Saudi Arabia’s treasures beckon

Travel

In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason.

Old buildings in disrepair, left, and newer structures that have developed up the valley in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

A tourist takes a photograph from one of the mountains that overlooks the city of Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

People drink coffee on Farasan Island. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

Mohammad Saigal, one of the few working tourist guides on the Island, calls authorities to see if they would be able to open the gate to an old Ottoman fort on Farasan Island. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

Tourists visit the ancient ruins of Mada’in Saleh in the Al Madinah Region of Saudi Arabia. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

A tourist visits the ancient ruins of Mada’in Saleh in the Al Madinah Region of Saudi Arabia. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

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Old buildings in disrepair, left, and newer structures that have developed up the valley in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. In a region where countries like Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have invested to make tourism pillars of their economies, Saudi Arabia stands apart, and for good reason. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

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