The northwestern coastal city of Haql in the Tabuk region offers breathtaking scenery, turquoise waters, white sand beaches surrounded by mountains, colored coral reefs and a charming climate, giving visitors a fun and relaxing experience, as well as offering enjoyable maritime activities.
Beaches in Haql have become a big tourist attraction since the Saudi Tourism Authority launched the Saudi Summer Program on June 24. The program is running until Sept. 30 across 11 destinations, including Tabuk, offering more than 500 experiences, packages and tourist activities through more than 250 private sector partners.
The Haql beaches are a prime location for diverse maritime activities such as rafting, swimming and diving in the turquoise waters of the Sultaniyah beach, situated about 42 kilometers south of Haql city.
You can also visit the beach of Al-Wasl island, which is renowned for its pristine nature, and go in scuba gear to look at the city’s most important feature, the shipwreck of Georgios G. Also known as the “Saudi Titanic,” this is a cargo ship that sank near the city in 1978 and lies partially submerged in the Red Sea.
Parks are another great experience for tourists in Haql. The Palm Garden, which provides marvelous views of the Gulf of Aqaba and the surrounding areas, abounds with palm trees and is a great place for family trips.
The city is also home to Prince Fahd bin Sultan Maritime Garden, which offers exquisite scenery with its aqueducts, green spaces, pedestrian walkways and children’s play areas. Finally, the Umm Anam Park has excellent beaches for diving and swimming, making the city of Haql a tourist experience that is fun for all members of the family.
ThePlace: Why Saudi Arabia’s Haql beaches are a must-see
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ThePlace: Why Saudi Arabia’s Haql beaches are a must-see
- The Palm Garden, which provides marvelous views of the Gulf of Aqaba and the surrounding areas, abounds with palm trees and is a great place for family trips
Absher Hackathon finalists highlight scale of Saudi tech talent
- World’s largest hackathon underscores growing national enthusiasm for tech innovation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s push to position itself as a global hub for digital innovation was on display this weekend as the Absher Tuwaiq Hackathon 2025 — billed as the world’s largest hackathon — concluded with the announcement of finalist teams competing for prizes totaling SR1 million ($266,000).
The three-day hackathon, organized by the Ministry of Interior in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, brought together innovators from across the Kingdom to develop digital solutions aligned with the ministry’s digital transformation goals.
The finalist teams recognized for their projects were: Shadow, Wusool, Watheeq , Tanabbah, HRS, Ikhlaa, Amal, Mustabiq, Al‑Dahna, Inspire, Saqour Al‑Watan, Thaqib, Sawt Al‑Mustaqbal, Manee, and YS Advance International.
In addition to cash prizes, the competition offered SR450,000 in support from the National Technology Development Program, along with incubation opportunities at Invi Lab to help teams turn prototypes into market-ready products.
Tariq Al‑Hamid, official spokesperson for the Absher Conference, told Arab News that the hackathon has generated strong momentum nationwide.
This year’s event included more than 4,000 participants from all regions of the Kingdom — “a reflection of the growing national enthusiasm for digital innovation,” he said.
HIGHLIGHT
The Absher Tuwaiq Hackathon brought together innovators from across the Kingdom to develop digital solutions aligned with the ministry’s digital transformation goals.
According to Al‑Hamid, the 2025 event was structured around four specialized tracks: digital identity and security applications; artificial intelligence for predictive and proactive security; Internet of Things applications supporting field operations; and innovations to enhance or expand services on the Absher Platform.
He added that this focused approach allowed participants “to present high‑quality ideas and advanced prototypes at levels comparable to international competitions.”
Participants also took part in more than 80 training programs delivered by global partners including Google Cloud, Meta, NVIDIA, and Huawei, an experience Al-Hamid said significantly strengthened both the competition and participants’ skills.
Al-Hamid said that the hackathon’s impact extends beyond prize money. “More important than the cash reward is the opportunity to turn creative ideas into real products that make an impact on citizens, residents, and visitors.”
Standout participants often attract the attention of leading national technology companies seeking new talent, he added.
Participation was open to individuals and teams from across Saudi Arabia, from high school students to industry professionals, highlighting the inclusivity of the event and the breadth of the Kingdom’s innovation ecosystem.
The hackathon forms part of the wider Absher Tuwaiq initiative, a core pillar of the upcoming Absher Conference 2025, which will empower more than 100,000 participants across seven technical tracks in 16 cities, in partnership with 20 local and international organizations.
The conference, organized by the Ministry of Interior and Tuwaiq Academy, sponsored by Elm Company and held in strategic partnership with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, will take place in Riyadh from Dec. 17 -19.
The event will showcase national digital innovations and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role in global technology.
