My Country

Saudi Arabia has intrigued travelers 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"s also home to two of Islam"s holiest cities - Makkah and Madinah - and to a host of modern, thriving, oil-rich metropolises.
Dating back more than a million years, many places in the Kingdom are ancient and historical and feature landscapes with spectacular and fascinating views. Here are three of the most important sights in Saudi Arabia.


Old Jeddah







Old Jeddah is considered a cultural and tourist landmark. This is because of its unique cultural and architectural heritage that reflects the original identity of the Kingdom. This old part of Jeddah has been classified as one of the most important tourist attractions of the city.
Surrounded by walls, Old Jeddah had grown vertically through the ages and the dense blocks of houses, merchants" palaces, mosques and minarets, had shaped it. Small yards and squares and narrow streets separate these dense blocks of buildings.
The Old City is divided into three parts and is protected by a wall facing the land. The three parts are:
Mahelat (the place of Ash" sham): Is in the northwestern part of the city. The merchants and the well to do lived in this part because it was characterized by mild weather due to the northwestern wind. This area is also close to the sea and many terraces were built at the front of buildings to take advantage of the water views.
Mahelat (the place of) al Madhloom: This is the oldest place in Old Jeddah. It is located in the northeastern part of the city. It used to be the most populated area of the city. In this part, there are many mosques and old market places. Greater Jeddah"s oldest mosque - al Shafei Mosque - is located here.
Mahelat al Bahr (the place of the sea): It is in the southwestern part and is considered part of Mahelat al Yemen since it lies in the south. The inhabitants of this part of the city used to be the fishermen and seamen. They were simple people and this simplicity is reflected in the architecture.






Known as the capital of the first Saudi government, the city of Al Diriyah is located 20 KM west of Riyadh on the banks of the Hanifah River.
Al Diriyah is divided into a number of districts. The Turaif district and the Bujairi district are perhaps the most important.
The Turaif district was once surrounded by a great wall. It is the main district in Al Diriyah. There you will find the Royal Palace (Salwa Palace) and a number of other Al Saud"s Palaces. It is also the place where the Dreesha Fortress is located which was the largest fortress in Al Diriyah.
The Bujairi district is located on the banks of the Hanifah River. In this district you will find Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahaab"s school, mosque and house.
In the AlSariha District which is north of Bujairi"s you will find the old homes of many former noblemen. Other districts include: Ghusaibah (this was the first capital), Thharah, Odah Bulaidh.
There are extensive renovation and restoration works being undertaken in Al Diriyah to ensure the area is appropriately preserved for future generations as well as locals and tourists to enjoy.




Madain Saleh lies 22 km northeast of Al Ola in Madinah Province. It has been called Al Hajar since ancient times.
Al Hajar is famous because it is located on the old trade route that linked the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and Ash" sham. The people of Thamud inhabited the area. Their story is mentioned in the Holy Qur"an. In the story they disbelieved Allah"s Prophet Saleh (peace be upon him) and they killed the camel Allah had sent to them.
Some of their remaining monuments are stone edifices engraved in the mountains. The Anbat had inhabited the place and made it their southern capital city while Batra" was their northern capital city.


Mr. / Ashraf Al-Ashry