Iftar at Riyadh Ritz-Carlton Ramadan Tent

We recently enjoyed a wonderful iftar buffet with family and friends at Riyadh’s Prestigious Ritz Carlton. A lavish buffet spread at the Ramadan Tent, set up in one of the hotel’s palatial ballrooms was truly an unforgettable experience. The food was absolutely perfect with a wideRead more

Ushaiger Heritage Village

The following is a guide to the restored Saudi Arabian heritage village of Ushaiger (the town also called “The Little Blonde”) located outside Riyadh. The beautiful town of Ushaiger is the perfect destination for taking a day trip out from Riyadh, just an hour and a half drive away.Read more

Ten Things to do in Riyadh’s Historical Diriyah

The historic city of Ad’Diriyah, where the first Saudi State was established in 1745 (1158H) has been undergoing a huge restoration project since 2011. I for one have been anxiously awaiting for it to finish because I simply love all this place has to offer. Every time I go to Diriyah,Read more

What is a Wasta?

If you live in Saudi Arabia chances are you’ve heard the word ‘wasta’ mentioned before. A wasta is a widely used term for a well connected individual in the Arab world. It refers to using one’s influence or connections to getting things done, cutting through bureaucratic red tape,Read more

An Expat’s Guide to Riyadh

Excited to announce Blue Abaya’s recent interview and collaboration with Riyadh’s Radisson Blu Hotel!  The following is my interview with Radisson Blu hotel in Riyadh which contains some sightseeing & activity tips for newcomers and business travellers to Saudi Arabia’sRead more

How I Met My Saudi Prince

The following is my personal love story from the ‘Magic Kingdom’ of Saudi Arabia. How I met my Saudi Prince post was originally published 2012 on the 4th anniversary of the day I randomly met who I thought was (and is) the most handsome and charming man I ever laid eyes on. I had leftRead more

Complete Guide to Janadriyah Cultural Festival 2015

Your Complete Guide to Al Janadriyah Cultural Heritage Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia brought to you by Blue Abaya. An Updated guide to visit the National festival of Heritage and culture can be found here: Janadriyah 2016 Festival Guide.  Find all you need to know about the Janadriya festivalRead more

185 Things to Do in KSA- The Ultimate Saudi Arabia Travel Guide

185 things to do in Saudi Arabia! All the best Saudi Arabia ‘Top Ten’ travel posts that have been published on Blue Abaya are now easily accessible at your fingertips all in one place. Find travel inspiration and things to do in Saudi Arabia from Riyadh and beyond. In this compilationRead more

Blog Love- Reader Testimonials

The Blue Abaya blog has reached over 3 MILLION views and it’s time to say a huge big heartfelt THANK YOU for all the readers and fans of Blue Abaya for the continuous support and encouragement since this blog started in 2010. To celebrate this milestone and share some love, we’veRead more

Life Changing Pumpkin-Nutella Cake

How can a pumpkin cake be life changing, you ask? Well have you met a person who never tried pumpkin cake before? Can you believe I lived on this planet for over 30 years without having experienced pumpkin cake, pumpkin bread or pumpkin cupcakes? This might come as a surprise to my American friendsRead more

Ten Amazing Facts about Northern Lights in Finland

Whether people have travelled to Finland in order to experience Aurora Borealis or have seen them in photos or videos, Northern lights – as they’re also referred to as – are spellbinding for almost everyone. Here are ten interesting things you might not know about the amazing auroras, writtenRead more

5 Reasons an American Wants to Visit Saudi Arabia

It’s my pleasure to share with you a guest post written by an amazing lady I’ve been blessed to have “met” through blogging. Jenny Ballif has been a fan and follower of Blue Abaya blog for many years and two years years ago she contacted me with a very special request..Read more