ThePlace: Mount Sela, a tourist attraction in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan region
The structure was restored in 1999, becoming an important tourist attraction in the heart of coffee plantations and agricultural terraces
Updated 11 September 2022
Arab News
Mount Sela, east of Al-Aridhah governorate in the Jazan region, boasts pristine nature and an abundant diversity of wildlife.
Located 1,800 meters above sea level, the mountain is known for its pleasant atmosphere, continuous rain throughout the year and valleys such as the Rogue Valley, with its many waterfalls.
It is also known for its rich local agriculture, such as the cultivation of quince, coffee, papaya, tamarind and corn.
The area’s old homes are distinguished by their stone patterns. One conspicuous such structure is the “rock divan” in the village of Al-Maqra, the product of a Mount Sela resident who transformed a large rock into a residence in 1941.
The structure was restored in 1999, becoming an important tourist attraction in the heart of coffee plantations and agricultural terraces.
Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya ‘shaping the future,’ says executive ahead of Six Flags opening
Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari underscored the Kingdom’s recent monumental achievements in alignment with Six Flags Qiddiya City’s symbolic upcoming opening, stating: “We, in Saudi Arabia do not start where others end, we start where others dream”
Updated 22 December 2025
Basmah Albaswari
RIYADH: Qiddiya is “shaping the future of entire sectors,” the entertainment megaproject’s managing director said at a press conference on Monday ahead of the official opening of Six Flags on Dec. 31.
Abdullah Al-Dawood took to the podium to share his pride in Qiddiya City’s speedy progress.
Six Flags Qiddiya City Entrance. (AN Photo by Basmah Albasrawi)
“Today, Six Flags Qiddiya City is complete, and Aquaarabia is over 95 percent complete,” he said.
With doors set to open in nine days, Al-Dawood made sure to remind the audience that this milestone is only the beginning of a grander vision for Qiddiya City and the Kingdom as a whole.
Abdullah Al-Dawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company speaks at Six Flags Press Conference. (AN Photo by Basmah Albasrawi)
“What we are doing today goes beyond simply developing a project, it is about building a city and shaping the future of entire sectors. God willing, the Kingdom will be among the leading countries in the fields of entertainment, sports, culture and tourism” he said.
Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari underscored the Kingdom’s recent monumental achievements in alignment with Six Flags Qiddiya City’s symbolic upcoming opening, stating: “We, in Saudi Arabia do not start where others end, we start where others dream.”
En route to the park, Qiddiya executives welcomed members of the press to their grand project as mountains made way to rollercoaster views.
Qiddiya’s progress in becoming a hub for entertainment and sports is visible in the daylight as cranes and construction crew gathered to finalize building some of the most anticipated projects such as Aquaarabia, a waterpark, and golf courses in the heart of the desert.
The park is the first Six Flags outside of North America and forms part of Qiddiya Investment Co.’s flagship development.
