Many Muslims travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform umrah and hajj. If you are Muslim, go to Mecca and Medina to visit the icons in Saudi Arabia. There are Nabawi Mosque, Masjidil Haram (Great Mosque of Mecca), Abraj Al Bait (Clock Towers) and Ka’bah (also spelled as Kaaba). Other religious destinations for Muslims are Jabal an-Nur Mountain and Uhud Mountain. For non-Muslims, you can see the cities and public spaces, such as Jebel Fihrayn – popularly known as the Edge of the World. You can come to Diriyah, a prominent destination for culture and heritage in Saudi. Al-Balad, a historical area in Jeddah, is famous for its traditional buildings. This area was built of coral rock and decorated with elaborate latticed windows. One destination you should have on your list is Al-’Ula, an ancient city allegedly once the abode of demons.

Kabsa is one of the typical Saudi foods you must try. This rice dish has spices made with mutton or chicken and raisins. Kabsa is served with tomato sauce and pickled cucumbers. Don’t leave Saudi if you haven’t tried the original homemade shawarma. Try their maamoul or old-time dates-filled cookies. Maamoul is often served with tea or coffee in homes in Saudi Arabia. Maamoul is a low-sugar cake known for its strong flavor. Make sure you taste it!

Saudi Arabia has quite many rules about behavior and decency in public places. Drinking alcohol or being visibly drunk in public is a violation. Swearing and making rude gestures are offensive acts. The violators can be subject to local laws. You cannot wear tight clothes and inappropriate outfits in Saudi. It is advised for men and women not to wear shorts or sleeveless tops. This applies when going to government buildings, airports, health facilities, and malls.

Recently, Saudi has been progressing to be more open to tourists. One of the initiatives is the e-visa program for tourists. There are specific rules for tourists to obey. This is about maintaining the spiritual value of worship and the security of the places. One of them is not allowing non-Muslim tourists to enter Mecca and Medina. The government provides the Taif-Riyadh road, an alternative way for non-Muslim tourists not to cross Mecca.

Recreational and religious tourism is essential in this country. You can visit their beautiful natural sites in Jeddah, Yanbu, Abha and Umluj. For culinary exploration, plan to try various delicious culinary delights, such as kabsa, shawarma and mandi (a rice dish). You will find them in restaurants or traditional markets. If you want a shopping place, go to the grand shopping centers. There are Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, Mall of Arabia in Jeddah and Galleria Mall in Riyadh. Travelers can get various items like jewelry, handcraft and food product.