I have actually been there at that very sign on the way to Taif from Jeddah, which is also the way to Mecca. My father was driving and he actually missed the exit for Taif and went on towards Mecca, with the intention of doing a U-Turn. This was a mistake.

As soon as we approached the toll booth checkpoint, the guard advised us that we could not continue forward and to turn around immediately. He recognized that we are Western and spoke very little Arabic. We literally had to go in reverse, in our car, half a mile, on a toll road just to get to the Taif exit. It was insanity. Cars flying passed us. There was no U-Turn. It was literally go backwards.

My advice is speak Arabic if you try this. They may question you thoroughly.

I have actually been there at that very sign on the way to Taif from Jeddah, which is also the way to Mecca. My father was driving and he actually missed the exit for Taif and went on towards Mecca, with the intention of doing a U-Turn. This was a mistake.

As soon as we approached the toll booth checkpoint, the guard advised us that we could not continue forward and to turn around immediately. He recognized that we are Western and spoke very little Arabic. We literally had to go in reverse, in our car, half a mile, on a toll road just to get to the Taif exit. It was insanity. Cars flying past us. There was no U-Turn. It was literally go backwards.

My advice is speak Arabic if you try this. They may question you thoroughly.