With Saudi tourist visas imminent, here are the top 10 sights to see in the Kingdom

Saudi tourism push set to draw UAE travellers with new 30-day visit visas from April

JEDDAH: UNESCO's World Heritage Committee inscribed the old city of Jeddah and the Gate of Makkah on the World Heritage List in 2014. Pictured: windows covered with wooden screens known as "mashrabaiya" adorn traditional buildings in the old city of Jeddah. AFP Photo.

YANBU: A popular jumping-off point for diving in the Red Sea, and famed for its white, sandy beaches, Yanbu's star is on the rise. While it's also known for its refineries and petrochemical plants - the city boasts plenty of private beaches, and resorts geared towards families. John Fraser / Stockimo.

RIYADH: The capital and most populous city of Saudi Arabia is primarily considered a business destination. But, financial hub or not, the 6 million-strong city boasts some impressive skyscrapers - including the 302m-high Kingdom Centre, with a sky bridge connecting 2 towers, and the 267m-high Al Faisaliah Centre, with a glass-globe summit. The historic Deira suburb, and the Masmak Fort, is worth a wander around too. Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters.

TABUK: Steeped in ancient history, Tabuk is an agricultural-rich area on the Red Sea. It's known for a wealth of aspects, most notably it's diving, the Tabuk Castle which dates back to 1559, and the Hisma mountain range. Getty Images

MAKKAH: Located in western Saudi Arabia, this is considered the holiest site in Islam. Non-Muslims are strictly forbidden to enter the city. A pilgrimage to Makkah, known as the Hajj, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and is compulsory for all Muslims who are able. Each year, over three million Muslims visit the city during the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah. The Great Mosque of Makkah (pictured) is considered the holiest site in the city, and in Islam. The Kaaba, which it is built around, is a building said to have been built by Prophet Abraham himself and his son, Prophet Ishmael. Mast Irham / EPA.

MADINA: Considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah, this is said to be where the prophet Mohammed was buried. Pictured: the burial place is at the city's heart, at al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque). Getty Images

DIR'IYAH: Another UNESCO site, this was once the home of the Saudi royal family, and served as the capital of the emirate of the same name from 1744 to 1818, under the first Saudi dynasty. The At-Turaif district in ad-Dir'iyah on the outskirts of Riyadh, is part of a major development project shepherded by Saudi King Salman. The heart of the 750 million riyal ($200 million/179 million euro) project is the restoration of At-Turaif, but it also includes the creation of the adjacent Abdul Wahhab Foundation which is designed to is designed to honour Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahhab, the 18th-century fundamentalist preacher who co-founded the Saudi state. Fayez Nureldine / AFP Photo.

ABHA: This mountainous area is known for its national parks, forests and mud-built castles and buildings. Its mild climate, and lush, green countryside make it a popular destination for domestic travellers throughout the year. Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters.

QASSIM: The Qassim region, 350 kms north of Riyadh is supposedly the richest region per capita in Saudi Arabia. Primarily a desert climate, its dotted with archaeological sites and is well-known for its traditional textiles. It's sliced through the middle by the Wadi Al Rummah, the longest valley in the Arabian peninsula, stretching for about 600 km from Madina to the Thuayrat Dunes. Hassan Ammar / AFP Photo.

Tourism to Saudi Arabia is set to receive a massive boost from next month as the country unveils plans to issue mass tourism visas. The 30-day entry visas will be available to citizens of all eligible countries and will be open to single women who will be able to travel around without a male guardian.

Previously, most visitors to Saudi Arabia were Muslims visiting to perform the annual Haj pilgrimage, or those on business trips. Tourist visas were only issued on an intermittent basis, and only for select group tours. It was particularly difficult for young single women to visit the kingdom.

While the date is not set in stone, the visa scheme is believed to come into effect in April.

The National spoke to several tourism operators in Saudi Arabia on Monday, however, they were unable to provide the exact date tourists would be able to start applying for the visa. It was also unclear what the process would entail.

______________

Read more on Saudi Arabian tourism:

Saudi Arabia to launch tourist visas in early 2018

'White oil' to put the Kingdom on tourism map 

Riyadh to allow unaccompanied women tourists

______________

Trips from the UAE to its largest neighbour are set to soar, as dozens of low-cost flight routes already exist with Flydubai, Emirates, Etihad and Saudia among others, with a flying time to the capital Riyadh of just two hours. Presently, much of the tourism between the two countries consists of Saudi tourists travelling to Dubai.

Tourist sites include the spectacular Nabatean city of Madein Saleh, the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, the historic Al Hejaz Railway station in Medina, Dir'aiyah, the ancestral home of the Al Saud family and Mamsak Fortress, a Unesco World Heritage Site. At over two million square kilometres in area, Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest countries and by far the biggest in the Arabian Peninsula.

Flydubai currently operates flights to 13 points in Saudi; Emirates flies to four, and Etihad four.

Saudi Arabia unveiled its plans to court tourists to the kingdom in December 2017.

At the time, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said "all government approvals" were in place for the launch of electronic visas in 2018 to "all nationals whose countries allow their citizens to visit" Saudi Arabia.

The proposal to issue the visas was outlined in a report for the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2018, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 22-25.

It highlighted the kingdom's target of 30 million visitors annually by 2030, and announced its intent to allow women older than 24 to visit the country without a male guardian.

Women tourists below that age will still need to be accompanied by a family member.

The kingdom has announced several leisure projects in recent months, including a Six Flags-style theme park in Riyadh to be built by 2021, and a much-publicised Red Sea resort backed by Virgin Group founder and serial entrepreneur Richard Branson.

Saudi Arabia is busy readying itself for the influx of new visitors, with the opening of 30,000 rooms in 2017, and a further 40,020 guestrooms in 89 projects still under construction.