Central & Eastern RegionsThe Najd (Central Region)The Najd is a stony desert plateau at the heart of Saudi Arabia, somewhat isolated from the rest of the peninsula. It was from here that Ibn Saud led his tribe of nomads out to create a new kingdom through conquest. Despite oil wealth, some Najdis still lead a semi-nomadic life, tending camels and sheep, but many have settled in the same towns they once milked for tribute with threats of violence. Watchtowers, standing guard on all the high points in Najd, are a reminder of this age-old conflict between nomad and farmer.
RiyadhThe royal capital,
Riyadh (Ryad), is a modern city built on the site of the first town captured by Ibn Saud, when he stormed the Masmak Fort in 1902 (a spearhead embedded in the main door is said to be the one with which Ibn Saud killed the Turkish governor). Apart from the fort and a few traditional Najdi palaces near Deera Square, little trace of the old town remains. The
King’s Camel Races are held near the city in April or May.
Other places of interest in Najd are Al-Hair, Aneyzah, Diriya, Hail, Qassim, Shaib Awsat, Shaib Laha, Towqr, Tumair, Wadi-al-Jafi and Wadi Hanifa.
Hasa (Eastern Region)Fertile lowland coastal plains inhabited by the kingdom’s Shia minority, who have traditionally lived by fishing, diving for pearls, raising date palms and trading abroad and with the interior. All of Saudi Arabia’s vast stocks of oil lie under Hasa or beneath the Gulf, and the locals are now outnumbered by foreign oil workers from all over the world.
Places retaining some flavor of old Hasa include Hofuf, a lively oasis with Turkish influence and a camel market; Jebel-al-Qara, where the potteries have been worked by eight generations of the same family; Abqaiq, which has a 5000-year-old saltmine, still in operation; the ruined customs house at Uqair, once an important Portuguese port and caravan terminus; and Tarut Island, site of the oldest town on the peninsula, now a picturesque settlement of fishermen and weavers.
Western & Southern RegionsThe Hejaz (Western Region)The west coast is a center for trade, but of equal importance is the concentration of Islamic holy cities, including Mecca and Medina, which attract pilgrims from all over the world. The region also includes the city of Jeddah, which was until recently Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic capital and remains the most important commercial and cultural gateway to the country.
MeccaThe spiritual center of the Islamic world, forbidden to non-Muslims. Places of significance to Muslims include the Kaabah Enclosure, the Mountain of Light, the Plain of Arafat and the House of Abdullah Bin Abdul Muttalib, where Muhammad was born.
MedinaThe second-holiest city in Islam and also forbidden to non-Muslims.
JeddahAlthough the city has grown phenomenally, priority is being given to the preservation of the ancient city. The ragged, coral-colored Ottoman buildings are being renovated. Leisure facilities have increased and the corniche has a ‘Brighton’ feel about it. There is an amusement park and a wonderful creek allowing both sailing and snorkeling. Its hotels and restaurants are cosmopolitan and there are good fish and meat markets.
TaifPerched on top of a 900m (3000ft) cliff at the edge of the plateau above Mecca, this resort town enjoys a milder climate than much of the country and was for a long time the official summer capital. It is noted for its pink palaces and for the astounding modern corniche road that winds down the sheer cliffs of the Taif escarpment to the hot coastal plain.
Other important towns in the Hejaz include Khaybar, Hanakiyah, Usta, Wadi Fatima and Yanbu.
The Asir (Southern Region)A range of coastal mountains and the only part of the kingdom where there is significant wild vegetation, mostly palms and evergreen bushes. Millet, wheat and dates are grown using largely traditional methods. The inhabitants are darker than other Saudis, being in part descended from African slaves. Baboon, gazelle, leopard, honey badger, mongoose and other ‘African’ species inhabit remoter areas. Unique to Asir are the ancient gasaba towers, phallus-shaped and of unknown purpose.
Places to visit include the ancient caravan city of Qaryat-al-Fau, recently excavated; the great dam and temple at Najran; and nearby, amidst orchards of pomegranates, limes and bananas, the ornate ruins of the ancient cities of Timna and Shiban.
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