Tourism in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province

Tourism in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province: Tourism thrives in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, located west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., considering it serves as a religious destination for Muslims from around the world and contains historical, tourist, and recreational sites. It also boasts several heritage components, in addition to its service infrastructure, and is characterized by its rural farms, which have contributed to attracting visitors, especially its renowned palm tree farms.

Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province embraces the Prophet's Mosque, which attracts millions of Umrah performers, Hajj pilgrims, and visitors from around the world. They are keen to visit the historical and archaeological landmarks in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah and to pray at Quba Mosque, al-Qiblatayn Mosque, al-Jum'ah Mosque, al-Fath Mosque, al-Ghamamah Mosque, al-Ijabah Mosque, al-Shuhada Mosque, al-Khandaq Mosque, and al-Miqat Mosque. Additionally, they visit the historical battle sites in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, including the sites of the battles of Uhud and al-Khandaq (Trench), among others, as well as the cemetery of the martyrs of Uhud near Jabal Uhud.

Among the geographical landmarks in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah mentioned in the Prophetic biography and historical and geographical sources are Jabal Ayr and al-Jamawat, as well as protected places (Hima) such as Hima al-Naqi', Hima al-Rabdhah, Wadi al-'Aqiq, Wadi Buthhan, ar-Ranuna, and Wadi al-Qura.

One of the landmarks of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah is the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex, which was established in 1982, and its annual production volume reaches twenty million copies.

Located north of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, al-Hijr 'Mada'in Salih' site is the first Saudi heritage site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It stands as one of the most prominent tourist attractions. Mada'in Salih, mentioned in the Holy Quran as 'al-Hijr', was the capital of the Thamud civilization, the people of the Prophet Saleh. It is situated twenty-five km northeast of al-Ula Governorate, along the ancient trade route connecting the south of the Arabian Peninsula to the north. It lies on the Hejazi railway in a mountainous area, with the highest peak reaching 778 m.

Over the past years, many exhibitions and museums have been built in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, designed with modern and advanced technologies. Their doors have been opened to visitors to explore the exhibits, models, and various visual presentations they contain. These have become a destination for visitors to the Prophet's Mosque during the seasons of Umrah and Hajj, given their proximity to the Prophet's Mosque and free admission.

'Al-Salam Museum' on the western side of the Prophet's Mosque is considered one of the prominent museums in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. On the southern side of the Prophet's Mosque, the 'Museum and Exhibition of the Holy Quran' was established. In 2019, it celebrated surpassing five million visitors from 143 countries. Just steps away from Quba Mosque, the 'International Fair and Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization' was built.

The Hejaz Railway Museum in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah allows visitors to explore the heritage of the city. The museum comprises fourteen halls showcasing the history and heritage of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah from prehistoric times to the modern era.

Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah also hosted many exhibitions that became destinations for visitors to the Prophet's Mosque, including the 'The Beautiful Names of Allah (Asmaa al-Husna) Museum and Exhibition', located adjacent to the Prophet's Mosque and receives more than six thousand visitors daily.

Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province includes several parks, such as Albaidha Public Park, which attracts significant interest from camping and leisure enthusiasts, serving as a destination for many residents of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah and visitors due to the availability of various essential and recreational services. The park was named for the whiteness that covers the area and its surrounding mountains, characterized by ruggedness and protruding rocks throughout.

Several valleys run through al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, bearing witness to the civilizations that have succeeded in the region, including: Wadi al-'Aqiq from the southwest, Wadi Buthhan and Wadi Qanah from the east, Wadi Madhinib, and Wadi Mahzour.

In a bid to increase the hotel capacity in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah to accommodate thirty million Umrah performers by 2030, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz announced in August 2022 the launch of infrastructure works and the masterplan for the 'Rua al-Madinah' project in the area located east of the Prophet's Mosque.

The project is being constructed on a total area estimated at 1.5 million m. Its aim is to establish 47,000 hospitality units, in addition to open squares and green areas to facilitate visitors' access to the Prophet's Mosque. Moreover, 63 percent of the total project area will be designated as open areas and green spaces.