12 Best Saudi Arabia’s Natural Wonders: Deserts, Mountains, and Coastlines

Saudi Arabia is very rich when it comes to Natural wonders. The region houses scenic deserts, towering mountain landscapes and breath-taking coastlines. Despite the typical image of Saudi Arabia as a desert land; it has a lot of things to offer. The diversity here is matchless.

Most of the travelers of Saudi Arabia explore the region after completion of holy rituals with Umrah Packages from UK. Since one can easily perform Umrah rites in a matter of few hours or a day at maximum, the best utilization of the spare time is to travel.

If you are arriving with an Umrah visa, you might need additional permissions for travelling beyond the holy cities. However, pilgrims on an Umrah permit can easily opt for exploration of the holy land of Saudi Arabia.

Exploring Best Saudi Arabia’s Natural Wonders

Here’s a brief description of the places that you must visit in Saudi Arabia during your visit.

1. Faifa Mountains

Close to the Yemeni border of Saudi Arabia, the Faifa Mountains are present in the Jazan region. With peaks as high as 8,530 feet, the distinctive thing about these mountains is their hanging villages. These villages are built on terraced slopes with lush green landscape beneath.

The higher rainfall here speaks for the terraced farming practices. The cool and humid temperatures also give birth to a diverse range of flora and fauna in the Faifa Mountains.

The unique agricultural practices and breathtaking architecture of houses here are the magnets for tourists. Plus, misty landscapes, stone houses, and lush green vegetation also make it popular.

2. Rub’ al Khali (also known as Empty Quarter)

When it comes to the largest continuous sand desert in the world, Saudi Arabia holds the title for it. The Empty Quarter, also known as Rub’ al Khali, wears the crown for it. It spreads over an area of 650,000 square kilometers extending into the neighboring countries of UAE, Oman and Yemen. In fact, Rub’ al Khali speaks for the quarter area of Saudi Arabia’s southern portion.

The ever-changing landscape of its sand dunes is notorious. They can reach up to a height of 820 feet while stretching across miles simultaneously. Therefore, travelers arriving here must proceed with great caution if they don’t want to get lost in the vastness of this desert.

This desert receives minimal rainfall i.e. less than 3 cm annually. That’s why you will experience temperatures as high as 56 Degrees Celsius in summer while freezing temperatures on winter nights.

During your visit here with Ramadan Umrah Packages you’ll enjoy a variety of flora and fauna. Sighting of the Arabian Oryx, sand gazelles, and desert foxes is also common here. In addition, Rub’ al Khali holds a very large oil reserve beneath its surface. All in all, making this desert a must-visit.

3. Jeddah Corniche

The Jeddah Corniche is one of the most popular waterfronts in KSA present along the Red Sea coast. With a length of 30 kilometers, this waterfront has a number of activities and spots for tourists. Whether you want to go shopping, deep sea diving or enjoy local delicacies – you can do it here.

There are many artistic sculptures, and installations present on the Jeddah Corniche making it even more beautiful. Whether you are travelling alone or with family, become a part of the numerous festivals, water sports and events happening here.

4. Asir Mountains

Near the city of Abha, the Asir mountains are a popular tourist spot in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern region. These mountain ranges offer you an escape from the hot desert climate of KSA. Cool breezes, lush green landscapes and misty peaks are the hallmarks of Asir mountains. Unlike the rest of the country, this region is comparatively cooler. So if you are tired of the intense heat, head to this scenic and cold destination of KSA.

Jebel Sawda, the highest peak of KSA, is also here with a height of up to 9,843 feet. You can expect pleasant weather here with an average temperature of 25 Degrees Celsius.

Asir Mountains also offer a number of scenic destinations for visitors to enjoy. The colourful stone villages are a prominent mention in this regard. You can see Arabian leopards, hyraxes, and various endemic birds in the Asir National Park here with numerous hiking and picnic spots.

5. Dammam Corniche

In the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, Dammam Corniche is a 5-kilometre-long landscaped seafront. Parks, artificial lakes, picnic areas, and sculptures are the major tourist attractions here.

With numerous picnic, jogging, cycling, and beach outing spots; it is a popular attraction among families. Dolphin Village amusement area is worth visiting here, especially with children. You can enjoy dolphin shows with your kids and make them learn about aquatic life as well.

6. Al Thumamah Desert

Al Thumamah Desert is present in the Riyadh province, 75 kilometres northeast of Riyadh city. Unlike Rub’ al Khali, Al Thumamah possess smaller but rolling dunes making them ideal for recreational activities like;

• Sand boarding.
• Camel trekking.
• Dune bashing.
• Desert camping.
• 4×4 off-roading, etc.

Saudi Arabia holds many cultural festivals and events in the Al Thumamah desert annually. Travellers must indulge in the local cuisines and engage in Bedouin-inspired experiences for a memorable trip experience. Al Thumamah National Park is a must-visit here for visitors.

7. Al Khobar Corniche

Al Khobar Corniche is the scenic coastline extending 16 kilometres on the Arabian Gulf. This Corniche brings a number of water sports, playgrounds, installations and restaurants for the tourists to enjoy.

Al Khobar Corniche is specifically popular among families because the area offers numerous picnic spots. People can walk, cycle or dine in at the best restaurants here.

8. Jabal al-Lawz

Near the Jordanian border, Jabal al-Lawz (Mountain of Almonds) are present in the Tabuk region of KSA. With an elevation of approximately 8,465 feet, these mountains possess almond-shaped rocky cliffs and ridges. That’s how they get the of ‘Mountain of Almonds’.

Another prominent feature of this mountain is that it occasionally receives snowfall which is a rare sight in Saudi Arabia. The weather here is extremely cold in winter as compared to the rest of KSA. The temperature can drop to as low as 5°C during daytime while freezing temperature at night. So, it is another popular choice of tourists to the Kingdom for hiking and exploring.

9. Yanbu Beach

Yanbu Beach is also present on the Red Sea coast but at a distance of 300 kilometres from Jeddah. Yanbu beaches are popular because of their coral reefs and scenic views. Tourists here not only enjoy diving sports but also the mangrove forests.

Another prominent event that happens annually at Yanbu is the flower festival. It attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe. Many pilgrims also visit this beach with Umrah Packages after performing Umrah rituals in Makkah.

10. Sarawat Mountains

Sarawat Mountain ranges are the longest in Saudi Arabia and also encompass the Hijaz Mountains and Asir Mountains. These mountains extend along the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula i.e. from the Jordanian border in the north and down to Yemen, passing through KSA.

With a diverse landscape, Sarawat Mountains feature it all i.e. steep mountains, high plateaus, and valleys. Another prominent feature of this mountain range is the high cliffs and deep canyons.

11. An Nafud Desert

An Nafud Desert borders the provinces of Hail and Al Jawf in the north of Saudi Arabia. With an area of 65,000 square kilometres, An Nafud possesses the famous ‘red sand dunes’ with heights up to 394 feet. These sand dunes get their colour because of the red oxide coating of sand.

An Nafud Desert possess ancient artefacts depicting the life of early civilization here. You can see stone tools and carvings here made by them. This desert also contains the ancient trade route that connected the Arabian Peninsula to the Levant.

12. Umluj

Umluj is present in the Tabuk region and has the nickname of ‘Saudi Maldives’. Here, you will see;

• Sandy beaches.
• Turquoise waters.
• Vibrant coral reefs.

In short, similar to the ones in Maldives. Plus, it contains a group of over 100 small islands in its area. That’s why Umluj is called the Saudi Maldives.

Visitors here can see rare marine life and migratory birds during their stay in Umluj. That’s why snorkelling, diving, fishing, and island-hopping boat tours are the popular activities to do here.

The reason for the popularity of Umluj is its unique natural beauty and diverse marine life. Both of these attract tourists from across the world.

Tips for Visiting Best Saudi Arabia’s Natural Wonders

When visiting deserts, mountains, and coastlines;

• keep your surroundings clean.
• Use proper trash bins to dispose of the waste.
• Don’t litter here and there.
• Try to keep the beauty of these natural sceneries intact.

As a foreign traveller to KSA, you must possess all of the documentation to prove your identity. So, always carry your travel essentials along. Don’t overstay your visa or violate any of the conditions described on it. Otherwise, you might face penalties and jail time.

Trespassing in some areas might be prohibited by the authorities. So educate yourself on the rules and regulations for foreign tourists in the deserts, mountains and coastlines of Saudi Arabia.

Final Words

These are the deserts, mountains and coastlines that you must visit after completing Umrah rites with your Ramadan Umrah Packages 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions