Saudi Arabia: From Ancient Trade Routes to Contemporary Society

Depart the USA bound for Jeddah.

Upon arrival in Jeddah transfer to the newly renovated Jeddah Sheraton Hotel. Jeddah was once a port living mostly off the pilgrim trade of Mecca and served as Mecca’s outlet to the sea. The spread of Islam soon transformed Jeddah into a thriving metropolis in its own right. Over the years, it became one of the Arab world’s most important commercial centers although it still remains the principal port of entry for more than two million pilgrims who make their way to the holy city of Mecca each year.
Light dinner this evening at the hotel.

Jeddah

This morning meet with Ahmed Al Omran an independent Saudi journalist. He has worked for the National Public Radio in Washington DC, before returning to his home country to become the Saudi correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and more recently the Financial Times. Continue on to the Al Tayebat Museum which is part of the International Tayebat City of Science and Knowledge a three hundred year old building that was originally the palace of Sheikh Abdul Rauf Khalil. Following the traditions of simple Hijazi architecture it is built from red sea coral block and limestone. Split into twelve buildings and three-hundred rooms, the museum displays Khalil’s personal collection which ranges from Islamic manuscripts and old coins to furniture and pottery. Meet with Mohammad Alrace who runs an organization – the Furqan Educational group – that teaches youth about the Koran and uses the text of the Koran as a teaching tool for the Arabic language. They work closely with many national interfaith organizations for the betterment of society and have offices all over the world.
For lunch head into Jeddah’s historical district, a UNESCO World Heritage site known as Al Balad and situated on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. From the 7th century it was established as a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes, channeling goods and Muslim pilgrims to Mecca. These twin roles saw the city develop into a thriving multicultural center, characterized by a distinctive architectural tradition, including tower houses built in the late 19th century by the city’s mercantile elites, and combining Red Sea coastal coral building traditions with influences and crafts from along the trade routes.
We hope to meet Sami Nawar, director emeritus of Al Balad, to explore old Jeddah and visit Bait Nassif, one of Al Balad’s most important buildings. This is the place where King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, stayed for three years when he was in Jeddah.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at the Al-Nakheel restaurant.

Abha

Enjoy a morning snorkel excursion to the Red Sea which contains one of the greatest coral reefs in the world with over 200 species of coral and numerous species of fish found nowhere else in the world. The coral reefs of Saudi Arabia are among the most beautiful and extensive anywhere. For lunch drive to the US Consulate where there will be an opportunity to meet and have lunch with a group of several young Saudi entrepreneurs for a discussion of the business opportunities and climate in Saudi Arabia today. Depart Jeddah on a late afternoon flight to Abha, the capital of Asir province which enjoys a beautiful setting in the Hejaz mountains. Stay at the Abha Palace Hotel.

Abha

Depart the hotel and explore the town of Abha including the local market before heading out to the Asir National Park with its striking mountain scenery. Once inside the park visit the Al-Musalla fort in Al-Abu Sarah—a fortress which was built mostly to protect rather than as a residence. These forts can be found all over Asir region and bear witness to the area’s history of civilization. Although closed to the public we have arranged for it to be open for the group. After a local lunch in the park, explore the village of Rijjal Almaa, which was a natural corridor linking those coming from Yemen and the Levant to Mecca and Medina making it an important regional commercial center. The village consists of about 60 homes built from natural stone, clay and wood. Decoration is discreet but always effective with a few splashes of color or rendered mud bands around the windows. Doors are often carved, and the walls sometimes have vertical drains of lime plaster with strongly molded patterns just below the roof. Our host this afternoon is Ibrahim Naseer, a Flower Man of Tihama. For centuries, these descendants of ancient tribes lived completely isolated. Their villages had no electricity or paved roads and they lived according to traditional tribal law. The flower crowns worn by the Flower Men are decorative and are worn even as they work in their farms. Before dinner, meet with Hashim Al Dabbagh. From 2020 to 2022 he was an Advisor to the Minister of Investment. He is currently the CEO at the Aseer Development Authority (ASDA) which is tasked with implementing a regional strategic plan to oversee and direct development in Aseer. This evening, drive to the home of Ali Mughawi House for a private dinner. Mr. Mughawi is a self-taught man, a writer, and scholar versed in the region’s history. His wife, Fatima, is an artist who has learned the traditional motifs.

Al-Ula

Fly through Riyadh to Al-Ula, home to Saudi Arabia’s most spectacular archaeological site at Mada’in Saleh built by the Nabataeans around 50 BC when they extended their influence south from Petra in Jordan. Mada’in Saleh, roughly halfway between Petra and Mecca, was the Nabatean’s second city. At its greatest extent the Nabataean empire stretched north to Damascus, south to the borders of Yemen, and west to Gaza. Explore the newly accessible ancient city of Dadan, located on the famed Incense Route and capital city of the Lihyan and Dadan Kingdoms. Frankincense formed a huge part of Dadan’s economic success. Farmers in southern Arabia would harvest vast quantities of the resin for transport northwards to markets around the Mediterranean and elsewhere. En route to the Shaden Resort, stop at the Elephant Rock, one of the wonders of Mada’in Saleh. This spectacular rock formation which resembles an elephant with its trunk touching the ground has become one of the area’s iconic landmarks. Check into the Shaden Resort.
Dinner this evening at the resort.

Al-Ula

Full day excursion to explore the Nabatean site of Mada’in Saleh which rivals Petra in Jordan in its beauty. The Nabataeans were a group of nomadic origins from northwest Arabia. They developed a centralized, monarchical state that controlled the northern end of the overland trade. Prosperous and skilled, they made notable advances in agriculture, water-use, masonry and ceramics in which they were much influenced by Greco-Roman styles. After lunch return to Al-Ula to explore the Old Town which stands on the site of the biblical city of Dedan, but was founded with the ancient North Arabian Kingdom of Lihyan, which ruled from the 5th to 2nd century BC. Once a bustling civilization, these 800 tightly packed mud-brick and stone houses — parts of which are more than 2,000 years old — are now abandoned ruins, decaying in the hot desert sun. Before returning to the hotel, meet with staff from Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) led by Dr. Rebecca Foote, Head of Heritage & Archaeology. The RCU is a Saudi commission that was established in July 2017 to preserve and develop the 2,000 yearold-archeological and historical site of Mada’in Saleh. Return to the resort for dinner and overnight.

Riyadh

Depart this morning for Medina—a drive of just under 4 hours. Enjoy a brief visit of the town, which has some of the richest history of the whole Arabian Peninsula. We have arranged a tour for the group of the International Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which is in front of Gate #37 of the Prophet’s Mosque. This spacious museum includes a valuable collection of exhibits and videos that illustrate the path of the Prophet’s migration, the sites he passed through, and the events that accompanied his journey. We will pick up lunch to go before heading to the airport for our flight to Riyadh. Arrive in Riyadh, the kingdom’s capital city, which scarcely resembled a nation’s capital when Ibn Saud captured it in 1902. The thick mud walls of the old city were not even half a mile long and the enclosed winding, narrow alleys were barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. However, with the discovery of oil, Riyadh has boomed so that the city is almost unrecognizable from 25 years ago. Check into the Rosh Rayana by Rotana. Dinner this evening at the hotel.

Riyadh

Visit to the newly opened National Museum and, close by, the Al Masmak Fort, the oldest complete building in Riyadh. Built in 1865 for prince Abdurrahman ibn Sulaiman AlDabaan under the Emirate of Jabal Shammar during the Second Saudi State, the fortress was given the name Masmak, the Arabic word for a tall, strong building with thick walls. The fortress played an integral role in the Unification of Saudi Arabia, with the Battle of Riyadh, one of the most important conflicts of the Saudi unification, taking place in the fort. Since 1995, the fortress has been converted into a museum showcasing one of the most important landmarks of Saudi heritage.
Continue to the Prince Saud al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies for lunch and a discussion on Saudi politics led by Dr. Mansour Al-Marzouqi, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, and Director of the Center for American Studies, Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies. After lunch drive to the Al Rajhi Mosque for a private discussion of the role of Islam in Saudi life and society. The Al Rajhi Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Riyadh and is considered an architectural marvel and one of the most significant Islamic institutions in the city. End the day at the archaeological site of Diriyah whose zenith as capital of most of Arabia came during the reign of Saud the Great who ruled here from 1802-1814. When examining Saudi Arabia it is important to remember that there are two strains of tradition which are inseparably bound to the political history of the country: family and religion. Dinner tonight at the wonderful Takya restaurant opened by three women with the goal of serving traditional Saudi cuisine with a modern twist. Joining us tonight will be several Saudi guests that we have invited.

Riyadh

Depart the hotel to visit the Al Faisal Museum for Arab and Islamic Art located within the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. Meeting the group will be Rasha Al-Fawaz, the director of the museum. Continue to the Ministry of Investment for a discussion and an opportunity to learn more about their work. The planned transformation of Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030 plan is unlocking new opportunities and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) is facilitating access to these opportunities by developing a vibrant cross-government investment ecosystem, while supporting businesses throughout their investment journey. Through a network of dynamic business centers across the Kingdom, MISA partners with local and international businesses of all scales and sizes—from startups to blue chip multinationals—to help make investing in the Kingdom as streamlined and simple as possible. Close by is the American Embassy where we will, schedule permitting, visit with staff members. The American Embassy in Saudi Arabia includes a team of over a thousand Americans, Saudis, and 20 other nationalities who are spread between Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran. Dinner at leisure.

Dammam

This morning take a high speed train heading north- east to Al Hofuf – capital of the Al-Hasa Oasis and one of the great oases of the eastern Province and the first UNESCO-listed oasis. As home to over 3 million palm trees, the ruins of several abandoned cities, over 150 sparkling springs, serene green expanses, and so much more, the Al-Hasa Oasis which is 60 miles inland from the Arabian Gulf, is the largest oasis in the world. Recognizing its unique heritage, UNESCO in 2018, inscribed Al-Hasa as Saudi Arabia’s fifth World Heritage Site, joining Mada’in Saleh, historic Jeddah, Diriyah and the rock art of Ha’il on the World Heritage Site list. Continue on to a private farm for lunch to learn more about the area’s date production, named in polls as the best dates in the world. Spread out over just under 50 square miles, the date groves of Al-Hasa produce some five tons on a daily basis. After lunch, drive just under two hours to Al Khobar. Upon arrival, transfer to the Le Meridien Al Khobar for dinner and overnight.

Dammam/AlKhobar

Depart the hotel to drive to the US Consulate where the group will meet with the team here. From here, drive to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, an arts center developed by Saudi Aramco incorporating a museum, library, cinema, auditorium and lecture halls. It is known locally as “Ithra”, an Arabic word meaning enrichment. After lunch at the center, schedule permitting, visit the ARAMCO headquarters for an extensive tour. Started in the 1920s with Bahrain Petroleum Co., a subsidiary of Standard Oil of California, the Saudi government gave the company a concession to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia. After four years, Dammam’s Well Number 7, brought success to the company in 1938. Farewell dinner this evening.

Return

Transfer to the airport for return flights.