Saudi Arabia
"Hub of Temples and Mosques"
Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Arab country located in Western Asia and constituting most of the Arab Peninsula. Most of the citizens are Muslims, and freedom of religion is restricted by the laws of the country. Only Muslims are respected in the country but, people are very helpful and friendly towards tourists. The rich history, vast stretches of deserts, forts, mosques and temples spread throughout the country will overwhelm you. The out-of-the-box festivals and Islamic cultures, etiquettes and tradition will leave you fascinated.
Places to Explore
Faq
The only currency accepted in Saudi Arabia is Saudi Riyal having denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. Credit cards are also accepted to a great establishments. It is advisable to carry enough cash with you to pay tips to taxi drivers or waiters. Sometimes, it can be difficult to cash traveler's cheque. Some shops and restaurants might refuse to accept traveler's cheque, or at some stores, you will get poor exchange rates.
The long history of Saudi Arabia takes us back to the time when Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam from Mecca united the Arab tribes and led a successful campaign to spread Islam across Arabian Peninsula.The city of Mecca and Medina became the holiest cities of the Muslims in the whole world. After the death of Muhammad, the modern history of Saudi Arabia started when an Islamic reformer Al Wahhab and Saud founded the Saudi state in 1744. The Saud family faced opposition from Egypt and Ottoman Empire. After this, the modern state of Saudi Arabia was established by Abdul Al Saud. He took over the city of Riyadh and continued to win other areas. After his death in 1953, his son Saud became the King. Ruling for 11 years, he died, and many successors took over the throne. The present king of the country is King Salman.
Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia, and most of the citizens are Muslims. The law of the country restricts freedom of religion. There are people belonging to varied religions like Christians, Hindus and Buddhists but, they are allowed to practice their religion freely. Saudis believe in their values and cultures. They take their responsibility towards family seriously. Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. Some people also use Urdu or Farsi. However, English is also widely spoken, and you will not face any communication problems.
Saudi Arabia is divided into thirteen regions. The northwestern region which has Tabuk, Jawf and Madinah is rich in antiquities and archaeological sites. While the traditional handicrafts and unique festivals of Al Qasim and amazing forts with intricate designs and architecture in Riyadh located in central Saudi Arabia will blow away your mind. Mecca region situated in southern part of the country is the holiest city and very sacred to Muslims. Witness the beautiful mosques and people flocking in huge numbers to perform rituals in religious places.