Mecca and Medina are the holiest cities in Islam, revered by approximately 1 billion Muslims worldwide. The Kaaba, the cubical edifice first established by Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, is located in Mecca, whereas Medina is home to the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, whom Muslims believe is the final messenger of God in a lengthy chain of messengers that includes Moses and Jesus.

Non-Muslims are not permitted to visit the two cities, but if you are of the faith, they are a must-see. Spirituality, history, and a sense of oneness may all be extremely emotional. This is especially true during Hajj, when up to 3 million people converge for a very personal - yet collective - experience, a trip in which all become equal before God.

Many historic places in Medina can be visited, including Quba Mosque, Islam's oldest mosque, Al-Baqi' cemetery, where hundreds of Islam's revered personalities are buried, and the Mountain of Uhud, the location of the battle of Uhud. Unfortunately, the vast bulk of Mecca's historical sites has been destroyed in recent decades. Some were destroyed as the Grand Mosque expanded, while others were removed owing to religious issues.

Saudi Arabia places a high value on historical preservation. Several restoration projects, including the restoration of historic buildings and neighborhoods, have been undertaken to conserve the Kingdom's architectural history. The Department of Museums and Antiquities, which excavates, catalogs, and maintains prehistoric and historic sites, is in charge of these programs.

The Department of Archaeology at King Saud University in Riyadh also conducts important archaeological work. Dariyah, the historic residence of the Al-Saud dynasty and the capital of the First Saudi State, underwent a massive restoration project. Other projects include the historic sites of Fau, Madain Saleh, Al-Ula, Tayma, and Duma, as well as the pilgrimage path to Makkah, the Darb Zubaydah.

The Kingdom places a great priority on protecting its Islamic archaeological legacy as the birthplace of Islam. A great number of mosques throughout the Kingdom, notably the Holy Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, and mosques built by the first caliphs following the Prophet Muhammad's death, have been meticulously rebuilt.

With so many developments in Saudi Arabia, it's even more crucial to stay on top of the sustainable competition, or, as Aldabbagh put it, "to exceed the benchmark in order to be a competitive player on the world tourist stage". In reality, Saudi Arabia is planning "several sustainable initiatives". "In Al-'Ula, there will be zero carbon by 2030", for example. Also, the Red Sea development and the way it is being developed and built will be environmentally friendly". Saudi Arabia goes a step further to ensure "sustainability" by hiring locals from the region for these initiatives. So, in addition to "contributing to the environment", their activities benefit the people who live there.

One thing is certain: there is a lot to see, see, and eat in Saudi Arabia. Take advantage of this time to broaden your travel experiences and horizons by discovering what lies beyond typical tourist destinations. If you want to learn more about this country, keep on reading this list of reasons to visit Saudi Arabia.

The Edge of the World is literally worth being listed in this list of reasons to visit Saudi Arabia. A natural treasure will take your breath away just a few hours north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. It is now the most popular day trip from Saudi Arabia's capital, known locally as Jebel Fihrayn but to foreign tourists as the "Edge Of The World".

The Edge of the World is part of the Tuwaiq escarpment, which stretches 800 kilometers/500 miles through central Saudi Arabia, from Al-Qasim in the north to the Edge of the Empty Quarter in the south. There's nothing between you and the limitless horizons ahead of you here, only the dry valley floor. But at least the view from here is spectacular.

While the major attraction here is to look out from the cliff and into the horizon, you should also look down since the ground here is littered with old fossils if you look closely. And, as you drive towards the Edge of the World, there is a "hidden" cave along the way that is worth a visit.

Saudi Arabia has an abundance of unspoiled Red Sea beaches. Boat tours are now available from cities such as Jeddah, Yanbu, and Al-lith. A number of locations have shipwrecks, some of which are fairly old. Water temperatures remain quite warm throughout the year, and diving is possible all year. Saudi Arabian Red Sea diving is comparable to Egyptian diving. Divers can expect warm water, decent visibility, a variety of coral and fish life, tunnels and caverns to explore, and wrecks. Sharks, barracudas, rays, turtles, morays, and a plethora of colorful reef species can be seen. Dolphins are another typical sighting while sailing.

Local dive locations are well-known for their variety of pelagic marine life, including a healthy shark population. Just beneath the surface, you'll find pristine coral reefs with at least 200 different varieties of coral. With a mega-project planned on the Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia is anticipated to become a top candidate in diving tourism in the near future.

Arabia is home to dozens of regional cultures and thousands of different dishes originating from the Maghreb to Makresh. Usually, when people think of Arabian food, they think of the Middle East. However, Arab cuisine is present on other continents with Arab populations in addition to Morocco and Egypt. New civilizations that have adopted Arabic food and made it their own have mixed with the rich scents of the cuisine. Lamb and chicken are the two types of meat that are used the most. Beef usage declines. Islam categorically forbids eating pork. You will salivate over the flavor of the many exotic spices used in Arabian cuisine.

Since Islamic beliefs and practices heavily influence Arabic culinary culture, similar dishes can be found in many countries with Islamic beliefs throughout the Middle East and the Balkans. Every nation, and sometimes even every city, has its unique culinary customs and methods within this broad geographic area.

Saudi Arabia is the 12th largest country in the world, and as a result, its major cities are spread out widely and have slightly distinct cultures. The capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is located in the center of the Arabian Peninsula and offers a fascinating fusion of ancient and modern culture. Experience the largest and oldest artisan bazaar in Riyadh, Souq Al Zal.

Visit the Sky Bridge at Kingdom Centre for a unique perspective of Riyadh. It offers unrivaled views of the city. This tower, which is over 300 meters tall and rises 99 storeys, has a panoramic viewing platform contained within an inverted curved arch hung above the top. The Red Sea coast is where Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia, is located. It is divided into two sections, one of which is the historic old town, which dates all the way back to the seventh century and features traditional architecture and winding narrow streets.

The Corniche, a contemporary, vibrant coastline with many restaurants and a line of sculptures and water features, makes up the other half of Jeddah. The city, which enjoys a prime location on the Red Sea, is well-known for its seafood and once served as a crucial maritime commerce route. The unofficial slogan of Jeddah is "Jeddah is different!" It is more progressive and less conservative than Riyadh.

Camel racing in Saudi Arabia is a traditional and extremely popular sport worldwide. The greatest spots to watch the best-bred camels galloping frantically in the race are in Riyadh, Taif, and Sharurah. Around 100 camels compete in these races on a typical race day, traveling a 6- to 10-kilometer circuit. The camels can travel up to 40 kilometers per hour when assisted by the jockeys on their backs and the cavalry of jeeps that follow them. These animals make for an exciting sight as they race for the top at such incredible speeds. The ideal approach for tourists to see these events is to go to the racetracks with a pre-arranged tour group.

In 1964, Saudi Arabia's Heritage Festival included the first-ever official camel racing. Ten years later, in 1975, camel racing was fully professionalized in Saudi Arabia. Now, with prizes totaling millions of Saudi Riyals, the government holds huge camel festivals and races. Additionally, the races promote Saudi Arabian tradition and non-religious tourism among local and international travelers. Additionally, by bringing people from various backgrounds together for the sole goal of enjoying the event, these races reinforce solidarity.

Multiple cultural festivals and events, as well as long-standing customs, are held in Saudi Arabia. Tourists can experience a variety of entertaining and engaging festivals in the Kingdom to learn more about real Saudi Arabian culture. You can take part in the Janadriyah National Festival, which is one of the biggest events honoring the nation's history and culture. Over the course of two weeks, this folk festival features camel racing, folklore art exhibitions, poetry readings, and other cultural events.

Another Middle Eastern event held in Saudi Arabia is the Riyadh Spring Festival, which is run by the city of Riyadh. More than 1.4 million flowers and ornamental plants are planted as part of the festival, creating a massive display that draws more than 150,000 tourists to the area. Besides this list of reasons to visit Saudi Arabia, Toplist also has other articles that would be helpful for you if you are planning a vacation to Saudi Arabia in the future.