Saudi Arabia Activities

Saudi Arabia is not renowned for its abundance of children’s activities, but there are many options to keep the little ones busy and entertained. They will not be disappointed at the choices on offer, whether it be turning to nature for rides on camels or getting the adrenalin pumping at a theme park.

Beaches
Corniche beach in Jeddah is the most tourist-friendly of all of the country’s beaches. Sunbathing is not really an option as the wearing of swimsuits is considered to be inappropriate behaviour, especially for women. Modest clothing is however permitted and provided the weather isn’t too hot, the beach is a good place to relax with a book while the kids go paddling in the sea, make sandcastles or collect interesting shell specimens.

Camel rides
Camels have been closely associated with the desert and the Arabian Peninsula throughout history. Even today, when technology has brought us all manner of vehicles, these unusual creatures still prove their worth in a variety of situations. Most kids will almost certainly enjoy a camel ride down on the beach at Corniche in Jeddah and parents will find some excellent photo opportunities before, during and after the ride.

Riyadh Zoo
One of the city’s most popular attractions since it opened back in 1957, Riyadh Zoo is a favourite with kids and their parents alike. The zoo was relocated and reconstructed in 1987 and has become a fully modernised version of the original facility. A large number of different animal species reside at the zoo and include camels, hyenas, gazelles, elephants, monkeys, tigers, lions, leopards and various birds of prey.

Theme parks
Situated on a highway which is linked directly to the International Riyadh Airport, Al Hokair Land Theme Park provides a fun day out for all the family with a large selection of rides and attractions on hand. For younger visitors, there are small rides where the pace is slow-going while for those a little older and for adults too, there are roller coasters and white knuckle rides available. The park also has restaurants and snack counters making it the ideal place to spend the whole day. Al-Shallal Theme Park meanwhile is located in Jeddah and is home to a similar array of attractions making it equally suitable for a family day out.

The Wanasa World Children activity centre
Aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 12, the Wanasa World Children Activity Centre in Riyadh offers a variety of games and activities based on traditional entertainment themes. On arrival, children are paired up with their very own clown who takes care of them throughout their stay at the centre. Men and children only are permitted at the centre.

There is a surprising amount of activities and sports to take part in throughout the country. Many activities are for men only, but there are numerous options for couples and families.

Bird watching
If ornithology is your thing, Saudi Arabia is a great place to spot some of the worlds most rare and unusual bird species. BirdLife International magazine lists over 39 sites in the country where rare birds are known to reside and bird watching opportunities are consequently considered worth pursuing.

Football
The Saudis are as passionate about football as the residents of any country in the world and big games bring supporters out in their droves. Main roads are often packed with those celebrating the success of their team after a game. The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh is the place to head to catch a prestigious match and also to watch track and field sports events. With space at the stadium for 80,000 spectators, it is not normally too difficult to get a seat.

Golf
If you are staying in or around the city of Riyadh, you will find several good golf courses available which are open to anyone who fancies practicing their swing or fine tuning their green skills. The Intercon and the Arizona Golf Resort are perhaps the best known, the former offering 9 holes while the latter has a full 18 holes available.

Hashing
Hash groups were originally started by the British in Malaysia in the 1930’s but can now be found in countries all over the world. Generally consisting of a hardcore of expatriates, they invite everyone to join them on their outdoor excursions which generally entail either running or walking combined with a good deal of socialising. In Riyadh, the local Hash groups invite all visitors to their thrice weekly trips into the desert which often involve overnight stops in some of the area’s most scenic spots.

In Saudi Arabia, visitors with particular gastronomic interests will find themselves in for a real treat as the country is typical of the Middle East in its approach to cooking and the creation of rich and strongly flavoured foods. If you like a little heat in your food then you’ll certainly appreciate the spicy dishes which are a common aspect of the national cuisine.

Meat plays a huge role in Saudi Arabian cuisine, with lamb, beef and chicken, in various guises, all making their way into a large number of traditional dishes. While something of a cliché, the kebab is a highly popular creation and more than likely differs greatly from the westernised creations you find at Middle Eastern takeaways in the UK and other European destinations. Kebab meat is traditionally served with Khubz Arabi (pita) bread and garnished with salad and a variety of sauces.

Besides other typical Middle Eastern dishes such as falafel (ground chickpea patties) and hummus (ground chickpeas with lemon, garlic and tahini), popular traditional creations include: tabouleh (salad of bulgar wheat, tomato, mint and parsley), Qursan (dried thin wheat loafs soaked in meat gravy), Saleeg (rice dish made from milk, served with poached meat) and Aysh abu laham (a fennel flavoured bread based baked and filled with fried mutton, chopped kurrath or spring onion.)

Saudi Arabia’s hotel and tourist-friendly restaurants offer an incredibly wide range of international food. This abundance of international favourites can sometimes mean that the traditional dishes get a little lost amid the spaghetti and steaks. Therefore, if you are really keen to try some authentic Middle Eastern cuisine you should try and befriend some of the locals and angle for a dinner invitation. For Saudi Arabian families, dinner time is a time to get together around a large selection of dishes which are eaten at leisure, creating their own unique blend of tastes and textures.

Saudi Arabia is a veritable shopper’s paradise and visitors with cash or credit cards burning holes in their pockets will find ample opportunity for some serious retail therapy.

The big cities are the best places to head if you are looking for branded goods such as those available at famous chains like GAP, Zara, Benetton, Guess and French Connection. Jeddah city is home to over 90 shopping malls, all offering international stores set in luxury air-conditioned buildings with the most exquisite décor.

Sales tax is non-existent in Saudi Arabia, so visitors looking for a bargain may well find their desired product at a price considerably lower than back home. Besides branded and designer products, Saudi Arabia is the country to find reasonably priced gold jewellery and carpets although visitors should be wary of having to pay customs duty on especially large purchases when re-entering their own countries.

Away from the mega-malls in the smaller cities, you’ll find markets selling reasonably priced locally made handicrafts which are good for bringing home as gifts for family and friends or as souvenirs for yourself. Don’t forget that at markets it’s perfectly acceptable (indeed expected) for you to bargain for a better price than the vendor initially offers you. In malls and big stores, fixed prices are in operation and bargaining is a no-no.