Saudi Arabia ~ Travel Guides
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen. Long closed to mainstream tourism, it opened to international visitors in 2019 with a new visa programme. The capital, Riyadh, is a modern financial centre, while Jeddah offers Red Sea coastlines and access to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Arabic is the official language, and the Saudi riyal is the currency. English is spoken in urban and tourist settings. The climate is desert, with extreme heat in summer and mild winters. Saudi Arabia is developing its tourism infrastructure rapidly, with projects like NEOM and AlUla drawing attention to its ancient history, rock formations, and archaeological sites. Dress codes are more relaxed than in the past, though modest clothing is still expected in public areas. Alcohol is prohibited. Road networks are extensive and modern, and domestic flights are widely used due to the country’s size. Visitors can explore desert landscapes, coral reefs, and centuries-old trade routes. Saudi Arabia remains culturally conservative but is gradually positioning itself as a destination for history, adventure, and heritage tourism.
As we move through 2026, the world has never felt more accessible or full of specialised wonders. From the long-awaited unveiling of massive cultural archives in Egypt to the rare astronomical peak of the Northern Lights, this year offers a unique alignment of events for the intentional traveller. Whether you are looking for the raw geological power of an active volcano in Japan or the silent, mirrored modernism of the Saudi desert, these twelve destinations represent the absolute pinnacle of global adventure for the current calendar year.