How to Spend the Summer in Saudi

CairoScene

2 days ago

From cool highlands to coral coastlines, here's your cheat sheet to summer in the Kingdom.
If your September-through-June has consisted of glaring at endless emails/assignments/client amends, then summer only means one thing: deleting Slack off your phone, fluttering from one air-conditioned room to the next, and binge-watching shows that prove you've been settling in a lot more areas than just your love life.
But what if this summer, you actually did something wild? Or at least…not sad? Something that makes your Instagram pop and your friends more than just a little jealous?
This summer, Saudi is serving up adventures that'll have you hopping from adrenaline-pumping esports battles (yes, actual gladiators of the gaming world), to beaches so exclusive you'll question if you're dreaming.
So, if you're ready to give your summer a little extra colour—beyond the usual tan lines and ice cream runs—you might want to pack up, switch off, and head straight to Saudi because this Summer 2025 lineup might just blow the dust off your bucket list (or hat, whichever). The Olympics of Gaming: Esports World Cup
📍Boulevard Riyadh City
📅July 7th – August 24th
With over 2,000 top-tier players, 25+ titles, and a USD 70 million prize pool, the Esports World Cup is the biggest show in gaming—and it's taking over Riyadh. Expect meetups with icons, fan zones, interactive pop-ups, and the kind of energy you can feel in your teeth.
Roses, Ruins & Road-Trips: Taif
Taif is what happens when nature, nostalgia, and fragrance meet. Visit working rose distilleries, wander the regal ruins of Kaaki Palace, cool off in Arruddaf Park, or road-trip to Wahba Crater, a mind-bending volcanic pit surrounded by desert nothingness. It's a sensory overload—in the best way. Carnival by the Coast: Jeddah Season
Jeddah Season brings the Red Sea to life with concerts, street art, seaside food stalls, and immersive zones like Forest Wonder. Don't miss the old-school spectacle of Circus 1903, or the laid-back vibes of West Coast Festival. Bonus: the Jeddah Shopping Festival will test your self-control. Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Aseer
At 3,000 meters up, the Aseer mountains offer a rare Middle Eastern summer escape—misty mornings, cool nights, and vibrant villages. Walk Art Street, zipline across Al Habala, sip qahwa in Sky Village, and dive into Saudi's soul at Rijal Alma. It's a refresh for both the lungs and the spirit. Orb Villas & Ocean Views: The Red Sea
Imagine waking up in a floating orb-shaped villa, kayaking through mangroves by day, and watching bioluminescent plankton light up your night swim. The Red Sea is fast becoming one of the world's most exclusive escapes—think Shebara Resort , Desert Rock , and more than 90 untouched islands waiting to be explored.