KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA (KSA)
Saudi Arabia, aka KSA, is the sparsely populated kingdom of the Middle East which geographically dominates the Arabian peninsula, Saudi Arabia is a young country that is heir to a rich history. The Saud family is for which the country is named. Most of Saudi Arabia still embrace a traditional lifestyle that had changed little over thousands of years. Saudi Arabia is home to Islam’s holiest cities — Mecca and Medina — both of which attract Muslims from all over the world. Religious pilgrimages used to be the country’s main source of income before oil was discovered in the 1930s. The country enforces a very strict interpretation of Islamic (Sharia) law.
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Riyadh’s skyline with its ultramodern towers show off its sophisticated culture, shopping, and dining. Prayer times set the pace for life in one of the country’s most conservative cities, and gleaming architecture blends with historic landmarks from the kingdom’s earliest years. Known by locals as the Dead Center of the Kingdom, Riyadh is considered the most straight-laced of the Kingdom’s big three cities. With many forms of entertainment banned, few sights of interest and a brutal climate, Riyadh is a business-only destination if there ever was one.
Jeddah enjoys Red Sea breezes in the open-minded port of Jeddah for centuries, and the city preserves their traces in its UNESCO-listed historic center. The rest of Jeddah is thoroughly modern, energized with a global mix of pilgrims on their way to nearby Mecca.
