Written By: Sophie Echeverry
Traveling to Saudi Arabia is not just about seeing landscapes or heritage sites — it’s about understanding a culture, history, and worldview that may feel unfamiliar yet deeply human.
Books written by Saudi authors, journalists, and storytellers offer travelers context, insight, and empathy before stepping foot in the country. Reading them can transform a trip from sightseeing into a truly immersive cultural experience.
Below are five recommended books that bring Saudi Arabia to life — through history, personal stories, and contemporary life — along with why they matter to travelers seeking meaning beyond the surface.
Between Expectation and Desire
1. Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
Why It Matters
This novel gives readers an intimate look at the lives of young women in modern Saudi Arabia, balancing family expectations, love, education, and ambition. Rajaa Alsanea’s narrative is witty, sharp, and deeply human — a reminder that behind headlines, Saudi society is full of complex, vibrant, and relatable lives.
Travelers reading this book often find themselves noticing the subtle humor, warmth, and social codes in daily interactions during their trip, from cafés in Riyadh to art galleries in Jeddah.
A Journey You Feel More Than See
2. Love from Mecca to Medina by S.K. Ali
A deeply resonant novel that follows a young woman’s journey between Mecca and Medina, exploring faith, loss, love, and identity along the way. S.K. Ali’s intimate storytelling captures the rhythms of pilgrimage, the warmth of community, and the spiritual landscape of two of Islam’s holiest cities. This is a book less about sightseeing and more about feeling — perfect for travelers seeking cultural empathy and human connection before exploring the wider Middle East.
Identity, Heritage, and the Spaces Between
3. The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Alsanousi
This award-winning novel explores identity and belonging through a story about a young man of mixed Saudi-Kuwaiti heritage. While written in Kuwait, it gives readers an authentic Gulf perspective and insight into diaspora, family, and tradition.
Travelers often reflect on themes of belonging when visiting Saudi markets or meeting locals, noticing how culture shapes personal narratives.
Before You Go: A Story of Change and Daily Life
4. Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakening by Manal al-Sharif
Part memoir, part quiet reckoning, this book traces one woman’s personal awakening alongside a country in motion. Manal al-Sharif’s story offers an intimate look at daily life, courage, and constraint in Saudi Arabia — not through headlines, but through lived experience.
It’s a meaningful read for travelers who want to better understand the social landscapes shaping modern Saudi culture, and the nuanced realities behind visible change.
Dr. Qanta Ahmed’s memoir offers a rare insider perspective on life in Saudi Arabia through the lens of a Western–educated physician practicing in the Kingdom. Her observations illuminate the intersections of culture, religion, gender, and medicine — from hospital corridors to family homes. For curious travelers, this book serves as an empathetic bridge into social norms and everyday realities, helping you approach your visit with nuance and respect.
Why Reading Before Traveling Matters
Books prepare you for meaningful cultural engagement:
They illuminate social customs, gender norms, and family dynamics
They deepen your understanding of Saudi Arabia’s rapid yet layered modernization
They turn museums, heritage sites, and markets into living, interpretable spaces
They create empathy, allowing travelers to engage respectfully and thoughtfully
