Regions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is administratively divided into 13 provinces (mintaqah), but the traditional divisions of the country are more useful to get an overview.
- Asir
Southwestern highlands with a temperate climate and strong Yemeni influence. - Eastern Province
Includes the Gulf Coast, the centre of Saudi oil production - Hedjas
On the Red Sea coast, site of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah and home to trade and commerce. - Nejd
The central highlands centred in Riyadh, home of the Sauds and the most conservative part of the country. - North
Rarely visited, home of the Nabataean ruins of Madain Saleh.
Cities in Saudi Arabia
- Riyadh – the capital and “dead centre” of the Kingdom
- Abha – a summer-tourist mountain town in the southwest near the Yemeni border
- Dhahran – home of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company
- Jeddah (Jiddah) – a large metropolis on the Red Sea and the gateway to Makkah and Madinah
- Jubail – the largest industrial city in the Kingdom
- Mecca (Makkah) – the holiest city of Islam
- Medina (Madinah) – the site of the Prophet’s mosque
- Najran – a Yemeni town with a remarkable fortress
- Taif – a medium-sized mountain town and popular holiday destination
Expect significant variations in the English spelling of place names in timetables and even street signs: Al Wajh and Wedjh are the same place. In particular, Q/G, E/I and E/A are freely interchanged (Qassim/Gassim, Mecca/Makkah, Jeddah/Jiddah), H/A sometimes swap places (Al-Ahsa/Al-Hasa) and the definite article al- can be added or omitted (Medina/Almadinah, Riyadh/Arriyadh).
Other destinations in Saudi Arabia
- Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali) – one of the largest sand deserts on earth
- Hajj – the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca
- Madain Saleh – ruined city of the Nabataeans, similar to Petra
