SAUDI ARABIA  >  MIDDLE EAST  >  INDEX


Travel information Saudi Arabia - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  

Provinces in Saudi Arabia : Bahah, Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Jawf, Madinah, Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah ([ astern Province ], Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered one of the oldest Islamic states in the world. It has the Kiblah for all Muslims and the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. It is also the birthplace of Mohammad the messenger of Allah, peace and bless be upon him, and the cradle of Islam.

It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west; the Persian Gulf (*), United Arab Emirates and Qatar on the east; Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan to the north and Yemen and the Sultanate of Oman to the south.

Capital of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh


car hire, hotels, travel agencies, travel guides, transport / travelling to saudi arabia

links


Car Rental Saudi Arabia

 Holiday Autos  -   
Holiday Autos offers the best fully inclusive car hire prices. Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.

Hotels in Saudi Arabia

Somewhere2stay.com  -  Cheap Holiday Accommodation - Jeddah and Riyadh

  -  Hotels in Jeddah and Mecca

 

 

 
Centrally located hotels ranging from small family run budget accommodation to world-class five star hotels.

More Hotels? See the page Hotels

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

 -  Create your perfect trip to Saudi Arabia - Flight, Hotel and Car



 21st Century Haj & Umra Services [ Based in London ]
Various all-inclusive package trips to Saudi Arabia for Haj and Umra.
 Haj & Umra  -  pilgrimage tours from the UK - specialist in all inclusive Hajj and Umrah packages
All Tours Include: Return air fares from London (direct flight with Saudi Arabian airline) - All hotel accommodation is fully air-conditioned and near to the Haramain Sharifain (4 people per room with en suite bathroom ) - Round transfers by air-conditioned coaches, as per itinerary - Mina, Arafat, Mozdalifah and ziyarat - Religious guides - Bank drafts - All meals - Application for Visa.

Travel Guides Saudi Arabia / Related Books

Saudi Arabia - Lonely Planet -  Anthony Ham, Jason Shams
This Lonely Planet guidebook takes an in-depth look at Saudi culture, history and politics, and includes a special section for expatriate workers as well as detailed information for pilgrims on the Hajj.
Paperback 192 pages (September 2004); Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; Language: English; ISBN: 1740596676
Arabian Peninsula - Lonely Planet Country Guide -  Anthony Ham, Frances Linzee Gordon, Virginia Maxwell
Paperback 496 pages (November 2004); Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; Language: English; ISBN: 1741042941
Saudi Arabia Exposed -  John R. Bradley
Hardcover 208 pages (July 29, 2005); Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; Language: English; ISBN: 1403964335
Living and Working in the Gulf States & Saudi Arabia 
Robert Hughes, Graeme Chesters, Jim Watson (Illustrator)
A comprehensive guide for anyone contemplating working in the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, this book covers everything a person could need to live, work, study or just to spend time in the region.
Paperback 400 pages (April 9, 2003); Publisher: Survival Books; Language: English; ISBN: 1901130215
Riyadh Handbook -  Ionis Thompson, Lisa Greeberg (Editor)
This guidebook, fully revised and updated for the new Millennium, is intended for the expatriate or new employee and his family coming to live in Riyadh for the first time. It offers advice on what documentation, clothes and equipment are needed when arriving in Riyadh; on finding somewhere to live; and on choosing schools and seeking medical treatment. A section on shopping describes the shops, supermarkets, shopping malls and suqs supplying both the necessities and the luxuries of life, which can be so hard to locate in an unfamiliar environment. Other topics include transport and banking hours, entertainment, sightseeing and how to amuse children in Riyadh. Illustrated with views of the city, this handbook contains a map section, an appendix listing the telephone numbers of shops, hospitals and other services referred to in the text, and airline offices, compounds and national groups and embassies.
Spiral-bound 94 pages (December 2000); Publisher: Stacey International; Language: English; ISBN: 1900988224

Transportation / How do I travel to Saudi Arabia

 Airports: Al-Baha Al Aqiq and Dhahran-Airport
 Jeddah Airport  -  King Abdulaziz International
 Riyadh Airport  -  King Khaled International
 Dammam Airport  -  King Fahad Airport

 -  Flights to Saudi Arabia 
Book cheap flights to Saudi Arabia at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

  -  Flight tickets Saudi Arabia

Flight.co.uk

  Airline Tickets to Saudi Arabia  -  price comparison possible

 Saudi Arabian Airlines  -  national carrier

 Saudian Railways
The Kingdom has one railway line that extends from Riyadh to Dammam in the Eastern Province. It travels through cities such as Dhran, Hafoof, Bageeg, Herd, and Kharj. In recent years, the railway has been improved and another railway line between Riyadh and Hafoof has been built.

 SAPTCO  -  Saudi Company for Public Transportation [ buses throughout the country ]

 Shipping
The Kingdom has a number of large seaports where passenger ships berth including Jeddah Islamic Port and Dhiba Port.

A network of highways connects SA with its neighboring countries: Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. There is also a bridge that connects Bahrain with Al-Khobar.

 Maps International  -  Maps of Saudi Arabia  
Mapsinternational.co.uk is one of the largest map shops online.
 Online Map of Saudi Arabia [ Uni Texas - Perry-Castañeda Library - Map Collection ]


Links 

 Travel Insurance  -  online travel and holiday insurance for UK and Irish residents

 Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  -  Tourist Bureau

 Riyadh  -  Capital City Saudi Arabia
Riyadh is the seat of government; ministries, embassies, diplomatic missions, as well as It contains educational, financial, agricultural, cultural, technical, commercial and social organizations.

 Al Bahah [ mintaqat ]
 Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah
 Al Jawf
 Al Madinah
 Al Qasim
 Ar Riyad
 Ash Sharqiyah [ East Province ]
 Asir
 Hail
 Jizan
 Makkah / Mecca
 Najran
 Tabuk

 Abha
 Al Khobar
Al-Khobar is one of the three main cities in the Eastern Province, the others being Dammam and Dhahran. These three cities form a closely joined triangle which has existed for centuries. In the past, Al-Khobar was a small port on the Arabian Gulf, inhabited mainly by fishermen. With the discovery of oil, it was transformed into an industrial port.
 Dhahran
This city is noted for housing the largest oil company in the world, the government-owned ARAMCO
 Dammam  -  coastal town in the eastern region
 Hafr Al Batin
 Jeddah - coastal town western region
The second largest city after Riyadh, it is the main port of the Kingdom on the Red Sea and main gate through which most of the pilgrims arrive by air and sea to perform Umrah, Haj or to visit the two holy mosques.
The name Jeddah meaning the 'Ancestor of Women' is attributable to a once existing tomb in the city which is believed to belong to Eve. Jeddah which gained importance during the Ottoman rule, was incorporated into the Kingdom of Hejaz and later came under the British control. It joined the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1927.
 Khamis Mushayt
 Medina  -  holy city
 Mecca  -  holy city
 Najran
 Taif
 Yanbu

 Al-Ahsa
The largest oasis in Saudi Arabia, Al-Ahsa is an area that extends from the Arabian Gulf to the Dahwa and Oman deserts, and forms the border with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. Covering an area of 2,500 kilometers in the southern part of the Eastern Province, it is home to more than 600 ,000 people, who mainly inhabit Al-Ahsa's four major cities: al-Hofuf, Al-Mobarraz, Al-Oyoun, and Al-Oman.
In the long history of this region, inhabitants have included the kanoomites, Jun Hermites, Tasmis and Banu  Abdul Qais. An impressive number of historical sites give witness to the area's importance.
 Haj en Oemra
Makkah and Al Madinah are two of the most important cities for all Muslims. These cities are where the two Holy Mosques are located along with other sacred sites. Every year millions of Muslims travel to these places to perform Hajj and Umrah and pay a visit to the Prophets' Mosque to greet Muhammad, peace be on him.
 Historical sites
Such as Mada'in Salih in Diriyah which are renown for thier antiquity.
 Universities in Ryadh
King Saud and the Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University

Culinair - Arabian cooking

The Arabian Delights Cookbook: Mediterranean Cuisines from Mecca to Marrakesh 
Anne Marie Weiss- Armush, Penny Williams- Yaqub (Illustrator)
Paperback 314 pages (July 1995); Publisher: Lowell House; Language: English; ISBN: 1565652193
 Culinair  -  Arabian recipes
Cooking of the Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates 
Tess Mallos
Even the most serious and well-travelled of cooks would be amazed at the vast array of spices and fresh ingredients available in the markets of the Gulf States. The arid landscape of the region contrasts remarkably with the abundance of food and flavours. Cooking of the Gulf enables you to bring these unique flavours into your kitchen. With easy-to-prepare recipes, you will be able to delight family and friends with the aromatic flavours of Arabic cooking.
Paperback 64 pages (May 1, 2004); Publisher: Parkway Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 1898259062

History of Saudi-Arabia

Independent on September 23, 1932 [ unification ]

Cradle of Islam: The Hijaz and the Quest for an Arabian Identity -  Mai Yamani
In 1932, the Al Saud family officially incorporated the Kingdom of the Hijaz into the new Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Hijazis became a people without a country of their own. Cradle of Islam focuses on contemporary Hijazi life and culture made subservient to the dominant national rules of Saudi Arabia, as dictated by a political and religious elite rooted in the central Najd region of the country. But centralisation was not enough to assimilate or tame Saudi Arabia's distinct regional cultures. The Al Saud family could rule but not fully integrate . This book is an insider's account of the hidden world of the Hijazis including their rituals which have helped to preserve Hijazi identity until now.
Hardcover 224 pages (July 23, 2004); Publisher: I.B. Tauris; Language: English; ISBN: 1850437106
Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy 
Matthew R. Simmons
A troubling answer to the most critical question facing today's world energy market-can Saudi Arabia meet the rising world demand for oil in the years ahead?
Sparked by personal observations of Saudi oil wells-which led him to suspect that some Saudi fields were in decline-energy industry insider Matt Simmons has created a compelling case that Saudi Arabia's production will soon reach an apex, after which the world will be confronted with an immense and potentially catastrophic oil shortage. Written in a clear and engaging style, Twilight in the Desert provides an in-depth look at the world oil market and the mismanagement of Saudi oil resources. This factually based book is backed by over 200 technical papers-all published over the last 20 years-that individually detail problems with particular Saudi oil wells and fields, and collectively demonstrate how the entire Saudi system could stall under the pressure of higher world oil demand. Based on his analysis, Mr. Simmons asserts that sudden and sharp oil production declines could happen at any time. Twilight in the Desert shows that even under the most optimistic scenario, Saudi Arabia may be able to maintain current rates of production for several years, but will not be able to increase production enough to meet the expected increase in global demand. Eventually, the reckoning day will come, and the world economy will be confronted with a major shock that will stunt economic growth, increase inflation, and further destabilize the Middle East.
Matthew R. Simmons (Houston, TX) is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simmons & Company International, a Houston-based investment bank that specializes in the energy industry. He currently serves on the boards of The Atlantic Council of the United States and Brown Forman Corporation, and is a member of the National Petroleum Council and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Hardcover 448 pages (July 22, 2005); Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Language: English; ISBN: 047173876X
The Ottoman Gulf: The Creation of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, 1870-1914 
Frederick F. Anscombe
Aiming to dispel the notion that Britain is exclusively responsible for the formation of the Persian Gulf's modern states, this text puts into perspective the central roles played by the Ottoman empire and explains the reasons behind the Ottoman occupation of the Persian Gulf in 1871.
Paperback 288 pages (January 1998); Publisher: Columbia University Press; Language: English; ISBN: 0231108397

Music, Culture & Entertainment

Saudi Customs and Etiquette 
Kathy Cuddihy, Kitty Carruthers (Illustrator), Samantha Crooks (Illustrator)
Wobbling one's coffee cup to indicate satisfaction, purposefully excluding any idiomatic reference to shoes, and taking care to handle food with only the first three fingers. These are not bizarre eccentricities, but rather important existing social customs and conventions in Saudi. This handbook, aims to close cultural divides between Western and Saudi customs. It covers everything a visitor in Saudi may need in order to survive and impress in social situations. From explanations of gift-giving conventions, to a layout of the lunar-governed Muslim calendar, the reader is guided through the conventions and intricacies of life in Saudi. A glossary of terms and a selection of Arabic proverbs, blessings, expressions and sayings, is interspersed between facts about the legal framework of Islam, advice on business conventions and attitudes in Saudi, and explanations of procedures for customary Saudi marriages is also included. Specifically designed for those visiting the region on pleasure or business, this book should also appeal to anyone interested in Saudi culture, its people and their customs.
Paperback 100 pages (October 2002); Publisher: Stacey International; Language: English; ISBN: 1900988526
 Aramusic.com  -  arabian music
 Haij
Hajj is a Holy Pilgrimage. It is one of the pillars of Islam and must be performed by all muslims, if physically and mentally fit and financially able to afford the journey.

Web Portal / Search Engines / Directories

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 Saudi Travel directory with links to cities, etc.

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 Simplyislam.com -  islamic goods 

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