Greetings! We recently returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia (county #83), officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (abbreviated KSA), where we were able to experience Riyadh and The Edge of the World. While it is in the region known as the Middle East, KSA is a country in Western Asia – it is the third largest country that is entirely in Asia, and the second largest country in the Arab world (Algeria is the largest). Below, you will find information and photos from our trip.
Modern Saudi Arabia (KSA) was founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz, who established an “absolute monarchy,” which consists of the king, princes of the Al Saud family, and other “traditional elites” who rule an authoritarian regime. They have a “Basic Law,” which reflects that KSA is an Islamic state, with Islam as the official religion, Arabic as the official language, and Riyadh as the capital.
The current king (King Salman) is ill, and his son, the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (known as MBS for short) has largely taken over the development of KSA in an effort to make it an attractive location for business and tourism. We were told that when he took over, he rid the Kingdom of corruption, and brought in consultants to make KSA the best country in the world. While there are 20 universities in KSA (including several that are named after King Abdullah, with a focus on research for oil), in 2006, MBS started a program that would fully fund residents of KSA (i.e., provide them with a scholarship covering room, board, and living expenses, plus insurance) to live in the United States and go to any university. Now, the process is more limited, including which schools they can select (they must choose one of the top ten schools, but can go anywhere in the world). This exposure helped KSA move toward being more modern and more moderate/less conservative. MBS also wanted there to be more sustainable greenery (yes, in a desert) and agriculture, so, they planted over a million plants in one year.
Interesting Fact: There are many palm trees in Riyadh, but they stopped planting them because they consume a lot of water and they do not provide shade, something that is very important in a place with summer temperatures averaging 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).
History of Early Humans and Religion
Saudi Arabia has been identified as having the earliest evidence of human activity, and is the birthplace of several ancient civilizations and cultures. It is also the birthplace of Islam, the second largest religion in the world (behind Christianity), with 93% of the population practicing the religion (85-90% Sunni; 10-15% Shia). Saudi Arabia is known as the “The Land of the Two Holy Mosques,” referencing the two holiest places in Islam: Mecca (Makkah in KSA) and Medina (Madinah in KSA).
Interesting Fact: Individuals practicing the religion of Islam pray five times a day: sunrise, 8am, noon, sunset, 8pm. The Call to Prayer is heard throughout the Kingdom.
RIYADH
Riyadh (ree-yahd) is the capital of Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city on the Arabian peninsula, and the most populous city in the Kingdom (and third most populous city in the Middle East), with a population of 7.6 million people. KSA is the most conservative country in the Arab world, and Riyadh is considered to be the most conservative city in Saudi Arabia; however, that does not keep people from moving there, as it is also the city with the most job opportunities in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s conservatism has historically been reflected in how women are treated and presented. There has been the expectation that they wear a head covering (hijab; heh-jahb) and a face covering (niqab; neh-kahb); however, over the years, the expectation for the niqab has shifted to become a choice for the women. We were told that most women choose to continue to wear the niqab, and a majority of the Saudi women that we saw wore niqabs.
Another development is related to driving and independence. Over the past three years, women have been granted the authorization to drive (about 30% of women in Saudi Arabia drive), and there is a concerted effort to empower women and build equality in the workplace, including employing them in some of the industries that they are attempting to bring to the Kingdom (e.g., Apple, Google) so that they are not just relegated to education. Another way that the Kingdom is trying to be more diverse includes enhancing their entertainment options (e.g., they now have Cirque de Soleil shows).
Tourism
Tourism in Saudi Arabia is relatively new, as MBS began a concerted effort to increase tourism in 2006, which includes the option to apply for a visa electronically (note: It can be difficult to pay for an e-visa online using the Saudi Arabian government’s site unless you have an international credit card or American Express. Visa and Master Card transactions tend to be denied. I ended up using a third-party site and received my multi-entry visa within 2-3 business days). Saudi Arabia currently hosts 10 million visitors per year, with a goal to have 50 million visitors by 2030, and eventually have 100 million visitors. They have been building a metro for three years, and it is expected to open in 2022.
EDGE OF THE WORLD
One of the main attractions visited within KSA is The Edge of the World. The Edge of the World area is a 1.5 hour drive from Riyadh, and is named for the unobstructed view of the horizon when standing atop the 1,000ft/304m high Tuwaiq Escarpment (which runs 800km/497mi). The day we went was very windy, but extremely clear, allowing for visibility of up to 120km/75mi.
The traditional entrance to The Edge of the World was closed due to an accident a few months ago. However, we were able to take an alternate route with a very capable driver/tour guide in a very sturdy 4×4, both of which were a must!! For most of our journey, we did not see anyone, and the solitude was wonderful, making the experience of taking in the scenery that much more magnificent and majestic.
No animals live in this area aside from foxes that come out at night. We did see some desert flies and a few birds (primarily sparrows, though eagles live in this area as well).
The Kingdom Saudi Arabia is a unique country that is worth visiting and exploring. We look forward to checking out other areas of this vast land in the future.
Until next time, take care and be well…