Homes away from home: welcoming travelers from near and far

It's no surprise to us Saudis when we hear stories of local families opening their homes to travellers.

After all, our region is renowned for customs that are deeply rooted in hospitality. That's why when we discovered HiHome, it resonated with us.

The brainchild of Nourah Al Sadoun, HiHome is a platform where Saudis can become hosts, welcoming guests from around the world into their homes for a few hours – with some also offering experiences that provide a glimpse into the Kingdom’s traditions and culture.

However, it’s not just this inherent spirit of welcome and connection that inspired Nourah to develop the site. We sat down with the young entrepreneur to discuss her passion for travel, forging connections, and the personal journey that led to HiHome’s creation.

“I’m lucky to have a family that’s openminded; it’s why I got to travel so much. And they always remind me and my siblings that we represent the Kingdom on our travels. It’s made me proud of my uniqueness, culture, and traditions. They have factored into who I am today, and I want people to see that.”

Nourah Al Sadoun

THE INSPIRATION

The Inspiration

As a child, one of Nourah’s fondest memories was of her father’s hospitable nature.

He would invite people to the family’s desert farm, about two hours west of Riyadh. “Because of that, we formed many connections and friendships with residents here,” she recalls. Today, Nourah’s love for travel, culture, and new experiences, along with her genuine enthusiasm for meeting new people, have taken her to far-flung places.

It was on one of these trips – to Cuba and Colombia – that the idea for HiHome was born. Before departing, Nourah had very little knowledge about both countries.

As she began researching, she stumbled on a website where travellers could visit homes, meet locals to learn about their culture, and book experiences, like visiting a farm or dining with a family. This experience is what inspired her to bring a similar concept to Saudi in 2019, when the Kingdom's efforts to promote international tourism accelerated.

With the help of her business partner, Fahad Al Suwailem, her vision became a reality – HiHome was born.

The Journey

HiHome’s first experience was in Riyadh, at Nourah’s home.

From there, she slowly introduced the platform to her friends and other circles. For many, the concept didn’t really resonate at first, especially when it came to charging visitors a fee through the site.

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Over time, however, people warmed up to HiHome, and it gained traction as the first and only platform of its kind in Saudi, allowing visitors to book and interact with locals through cooking, creating art together, and more – each host offering something unique. “The feedback was better than what we expected, as Saudis are generous, sociable, and very welcoming to guests,” Nourah explains.

In 2021, HiHome was honoured with the prestigious recognition of being the best touristic experience in the Kingdom, an accolade presented by His Excellency Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb.

The Experience

With such an inspiring story, we decided to try HiHome by booking an experience with the founder herself.

When we arrived, Nourah greeted us at the door and took us to a Najdi-style majlis, serving us Saudi coffee, dates, maamoul, and klieja. As we savoured this touching act of hospitality, Nourah told us the story behind the serving plates (they belonged to her great grandmother), and showed us traditional Najdi women’s clothing that guests can try on.

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We then moved to the indoor majlis and continued our conversation, learning of Nourah’s travel experiences, her time in New Zealand as a marketing intern in 2013, and her master’s in Boston (at Emerson College) with students from 30 different countries.

“I’m lucky to have a family that’s openminded; it’s why I got to travel so much. And they always remind me and my siblings that we represent the Kingdom on our travels. It’s made me proud of my uniqueness, culture, and traditions. They have factored into who I am today, and I want people to see that.”

The Future

There are currently over 100 homes and farms in 20 Saudi cities listed on the platform – with Riyadh, Jeddah, and Abha in the lead when it comes to experiences.

“With customs, traditions, clothing, and food that differ greatly from south to north, it’s important to expose visitors to our rich and diverse culture through these unique experiences.” When it comes to what’s next, Nourah explains that HiHome will be adding overnight stays and even more diverse experiences in the near future (think horseback riding on a farm, for instance).

The platform also plans to expand throughout the Gulf region within the next 10 years, and to other Arab countries “where we see potential for authentic experiences.” After a deeply personal journey that saw Nourah fully dedicate herself to a concept she believed in, and seeing its success today, she is thankful for every trial and success, and especially for all the encouragement she has received. “I’ve been blessed to have support from my father, mother, husband, and my big brother Nayif. They’ve helped me greet more than 300 visitors,” she says.

All photography with thanks to Mohammed Albaijan