Al-Muḥarraq lies on the northernmost island of the Bahrain archipelago at its southwest tip. A 2.5 km-long causeway connects it to the capital city of Manama, on Bahrain island. Taken by the Portuguese (1521) and the Persians (1602), Al-Muḥarraq passed to the control of the Āl Khalīfah...
Bahrain’s capital and largest city lies at the northeast tip of Bahrain Island in the Persian Gulf. About one-fifth of the country’s population lives in the city. First mentioned in Islamic chronicles about 1345 CE, it was taken by the Portuguese (1521) and the Persians (1602)...
We arrived at night in a small Arab state (population 1,6 mil) situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and some 30 smaller islands. Bahrain has only small petroleum stores in one of the world’s top oil...
It is a fascinating place to witness the production of raw salt from a vast area of land bordered to its west by the massive dunes of the Ad Dahna desert. Although it has been famous since ancient times for its high-quality salt, it produces about 200,000 tons of salt annually and is...
The historic courtyards of Shaqra’s heritage village feature beautiful triangular windows, roofs, and ornately carved wooden doors. We strolled around the old market and its traditional shops before our drive to Riyadh.
Parking location – Shaqra: 25.255977N 45.254603E
Situated about 200 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, near the town of Shaqra, Ushaiger Heritage Village is one of the oldest villages in the region. Historically, Bedouins first settled here 1,500 years ago. Ushaiger quickly became a popular stopping point for pilgrims crossing to Makkah...
Buraydah is a town in north-central Saudi Arabia. It is 650 meters above sea level in the largest valley of Saudi Arabia, the 600 km long Wadi al-Rummah. It has long been a commercial rival of ʿUnayzah to the south, at one time controlling the export of Arab horses and monopolizing the...
Nestled between Mount Shammer to the north and Mount Salma to the south, the city of Hail was once the capital of all the Arabian Desert and home to legends like Hatem Al Tai, the Arabian poet whose altruism earned him spots in stories like “One Thousand and One Nights.” As an...
Already second Continental tyre exploded during our ride to the forgotten house of Hatem Al Tai – a symbol of generosity and chivalry. Hatem Al Tai (died 578) was an Arab poet of the Tai tribe who lived in the region of the Aja and Salma mountains, currently known as Hail, in...
The oasis Jubbah lies on the old caravan road linking Dumat Al-Jandal with Ha’il, surrounded by the vast Nefud Desert. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions on the rock face. The carvings found on the Jibal Umm Sinman cover...