We know that Saudi Arabia has some impressive sights, from the heritage of AlUla to the beaches of Jeddah. We were excited to see that the United Nations have recognised the beauty of the kingdom, as a Saudi village called Rijal Almaa has been included on its list of the Best Tourism Villages in the world.
Located in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia, 45 minutes away from Abha, the cute village is often called the gingerbread village because the buildings look like they have been constructed with gingerbread.
Princess Haifa Al Saud received the award on behalf of the village minister, and the ceremony took place in Madrid, Spain. Rijal Almaa is nearly 900 years old and was as a trade centre back in the day due to its natural connections to Yemen, Makkah, Madinah and the Levant.
The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO is an initiative launched to globally highlight the villages that preserve and celebrate culture while also providing opportunities to promote gender equality and youth empowerment.
The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognises villages that are excellent touristic destinations for people to visit and learn the culture of the land.
In 2007, Rijal Almaa was awarded the prize of Prince Sultan bin Salman for Urban Heritage, and in 2018, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage gave Rijal Almaa the right to apply as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The region is famed for its wonderful celebrations and festivals. The Flower Men festival is organised by the Ministry of Culture as part of the Soudah season, which celebrates the ancient tradition of wearing wreaths of flowers as headdresses.
Up for some travelling? Head on down to Rijal Almaa and see the gorgeous village yourself.
unric.org/en/unwto-best-tourism-villages
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