<strong>Saudi Arabia tourism: </strong>The conservative Middle Eastern country has announced plans to roll out a new visitor visa that will allow travelers to enter once in 30 days.
Saudi Arabia tourism: The conservative Middle Eastern country has announced plans to roll out a new visitor visa that will allow travelers to enter once in 30 days.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Visitor trial: </strong>Earlier in 2018, foreigners were invited to join about 600,000 spectators during Saudi Arabia's month-long King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, offering a chance to sample the experience of being in the country.
Visitor trial: Earlier in 2018, foreigners were invited to join about 600,000 spectators during Saudi Arabia's month-long King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, offering a chance to sample the experience of being in the country.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Annual event:</strong> There's an on-site dome enclosure where travelers can view rare and special camels, as well as activities including camel racing and a camel beauty pageant.<br />
Annual event: There's an on-site dome enclosure where travelers can view rare and special camels, as well as activities including camel racing and a camel beauty pageant.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Surgical enhancements: </strong>After a botox scandal, there is now a three-step process to prevent camel enhancements. Here, officials check their camels before the next day's beauty pageant.
Surgical enhancements: After a botox scandal, there is now a three-step process to prevent camel enhancements. Here, officials check their camels before the next day's beauty pageant.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Star attraction: </strong>Journalist Danae Mercer shares a kiss with one of the thousands of camels at the festival.
Star attraction: Journalist Danae Mercer shares a kiss with one of the thousands of camels at the festival.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Long standing tradition:</strong> "We need people outside Saudi Arabia to see how we live, to see what the camel means for us," says Sultan Al-Bogomi, an official spokesperson of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival.
Long standing tradition: "We need people outside Saudi Arabia to see how we live, to see what the camel means for us," says Sultan Al-Bogomi, an official spokesperson of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Record numbers: </strong>The 2018 festival set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of camels participating in races, with some 6,120 taking part this year.
Record numbers: The 2018 festival set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of camels participating in races, with some 6,120 taking part this year.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Desert excursion:</strong> King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is hosted in Al-Dahna, an empty swathe of desert about 90 minutes' drive from Riyadh. It is a good event to time a trip to Saudi Arabia around.<br />
Desert excursion: King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is hosted in Al-Dahna, an empty swathe of desert about 90 minutes' drive from Riyadh. It is a good event to time a trip to Saudi Arabia around.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Family-friendly occasion: </strong>A young boy watches the proceedings at the camel festival while wearing a scarf to keep dust off his face.<br />
Family-friendly occasion: A young boy watches the proceedings at the camel festival while wearing a scarf to keep dust off his face.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Tourism drive:</strong> The new visa scheme is part of a bold plan to increase visitor numbers beyond the millions of Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca every year.
Tourism drive: The new visa scheme is part of a bold plan to increase visitor numbers beyond the millions of Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca every year.
Thuymi Do
<strong>Changing times: </strong>It's been a year since the conservative country began allowing female-only gyms, while King Salman issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time in September 2017.
Changing times: It's been a year since the conservative country began allowing female-only gyms, while King Salman issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time in September 2017.
FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Top attraction:</strong> Sights like Edge of the World, which is accessible by 4x4, and activities such as hiking will be highlights for visitors once the country starts opening to tourism.<br />
Top attraction: Sights like Edge of the World, which is accessible by 4x4, and activities such as hiking will be highlights for visitors once the country starts opening to tourism.
Thuymi Do