Jeddah
Saudia offers four direct routes to the Red Sea city of Jeddah from the UK – London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester.
Head even further off the beaten path in Arabia with Saudia
Start as you mean to go on when you fly with Saudia – an airline that takes you to Saudi Arabia’s unsung corners and ensures you’re experiencing the country before you even get there…
A sign of a great airline is when you feel you’re in the destination you’re visiting before you even get there. Saudia’s premium onboard experience prepares you perfectly for Saudi Arabia, especially in Business and First-Class, where passengers are offered fresh Arabic coffee and dates as as soon as they board the plane and find cabins knitted together by signature Saudi hospitality. With the airline launching more than 10 new routes in 2025, there are now more opportunities than ever to unwrap the Middle Eastern magic of Saudi Arabia. Here are nine places that await…
What awaits travellers is a rich peek into the past, for Jeddah was once a key trading checkpoint and remains an important pilgrimage gateway to Mecca. And the city’s heritage is ripe for exploring, whether it’s getting lost among the labyrinthine alleyways of the UNESCO-listed Al Balad district to admiring the city’s mosques and 16th-century city gates.
The city’s cosmopolitan culture is spectacularly brought to life during the Red Sea International Film Festival each December and Jeddah Season. The latter is a packed calendar of events sprinkled across the second half of 2025 from July to December. Think festivals, cultural markets, exhibitions and more.
To book your adventure to Jeddah, visit www.saudia.com
Riyadh
Operating direct flights from London Heathrow to Riyadh, Saudia isn’t just transporting you to Saudi’s capital but also the symbol of the country’s futuristic vision.
Riyadh’s skyscraper-laden core is a neon-tinted glimpse of its ambition, with architectural highlights including the Kingdom Centre, the Al Faisaliah Tower and the Majdoul Tower. But that’s not to say the capital has completely forgotten its history – far from it.
An eclectic array of museums – including the Saudi National Museum – paint a vivid picture of the past, or you can simply see Saudi life unfold in front of you by embracing the city’s café culture. And from October to March annually, the capital buzz goes up a few notches thanks to Riyadh Season and its impressive roster of sporting events, live entertainment, cultural showcases and more. Highlights include top boxing matches, a Comedy Festival boasting over 50 global comedian legends, and MDLBEAST Soundstorm, a huge music festival boasting the likes of Post Malone, Cardi B, Benson Boone, Calvin Harris and many more. Saudia is the platinum sponsor and official airline for this year’s season.
To book your trip to Riyadh, visit www.saudia.com
Diriyah
Diriyah is a historical city and a governorate that is located on the outskirts of, and is now considered part of, the greater Riyadh area. Dating back to the 15th century, this is where gold, spices and ideas were exchanged between scholars or merchants, becoming Saudi’s first capital in 1745.
The historic At-Turaif district was recognised by UNESCO in 2010 and strolling among its restored mud-brick buildings on a guided tour is a must-do.
Adjacent to the UNESCO Site is the Bujairi Terrace, a modern dining and entertainment district. The entire district has been rejuvenated in recent years, with shops, restaurants, bazaars, museums and walking trails breathing life into this majestic corner of Saudi history.
It will draw extra attention in January with the launch of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in the JAX District, a showcase of modern art pieces from across the world.
To take a step closer to diving into Diriyah, visit www.saudia.com
The Red Sea
Found 500km further north up Saudi’s west coast from Jeddah, The Red Sea is where aquatic adventures await – both above and below the water.
This regenerative tourism project is focused on sustainability, with a core goal of being carbon neutral and having a positive impact on the local ecosystem. Key initiatives include powering the entire destination with 100% renewable energy, eliminating single-use plastics, and implementing a strict environmental framework to not only avoid harm but actively enhance biodiversity by a net 30%.
Thrillseekers can enjoy active sports like windsurfing, while yacht cruises and myriad boat trips offer a gentler pace if you prefer to take it easy.
The Red Sea’s other drawcard is its kaleidoscopic coral reefs, meaning scuba divers and snorkellers alike can experience mesmerising marine life in high definition. Remote islands like Amaala make The Red Sea feel like Saudi’s answer to the Maldives. And this watery paradise is easily reached too, either on new flights launched by Saudia to Neom Bay or to Red Sea International via Jeddah from Heathrow, with luxurious transportation options available, including seaplanes, speedboats and premium electric vehicles.
To start planning your escape to The Red Sea, visit www.saudia.com
AlUla
If you’re looking for an ancient slice of Arabia, then the oasis city of AlUla is it. With its burnt-orange rocky outcrops and rippling sands, this north-western corner of Saudi looks more like the surface of Mars rather than anywhere on Earth. But this just shows how otherworldly AlUla is.
Tangible history is everywhere here, from the ancient city ruins of Dadan to the Nabataean tombs of Hegra – Saudi’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
Once an important spice trading outpost, AlUla’s mud-brick Old Town is being restored to its former glory, too.
But it’s not all in the past here, with contemporary architecture such as the Maraya Concert Hall also on display. Guinness World Records acknowledges it as the largest mirrored building in the world. It was designed by Gioforma Architects to reflect the sandstone mountains and the desert around it so as not to intrude on its impressive natural landscape.
AlUla is easier than you think to get to thanks to Saudia, connected to London via a short hop in Jeddah.
To begin your adventure in AlUla, visit www.saudia.com
Dammam
The capital of Saudi’s Eastern Province, Dammam is relatively unknown to UK travellers. But that’s set to change, with Saudia launching a direct route from London Heathrow to Dammam in November 2025.
Starting life as a sleepy fishing village, Dammam’s growth exploded in 1938 thanks to the discovery of oil. Since then, it’s both preserved its past and had one eye on the future, with its Bayoniya neighbourhood the perfect example: a cluster of authentic Arabian architecture that doubles as a living art exhibition for local graffiti artists to hone their skills.
Don’t miss Ithra, a top centre for world culture offering arts, creativity and global cultural exchange all under the roof of an architectural masterpiece. Highlights include interactive exhibitions, a vast library and a performing arts theatre.
Situated on the coast, the Dammam region offers incredible snorkelling with the chance to swim alongside green turtles. Be sure to head to the islands in the Eastern Province such as Karan and Jana Islands which are major sea turtle hubs and offer the opportunity to see the creatures nesting.
While more experienced divers will find incredible reefs and marine life in the Eastern Province in Jubail, Dammam is the perfect option for beginners. Although not as famous as the Red Sea, The Arabian Gulf by Dammam provides an ideal training ground, featuring highly accessible, warm, shallow waters with calm conditions and sunken structures that offer interesting objects for practising essential buoyancy skills.
To start exploring Dammam, visit www.saudia.com
Aseer
Situated in the mountains, Aseer offers the perfect blend of culture and nature. Get outdoors by hiking in the Aseer National Park before learning more about local life and traditions with visits to Al Muftaha art village, the Aseer Regional Museum, and Al Habala and Rijal Almaa with their local tribal customs.
Don’t miss a chance to go back in time at the Rijal Almaa Heritage Village, which goes back 700 years. As you stroll through the village, you will discover ancient stone buildings, the incredible Al-Ous Castle and many rare exhibits. Head to the on-site museum to explore its 20 sections, all filled with traditional artefacts that help tell the story of this fascinating part of the world.
Getting there is simple with Saudia with flights from Jeddah to Abha taking just over one hour.
To book your flight to Aseer, visit www.saudia.com
Al Ahsa
Sitting at the core of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the desert oasis of Al Ahsa barely flickers on the radar of British visitors – but it should. With Saudia flights to Hofuf (Al Ahsa’s main gateway) from London, via Jeddah, it’s now straightforward to reach.
When you’re there, experience the Ottoman empire in the 16th-century Ibrahim Palace and Uqair Fort, or learn about it – and Al Ahsa’s wider past – at its national museum. You can also get stuck into Al Ahsa’s traditional Arabian heritage, whether it’s bartering with locals in Souq Al Qaisariya, tasting Hassawi rice (a local speciality) at a farm or trying your hand at artisan pottery.
Nature has its say too, from the balmy Jabal Al Qarah (Al-Qarah Mountain) caves to combining birdwatching with stargazing at the azure Al Asfar Lake (Yellow Lake).
To learn more about Al Ahsa, visit www.saudia.com
Al Baha
Saudi isn’t all desert. Lying over 300km south of Jeddah, Al Baha is a wild mix of mountains, verdant valleys and seeping waterfalls that has, up to now, remained an unsung corner of Saudi.
There are several ways to see Mother Nature here, whether it’s soaking up fragrant olive and juniper trees of Khairah Forest Park or spying baboons in Raghadan Forest Park.
Al Baha’s remote mountains and valleys are also home to a series of historic villages that each tell their own part of Al Baha’s story; Dhee Ayn is the most iconic with its the white glow that emanates from its rocky perch. Getting there, Saudia offers a couple of options – when flying from London, you can either hop from Jeddah or Riyadh on your way to Al Baha.
To be one step closer to Al Baha, visit www.saudia.com
