Beyond Pilgrimages and Religious Tourism, Saudi Arabia is Opening Up its Remote Family-Friendly Destinations

By Rob L. Wagner Thomson Reuters/Salaam Gateway 21 March 2016 The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage is tapping into the rapidly growing number of foreign and domestic tourists to develop the more remote areas of the country. Although the movements of hajj pilgrims are restricted to Mecca, Jeddah and Medina during hajj, umrah

The Red Sea Diving Experience in Saudi Arabia

By Rob L. Wagner The Arab Weekly 4 September 2015 JEDDAH – Any diver possessing a Professional Associa­tion of Diving Instruc­tors (PADI) licence and a sense of adventure can spout off a list of top dive sites around the world. Kona Mantas in Hawaii comes to mind, as does Cod Hole at the Great Barrier Reef

Will Saudi Arabia Send the Troops?

With Iran threatening its oil exports, some experts say the kingdom will help defend shipments By Rob L. Wagner The Media Line 25 January 2012 JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Iran’s relationship with Saudi Arabia – once seen as improving following President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s 2007 visit to Riyadh – has deteriorated to the point that the