Saudi Arabia’s Drive for Tourists Opens Unexpected Doors to Christian Visitors

Welcome to Saudi Arabia’s drive for tourists, where ancient heritage meets modern allure. In a thrilling journey across Saudi Arabia’s unforgiving desert, five Toyota Land Cruisers embarked on a freshly paved highway, uncharted on maps. This expedition led them to a desolate beach at the sea’s inlet separating the kingdom from Egypt. Among the adventurers were fifteen tourists who rallied around Joel Richardson, a preacher hailing from Kansas.

In the waning light of a setting sun, with the mountains of the Sinai Peninsula merely a silhouette across the water in Egypt, Richardson evoked the biblical Exodus. He prompted the group to envision being on the other side with Moses, escaping Pharaoh’s army as the sea tore apart.

With a Bible in hand and glasses on, Richardson recited verses of praise for the divine. Among his audience were two retirees from Florida, a Colorado-based pharmacist, an Idaho bookkeeper, and an Israeli archaeologist. This motley crew was not exactly the type of tourist Saudi officials anticipated when they opened their borders to leisure tourism in 2019. The aim was to diversify their oil-reliant economy and project a new global image.

Instead of the predicted adventurers and luxury travelers, the conservative Islamic kingdom found itself playing host to Christians. These visitors, including Baptists, Mennonites, and self-proclaimed “children of God,” were among the first to utilize the new Saudi tourist visas. Their ranks have been growing steadily, attracted by the idea that Saudi Arabia, not Egypt, is the site of Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were revealed according to Jewish and Christian Scriptures.

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Such claims have met with pushback from mainstream biblical scholars, but this hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of the Christian pilgrims. For many, this journey offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue evidence they believe could validate the truth of the Exodus.

Before 2019, Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector was dominated by Islamic pilgrims visiting Mecca. Open practice of other religions was largely forbidden, arriving Christian tourists a significant departure from the norm. The transformation was set in motion in the early 2000s, with a wave of Saudis studying in the United States and social changes triggered by the rise of Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Despite these changes, religious taboos persist, and many are uncertain about what’s officially permitted and what isn’t. However, the consensus is clear: increasing tourism is a priority for economic diversification. From a cultural perspective, Saudis view tourism as a chance to challenge Western stereotypes about them and showcase their unique cultural heritage.

In this rapidly evolving landscape, Saudi Arabia has started to attract Christian travelers with its newly launched tours. The Richardson-led tour, priced at $5,199 per person, covers an area selected for the mega-project Neom, a futuristic city planned by Prince Mohammed. Yet, some Christian tourists express concern about the preservation of archaeological sites due to such development.

For many Christian tourists, their interest in Saudi Arabia is linked to the belief that it houses Mount Sinai, although this claim is disputed by many experts. Regardless of the scholarly debates, these tourists remain fascinated by the prospect of exploring their faith’s roots in this unexpected landscape.

The mixture of adventure, religious exploration, and cultural exchange forms an alluring cocktail for many Christian tourists. For them, Saudi Arabia offers an opportunity to make tangible their long-held beliefs. And for some, the prospect of finding signs of the biblical Exodus in the Saudi desert is nothing short of miraculous.

As they explored Saudi Arabia, many tourists were overcome with emotions tied to their faith, manifesting a deep connection to the biblical stories they had only read about before. Indeed, for many of these tourists, the desert of Saudi Arabia has become a hallowed ground, teeming with the promise of divine encounters. Embark on an unforgettable adventure and witness Saudi Arabia’s drive for tourists, a destination that promises to leave you awe-inspired and wanting more.