KSA - The Holy Cities
 

Both of these are closed to non-muslims. I was in Medina, at the airport, which is outside the restricted area. There is a similar restricted area in Mecca. In the 1990s I worked part-time for LANSA (Larsan Nielsen Saudi Arabia) in Jeddah, They had a branch in Mecca which offered classes in English. A company driver took us up there twice a week and brought us back. Mecca was a strange place. Have other non-muslims visited ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca#..._Jabal_Nur.JPG

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

We flew to Medina from Riyadh in 2011 on a trip to Al Ula. Police escort all the way but that's another matter - Mada'in Saleh was an absolutely fantastic experience - no wonder they are developing it now.

In Medina there's a a series of 'start of haram' marker posts around the town showing where the Muslim only inner city starts. I don't think they were fully aligned with the ring road we were on as we kept dipping in and out of the 'magic circle' on our route north

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...4722415dfb.jpg

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

When we went to M'dain Saleh in 2005 we were followed around by local "Shebab" in 4x4s shouting abuse. They were not put off by our armed police escort.

On the same visit we met a team of saudi archaeologists from Riyadh. They swore us to secrecy and then showed us a statue they had excavated. About 600 BC. Why the secrecy ? "If local Shebab find out about it, they will destroy it, These dudes will chop your head off if they think you are a statue-worshipper or idolater !

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

I didnt know they allowed cheats.
scot47 is British Expats very own Richard Burton!

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

"Cheats" ? Mdain Saleh is part of the same civilisation that built Petra in Jordan. Better known and mnore accessible "Red rose Petra, half as old a time."

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

There is a perimeter. The outer suburbs of Mecca are accessible to all. Only the "Haram" area is closed to non-believers. Lansa Training Center was outside that line.

My line about Petra is from this poem - http://www.poetryatlas.com/poetry/poem/3771/petra.html

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

Yeah I recall some damage as well as lots of bullet holes in any heritage signs
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...b1fba35b0f.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...fe46551960.jpg

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

A Saudi colleague told me it is closed till the end of the year for conservation.

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeans

The Nabateans were in charge in the Hejaz and Midian and controlled this important trade routes. Those in charge now discount all of the History of the area prior to the rise of Islam. Wahabis and Salafists are not into understanding other cultures.

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

Disagree with that. If that was the case there wouldn't be the massive push to develop the area for tourism, which ties in with the whole Red Sea coast development, and Neom, generally.

​​​​​​The coastline from Umluj upwards is lovely, and not far in Saudi terms from Madain Saleh.

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

There is in fact a dispute between The "Modernisers" and those who want to stay in the world of Mohammed Abdul-Wahab. 50 years ago we saw this conflict between King Faisal and those who resisted change.

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

Don't think there's any doubt about who's in charge though, or who's winning any conflict!

The Ritz Carlton proved that....

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

Ritz Carlton ? Explain to an old man who left KSA in 2010
Is that where the opponents were detained ?

Re: KSA - The Holy Cities
 

i should have learned by now that Wikipedia Knows All, Sees All and Tells All -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritz-Carlton,_Riyadh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017–19_Saudi_Arabian_purge