Al-Riyadh newspaper | Tourism…from enjoying nature to events

In the past, it was associated with summer and vacation. Today, it is open throughout the year

Tourism…from enjoying nature to events

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Tourism in the past was linked to summer vacation

The picturesque resorts were the only main destination for tourism seekers in the past

Events in all regions have become a source of tourist attraction for everyone at all times

In the past and for decades, tourism was linked to the summer vacation of schools, by traveling to the beautiful resorts of our Kingdom, led by (the Bride of Resorts) the city of Taif, which was the main preferred destination for the vast majority of the Kingdom’s population, especially those close to Taif such as the western region and the capital, Riyadh, and its region. The city of Taif is famous for its picturesque nature and moderate climate, which makes it an attractive tourist destination throughout the ages, with its distinctive location in the west of the Kingdom, and it belongs to the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region. On both sides of Wadi (Waj), it is approximately 75 km away from the city of Mecca and surrounded by mountains on all sides. It rises above sea level at a distance ranging from 1700 m to 2500 m, which gives it a pleasant atmosphere. The location has given it several advantages, as it is considered the eastern gateway to the Two Holy Mosques via Mecca, and it is also the meeting point of roads connected to all regions of the Kingdom through other regions and cities. Taif also includes two meqats. Ihram is for the people of Najd, namely: Al-Sail Al-Kabir, for those coming from the central region, and Wadi Muharram, for those coming from the south. The location of the city of Taif is considered an important strategic location, as it connects the regions of Hijaz and Najd. In our contemporary history, Taif has gained special importance since the late founder, His Majesty King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – used it as a summer resort, and then his royal sons after him, as they made the Al-Hawiyah suburb in the Taif Governorate a summer resort. He has been hiking since the year 1343 AH, and King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – preferred to stay away from the city of Riyadh in the summer and could not stand the heat of Mecca or the humidity of Jeddah, but he used to summer in the suburb of Al-Hawiyah, close to the city of Taif, and he noticed that the climate of Taif is very dry and Al-Hawiyah has a nicer atmosphere. King Abdulaziz spent the last three months of his life traveling in his usual summer resort between Al-Hawiyah and Taif, most of which was in Al-Hawiyah and he died. There, the funeral prayer was performed for him in Al-Hawiyah, then his body was transported to Riyadh and buried in the Al-Oud Cemetery, and then the kings of his sons took the city of Taif as their summer resort, and it continued to be a tourist city attracting visitors from all regions of the Kingdom and the countries of the Arabian Gulf, to this day. The cities of the south, led by Abha (Al-Bahiya), also had a share of the influx of tourists in the summer, in addition to the cities of Baljurashi, Al-Namas, and a number of Asir cities with cool and pleasant weather in the summer. It appeared near the city of Riyadh and About eighty kilometers southeast of Riyadh in the city of Al-Kharj, there is a place that attracts a number of families and singles in order to spend an enjoyable time for a day or part of a day. It is the famous Al-Kharj Nursery, which was established during the reign of His Majesty King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – in the year 1362 AH, to be an experimental station affiliated with the Al-Kharj Agricultural Project, which was established in 1934 AD. The historical site was later transformed into a park, as its name was associated with beautiful memories and a past that lasts for a long time. The community used to find it a beautiful place to entertain oneself and search for a quiet atmosphere, and families preferred it to spend enjoyable times, as it became famous during that period more than five decades ago, as it was mentioned in many poems, the most famous of which is this sung poem, the opening of which says:

Oh Taif, when will the journey end?

Come to us at Al-Kharj nursery in Deira

You see many memories, but no memories

The rhymes are lost because the author of the biography has disappeared

Outside of the summer, tourism is almost non-existent. Everyone spends their day at home only or visiting family and relatives. Some people, especially the owners of towns and villages, may find themselves going out for a walk in Riyadh and Fayyad during the rainy season and the mild weather in the spring. This may be accompanied by camping for a day or two. Four decades ago, organized tourism festivals actually began in the Kingdom, in the mid-nineties AD, and it is considered the “First Spring Festival,” which was held in Mecca in the year 1415 AH. / 1994 AD, and the launch of (the Domestic Tourism Conference in Abha) in 1417 AH 1996 AD, is one of the most prominent launches for organizing tourism and festivals. Since that date, tourist festivals that were initially during the summer vacation have spread and are now held during most times and seasons of the year.

Janadriyah Festival

The National Festival of Heritage and Culture, or (Janadriyah Festival), is the first tourist festival to be held in the capital, Riyadh. The first session of the festival was on March 24, 1985 AD. It is often held in the spring, in the months of February and March, and attracts many visitors inside and outside the Kingdom. It is held under the supervision of the Ministry of the National Guard for 34 years. The last 33rd session of the festival was held in December 2018 under the supervision of the Ministry of Guard until a residency was assigned to it. Its activities in 2019 were organized by the Ministry of Culture, which was established in 2018. The festival includes an integrated village for heritage, ancient ornaments, tools that were used by Saudi citizens in their environment more than fifty years ago, and exhibitions of plastic arts.

Tourist seasons in each region

There are many tourist seasons in our Kingdom, as they start in a number of regions and according to their nature, there are seasons that they are famous for. In the winter, Saudi Arabia turns into a global tourist destination that hosts the largest sports, music, cultural and artistic festivals full of excitement, the most important of which are the Riyadh winter events, the Al Ula Moments winter events, the winter events in Khobar, the Jeddah winter events, the Jazan winter events, and the events of the Marat Governorate winter season. As for the summer events, the most important of them are the Jeddah summer season and the Asir summer season. And the Al-Baha summer season, and the pepper festival in Shaqra Governorate. As for the events of the spring seasons, the most important of them are: the Diriyah Season, the Spring Arar Season, the Tanomah Spring Festival, and the Ushaiqar Spring Festival. As for the fall season, the Suhail Nights Festival 2025 stands out in the northern borders, where the northern border region experiences an exceptional atmosphere with the launch of the Suhail Nights Festival 2025 activities, which embodies the depth of the relationship between the local community and the Suhail star, the star whose appearance has been linked since ancient times. With popular heritage, the beginning of the fall season, mild weather, and signs of rain, the festival is a cultural and heritage station that goes beyond being an entertainment event. It combines authenticity and modernity, and documents the extended relationship between generations and the customs of fathers and grandfathers who cited the rise of Suhail in their daily lives, whether in agriculture, travel, or determining the seasons. It also highlights a number of festivals that combine entertainment and marketing agricultural products, which have become a source of tourist attraction, such as the Taif Rose Festival in Taif Governorate. The Pomegranate Festival in Al-Baha, the Al-Kharj Festival for Saudi Dates and Coffee, the Rose and Fig Festival in Al-Muzahimiyah Governorate, the citrus festivals in Al-Hariq Governorate, the Al-Barr Festival in Dharma Governorate, the Dates Festival in Marrat Governorate, and other festivals in all regions of the Kingdom.

Multiple activities

Every year, our Kingdom witnesses the holding of multiple events through tourist seasons in all regions, and one of the most famous and successful of these seasons is (Riyadh Season), which appears every year with renewed activities. Riyadh Season was launched for the first time in 2019 and attracted more than 10 million visitors. It is considered an international entertainment festival held in the city of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom, and aims to transform it into a global tourist entertainment destination, in accordance with the objectives of the Quality of Life Program, one of the Saudi Vision programs. 2030, and the days of the festival when it was launched on October 11, 2019 amounted to 70 days, then it was extended after the number of visitors reached more than 7 million people, as it was extended in several regions, including: (Winter Wonderland), Al Murabba, Al Safari, and the Riyadh Deserts until January 18, 2020, and in the Riyadh Boulevard area until the end of March 2020, and the number of festival activities reached more than 100 events varied between enthusiastic shows, wildlife, restaurants and cafes, and international brands, in addition to car shows, auctions, games, oriental and foreign concerts, heritage and art. These events include: the Saudi Hunting and Falconry Exhibition, the Ferrari Festival, the Carnival of Horror, the skate park, the Enchanted Garden, Foot Park, Aden Nights, Mahrousa Nights, the Korean band BTS, the Nerf Experience, the Marvel Experience, and Al Nafoura. Its activities were distributed over 12 sites with an area of 14 million square metres, and it was implemented by 280 Saudi companies. Its second season began on October 20, 2021 AD after stopping in 2020 due to the Corona virus pandemic. The third season began on October 21, 2022 AD and carried the slogan (Beyond Imagination), and the opening ceremony of the Riyadh season 2022 entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the ceremony in which fireworks were launched from airplanes the most. Without a drone, and this year, specifically on October 10, 2025 AD, the events of the Riyadh Season 2025 were launched in its sixth edition, and the opening ceremony witnessed a major opening march held between the Kingdom Arena and Boulevard World areas, and the presentation of international performances with the participation of local and international teams, and a display of dozens of giant balloons coming from New York, which were presented for the first time in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with one of the most prominent international American companies organizing the festive shows, and this year’s edition included (11) major entertainment areas covering the capital. Riyadh, which includes 15 international championships and 34 exhibitions and festivals, with the participation of more than 2,100 companies in various fields. The sixth edition hosted major conferences such as the (Joy Forum) conference between October 16 and 17, 2025 AD in the Boulevard City area, and hosted the most prominent entertainment makers in the world, in cooperation with the American content maker (Mr. Best) by creating the (Best Land) area, which extends over an area of 200 thousand square meters, and includes more than 27 games. And an experience and more than 40 restaurants and stores, and (Riyadh Season) hosted the international event (Royal Rumble) for free wrestling, which is held for the first time outside the continent of North America, and the (Flying Over Saudi Arabia) experience was held, which promotes tourism in various regions of Saudi Arabia, and the experience allows ninety people at the same time to engage in an interactive experience to visit a number of regions of the Kingdom remotely, and the first mobile marine area was created under the name (Aurea Cruise), which provides an experience on the Red Sea, and includes 14 different marine destinations, 29 restaurants and cafes, 10 spa and fitness facilities, 20 entertainment areas on board, and the development of the Riyadh Zoo to include more than 1,600 animals from 170 species distributed over 6 inland areas – in addition to activities provided by Al Suwaidi Park that include 13 different cultures, and host the countries of Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Bangladesh. And Pakistan and India, through 49 concerts, 84 theatrical performances, and 100 carnivals. One of the most prominent features of the Riyadh 2026 events is that they are designed to suit different age groups and interests, which makes them an ideal choice for families. Children can enjoy the interactive areas and educational shows, while young people find a wide choice of concerts and sports and entertainment activities, while adults enjoy cultural exhibitions and unique experiences that reflect the great development that the capital is witnessing. This diversity gives the family the opportunity to spend an enjoyable time without having to search for separate activities for each. Individual, Qiddiya City is also the first global destination built entirely on the concept of Power of Play. The city is distinguished by its location in the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains, 40 minutes from Riyadh. The vibrant city will combine entertainment, sports and culture in an unprecedented experience in the world. Qiddiya Entertainment City has officially opened its doors to visitors, with Six Flags Park launched as the city’s first destination on December 31, 2025, followed by the opening of Aquaribia, the largest water park. In the Middle East.