus started a peaceful life for the residents and expatriates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Diriyah, the birthplace of the first Saudi state, historical crossroads of pilgrims and traders, and home to one of the kingdom’s most ambitious heritage developments.

Curved along the outskirts of Riyadh, and formed on the oasis that spilt from the banks of Wadi Hanifa,

Diriyah’s mud-brick walls once housed a thriving desert city that was a powerhouse of culture and commerce. Its At-Turaif district, the area’s citadel-marked primary quarter, was the original seat of power for the kingdom’s Al Saud family. In 1745, the city was named the country’s capital, laying the foundations for what would later become a unified Saudi Arabia.

Why travel to Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is rich in attractions and symbolism. Saudi Arabia is often misunderstood by many, but is worth a visit.The country boasts dramatic mountain tops, picturesque hill stops and seemingly endless rivers and sand dunes.

For Muslims, the cities of Mecca and Medina, rich in Prophetic significance, have no equal, while the mosques of Madain Saleh, known as the second Petra, and the sophisticated rock art at Jubbah are the Kingdom’s greatest pre-Islamic treasures.

Diriyah fell in late 1818 at the end of the Wahhabi War and was succeeded as the nation’s capital by the nearby settlement of Riyadh. The ruins of At-Turaif were designated a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2010 and the area has since been the subject of a painstaking restoration plan aimed at bringing its historical legacy back to life. While work at Diriyah is still under way, there is ample heritage-rich sites that are open to the public.

Amazing discoveries

The Open air museum at night

As for now, the work is ongoing in the At-Turaif quarter, which connects to Al Bujairy via bridge, and is set to be transformed into a vast open-air museum, housing a series of themed collections alongside mosques, galleries, and a traditional market selling authentic crafts and souvenirs. Visitors will also be able to pass through the district’s streets and see first-hand where key moments in Saudi Arabia’s history occurred. Parts of the district are slated to open in late 2019, and through into early 2020, as the wider cultural site – including luxury hotels, curated retail destinations, and other attractions – moves to launch. For now, Diriyah continues to offer a mesmerizing glimpse into traditional life in Saudi Arabia, and the stories that are shaping its future.

Al-Ula open Air Museum

The crowds will have a reverse snowball effect.It is inevitable that it will take some time for global travel to reach pre-COVID levels. Airlines are running at reduced capacity and many hotels and tourist businesses have unfortunately gone bankrupt. As indeed have several large travel companies. Whilst this is a devastating blow, it does have some upsides for travelers looking forward.

Travel will not resume properly in KSA until it is safe to do so. When it is fully safe, if you make it onto one of the first flights, then you are surely going to have the run of the place. No more queues to venture into the Pyramids. No 6am dash to reserve a sunbed pool on your free days. And social distancing in the museums will mean smaller crowds and better access to the exhibits. Whilst we expect demand to come back pretty quickly, the first few months of tentative travel offer the chance to explore in relative tranquility.

Clear blue seas and lesser pollution

With its long stretches of sandy beaches and cool walkways, Jeddah Corniche has always been one of the city’s main draws. Following a major revamp in 2017, which added three new swimming bays, a winding pier and lush parklands, the area is now a must-see destination, blending seamlessly with Jeddah’s cosmopolitan appeal.

Families will love the wide open spaces, where children can burn off steam in the designated playparks or splash about in the fountains. Adults can sign up for a selection of watersports on the beach, hire bikes and cycle along the 4.2 km corniche, or stroll down the pier to take in the sunset and beautiful Red Sea views.

Beautiful, quaint villages

Hidden in the heart of Najd, an oasis-dotted region 200km northwest of Riyadh, Ushaiger Heritage Village provides a glimpse of a slow-paced Saudi society of old and mind-blowing is the word which represents Taif.

Taif is a city in the mountains. The wonderful portrait of the peaks will greet your window. Taif has been taken out of your dream. The flowers across the valleys make a rosy welcome to the city. You will catch a whiff of roses as you walk through the city.

Bedouins first settled here 1,500 years ago and Ushaiger quickly became a popular stopping point for pilgrims crossing to Makkah, thanks to its springs and low-brimmed olive and palm groves. But far from being a dusty, deserted museum piece, Ushaiger – which, in a naming quirk, means ‘little blonde’ to reflect the nearby red mountain that looms over the yellow mud houses – still has a small community of residents, making use of its schools, shops and mosques. To walk its narrow lanes is to enter a living museum, draped with traces of an ancient way of life.No visit to Ushaiger is complete without a drive up the nearby mountain road to take in the golden sunset and gaze down at the sprawling village spread beneath you.

So, are you ready to gear up for a world of travel?

It’s been a rough year for us all, since those mysterious virus emerged in Wuhan, China. Thankfully, the pandemic does seem to be in its final stages. The fantastic work of scientists around the world has led to the production of numerous vaccines, and miracle-working healthcare professionals have begun a mammoth effort to vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable. All this means that travel to Saudi Arabia  should soon be back on the cards.

As we can see, there will be many benefits to getting there early. From bargains and better bird-watching opportunities, to fewer crowds at attractions. And KSA itself is set for a great few months. The long  awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the display of some of the countless new discoveries made in 2020 are sure to attract travelers for years to come.

To a novice traveler, Saudi Arabia is perhaps a place full of mystery, covered by religious and cultural traditions, but the beautiful country has much more to offer and will take you even to the edge of the world . Bon Voyage !