Riyadh Tourism

Riyadh Tourism

The empire of Saudi Arabia receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, but a small number of enter as tourists. This conventional country connecting Africa and mainland Asia contains the religious centre of the Islamic world, Mecca, and the holy city of Medina, so the majority of the visitors are pilgrims, allowable on individual religious visas. Therefore, Riyadh tourism is still thriving to establish itself in the contemporary world.

Others arrive at this oil-rich city on supported business trips, usually finding little time or facility for free time and bliss. Saudi Arabia and Riyadh is intent on keeping its traditions, culture and religious inheritance away from snooping western eyes. Its cities, however, are not backwaters but modern, bustling business centers, like the Royal capital, Riyadh, offering outstanding hotels and some out of this world sights, like the Al Faisaliah golden geodesic dome, one of the tallest buildings in the region.

There are a number of Riyadh tourist attractions. Among it all, the magic of Arabia shines through in the souks (markets) where vendors flaunt everything from carpets to camel milk. Rules and set of laws make Tourism in Riyadh difficult for foreigners except on a few accepted and luxurious tours, but sites like the ruins of 15th-century Dir'aiyah (the nation's first capital) and trips to the world's largest camel market make for exciting excursions. The conserved very old city of Jeddah is also listed as a 'tourist site', as is that city's seafront corniche, a popular spot with the air of a British seaside resort that draws the country's own domestic holidaymakers.

Inhabiting most of the Arabian Peninsula, and bordered by no less than eight Middle-eastern states, many of them discordant, Riyadh Tourism manages its highly controlled religious culture flanking the assault of its progressive oil-boom industry. The kingdoms planned position both geographically, culturally and religiously at the centre of the Arab world have made it an insecure place for westerners and those who do visit are advised to plan well and be fully learned.

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