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    Arabic 101: Common phrases in the KSA

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Al Ahsa
  • Best for
  • Exploring
  • Nature
  • Heritage

Exploring the Al Ahsa Oasis

A city in the Eastern Province region

Adventure at every turn

There’s much more to Saudi Arabia than vast ochre deserts. With more than 2.5 million date palm trees blanketing a verdant expanse just inland from Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, Al Ahsa is the archetype of a lush desert oasis. And the UNESCO World Heritage-recognized region recently added a new feather to its cap: in October, Guinness World Records declared Al Ahsa the largest self-contained oasis in the world. What that means for travelers is that there’s plenty to choose from. From hot and cold springs to historic mosques to sweeping panoramic vistas, you’ll find a lot to explore in this 6,000-year-old oasis, which has long been a gateway to the Arabian Peninsula for travelers from the East. Don’t miss a chance to sample a khalasah date before you leave —locals proudly proclaim it’s one of the world’s best. But while the date farms are an obvious stop on your Al Ahsa itinerary, here are some other sites you can’t miss.

Activities in Al Ahsa

  • Exploring Al Ahsa

    Al Ahsa: Activities for the Whole Family

    Home to one of the biggest oases in the world, Al Ahsa is adequately named; in classical Arabic ‘Ahsa’ means “the sound of water flowing underground”.

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  • Exploring Al Ahsa

    An Eastern Wonder Trip for Wander Moms

    For moms who love adventure and culture, with a side of metropolitanism, the Al Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province is the perfect weekend destination for you and your friends to surround yourselves by nature in an oasis that has something for everyone.

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  • Exploring Al Ahsa

    Al Ahsa: Explore Saudi’s Largest Oasis

    If you are looking for an escape from the city life to a more historical and enlightening location, head to Al Ahsa in the country's Eastern Province, a UNESCO world heritage site.

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  • Heritage Al Ahsa

    Visit Dougha Handmade Pottery Factory

    This quaint mountainside family business showcases an ancient craft.

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When in the Al Ahsa Oasis, Go Explore

  • Al Qarah

    Al Qarah

    Al Qarah stands about 75 meters (or about 250 feet) tall — and the view from the top of the 30,000-acre oasis below is not to be missed. The craggy limestone peaks are well worth scaling, too. Explore the network of caves that carve out snaking pathways flanked by soaring tawny walls, and pay a visit to the Land of Civilizations museum to learn about the area’s millennia-old history.

  • Jawatha Mosque

    Jawatha Mosque

    Built by the region’s Bani Abd Al Qays tribe in the seventh century, Jawatha Mosque is believed to have been the first mosque in eastern Arabia. It’s also where the second Friday congregation prayer was held. Much of the original building has been destroyed over the centuries, but the mosque was recently restored. Now Friday prayers are regularly recited there again.

  • Souq Al Qaisariya

    Souq Al Qaisariya

    Its origins may be unclear — travelers through Al Ahsa have alluded to it in their journals as far back as 1822, though many locals claim it’s been thriving for centuries longer than that — but what is clear is that Souq Al Qaisariya is one of the liveliest, most historical markets in the kingdom. With a maze of more than 7,000 square meters of shops to explore, visitors can bargain for everything from handmade leather sandals to abayas to vials of rosewater, vintage gramophones and antique daggers.

  • Yellow Lake

    Yellow Lake

    On the outskirts of Al Ahsa, this striking lake is hemmed in on all sides by lofty sand dunes and fringed by a thick ring of ferns. Visitors are in for quite an adventure: There are no roads, so you have to get to the banks of the lake by dune-bashing your way over in a four-wheel drive. Once you’re there, have a picnic, go bird-watching (keep an eye out for moustached warblers, Kentish plovers and greater spotted eagles in the winter), or kayak on the lake’s placid waters.

Travel tips

  • Where to stay
    The InterContinental Al Ahsa is an opulent stay in the heart of Al Ahsa, with close access to all the major landmarks and sweeping oasis views from many of the rooms. Choose from Al Koot Heritage Hotel for old-world charm, or opt for modern style at the Best Western Premier Al Ahsa Grand Hotel.
  • Where to eat
    Al Ahsa isn’t that far from the Arabian Gulf, so you’ll want to sample seafood —and AlKeet Restaurant has a vast menu with Asian, Italian and Indian spins on the day’s fresh catch. Or try Maestro Pizza for thin-crust pies, Bharat Indian Kitchen for biryani or kebabs, and Nooba Kushari for Egyptian food.
  • Where to have fun
    Explore Al Ahsa’s heritage with a visit to the striking Ibrahim Palace, or get hands-on with local crafts at the famed Dougha Handmade Pottery Factory.
  • Rent a car
    Explore the best of Al Ahsa’s lush landscape by hiring a car. Try Budget, IDrive or Sixt car rentals for a range of models and prices.

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