All Saudi Arabia

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Saudi Arabia

34 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Saudi Arabia

Updated October 15, 2025
Email

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Saudi Arabia

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

See All 34 Things To Do in Saudi Arabia
In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Saudi Arabia

History & Culture 10
Ruins 7
Architecture 6
Deserts 5
Archaeology 5
Fortresses 4
Ancient 4
Natural Wonders 4

Saudi Arabia Leaderboard

Recent Saudi Arabia Activity

Stories About Saudi Arabia

Archaeologists believe the life-sized camel and equid reliefs were likely carved and recarved throughout the Neolithic.

These Carved Camels Are the Oldest Life-Sized Reliefs in World

The ancient sculptures in Saudi Arabia were made when the desert was green and camels were wild.
by Sarah Durn
The Red Sea, dividing Africa and Arabia, may be the world’s youngest ocean.

Is the Red Sea Really the Red Ocean?

It's complicated.
by Gemma Tarlach
A green smudge in a sun-baked orange expanse, the modern oasis of Jubbah was once a lake, and may have appealed to the first members of our species to leave Africa.

A Desert Oasis Hints at a Long History of Resilience and Exploration

On the Arabian Peninsula, Jubbah holds clues to how humans adapted in the past.
by Gemma Tarlach
From his paraglider, Steinmetz appears to have captured a colorful, abstract mosaic made up of round tiles. In fact, these are shallow basins lined with mud, about three to five feet wide and made by hand, holding salt water that slowly evaporates to yield mineral solids, which are sold to be consumed by livestock. The colors depend on the mix of mud, algae, and salt. Teguidda-n-Tessoumt, Niger.

How a 'Flying Photographer' Sees the World From Above

The perspective made George Steinmetz an “accidental environmentalist.”
by Winnie Lee
A kite from above, taken from a balloon with a camera attached.

The Middle East Is Dotted With Thousands of Puzzling Kite-Shaped Structures

Some of them are comparable in size to the famous Nazca Lines in Peru.
by Robin George Andrews
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member