Everything you need to know about KAEC

Just before we set off on our road trip, we learned about a place called King Abdullah Economic City, or KAEC. KAEC was apparently opened in 2009 with the aim to promote industrial expansion, diversify the Saudi economy away from oil, and provide housing and job opportunities for a young population. I hadn't heard about it before but it was only just over an hour's drive from Jeddah so it was worth adding a stop on our route. We were so glad that we made the detour as this was such a gem of a place and while there wasn't a whole lot to do for a long stay, a long weekend here would be an absolutely perfect way to destress and reenergize.

The first thing we noticed about KAEC was how quiet it was. The roads were small and calm and it just had a really nice feel to the place. We stayed for just two nights but I think three nights would make a lovely break here. KAEC is divided into areas for leisure where you will find several activities.

- The marina area where there is a canal and you can take boat trips and pedalos from here. It also makes for a beautiful walk and is lit up in sparkling colors after dark.

- The beach walk area where you can walk all the way along the beachfront and promenade lined with cafes and restaurants that are all lit up at night. This was a bustling place to be in the evening.

- The beaches; There are two private paid beaches that both look amazing, Yam beach and Pure beach. We didn't get to visit on this trip since the weather was cloudy and stormy but there seem to be beach activities there too such as kayaking and pedalos.

- Juman Park is filled with activities for the whole family including go-karting, play areas, a maze, and splash pads.

While this may have been the most family-friendly place we have been in terms of plenty of fun activities for the kids, my favorite area was the beachfront area. It just screamed vacation to me. We took a walk from one end to the other one evening. We started by watching the sunset which was absolutely gorgeous. Then we walked all the way along the promenade past the electric scooters to rent, the arty installations, and the outdoor seating areas of the many restaurants and cafes. We passed an array of food options including kebabs, Mexican, pizza. pasta, and European cuisine and ended up sitting down at Osmanlizadeler, a trendy-looking Turkish restaurant and shisha cafe.

The whole area smelled like double apple-flavored clouds and the comfortable seats were amongst palm trees that were lit up in pinks and blues. We ordered Chicken Shish taouk and it may have been the best shish taouk that we have ever had. It was delicious and served with wonderful Turkish rice and salad and a huge basket full of the fluffiest, warmest freshly made bread. My kids had pizza and fries and everything was so good. Walking back amongst the bright lights of the beach; the walk to our car was just a wonderful memory.

There are several accommodation options in KAEC and many can be found on the official KAEC website (listed at the bottom of this blog). 5-star hotels such as the Bay La Sun Hotel and Marina, The Oceana Resort, and even glamping at Lagoona Campsite but we opted for a budget-friendly apartment rental. There are many apartment rentals on offer and we booked ours through https://www.instagram.com/kaec.sa/ . I was very happy with our booking. Prior to arrival, we received a very clear location and instructions about our stay and what we would find in the apartment. Checking in was very easy and when we had a problem where we locked ourselves out then somebody came almost immediately to let us in. The apartment itself was next to the Marina area. It was just a short walk from burger king, a meed convenience store and everything in KAEC is close by when traveling by car. The apartment was clean and had everything we needed. It was like a cozy home away from home.

To visit KAEC you need to obtain a visitors permit. This is very easily achieved by entering your basic details such as iqama and car registration through their website. You only need one visit permit for one car. The website is really all you need to make the most of your stay as it is very thorough and tells you all about the activities on offer. You should check it out: https://visit.kaec.net/

Let me know if you found this blog useful and if you have been or intend to go to KAEC soon. Maybe you have a suggestion for my next visit. Make sure you subscribe to my mailing list and follow me on social media for my most up-to-date adventures!