13 Days Road Trip. Discover Saudia (Dammam >Jeddah)

About the destination: Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province, plus several government departments, are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province, and the sixth largest in Saudi Arabia. (Note: The text is already in English and does not require translation. The differences between English as spoken in Ireland and other English-speaking countries are generally minor and would not significantly alter the text provided.)

About the destination: Riyadh is the capital and largest city in Saudi Arabia with a population of about 5 million. The city has a rapidly growing centre where you'll find new high-rise buildings, international restaurants, hotels, shopping centres, modern offices and much more. Despite being a major business destination, it has maintained a balance between culture, tradition and economic growth. The historical core of Riyadh, Al-Murabba, has some interesting sites worth visiting such as the King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre, home to the National Museum and the Murabba Palace. The centre of Riyadh, Al-Bathaa, is the oldest part of the city. Al Bathaa is home to the bus station, post office and Batha souk. Faisaliya Tower is one of the two iconic towers of the city of Riyadh. It contains a variety of attractions, including a viewing platform, a small photography gallery and a café known as the Top. Riyadh is a luxurious and prosperous city in the heart of the Arabic world. The city’s unique urban landscape makes it a true modern wonder.

About the destination: Shaqra (Arabic: شقراء) is a town in central Saudi Arabia. The city is located about 190 kilometers north-west of the capital Riyadh. It's a small city that's now growing due to the newly opened Shaqra University. The city is peaceful and well designed and most of the daily necessities are available.

About the destination: Ushaiqer (Arabic: أشيقر) is a small village near Shagra in Saudi Arabia. It is 200 km (120 mi) north-west of Riyadh. Ushaiqer is one of the oldest towns in the Saudi region of Najd and it was a major stopping point for pilgrims coming from Kuwait, Iraq and Iran to perform Hajj or Umrah. It was originally known as A'ekel but the name was eventually changed to Ushaiqer. It was changed because the town is bordered by a small mountain north of the village. The mountain is red in colour, yet locals said it was blonde simply because red and blonde were used interchangeably in the old days. Ushaiqer means the "Small Blonde", which is a description of that particular mountain. Historical Ushaiqer belongs to the Tamim tribe although other tribes lived there as well. It is also the home land to many families in the Arabian Peninsula. The known families are Al-Hussaini (one of leaders on Ushaiqer in old times), Al-Elsheikh (The family of Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab), Al-Thani (rulers of the state of Qatar) and & Al-Bassam etc. The historical importance of the village is that its old mud buildings are still untouched. Therefore, it is considered one of the most attractive historical areas in the region. Lately, the people of Ushaiqer had restored the historical village to preserve its heritage and built a museum which displays various relics and pieces from the village.

About the destination: Buraydah (Arabic: بريدة‎‎ Burayda) is the capital of Al-Qassim Region in northcentral Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. Buraydah lies equidistant from the Red Sea to the west and the Persian Gulf to the east.

About the destination: Ha'il (Arabic: حائل‎‎ Ḥā'il), also spelled Hail, Ha'yel, or Hayil, is a city in north-western Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of the Ha'il Province. The city has a population of 412,758 according to Ha'il Province. Ha'il is largely agricultural, with significant grain, date, and fruit production. A large percentage of the kingdom's wheat production comes from Ha'il Province, where the area to the northeast, 60 to 100 km (37 to 62 miles) away, consists of irrigated gardens. Historically Ha'il derived its wealth from being on the camel caravan route of the Hajj. Ha'il is well known by the generosity of its people in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world as it is the place where Hatim al-Tai lived. It is also the homeland of the Al Rashid family, historical rivals to the Al-Sauds.

About the destination: AlUla, is a city of the Medina Region in north-western Saudi Arabia. Historically located on the incense route, the city lies within the Governorate of 'Ula , one of seven in the Medina Region, covering an area of 29,261 square kilometres (11,298 sq mi). The city is 110 km (68 mi) southwest of Tayma and 300 km (190 mi) north of Medina. The city (municipality) covers 2,391 square kilometres (923 sq mi). The population of the city is 5,426. AlUla was the capital of the ancient Lihyanites (Dedanites). The governorate contains the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Saudi Kingdom, called Hegra (also known as Al-Hijr, or Mada'in Saleh / Mada'in Salih), 22 km (14 mi) north of the city. Hegra (Mada'in Salih) was built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans. AlUla, the ancient walled city, is packed with mud-brick and stone houses.

About the destination: AlUla, is a city of the Medina Region in north-western Saudi Arabia. Historically located on the incense route, the city lies within the Governorate of 'Ula , one of seven in the Medina Region, covering an area of 29,261 square kilometres (11,298 sq mi). The city is 110 km (68 mi) southwest of Tayma and 300 km (190 mi) north of Medina. The city (municipality) covers 2,391 square kilometres (923 sq mi). The population of the city is 5,426. AlUla was the capital of the ancient Lihyanites (Dedanites). The governorate contains the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Saudi Kingdom, called Hegra (also known as Al-Hijr, or Mada'in Saleh / Mada'in Salih), 22 km (14 mi) north of the city. Hegra (Mada'in Salih) was built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans. AlUla, the ancient walled city, is packed with mud-brick and stone houses.

About the destination: Umlug, is a city in the Tabuk province of Saudi Arabia. The city has a port. Umlug is located at a distance of 130km from Yanbu city and at a distance of 500km from Tabuk city, the capital of the province. Amlag is located on the coast of the Red Sea, in longitude (14/37) and latitude (5/25), between the cities of Yanbu in the south and Alwaga in the north. In Amleg there are many places containing historical findings. In recent years, the city has grown and developed due to the opening of the sea route between Duba (in Saudi Arabia) and Sfaga (in Egypt). Off the coast of Amlag, there are many islands. The most famous islands are Gabel jasan and Om sjara. In addition to these islands there is a group of islets to the north of Amlag. This group contains seven islands, the name of this group is "The Alfoida Islands". There is also an island called "Ston", which lies to the north of the city before "Wadi aljamed". The ancient city of Amlag was one of the largest trading cities in Saudi Arabia (after Mecca). But over time trade has ceased in this city. There are 38 thousand inhabitants in Umlug. Most of the inhabitants work in fishing, agriculture and herding.

About the destination: At first glance, with its port, refineries and petrochemical plants, Yanbu might not seem like the Kingdom's most appealing spot. But it's quickly becoming the top tourist destination in the country, with its top-notch scuba-diving spots and pristine white sandy beaches, many of which have resorts and private beaches designed for families. The industrial part of Yanbu is a good 10km to 15km south of the city centre and doesn't really affect the stunning beaches to the north. The city centre is small but charming, with a relaxed atmosphere that's not found in the larger cities. Just outside the town is a vast, open desert that leads to the water, and it's here that most visitors spend their time: imagine sitting on the beach with few, if any, people on either side of you. The Hajj season, which attracts large crowds, is the exception.

About the destination: Jeddah is located on the Red Sea in the west of Saudi Arabia. It's the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the country. Jeddah is the main gateway to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, which all able-bodied Muslims are obliged to visit at least once in their lifetime. It's also a gateway to Medina, the second holiest place in Islam. The city that never sleeps won't let you sleep with all the variety it offers. To explore Jeddah, you'll need to sail its wild coasts, visit the luxurious Corniche, savour popular seafood dishes, enjoy majestic palaces, and historical and archaeological landmarks. The Khuzam Palace is a landmark that showcases the beauty of modern architecture. It was named Khuzam after all the lavender (Khuzama in Arabic) that surrounds it. The construction of the palace began in 1928 and was completed in 1932. It's the first building to be constructed using cement and iron in Jeddah. King Abdulaziz ordered its construction during his stay at the Nassif House for a period of time. Today, Khuzam Palace is one of the most important museums in Saudi Arabia. Tahaliyah Street is one of the most prestigious and vital main streets in Jeddah. It's a commercial hub of shopping centres due to the many brand name shopping centres lining its sides, as well as the finest restaurants, multiple shopping centres and lavish offices, not to mention its beauty and strategic location, divided into two sections.