GLOBETROTTER
Arabian nights
RUMOURS ABOUND THAT Saudi Arabia will soon
start issuing tourist visas. ‘For a long time, this has been
one of the hardest places on the planet for tourists to
visit,’ says Helen Elfer, Lonely Planet’s Destination
Editor for the Middle East. ‘If it does open up, there is a
world of sights and experiences to be explored there,
from Mada’in Saleh, an ancient Nabatean site known as
“the other Petra” (pictured) to diving over pristine Red
Sea coral reefs. Perhaps most intriguingly, it would
mean the chance to engage with people, customs and
traditions from a largely closed-off culture.’ Tour
operator Wild Frontiers plans to send groups to the
country from 2017 (wildfrontierstravel.com).
Lonely Planet’s newly-
updated Oman, UAE &
Arabian Peninsula guide is
out 1 September (US$34.99).
Download individual chapters
at lonelyplanet.com.WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
1 Men and women are only allowed to travel together
if they are married or form part of a group.
2 Women must wear an abaya (full-length robe).
Though legally a headscarf is not compulsory, it’s a
good idea to carry one in case religious police insistyou
wear one. For men, dressing modestly is also essential.
Shorts are considered a no-no, but if worn they should
cover the knee.
3 Saudi Arabians offer their prayers to Allah five times
a day and all shops, restaurants, cafés and other
businesses remain closed during prayer times.
4 Alcohol is completely forbidden.GLOBETROTTER