Why Saudi Arabia
The country opened to tourism in 2019 and that remains recent: the reception infrastructure is being built at the same time as the visitors arrive.
AlUla, in the north-west, holds Hegra, a Nabataean city on the World Heritage list, Petra's sister and almost empty. Jeddah and its historic Al-Balad quarter, also World Heritage listed, open onto the Red Sea and its intact reefs. Riyadh is the administrative capital, and Diriyah, beside it, is the birthplace of the first Saudi state.
October to March: the only workable window in the centre and the north, with cold desert nights. From May to September the heat goes well beyond forty degrees. The Red Sea coast stays warm all year.
Entry and stay
Requirements depend on nationality. Check yours with the local authorities before booking.
No duration is quoted here, for want of an official source verified at the time of writing — 22 September 2026.
Two points apply to most visitors: Mecca is closed to non-Muslims, and Medina partly so — the rule is enforced and signposted on the roads. And the pilgrimage falls under a visa regime distinct from the tourist visa.
Getting around
The Haramain high-speed line links Jeddah to Medina via Mecca and King Abdullah Economic City. The conventional network links Riyadh to Dammam and Qassim.
For everything else the car dominates: the road network is excellent and the distances considerable — Riyadh to AlUla is over a thousand kilometres.
Domestic flights are plentiful and are the sensible mode between major cities.
Money
The Saudi riyal, pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate. Cards are widely accepted in the cities.
Health
No vaccination required from Europe for a tourist stay, but the pilgrimage carries specific vaccination requirements, notably against meningitis. Check according to the purpose of the trip.
Medical facilities are of good standard in the large cities. The real risk is heat and dehydration.
Before you go
Dress rules have relaxed but remain real: covered shoulders and knees for everyone, and modest dress is expected. The abaya is no longer required for foreign women visitors.
Alcohol is entirely prohibited, with no hotel exception, and importing it is a serious offence.
Prayer times interrupt trade several times a day: shops and restaurants close for twenty to thirty minutes each time. This has to be planned around.
Hegra is visited only on a guided tour, in limited numbers, booked through the Royal Commission for AlUla's official portal.