Grounded expats boost numbers at Kingdom’s tourist destinations FASTFACT

No international flights, no problem: Residents beat the heat with trips to Saudi cultural heritage sites

Summer is when many expatriates in Saudi Arabia pay an annual visit to friends and family in their home countries. But with international flights grounded by the coronavirus pandemic, what to do?

The answer, for many, is to explore the Kingdom’s heritage and culture, scenic beauty, outdoor activities and culinary delights. As tourism in Saudi Arabia begins to transform in line with Vision 2030, residents of cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam are taking full advantage.

“Nothing could be better to keep

Rock art in the Hail region includes two components situated in a desert landscape — Jabel Umm Sinman at Jubbah and the Jabal Al-Manjor and Raat at Shuwaymis.

away COVID-19 stress,” Dr. Abdur Raheem Khan, an Indian expatriate in Riyadh, told Arab News.

“After the lockdown ended, following all precautionary measures, my family and I went to explore other cities in the Kingdom besides Riyadh.

“We traveled to the northern city of Hail. We visited Nufood, Qariyat-Al-Na’i, the sites of Hail’s rock art, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kingdom, Hatem Tai Stove, and the heritage museum. It left us surprised that we hadn’t seen these sites before during our decade-long stay in the Kingdom.”

Waqar Asif, a Pakistani expatriate, visited Abha for relief from the searing heat in Riyadh. He told Arab News: “I was unable to fly back to my home country, and decided to visit local tourism sites in Saudi Arabia, and was surprised.” Saudi Arabia is home to several sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, including Madain Saleh in Madinah, Al-Turaif district, Diriyah in Riyadh, Historic Jeddah, Hail Rock Arts and Al-Ahsa Oasis.