Eid holidays in Saudi Arabia are a time of celebration, family gatherings, and, for the adventurous, an opportunity to explore the kingdom’s diverse landscapes. One of the first tips is to rent a car in Saudi Arabia for your journey. Renting a car gives you the freedom to discover places at your own pace. Major airports like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam have plenty of international car rental agencies. Our Eid holiday travel guide will take you through some of the best destinations to visit by road.
Saudi Arabia has a vast, well-maintained road network connecting its cities, deserts, and mountains. Driving is on the right-hand side, and major highways often have speed limits up to 120 km/h. If you plan to travel during the Eid holidays, remember that many locals will also be on the move.
Book accommodations early and start your drives early in the day to beat traffic. Ensure you have an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with your licence, and always carry identification at checkpoints. With these basics sorted, you’re ready to enjoy some of the best road trips in Saudi Arabia for Eid!
If you find yourself in Riyadh during Eid, a road trip to the Edge of the World is a must. This destination is about 97 kilometres from Riyadh. Here, the rocky Tuwaiq cliffs drop off abruptly, offering panoramic views of the endless desert plains below. Standing atop the 300 metre high cliffs, you truly feel as if you are at the edge of the world.
The journey takes roughly one and a half to two hours each way. You begin on paved highways out of Riyadh and later follow dirt tracks through the desert. Because the last stretch is unpaved, it is best to go in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Edge of the World, known locally as Jebel Fihrayn, has no facilities on site, so bring water, snacks, and sun protection. You can enjoy a picnic on the cliffs at sunset, when the views are breathtaking. It is a popular Eid outing for locals and expatriates in Riyadh, so you may make new friends on the trail.
If you want to see something different, leave the coastal city of Jeddah and go to the hills. Taif, a historic city in the Al Hada mountains, is about 180 kilometers away by car and takes 2 hours to get there. It is known for its rose farms and gardens. If you visit around late spring, which can coincide with Eid al-Fitr in some years, you may catch the Taif Rose Festival, where fields of pink roses bloom and the air is filled with a sweet scent.
You can stroll through the central market for local honey and fruit in the city or visit the historic Shubra Palace museum. During Eid evenings, parks like Al Rudaf Park come alive with families and festivities. For some adventure, consider driving to the Wahba Crater, a massive volcanic crater in the desert about 2 to 3 hours from Taif. This crater, about 232 kilometres away, is a geological marvel with white salt flats.
Eid is an important time for Muslims, and driving between the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah can be a spiritually rewarding experience. Depending on your plan, you could start from Jeddah (about 80 km from Makkah) or from Madinah. Keep in mind that non-Muslims are not allowed in Makkah and parts of Madinah. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to drive from Makkah to Madinah on a modern highway.
You will see huge desert landscapes along the way, and you might think about the long journeys pilgrims took on foot and on camels. During Eid, Makkah is busy with pilgrims doing Umrah. The area around the Grand Mosque is full of devotion, celebration, and community. On the morning of Eid, thousands of people come together for the special Eid prayer. You can drive north from Makkah to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (Madinah), the second-holiest city in Islam.
In Madinah, pilgrims pay their respects at the Prophet's Mosque and enjoy the peaceful city, which has many date palm groves and a beautiful mountain backdrop. During the Eid holidays in Saudi Arabia, both cities often have decorative lights on at night, and people say "Eid Mubarak" to each other in hotel lobbies and restaurants.
If your Eid adventure starts in the Eastern Province, a drive from Dammam to Al Ahsa Oasis is a perfect getaway. Al Ahsa is about 150 kilometres from Dammam. It takes about 2 hours to get there. It is home to the world's largest oasis of date palms. When you leave the coastal city of Dammam, the roads change from city highways to long stretches of desert with small towns along the way.
When you get to Al Ahsa Oasis, you'll see a lot of green plants, which is a big change from the flat plains around it. Go to Al Hofuf, the main city in Al Ahsa, and check out the famous Al Qaisariya market and the traditional souq for local crafts. Jebel Qarah is a limestone hill with caves and winding paths that you can walk through. The caves stay cool inside, making them a great place to escape the heat and picnic on Eid. The Ibrahim Palace is a historic fort in Hofuf that shows off the area's cultural heritage. History buffs can visit it. During Eid, you might see families from the area getting together in parks or enjoying the bright lights in town squares.
AlUla lies in the country's northwestern part and is famed for its stunning desert landscapes and archaeological treasures. If you begin in Madinah, which has an international airport and is a common starting point, the drive to AlUla is about 300 kilometres and takes 3 and a half hours along desert highways. The route is straightforward, passing through small towns and wide desert stretches, with black volcanic hills visible along the way. As you approach AlUla, the scenery transforms into dramatic sandstone cliffs and lush oasis valleys.
During Eid, AlUla may host cultural events and light shows, but its timeless beauty is captivating even without them. The valley will have a mix of evergreen palm oases and orange-hued cliffs. If you stay overnight, you can enjoy stargazing in the clear desert sky, as resorts and desert camps in the area offer this unforgettable experience. Remember that some sites, including Hegra, require advance booking, as AlUla is developing rapidly as a tourism destination. For the return journey, adventurous travellers can continue north to Tabuk or take more minor southern roads to reach Yanbu on the coast.
Looking for sun, sea, and sand during your Eid break? A coastal road trip from Yanbu to Umluj is the perfect choice. Yanbu is a port city on the Red Sea. You drive about 150 north from Yanbu along a quiet coastal highway to reach Umluj. The journey takes around 2 hours and follows the Red Sea coastline for much of the way. You will pass fishing villages and long stretches of sparkling blue water along the route.
Umluj has gained fame as the “Saudi Maldives”. It offers white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, and dozens of offshore islands with vibrant coral reefs. You can park the car and hire a local boat to take you island hopping when you arrive. Offshore are the Jabal Hassan Islands and other islets where you can snorkel among colourful fish and corals. The marine life here rivals what you would expect in the Maldives, and you may even spot dolphins in the waves. On land, Umluj has beautiful beaches such as Ras Al Shaban and Doqm Beach, where you can swim or picnic under palm umbrellas.
If Eid falls in spring, the weather along the Red Sea coast is pleasant. As coastal roads connect further up, you can extend your journey north to Al Wajh or even continue to the NEOM region. Even if you stay only a day or two, Umluj will refresh you with its tropical islands and coral reefs, a side of Saudi Arabia that surprises many travellers.
During Eid al-Adha, the summer heat covers most of Saudi Arabia. Many locals and tourists visit the Asir Mountains in the southwest to escape the heat. If you're coming from Jeddah or Riyadh, flying to Abha is best because the drive from central Saudi Arabia can take more than 8 hours. Jabal Sawda, Habala Village, and Rijal Almaa are some of the most important places to see. Habala is a village on a mountain that used to be only reachable by rope ladders. It still has stunning views of cliffs and valleys. Bring a light jacket, because the highlands can get surprisingly cold at night.
Abha often holds cultural events during Eid. Traditional Al Qatt Al Asiri art displays and folkloric dances make the holiday even more festive. A popular drive from Abha takes you to Al Soudah National Park, where you might see fog moving through juniper trees or even baboons on the side of the road. Another beautiful way to get there is to go north to Al Baha. Tanomah and Al Namas are two smaller towns that are also worth visiting. They are known for their forests and waterfalls.
The Farasan Islands are an archipelago in the Red Sea known for their untouched natural beauty and diverse marine life. The journey begins in Jazan, a city close to the Yemen border. Jazan has an airport, but if you are already in Abha or elsewhere in the south, you can also drive there in about 200 kilometres. From Jazan Port, a free public ferry runs to the Farasan Islands, usually twice daily.
Farasan Island, the largest in the group, lies about 40 kilometres offshore. Once there, you will find pristine beaches, mangrove forests, and colourful coral reefs. The islands are a protected area and home to wildlife such as the Farasani gazelle and many bird species. Eid days here can be spent snorkelling in crystal clear lagoons, spotting fish, and sea turtles. The water is so warm and clear that swimming feels like a natural spa. Boat tours can take you to remote islets where you may be the only visitors.
You can explore old coral stone villages, Ottoman era ruins such as Qassar Al Qandal, and small fortresses that look out over the sea. During Eid, the local community sometimes hosts small festivities or gatherings, where you can experience their traditions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Stargazing on the Farasan Islands at night is spectacular, with the Milky Way visible in clear skies thanks to the lack of light pollution.
Exploring Saudi Arabia by road during Eid is an adventure filled with variety. Each drive offers its charm from desert cliffs near Riyadh to the rose gardens of Taif, from the vast palm oasis of Al Ahsa to the coral reefs of Umluj and the Farasan Islands. To make your journey simple and stress-free, rent a car in Saudi Arabia with Final Rentals. You can pick up your vehicle from major airports, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Abha. Choose from compact cars for city drives or spacious SUVs for long mountain and desert routes. Booking is quick with instant confirmation, no hidden fees, and flexible cancellation. For extra convenience, you can also download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
