Saudi Arabia

Arabia has intrigued travellers for centuries. Its vast swathes of desert were the swaddling clothes of infant Islam and the birthplace of the Arab race and of Arabic, a language considered holy by Muslims. It is also home to two of Islams holiest cities - Mecca and Medina - and to a host of modern, thriving, oil-rich metropolises.

Todays Saudi Arabia has held on to its mystique by being incredibly difficult to visit - there is no such thing as a tourist visa in this country. But if you can find someone to sponsor you or decide to take an expensive approved tour, it is worth coming here for the desert and mountain scenery, and some of the Middle Easts best archaeological sites. And, of course, there is the fascinating spectacle of a society juggling deeply conservative religious beliefs and oil-boom modernity. Foreigners should be cautious in Saudi Arabia; there have been several bombings since November 2000, some of which were motivated by anti-Western feeling and some by foreign nationals seeking to control the illegal alcohol market. Demonstrations and political gatherings are best avoided.

Full country name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Area: 2 million sq km
Population: 24.2 million
Capital City: Riyadh (pop 3 million)
People: Arabs, Bedouins, Najdis and expats from all over the world
Language:Arabic, English
Religion: Islam
Government: monarchy

GDP: US$186 billion
GDP per capita: US$9,000
Annual Growth: -9%
Inflation: 0%
Major Industries: Oil, steel, cement, wheat
Major Trading Partners: Japan, United States, EU, India
Inflation: 0%
Major Industries: Oil, steel, cement, wheat
Major Trading Partners: Japan, United States, EU, India

Makkah

The Holy City of Makkah, which lies inland 73 kilometers east of Jeddah, is the place where the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was born - the place where Gods message was first revealed to him and the city to which he returned after the migration to Madinah in 622 AD.

Makkah is the holiest city on earth to Muslims. Five times each day, the worlds one billion Muslims, wherever they may be, turn to the Holy City of Makkah to pray. And at least once in their lives, all Muslims who are not prevented by personal circumstance perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. Thus each year the Holy City of Makkah is host to some two million hajjis (pilgrims) from all over the world.

The Holy Mosque in Makkah houses the Kaaba, in the corner of which is set the Black Stone which marks the starting point for the seven circumambulations of the Holy Mosque which every hajji must complete. The Holy City is served by the seaport and international airport of Jeddah.

Zyrat of Makkah

Madinah

Madinah is the city of the Prophet, and his burial place. It was the first Islamic city to support the Prophet (peace be upon him), and it joined him in fighting decisive battles which were instrumental in the victory of Islam and its subsequent spread.

Madinah was also the city of the Orthodox Caliphs of Islam, who shouldered the responsibility of Jihad, or holy struggle, fighting against renegades and propagating Islam in the countries surrounding the Arabian Peninsula. It was the seat of the first Islamic state, and witnessed the Prophets companions administering the affairs of the Moslem community, compiling the Holy Quran, and dispatching armies to Persia, Syria and Egypt.

It is now the city of the Second Holy Mosque, and the Monarch, government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia take pride in serving and developing it in keeping with its distinguished status in Islamic history.

Zyrat of Madinah

Jeddah

Hyperbolically known as the Paris of Arabia, Jeddah is one of the few cities in the region to have built around, rather than over, its history. Although it is definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah (which is mid-way down the countrys Red Sea coast) is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabias big cities. Jeddah is centred on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along its coast road and the old city directly behind them.

Jeddah has some great museums, including the Municipality Museum. Located in a 200-year-old restored traditional house built from Red Sea coral, the museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with rooms done up in traditional style. The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hasan Khalil houses 10,000 items crammed into 4 mock-Arab, Disney-style buildings. The museum is a spectacularly badly organised mish-mash of kitsch exhibits, but there are a few real gems among the flotsam. The Jeddah Museum, the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography, covers the same turf as the Riyadh Museum.

Jeddah has one of the best souks (markets) in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city. Although some sections of it have been paved over, and others fitted with bizarre green and white columns, it is still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddahs 3 reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are the several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around the North City Gate.