11. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, and it is also one of the most difficult places on Earth to visit. All visitors to Saudi Arabia require a sponsor but If you’re a woman you will need a sponsor to pick you up at the airport and to allow you to leave the country and also a permit from your husband. In December 2013, for the first time in its history, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to begin issuing tourist visas as permits to visit the country are only issued for business, relatives of Saudis and Muslim pilgrims and many times, Visas are denied for no clear reason. There are fascinating places to visit if you are ever able to get in, from the mud-brick ruins of Dir’aiyah to the enchanting old city of Jeddah which still have architecture made of coral. And for Muslim travellers, Mecca and Medina are the most sacred destinations on the list.
