How to visit Saudi Arabia like Will Smith

Get jiggy with it in AlUla, Jeddah, Neom and Riyadh. 

Will Smith may come from West Philadelphia, born and raised, but he has been spotted around Saudi Arabia. The American actor and rapper is clearly a fan of the Kingdom, as he has been seen in AlUla, Jeddah and Neom. 

Will shot to fame in the American TV series, Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He has also starred in blockbuster after blockbuster including Ali, Bad Boys, Hitch, Men in Black and Suicide Squad. So, if you want to stay like a star, here’s how to follow in his celebrity footsteps. 

AlUla 

AlUla is home to adventurous experiences, heritage, sights and luxurious hotels, from Banyan Tree AlUla to Habitas AlUla. Will Smith visited AlUla in March 2023 and attended the AlUla Camel Cup. The annual event is a thrilling race and previously boasted a $21 million prize pool. At the event, Will was spotted with fellow rapper, producer and Alicia Keys’ husband, Swizz Beatz. The AlUla Camel Cup returns in April 2024. 

GO: Visit www.experiencealula.com for more information. 

Jeddah 

Will Smith is used to red carpets. In November 2023, he visited Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival. While he was at the festival, he was seen greeting fellow American actor Johnny Depp, and addressed rumours about I Am Legend 2. He took the time to tour Jeddah – he met locals and took in the sights. He was seen taking a tour of Old Town Jeddah and sipping Arabic coffee. The festival runs each year, from the end of November to the start of December. The public can visit screenings, talks and workshops. 

GO: Visit https://redseafilmfest.com for more information. 

Neom 

Flights are open to Neom, which will be home to futuristic features. In December 2022, Will Smith was in awe of Saudi Arabia’s megaproject. He shared a video on Instagram and said: “This is crazy, hold on, this is crazy.” He was seen standing between two soaring rocks, and in a helicopter overlooking the landscape. The caption read: “Shots from my first trip to NEOM! This place is unreal! They’re building some of the wildest futuristic places I’ve ever seen here.” The images showed Neom’s islands under construction. Plus, he was seen walking across the desert, playing basketball and visiting an outdoor cinema. 

GO: Visit www.neom.com for more information. 

Riyadh

Will Smith will be getting jiggy with it at MDLBeast Soundstorm 2023. He is scheduled to perform at the mega music festival on 15 December and will be joined onstage with DJ Jazzy Jeff. Will’s hit songs include Just the Two of Us, Men in Black, Miami, Wild Wild West, and, of course Summertime. Now in its fourth edition, the event takes place on the outskirts of Riyadh and is held each year in December. 

GO: Visit https://mdlbeast.com for more information.