STAYBRIDGE SUITES AL KHOBAR

The futuristic King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran showcases state-of-the-art exhibits on science, technology and art. Visit to catch touring exhibitions in the Great Hall, or concerts, opera and lectures in the 900-seat theatre.

If you’d like to splash in the Arabian Gulf, take a trip to Half Moon Beach. Just south of the city, the pleasant, crescent-shaped bay has soft sand, shallow water for swimming, and recreational activities including play areas, scuba diving and sailing.

Don’t miss the chance to join the local population for an evening stroll along the Corniche, a vibrant waterfront promenade which passes landscaped gardens, cafés and fountains. Illuminated at night, the Khobar Water Tower offers panoramic city views.

Only 10 minutes from the hotel, the Dhahran and Al Rashid malls are sleek complexes with international fashion and lifestyle stores and tempting food courts. Get a taste of local life, and pick up antiques and gold jewelry, on bustling Suwaiket Street.

Make sure you drop in to SciTech, a high-tech family museum with interactive displays on science and technology, including solar energy and space flight. There’s a hands-on area for kids and an aquarium, and IMAX movies are screened inside a huge dome.