Saudi Arabian Holidays

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Saudi Arabian Holidays

Learn about Saudi Arabia, culture, places, offers and more.

05/07/2021

Where is this? 🤔

12/04/2021

Sanabel Al-Khair in Jeddah. It was built in 1986. It was designed by the famous architect Abdel Wahid Awakeel. It is worth noting that the mosque is considered an architectural masterpiece and has been awarded the Architectural Aga Khan Award. Because of the features of the mosque and its wonderful study of the movement of air and natural lighting. Several amendments were added to the mosque recently, which affected the efficiency of its design.

05/03/2021

Considered one of the most beautiful valleys in Saudi Arabia, Wadi Al-Ghamar is slowly developing a reputation as a great destination to escape the hustle and bustle of the city thanks to its picturesque nature, dense forest, flowing rivers and fresh air. Located in the southern Jazan province, Wadi Al-Ghamar is situated near a small mountain range in the area between Haroub and Al-Haqu. Visitors can explore interesting rock formations, white soft sand and lush greenery including an abundance of palm trees and shrubs because of the region’s perpetually rainy weather.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Wadi Al-Ghamar is being developed into a tourist destination through the provision of many facilities that aim to attract tourists, especially those who enjoy hiking, nature and picnicking, from inside and outside the Kingdom.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Wadi Al-Ghammar is also called Wa’al Al-Yamani as it is one of the tributaries of the well-known Wadi Al-Wa’al. The medium-sized village, whose residents mainly work in livestock and agriculture, is home to some beautiful nature – especially during the fall and spring seasons.

04/03/2021

The Rajajel Columns is an archaeological site of pillars carved from sandstone thought to be 6,000 years old. It is located in the Al Jawf Region in Saudi Arabia. Specifically situated in the suburb of Qara south of Sakakah, it consists of 50 groups of erected stone columns called Rajajil. Some of the existing columns are higher than three meters, while they are about 60 cm thick.

03/03/2021

The Green Dome (القبة الخضراء‎) is a green-coloured dome built above the tomb of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and early Muslim Caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar. The dome is located in the southeast corner of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) in Medina.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The structure dates back to 1279 CE or 678 AH, when an unpainted wooden cupola was built over the tomb. It was later rebuilt and painted using different colours twice in the late 15th century and once in 1817. The dome was first painted green in 1837, and hence became known as the "Green Dome".⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Muhammad's grave lies within the confines of what used to be his and his wife Aisha's house, the Hujra. During his lifetime it adjoined the mosque. The mosque was expanded during the reign of Caliph al-Walid I to include his tomb. Muhammad's grave is an important reason for the particular high sanctity of the mosque, as the Dome of the Prophet marks the location of the tomb. Millions visit it every year since it is a tradition to visit the mosque after the pilgrimage to Mecca.

01/03/2021

Full moon at Tuwaiq Mountain, Edge of the World

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01/03/2021

The Raum mountain, with an ancient fortress perched on the top, stands out as one of the major tourist attractions in Najran. The 1000-meter high location provides a bird’s eye view of Najran. The fortress, which is surrounded by a natural wall of granite has five rooms constructed with clay and rock and with a wooden ceiling of palm trunk and acacia timber.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The Arabic term Najrān has at least two meanings: both the wooden frame on which a door opens and also 'thirsty'. Local tradition also has it that the land derived its name from the first man to settle in the area, Najran ibn Zaydan ibn Saba ibn Yahjub ibn Yarub ibn Qahtan.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Najran is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the frontier with Yemen. It is the capital of Najran Province. Designated a New town Najran is one of the fastest-growing cities in the kingdom. The population belongs mostly to the ancient tribe of Yam.

28/02/2021

The Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed Mosque in Arar, a city in the Northern Border province. It is considered as one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, using the latest Islamic style architecture. Construction work on the mosque started in 1996 and it was completed in 1999. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The city of Arar was founded in 1951, after the construction of the Aramco oil pipeline (Tapline) was completed. It was initially an oil pumping station with a health center and worker housing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Arar got its name from the original oil field that existed before the town, "Field RR", one of many in the country, where it was known by the locals as "R.R." which later became ʿArʿar. The name Arar means juniper in Arabic.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In 1968, the remains of an ancient city were unearthed 30 km from the city of 'Ar'ar. The site yielded numerous sculptures of fish, turtles and other aquatic animals.

27/02/2021

Ein Heet Cave is a natural cave which is located 30 kilometers southeast of Riyadh city, near Alkharj⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The cave contains numerous sinkholes which serve as an entrance to a large groundwater reservoir that is situated under the surface at great depth. It is the site of a star pin dating back thousands of years. It is distinguished by the cold water and the atmosphere inside the cave. Geologists had discovered the first anhydrite rock in the kingdom. During the recent years, several experienced cave explorers visited Ein Heet cave with their heavy equipment. They reached the edge of a lake which is situated at a distance of 120 meters under the surface. By using scubas, they discovered waterways of this ravine or cave. According to their points of views, this cave has pure water and it is the some of the purest water in the world. It is located in the Aljubail Mountains, about 40 kilometers from Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a tourist site and one of the caves that can be easily got into. Inside the cave, there is an underground lake in internal circled holes of more than 30 meters deep and 150 meters long. In the past, the water level was high in the lake; and the convoys were supplying water from it. However, the water level has declined recently.

26/02/2021

Jibal Hisma in Tabuk, the Saudi desert made of extraordinary shapes of sandstone massifs sculpted by erosion and surrounded by multi-colour sandbanks, captivates all visitors.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Located in the west of Tabuk city in the southwestern part of the Kingdom, this picturesque region is a splendid example of natural beauty engraved in rich historical and geological dimension. Jibal Hisma constitutes thousands of rocky formations spread over hundreds of kilometres, each with a unique size and shape.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Historians describe Hisma as a region with full of Thamudic inscriptions dating back to more than 2,600 years, as well as Arab writings for the period before and after the emergence of Islam. There is hardly any part of it without the Thamudians and ancient Arabs engraved their evidence on it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

25/02/2021

Rains in the Dara mountains of the al-Qassim region in Saudi Arabia surfaced the beauty of purple blossom flowers which normally grow in rocky environments, and sometimes in sandy ones.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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South West of Ar Rass⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Purple Khozama flowers (Horwoodia dicksoniae)

24/02/2021

The abstract use of geometric forms based on the repetition of circles or squares can be found across Islamic architecture and as a common decorative element. “Geometry is very important as it’s not just about the pattern but about how visual language and structural elements come together,” says Khaled Azzam of The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As seen across the Roshan balconies in Al-Balad, mangour is a form of woodworking featuring elaborate latticework. “As Jeddah is very humid these wooden screens on balconies were perforated allowing air to move through,” says Azzam. “But they are also very beautiful decorative elements that define the architecture.”.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“The decorative arts of Al-Balad are mainly executed in gypsum, seen in the geometric and floral patterns that adorn facades, gateways and parapets,” says Azzam. “This skill has been fading, so we teach young people to understand the technical aspects but also, through the application, to understand how to craft technique is used to express an artistic language.”

19/02/2021

Known as the gateway to Mecca, Jeddah has been an influential cultural hub since early Islamic times. With such rich history comes a number of hidden attractions. These twelve destinations in Jeddah are not often seen by tourists from the West, but you will certainly not want to miss them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When locals want to enjoy the sea breeze, sunset and a cup of tea, they go to Jeddah Corniche. This 30-kilometre coastline has restaurants, cafes, picnic areas and recreation spots for young and old to enjoy.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Most importantly, it has the famous King Fahd Fountain, also known as the Jeddah Fountain, which has become the symbol of Jeddah.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This beautiful fountain — the tallest in the world — was a gift from the late King Fahd. The 312-meter high fountain is located near the coast of Jeddah and can be seen from all over the city. It is even higher than the Eiffel Tower!

17/02/2021

Sunset at Al-Asfar Lake (Arabic: بحيرة الأصفر), also known as Asfar, Alasfar and Yellow Lake. Al-Asfar is located to the East of Umran city, in Al-Hasa, Eastern Saudi Arabia. The lake is surrounded by sand dunes and somewhat difficult to reach.
Photo credit: .abbas
Al-Asfar lake is one of the important wetland shallow lake in the region. The lake is a historic landmark of Al-Hasa, and was mentioned by some historians of Abbasid and Islamic golden Era such as Al-Hamawi, Al-Qalqashandi and Al-Zamakhshari. In the present time, The primary source of lake water is agricultural drainage water, which made some to refer to it as man-made.

In 2019, Yellow Lake was declared national nature reserve. There are at least 39 plant species belonging to 20 families that can be identified around the lake. Fluctuating water level create very diverse conditions, which enhances the vegetation and plant species and types. Fluctuating water levels allow some vegetation types to regenerate from buried seeds.
Al-Asfar Lake attract migratory birds twice a year. Birds migrate from cooler places such as Russia, Canada, India and Iran to warmer climate areas including Al-Asfar Lake. The range of birds varies from small birds such as Sparrows to large birds such as geese and ducks.

14/02/2021

The mountains of oppression in Saudi Arabia are distinguished by their strangeness, as confirmed by specialists. And those mountains rise in close, cylindrical shapes, in the middle of narrow valleys, on the sides of which forests of trees grew up their hard rocks, in a scene that captivates the beholder.
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The rugged mountains, which were called in the past, Zahwan Mountain, located on the center of Jabal al-Qahr in Al-Reith Governorate, east of Jizan, southwest of Saudi Arabia.
It is noteworthy that Jabal al-Qahr was named by this name during the war of oppression, as it is known as Mount Zahwan, and it is bordered on the east by a group of mountains and valleys that separate it from the Farasha Governorate of Dhahran, the South in the Asir region, and from the west it is bordered by a number of valleys that supply Wadi Bish and Jabal al-Qahra. Al-Ma'idah, "and from the north it is bounded by Wadi Bish with its tributaries.
The eastern mountain is about 300 meters lower than the other, and there are many conical or spiral peaks in this section and shallow and deep faults, which may have resulted from a strong earthquake that led to these fissures. The deepest of these faults is the Wadi Lajab fault, which reaches its depth to the Thami plain, where there are many streams, water springs and forests, and it is one of the most beautiful tourist places in the Kingdom.
As for the western mountain (Al-Rahwa), which is slightly higher than its counterpart, it is also distinguished by a strange geological formation, as the surface layer of the mountain is a layer of marine limestone with fossils and marine fossils such as snails and marine algae that may indicate that this mountain was once at the bottom of an ocean.

08/02/2021

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, known in English as The Prophet's Mosque, and also known as Al Haram, Al Haram Al Madani and Al Haram Al Nabawi by locals, is a mosque built by the last Islamic prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina in the Al Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia.
Photo credit: 📸 Twitter NVMIDC
The land of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi belonged to two young orphans, Sahl and Suhayl, and when they came to know that Muhammad wished to acquire their land for the purposes of erecting a mosque, they went to the Prophet and offered the land to him as a gift; the Prophet insisted on paying a price for the land because they were orphaned children. The price agreed upon was paid by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who thus became the endower or donor ( واقِف‎) of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi on behalf of, or in favor of, Muhammad. al-Ansari also accommodated Muhammad upon his arrival at Madinah in 622.
Muhammad shared in the construction of the mosque. Originally an open-air building, the mosque served as a community center, a court of law, and a religious school. After an expansion during the reign of the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid I, it now incorporates the final resting place of Muhammad and the first two Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar.

02/02/2021

Hugging the eastern side of King Abdulaziz Road in the Al Rafaa district of Al Hofuf, the magnetic Souq Al Qaisariya boasts wares that come with a storied past and a lineage that reflects the region’s rich trading legacy. Employing a local guide to talk you through each snug passageway is the best way to extract these tales, and to pick up some savvy haggling tips.
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Although widely believed to have been built in 1822, some historians — not to mention insistent Al Ahsa locals — claim the souq is referenced in historical documents that date as far back as 600 years. While its exact beginnings are disputed, what can’t be argued is that Souq Al Qaisariya is one of Arabia’s oldest markets, with history on show in every nook of its 7,000sqm space.
It holds more than 400 stalls spread across a network of maze-like rows and crosswalks — with numbered aisles to avoid getting too lost — that throng with old-world vendors and eager buyers. Its continued importance was underscored by UNESCO’s decision to grant it World Heritage status in 2018.
Souq Al Qaisariya opens at 3pm every day, with stalls closing for around 30 minutes at prayer times. A high wooden ceiling offers shade throughout the day and traditional ventilation systems keep the place airy and light, but head there after nightfall to see the market in all its glory – it tends to stay open until around 1am. When you eventually drag yourself away, likely with an armful of wares, you’ll have a better grasp of the ancient heritage of Saudi’s fascinating Eastern Province.

30/01/2021

Bahrah is a town in Makkah Province, in western Saudi Arabia. Bahra is located in the Tihama region down the valley between the towns of Fatima Jdhomkh. It is divided into several districts and population centers. The town of Bahra old station for pilgrims, due to its location between Mecca and Jeddah, and also Bahra is the first town passes from the middle of a paved road in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is the road between Mecca and Jeddah.
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27/01/2021

I adore the Mirror-clad Maraya concert hall and so look forward to visiting it 🙏 Anyone else love it?

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أعشق قاعة حفلات Maraya المكسوة بالمرايا وأتطلع إلى زيارتها ، هل يحبها أي شخص آخر؟

23/01/2021

The Bani Malik governorate, or the sons of Malik governorate as it is popularly known, is located some 120 km in the northeast side of the Jizan region. Known as Ad-Dayer, this governorate includes more than two hundred villages scattered in the high-altitude mountains that feature green agricultural terraced fields.The region, which boasts of rainy times in summer, features various dramatic spots including the 2200 meter high Talan mountain, Al-Hashr mountain, Al_Areef mountain, Al-Saeed mountain and the Khasher mountain. The Bani Malik governorate feature also some valleys including Wadi Dhamd, Wadi Joury, Wadi Ar-Ramh, Wadi Dhafa and Erqeen, and Wadi Mohud.
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The Mohud valley
The Mohud valley, or Wadi Mohud as it is popularly known, is a volcanic valley that boasts of runny water round the year. This one-kilometer long valley is located in the east side of Al-Ain Al-Harah, south of the Al-Said mountain in Bani Malik governorate. The Mohud valley is surrounded by mountains from all sides. The valley water joins the waterway of the bigger Wadi Dhamd, then it begins to become narrow with a 2-3 meter wide only with varying depths of water. The Mohud valley also forms some large waterfalls with steep curves, and rock formations similar to artistic sculptures, as well as very diverse aquatic and plant life.
For those who seek natural medical treatment, Jazan region boasts of many hot springs. The government of Saudi Arabia paid great attention to these hot springs. The hot springs are now well provided with the latest international specifications and are ready for visitors all year round. The most important of which is the Ghurat Bani Malik hot spring, which is about 150 km away from the city of Jizan. The Ghurat Bani Malik hot spring stems from a mountain and its very hot waters descend through a narrow stream that flows into a beautiful square-shape basin inside the rocks. The water of this hot spring then mixes with the waters of Wadi Dhamar.

The hot springs boasts of two large separate basins, one for men and the other for women. They also feature outdoor covered places and seating areas that are surrounded by lush trees.

19/01/2021

Half Moon Bay (Arabic: شاطئ نصف القمر‎), is located near Khobar city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Half Moon Bay has been a place of recreation for many people, including oil workers and their families, for the last 80 years. Known for its great grouper fishing and sailing, many generations have enjoyed it. With an average depth of around 22 feet (with a few spots dropping to 50 feet) Half Moon Bay has been an excellent classroom for thousands of divers learning the sport of scuba diving. It is a very forgiving bay, with shallow entrances and very few large sharks. However, around 1968 a 30-foot whale wandered in to the enjoyment of many of the locals.
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In the early 1900s Half Moon Bay was known locally as Doha Dhalum. It was a stop for many of the Arab traders from the Persian Gulf area sailing their traditional dhows. It was a stop to get out of bad weather and load up on fresh water from any number of artesian wells which dot the bottom of the bay. Traders would also pull into the cove on the middle of the western shore which is now a housing development and load up with salt from a local mine. This salt would either be sold in Africa or traded for skins, or taken to India depending on the prevailing winds. This cove used to be called Quincy's Cove after a local oil family that used to frequent the cove in the 1950s.

14/01/2021

Saudi Arabia earmarked $26.6 million for vertical farming projects in the Kingdom, in a step taken to preserve water and develop agriculture in the Kingdom. The move also focuses on boosting Saudi food security.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al Fadley chaired an international virtual workshop centered on the future of vertical farming in the Kingdom.

The workshop is part of the ministry’s efforts to localize and adopt modern agriculture technologies. King Faisal University (KFU) rector Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al-Ohali and a group of leading local and international vertical farming experts took part in the workshop.

Some obstacles, according to Fadley, are related to the level of technology used in buildings, facilities, nutrient solutions, lighting, and the types of crops produced. He stressed that those challenges need urgent and effective solutions.

Fadley explained that his ministry has worked hard to approve its agricultural strategy, and that it is cooperating with local and international partners from scientific institutions and the private sector to localize and adopt promising modern technologies. He said that those technologies are one of the most important possible means to support food security, not only in the Kingdom, but also on a global level.

“Vertical farming techniques are one of the main axes of developing agriculture and water conservation,” Fadley told the workshop attendees, adding that the Kingdom has allocated 100 million riyals ($26.6 million) for this purpose.

He emphasized that procedures for obtaining vertical farming licenses were “organized and facilitated.” It is noteworthy that the global market share of vertical farming was estimated at $3.1 billion in 2018.

14/01/2021

Snowfall in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region leaves mountains, deserts covered with white snow sheet.
Snowfall in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region has left mountains and deserts covered in white snow, while locals and foreigners alike are flocking to the plains to enjoy the sight.
Half a century has passed since the temperature in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region dropped below freezing. Apart from urban areas, white snow sheet covered hilly and desert areas as well.
The weather in Asir region is very cold due to snowfall and the temperature has fallen below -2 degrees Celsius.
However, Saudi citizens and foreigners have expressed joy and surprise because of snowfall.
The General Authority of Meteorology and Environment Protection also forecasted heavy rain and thunderstorms over Tabuk, Madinah, the Northern Borders, Hail and Al-Jouf.

13/01/2021

Stage 10 of the Redbull Dakar Rally is nearly complete
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The Dakar is not just a car or truck or
motorcycle race, it's an endurance race, and the challenge is how long you can keep it together behind the wheel, and on the gas.
//Checkout Stage 9 of the cars going through sands and water of Neom//

Firstly, you're gonna sweat. Maybe from fear or stress, but certainly from the heat. And then when the night falls, you'll be freezing. If ,myou're lucky you're freezing back at the bivouac but if you busted an axle, dropped a transmission, or blew a gasket, you might be on the racetrack trying to fix it with duct tape and bubble gum.
And these racetracks aren't short. A gentle day might see 8+ hours of driving, with up to a thousand kilometres to cover on and off road. Multiply all that by 14 - the typical number of days a race takes - for a rough idea of the challenge.
For more than a few photographers, today was a stroke of luck rarely seen on the Dakar – they got to dip their toes not only in the sand, but in the turquoise waters off the beaches of Neom, far to the north of Jeddah, on the coast of the Red Sea. While a beach section is occasionally seen, it rarely looks like this – like something out of a holiday in the Balearic islands. Other parts of the course wound through towering rock formations and closed-in canyons. It’s a testament to the amount of ground the race covers, even in a single day.
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السعودية #

12/01/2021

Al Rajhi Mosque is a significant landmark and architectural masterpiece in Hail. Able to hold 7,000 worshipers, it spans 32,000 sq mt and features 56 domes, four 80-meter-high columns and the largest chandelier in the world at 20 meters in diameter. The estimated cost of the mosque is SR700 million.
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This integrated Islamic center consists of three floors and an underground basement in which the Qur'an is taught. It has retreat rooms, library, funeral preparation room, 600 parking spaces, digital services rooms and the latest lighting, air conditioning and acoustics technology.
It was opened in 2011 and its construction was inspired by Islamic heritage and it has become an architectural masterpiece in its own right.
The mosque consists of 3 distinct sections. The first is an open rectangular courtyard surrounded by four corridors and covered with 20 domes. The second is the main square-shaped prayer area with a length of 53 meters, above which is a dome 35 meters in diameter surrounded by four smaller domes, each atop its own pillar.
The 3rd section is the southern rectangular-shaped arcade, 72 meters in length. It features the imam’s room, funeral preparation rooms as well as toilets, electrical rooms, bookstores, Islamic records archives, elevators, administration office and a huge library.
This modern mosque is a unique tourist attraction because of its technological advancements. It has a chilled water system to help keep you cool. The mosque also uses a state-of-the-art building management system to monitor the different sections and maintenance, an LED lighting system on the mosque’s façade, infrared security system, and a central heating system to provide warm water for worshipers. Other features include facilities that provide a translation of the sermon in three languages other than Arabic and huge screens displaying sign language interpretations for the deaf. Live prayer broadcasts can be watched through the mosque’s website and social media.
Nearly 500 workers worked every day for three years to build this architectural masterpiece.

06/01/2021

Winter is Around
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Mid-Dec to Mid-Mar
Take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s beautiful winter weather to explore the kingdom. The balmy days and cool nights are ideal for camping, rock climbing or exploring Saudi Arabia’s verdant highlands and bustling cities, from Riyadh to Jeddah. Average winter temperatures are in the teens, but visitors might be lucky enough to see snowfall in the mountains of the northern regions blanketing the slopes and desert sands.

Remember to pack a heavy jacket or coat as well as lotion, as Saudi winters can be dry.

05/01/2021

Oud, known in English as agarwood, originates from the barks of trees that only grow in parts of South East Asia.
For thousands of years, it has been used in the Middle East and Asia in the form of wooden incense chips, body oils and fragrance, becoming synonymous with hospitality in the Arabian Peninsula.
Its smell varies from person to person, and is known to be an acquired taste. Some smell a burning oud as spicy, while others may sense softer woody notes. Known as the “wood of the gods” by ancient cultures, it is one of the world’s rarest commodities.
A tola - 12 grams - of low-quality oud Hindi in Dubai can go for up to $272 (AED 1,000) while a kilo can go for up to $9,528 (AED 35,000). A kilo of Indian oud has being sold for nearly $129,316 (AED 475,000).
One of the main reasons for the rarity and high cost of oud is the depletion of the Aquilaria tree. The tree is really valuable only if infected with a fungus that causes the creation of a resin that produces the agarwood. It takes at least 40 years for a tree to harvest a good amount of oud.
Oud holds a special place in Gulf Arab traditions. Walk into any Gulf home, especially during the Eid holidays, and one is welcomed with the scent of burning oud throughout the house, and the oil-based oud that adorns men’s traditional thoub dress and females’ abayas.
It’s part of Arabian culture, so when you greet another man you want to make a really good first impression, and the oud you choose gives you status.

04/01/2021

A remote location in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia is becoming known as a spectacular destination for astro-tourism. AlUla is an ancient city of unprecedented historical and cultural significance with 200,000 years of human legacy. AlUla’s low light pollution, clear skies and the range of lookout points in its vast, silent desert make it a perfect place to look for constellations and asterisms.
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The Nabataeans may have used the stars for practical purposes like navigation, localisation, counting hours, days and determining seasons. Worship of the heavenly bodies was also central to Nabataean belief system, evidenced by the iconography and motifs used on the pristine, elaborately carved tombs of Hegra.
The brightest star in the sky, Venus, was attributed to one of the most revered gods, Al-Uzza, or, The Mighty One. She was one of three daughters of the Arabian deity and moon god, Ilumquh, and the sun goddess Dhat Hamymand. A religious area, or sanctuary constructed on top of one of the outcrops to the north-east of Hegra is believed to have been originally dedicated to the Nabataean deity Dushara – who was associated with the sun. The Nabataeans would perhaps have climbed to the many ‘high places’ in the AlUla desert landscape to worship their celestial gods.
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has set out to ensure that dark night skies are preserved and protected for the benefit of residents, visitors and wildlife as part of its transformation of AlUla into a world-class heritage destination. A Dark Sky Zone Strategy is being established to ensure that appropriate lighting is installed for the area which reduces and controls unnecessary light spill and to minimise the overall impact of light.
As part of the strategy, a series of Dark Sky Discovery Sites are being identified that provide the best stargazing opportunities for visitors who want to experience an authentic Bedouin stargazing experience.
Whether it’s a nighttime camel ride into the desert, stargazing from the comfort of a Bedouin tent, a guided tour to hear Bedouin folklore tales, AlUla can deliver the ultimate Arabian stargazing adventure

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Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2020

King Fahad National Library has been undertaking this endeavor for the past three decades, playing a seminal role in the preservation of Islamic heritage and ensuring that present and future generations continue to benefit from Islam’s contributions to civilization. . Established in 1990 in Riyadh, the library is home to more than 6,000 original manuscripts — many of them rare and ancient, including the exquisite Kufic Qur’an, dating to the 9th century CE — and a total of 73,000 paper and electronic transcripts. . The library estimates the manuscript’s value and sets its price when we receive it. Regarding the possession of manuscripts, we welcome everything that is presented to us and everything that is worth owning. . For your chance to be featured please follow @saudiarabianholiday and use the #saudiarabianholiday thank you. . #kingfahadnationallibrary #islamic #islam #allah #muslim #quran #makkah #dua #allahuakbar #love #prophetmuhammad #islamicprayer #madinah #muslimlife #muslimcustom #qiblah #arabicculture #saudireligion #dailycustom #sauditraditions السعودية# #ksa #welcometoarabia #saudiarabian 🇸🇦 #everydaysaudi #saudiarabiya🇸🇦 .

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