Saudi Arabia is home to five historical and archaeological sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as the two most important pilgrimage sites in Islam. The country is bordered to the west by the Red Sea and the east by the Arabic Gulf and boasts three cities with a population of more than a million people: Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca.
Find below 6 unique locations among the route of DAKAR 2023!
1 - RED SEA
The Red Sea runs along the west coast of Saudi Arabia. The ports of Jeddah and Yanbu face it, as does the port of Jizan, in the extreme south of the country.
2 - YANBU
A few hours from Medina is the port of Yanbu. The modern part in the south is famous for its oil refineries and factories, while the old town in the north is an old staging post on the Spice Route.
3 - ALULA
In AlUla, in the heart of the desert of northwestern Saudi Arabia, you can live your archaeologist's dream by discovering the kingdom's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4 - RUB' AL-KHALI / EMPTY QUARTER
The desert plains of Rub al-Khali, the 'Empty Quarter', is one of the world's largest deserts and the largest unbroken stretch of sand.
5 - AL-HOFUF
Al-Hofuf is the capital of the Al-Ahsa oasis. With its 2.5 million palm trees, it is simply the largest oasis in the world.
6 - DAMMAM
A modern metropolis with an exceptional coastal location, Dammam offers an unobstructed view of Bahrain and the tranquil waters of the Arabian Gulf. It is the host city for the arrival of the Dakar 2023, with the finish podium and final ceremony to take place at The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, the Kingdom’s leading cultural and creative destination.
