Dubai’s home-grown hotel group FIVE is looking at potentially expanding beyond the emirate into the world’s largest hospitality markets. This includes a potential resort in party haven Las Vegas and in the conservative Gulf kingdom Saudi Arabia.
21.11.2023 - 08:14 / travelweekly.com
Because Saudi Arabia is the largest country by land mass in the Middle East, you'll want to set aside at least a week for your next visit. In addition to its vast size, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has an endless number of things to do and see, from futuristic and bustling cities to ancient lands with artifacts galore. Visitors to Saudi Arabia can also find all kinds of high-end shopping, an array of opulent palaces, countless mosques and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also has some truly unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some of which are so far off the beaten path they have hardly been seen by man. If you're hoping to fill your trip to Saudi Arabia with exploration and wonder, here's a rundown of the most amazing and Insta-worthy UNESCO World Heritage sites you'll find throughout the country.
The Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, which is also referred to as the Hegra Archaeological Site, is home to an array of well-preserved tombs that mimic the look and feel of historic Petra in Jordan. Many of the tombs here date back to the 1st century BC, and visitors can see cave drawings and historic inscriptions from the pre-Nabataean period.
In total, the Al-Hijr Archaeological Site is home to 11 monumental tombs, most of which can be visited and explored by visitors to the region.
As the original capital of the Saudi Dynasty, the At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah features the remains of ancient palaces and other historic buildings that date back as far as the 15th century. Visitors here can see wonders like the Salwa Palace, which once served as the royal residence for the kingdom's monarchs.
Several museums can also be found here, including the Diriyah Museum, the Military Museum, the Arabian Horse Museum and the Saudi Daily Life Museum. Each one features materials and displays that accurately represent Saudi history and the beginnings of the Kingdom as it exists today.
Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahsa Oasis is located in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, and it is largely composed of historical buildings along with gardens, springs, wells and a drainage lake that was originally built for agricultural purposes. Many of the buildings and installations still existing in the oasis tell a story of human settlement that dates all the way back to the Neolithic period.
The twelve areas of the oasis make Al-Ahsa the largest oasis in the world, and the region is also home to 2.5 million date palms.
Hima Cultural Area is a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia that is located in an arid mountainous region of the country along an
Dubai’s home-grown hotel group FIVE is looking at potentially expanding beyond the emirate into the world’s largest hospitality markets. This includes a potential resort in party haven Las Vegas and in the conservative Gulf kingdom Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Crown Prince has relaunched and “rebranded” his project outside of Riyadh called Qiddiya – a super-city purely focused on sports, leisure and entertainment. The new Qiddiya vision has been announced without a price tag, nor a firm opening date, but is described as a “cornerstone of Vision 2030” – Mohammed Bin Salman’s ambition to diversify his kingdom’s economy away from oil exports by the end of the decade.
Will Smith is the latest celebrity to promote Saudi Arabia. Smith posted a video on Instagram Wednesday morning showing his recent visit to Neom, a $500 billion project Saudi Arabia is building and hoping to open by next year.
The master developer of Saudi Arabia’s super-luxury island tourism project, The Red Sea, is working on another giga-project that will house more affordable hotel options and tap into a market — millions of travelers strong. Red Sea Global (RSG) group CEO John Pagano confirmed the development to Skift, adding that it will open before 2030 and introduce thousands more hotel rooms to the kingdom’s burgeoning tourism sector.
The agreement will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry by building and supporting the future local ecosystem for electric flights. The partnership will also contribute to the Vision 2030 sustainability goals and the ambitious targets in the aviation sector.
Saudi Arabia was the only representative of the Middle East in in developing the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST) led by the Expert Group on MST.
The red-carpet reception marked the climax of WTA’s landmark 30th anniversary of celebrating travel excellence.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has acquired a significant minority stake in Rocco Forte Hotels, the luxury hotel operator said Monday.
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious mega-development Neom continues to announce small boutique hotels. With more than half a trillion dollars at its disposal, Neom could build the biggest hotels in the world, but, for now, is opting to unveil properties no more than 100 keys in size.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will acquire a 10% stake in Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in Europe. Saudi is buying the share off of Ferrovial of Spain, while Paris-based Ardian will acquire 15 percent in a deal worth £2.37 billion ($3 billion) The deal is being made by the Public Investment Fund, known as PIF, which is chaired by the kingdom’s crown prince.
BIE Member States elect Saudi Arabia as host country of World Expo 2030! Congratulations Riyadh!
In a high-profile showdown, Rome, Busan and Riyadh are the top contenders to become the host city of the 2030 World Expo, with the organizing body choosing the winner on Tuesday.