Author Archives: Claire

Exploring life at KAUST: A guide to finding more information

By | February 11, 2023

Even though I have been blogging about life at KAUST for over 11 years, I am regularly reminded by community members that there is still interest in updated information about our experience here! With that in mind, I want to share some updated resources from around the community for people who are interested in learning more about life at KAUST.

Saudi Arabia’s Hidden Black Sand Dunes

By | February 9, 2022

Hidden in between the volcanoes of the ?arrat Lunayyir lava field od western Saudi Arabia, is an incredible secret location – the black sand dunes of Saudi Arabia! Harrat Lunayyir means “the lava field of the moon,” and it definitely felt like we were out of this world!

Our 10th KAUSTiversary: making the most of living in a small town

By | July 12, 2021

I believe that with living in a very small town comes the responsibility of every citizen to make the most it. As I reflect on our 10 years here, I want to share a few thoughts on how anyone can make a positive impact in their small town.

Saudi Tourism: Visiting Al Waba Crater

By | February 9, 2021

Al Waba (also spelled Wahbah) Crater is a large volcanic crater which is 2.2 km in diameter and around 250 meters deep, located in the heart of Saudi Arabia. It is great spot for a day trip from KAUST, Taif, Jeddah, or Medina for an overnight to go hiking and exploring in the winter months. I’ve had… Read More »

Saudi Tourism: Visiting Al Ula & Mada’in Saleh

By | November 2, 2020

We just got back from visiting the new epicenter of tourism in Saudi Arabia – Al Ula and the Nabatean settlement of Mada’in Saleh. We’ve had loads of people ask about the trip seeking tips and advice, so with that in mind, below is a bit about our trip, including a logistical details for others… Read More »

Instagrammers of KAUST

By | October 16, 2019

Instagram is one of the most popular social media channels for people living at KAUST. If you follow some of the more popular hashtags, you’ll find many posts from and about life in our seaside University community: #KAUSTLife – my personal favorite #DestinationKAUST #KAUST Recently, my colleague and collaborator, Marcos Aguilar, suggested that I write… Read More »

Tourism has arrived in Saudi Arabia!

By | September 28, 2019

Big news out of Saudi! New rules allowing tourist visas from a host of countries, including the US and the UK was launched yesterday. This is a game-changer for travelers who wish to experience Saudi first-hand.

Our 8th KAUSTiversary!

By | July 12, 2019

Yesterday was the anniversary of our 8th year at KAUST, or as we like to call it, our KAUSTiversary! On July 11, 2011, Kevin and I packed up our life in the UK and moved to KAUST. It was an experiment and an adventure – one that has shaped us forever. The beginning I have… Read More »

Online tools for life at KAUST

By | May 15, 2019

[Update: the below information which was initially published in August 2015, has been refreshed in May 2019. I’ve curated the information to include current and accurate information.] For the second time, I asked our community Facebook page for suggestions for online tools that are invaluable for life at KAUST. Here is a round-up of what I learned: Tools… Read More »