Tourists can enjoy a traditional Bedoiun picnic in Saudi. — Photos: Saudi Tourism Authority
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia recorded a historic milestone in its tourism industry – welcoming over 100 million tourists.
This was achieved seven years ahead of its target, according to a report by UN Tourism (formerly United Nations World Tourism Organisation or UNWTO). The kingdom is setting its next goal to 150 million tourists by 2030.
Tourists from Malaysia will undoubtedly be part of this equation, as Saudi continues to position itself as a must-visit travel destination for Malaysians.
As Saudi Tourism Authority’s (STA) Asia Pacific president Alhasan Aldabbagh tells us in a recent email interview: “All Malaysian travellers are welcome to Saudi.
“Malaysia is a key source market for Saudi. It has the 20th largest Muslim population in the world, and the country holds a special place in our hearts. We’ve always admired Malaysia’s vibrant culture, warm hospitality, and amazing culinary traditions.”
Alhasan shares that Saudi was one of the top long-haul destinations for Malaysian travellers last year, “accounting for 23% of all long-haul travel”.
When compared to the numbers from 2022, notably there was a 15% increase in Malaysian travellers to Saudi in 2023.
“This year, when it comes to leisure travel, Malaysia was the fourth largest source market for Saudi in the APAC region and the 15th, globally,” he states.
Through STA’s office in Kuala Lumpur, the Saudi Arabian tourism ministry will continue to work closely with travel partners in Malaysia.
“Together, we’re committed to enhancing travel experiences and connections that bring our nations closer together.”
Part of STA’s efforts include holding the inaugural Saudi Travel Fair at IOI City Mall in Putrajaya last month, which, aside from offering travel packages and deals, also treated visitors to “an immersive journey through Saudi’s history, culture, and landscapes, all through virtual reality”.
Activities such as misbaha (Islamic prayer beads) making, zamzam station visits and live cultural performances were held to introduce visitors to Saudi’s culture – a good way of getting Malaysians who have never visited the country to familiarise themselves with it and pique their interest to travel there.
Things to see and do
To those of you who are interested in visiting the kingdom, but may still be uncertain of your Saudi itinerary, Alhasan has a few recommendations.
“If you’re into exploring cultural heritage, Jeddah’s Al Balad is a must-visit. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site with over 1,000 years of history, showcasing traditional Saudi architecture,” he suggests.
“You can wander through lively souks like Al Alawi and Souk Al Baghdadiyah, where you’ll find a mix of the old and new. Don’t forget to check out the Al Shafei Mosque, which has stood for 1,000 years, and grab a bite at Al-Saidi Furn bakery for some local flavours.”
Other Unesco World Heritage Sites that Alhasan lists are Diriyah, a 300-year-old city built around the historic district At-turaif, and Al-Ula, an oasis city steeped in 200,000 years of history. The latter is where Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, can be found – “hosting unique cultural events right next to landmarks like Elephant Rock”.
Contemporary attractions are also available. Alhasan recommends visiting the teamLab Borderless Museum in Historic Jeddah, a first-of-its-kind “museum without a map” that features over 80 interactive digital artworks.
Families with young ones will have fun learning about Red Sea creatures at the Fakieh aquarium or witnessing the mesmerising 312m-tall plume of King Fahd’s Fountain.
Meanwhile, just a two-hour drive away from Madinah is Khaybar, which Alhasan describes as a place “known for its beautiful oasis, historic forts and deep spiritual significance, being a famous battle site from the time of Prophet Muhammad”.
Unesco heritage site Diriyah is the birthplace of the first Saudi state.
Luxury by the sea
Travellers who enjoy the finer things in life will appreciate a stay at The Red Sea, a brand-new luxury destination that offers the best of nature, be it beaches, canyons, mountains, mangroves or crystal-clear waters.
Adding another layer of thrill is the opportunity of encountering a variety of marine life here, such as endangered green and hawksbill turtles, as the destination is also home to the fourth largest coral reef system in the world.
“What really sets The Red Sea apart is its focus on regenerative tourism. It’s all about redefining luxury by putting nature at the forefront. We have already opened the destination’s first three resorts, each offering something unique,” Alhasan shares.
The three resorts, described as private island paradises with overwater or beach villas, are: Six Senses Southern Dunes, a 76-key inland desert resort that pays tribute to the Nabataean heritage of the surrounding desert; St Regis Red Sea, a luxury resort on a private island with 90 over-water and beachfront villas; and Nujuma, the seventh Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the world.
Another 12 resorts are scheduled to open throughout 2024 and 2025. By 2030, there are set to be 50 hotels across island and inland sites. The addition of luxury marinas, golf courses and world-class entertainment is set to position The Red Sea as “the ultimate ultra-luxe travel destination”.
St Regis Red Sea is a luxury resort on a private island.
Ease of mind, access
Safety is certainly a top priority when travelling. Understanding this, Alhasan assures, “Saudi is a travel destination for everyone, regardless of gender or religion. In fact, it’s ranked 26th in the Numbeo Safety Index for 2024, which makes it one of the safest G20 countries.”
Furthermore, this year – for the third year in a row – Madinah was once again rated as the safest city in the world for solo female travellers, as per the data by insurance website InsureMyTrip.
“Safety is really important in Saudi culture, where spirituality and hospitality are central, so taking care of others is just a way of life here,” Alhasan continues.
“Women can perform Umrah without needing a male guardian, and to make female travellers’ experiences even better, Saudi has introduced specialised trips like the 12-day Saudi Arabia’s Women Expedition.”
The description on Intrepid Travel’s website states that this women-only expedition will take female travellers around Saudi’s various landscapes and Unesco sites, as they spend the 12 days “learning about the country’s deep history, sampling the local cuisine and getting to know the local women”.
Other than offering ease of mind, ease of access to Saudi is another big draw, especially with Malaysia being one of the 66 countries eligible for its evisa programme.
“We also introduced a free 96-hour Stopover Visa early last year with Saudia, our national carrier, making short visits even easier. Plus, if you already have a US, British or Schengen visa, you can get an evisa or visa-on-arrival when you visit Saudi, which simplifies the process,” explains Alhasan.
Visitors with Umrah visas, meanwhile, can perform Umrah and take their time exploring Saudi as this visa type has been extended to 90 days.
Application for the Umrah visa can be done through the Nusuk app, which is convenient to use as it is also available in Bahasa Malaysia.
“On the connectivity front, weekly flights have increased to 66 as of August this year, up from 44 weekly flights in 2023,” Alhasan mentions.
Saudia, AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air now fly to four Saudi cities, namely Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah. Amal by Malaysia Airlines has also launched a new route from Johor to Madinah in July, while AirAsia introduced its new Kuala Lumpur to Madinah route last month.
“Whether you’re a culture seeker, or just looking for a unique travel experience, there’s something here for everyone,” says Alhasan.
