Saudi Arabia, land of contrasts: some keys to (understanding) the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is indeed a land of contrasts. It is economically rich but considered lacking in social and cultural signs of wealthiness and is closed to tourism but open to international business. The key to understanding the kingdom, however, lies in meeting its warm and friendly people.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in southwestern Asia lies off the tourism path of the world's non-Muslim travelers and, for most, is a country shrouded in mystery and widely misunderstood. Though well known globally as the primary exporter of petroleum and as the home of Islam s most holy cities,