Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
I continue my solo bicycle journey across Saudi Arabia, leaving AlUla and crossing hundreds of kilometres of desert on my way to Medina, the second holiest city in Islam.
Along the road I experience extraordinary Saudi hospitality, have tea with Bedouin families, learn about the tradition of burning oud, spend time with Sudanese date farmers, and witness a side of the Kingdom rarely shown to outsiders. As Saudi Arabia undergoes rapid transformation under Vision 2030, I also explore some of the more difficult questions surrounding migrant workers, the kafala system, and the country's ambitious drive to reshape its image on the world stage.
This documentary is part of my journey cycling across the Middle East, travelling independently by bicycle to better understand the history, politics, religion and culture of the places I visit. Rather than relying on headlines, I try to meet local people and experience countries on the ground.
In this episode I cycle through Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region, pass Ottoman forts, stay on a remote date farm, explore Bedouin traditions and oud culture, examine Saudi Arabia's reliance on migrant labour, and arrive in Medina, the second holiest city in Islam and home to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque.
Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/c/TieranFreedman
#saudiarabia #medina #cycling #traveldocumentary #middleeast #vision2030 #islam #bicycletouring
00:00 Cycling Across Saudi Arabia
02:22 Saudi Hospitality, Bedouin Traditions & Oud
05:48 Ottoman Forts & Saudi Arabian History
06:42 Staying at a Saudi Date Farm
09:39 Saudi Arabia's Migrant Workers
13:10 Cycling Across the Saudi Desert
17:28 Hitchhiking to Medina
18:03 Entering Medina as a Non-Muslim
20:40 Vision 2030, Foreign Workers & the Kafala System
23:31 Arriving in Medina
24:38 Resting in Medina
đĽ Filming Equipment
Mirrorless Camera - Sony A6700: amzn.to/4uWfQwV
Lens - Sony 18-135mm: amzn.to/4eFXVVe
Action Cam - GoPro 13: amzn.to/4w8ZEd1
Shotgun Mic - RĂDE VideoMic NTG: amzn.to/4b6Llxg
Small Tripod - GorillaPod: amzn.to/4gBu8j2
Large Tripod - Benro RoadtripPro: amzn.to/4vslFmU
Drone - DJI Mini 5 Fly More Combo: amzn.to/4eI4Jlq
đ˛ Bike Equipment
40L Rear Panniers: amzn.to/44oZAK2
12.5L Front Panniers: amzn.to/3Sp5RTx
Note: With these affiliate links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
I continue my solo bicycle journey across Saudi Arabia, leaving AlUla and crossing hundreds of kilometres of desert on my way to Medina, the second holiest city in Islam.
Along the road I experience extraordinary Saudi hospitality, have tea with Bedouin families, learn about the tradition of burning oud, spend time with Sudanese date farmers, and witness a side of the Kingdom rarely shown to outsiders. As Saudi Arabia undergoes rapid transformation under Vision 2030, I also explore some of the more difficult questions surrounding migrant workers, the kafala system, and the country's ambitious drive to reshape its image on the world stage.
This documentary is part of my journey cycling across the Middle East, travelling independently by bicycle to better understand the history, politics, religion and culture of the places I visit. Rather than relying on headlines, I try to meet local people and experience countries on the ground.
In this episode I cycle through Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region, pass Ottoman forts, stay on a remote date farm, explore Bedouin traditions and oud culture, examine Saudi Arabia's reliance on migrant labour, and arrive in Medina, the second holiest city in Islam and home to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque.
Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/c/TieranFreedman
#saudiarabia #medina #cycling #traveldocumentary #middleeast #vision2030 #islam #bicycletouring
00:00 Cycling Across Saudi Arabia
02:22 Saudi Hospitality, Bedouin Traditions & Oud
05:48 Ottoman Forts & Saudi Arabian History
06:42 Staying at a Saudi Date Farm
09:39 Saudi Arabia's Migrant Workers
13:10 Cycling Across the Saudi Desert
17:28 Hitchhiking to Medina
18:03 Entering Medina as a Non-Muslim
20:40 Vision 2030, Foreign Workers & the Kafala System
23:31 Arriving in Medina
24:38 Resting in Medina
đĽ Filming Equipment
Mirrorless Camera - Sony A6700: amzn.to/4uWfQwV
Lens - Sony 18-135mm: amzn.to/4eFXVVe
Action Cam - GoPro 13: amzn.to/4w8ZEd1
Shotgun Mic - RĂDE VideoMic NTG: amzn.to/4b6Llxg
Small Tripod - GorillaPod: amzn.to/4gBu8j2
Large Tripod - Benro RoadtripPro: amzn.to/4vslFmU
Drone - DJI Mini 5 Fly More Combo: amzn.to/4eI4Jlq
đ˛ Bike Equipment
40L Rear Panniers: amzn.to/44oZAK2
12.5L Front Panniers: amzn.to/3Sp5RTx
Note: With these affiliate links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
