BY FARIHA ESHRAT
The cleanest, best planned, and quite possibly the most entertaining place in the world – discover more about Singapore as a must-see destination.
Singapore or “the Lion City” in translation from Malay, is a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western traditions. This is an outstanding country rich in history and culture spanning several centuries. Singapore is home to centuries-old temples, the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool, first nocturnal safari park, and some of the best cuisines in the world. You can explore Singapore for weeks and not get bored. This will become a breathtaking travel experience for all. Between the extraordinary gardens, exemplary architecture, world-class performance venues, shopping streets and experimental art galleries, Singapore offers a fascinating contrast of the old and new, the historic and the modern.
The fifth most visited city in the world, the city-state consists of 63 islands, including the main island that was historically known as Temasek or “Sea Town”. Thanks to the government vision of creating a “garden city” to improve quality of life during the urbanization phase, nearly 10% of Singapore’s land has been set aside for parks and nature reserves to preserve the country’s natural flora and fauna. More than half of the country’s native wildlife and plant life species can also be found in its nature reserves and zoos.
In addition, Singapore is a medical tourism destination. With the lowest global infant mortality rates for the past two decades and the longest life expectancy in 2019 (84.8 years), Singapore’s healthcare system attracts almost 200,000 foreigners, seeking medical care annually.
As a highly developed country, Singapore has an economic freedom index of 89.4, making it the freest economy in the world in the 2020 index. In 2015 the country ranked the second. In addition, Singapore is ranked second out of 190 countries for ease of doing business, according to the latest annual World Bank rankings. Singapore is a country with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world, with one out of every six households having at least $1 million in disposable wealth.
These have all contributed to a stable, well-established and efficient country that is safe and enjoyable for tourists all year round.
Bilateral Relations with Saudi Arabia
Singapore and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in November 1977. This had followed the visit by Singapore’s first Minister for Foreign Affairs S Rajaratnam to Saudi Arabia in 1975, as part of his working tour of the Gulf countries. Economic links between Singapore and Saudi Arabia grew as Singapore’s energy needs increased amidst its rapid industrialisation. Both sides benefitted from a mutual exchange of knowledge and expertise in port development, housing, shipping, and banking.
The bilateral relationship was further strengthened in the 2000s following the visits by Singapore’s then-Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to Saudi Arabia in March 2006 and then-Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s to Singapore in April 2006. Most notably, a joint communiqué was issued during then-Crown Prince Sultan’s visit which included support for the establishment of a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Singapore. An MOU was also signed to establish a Saudi-Singapore Business Council to bolster business ties between both countries. During Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to Saudi Arabia in November 2006, Singapore and the GCC agreed to launch negotiations on the GCC-Singapore FTA (GSFTA). The GSFTA was eventually signed in December 2008 and represented the GCC’s first-ever FTA with a non-Middle Eastern country. Most recently, Singapore President Halimah Yacob made a state visit to Saudi Arabia in November 2019 at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. President Halimah was the first Singapore Head of State to visit the Kingdom.
Strong political engagement has bolstered all aspects of the bilateral relationship. Bilateral trade reached over US$9 billion last year. Singapore’s strategic location at the heart of Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific has attracted many Saudi businesses, including Saudi Aramco and SABIC, to set up offices. Likewise, many Singapore companies such as PSA International, SATS Ltd and ST Engineering have a strong business presence in Saudi Arabia. People-to-people exchanges are also frequent. Many Singapore pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia every year to participate in the Hajj and Umrah and an increasing number of Saudis visit Singapore every year. Many Saudi students pursue their graduate and undergraduate studies at Singapore universities, and hundreds of Saudi officials have participated in technical training courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.
Where To Go
Gardens by the Bay is the most popular tourist destination in Singapore. The Supertree Grove, Cloud Forest and 114-foot indoor waterfall are all exquisite sites to behold.
Singapore Botanic Gardens, a 161-year-old tropical garden, is Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a breath-taking destination to visit and admire the serenity of nature.
Singapore Zoo has adopted an open zoo concept – animals are kept in open enclosures separated from visitors by hidden dry or wet moats. Guests are welcome to enjoy a river safari with over 300 species of animals, including numerous endangered species.
Haw Par Villa is an art park that is an inspiring feast for the eyes. With over 1,000 intricate sculptures and dioramas, demonstrating and teaching traditional Chinese moral values, this Asian cultural park is the last of its kind in the world.
Sentosa is an island resort that houses Universal Studios Singapore, the S.E.A. Aquarium, and the Tiger Sky Tower observatory. The island is known for its beaches, the Mega Adventure Park zipline, the huge Luxury Fashion Galleria, and the award-winning Sentosa Golf Club. This tourist hub is designed to attract and engage a wide range of people with various interests and preferences!
What to Do
Watch a play at Esplanade. This theatre on the bay is a premier art destination with multiple performance venues hosting casual theater performances and jazz concerts. Esplanade is an architectural marvel!
Explore art at the National Gallery Singapore. With more than 8,000 works, this gallery owns the largest public collection of modern art in Southeast Asia. You can spend all day simply strolling through the museum’s many galleries and discovering the rich history and culture of Singapore and neighboring regions.
Learn about Peranakan culture at The Intan. This private home possesses over 1,500 objects from Peranakan culture arranged meticulously across every square inch of the home. The collector himself leads the excursions. Learn about the kasot manek (ornate beaded slippers worn by Straits Chinese women) and admire the intricate floral patterns of the enamel hand-painted tiffin carriers.
Dine at Michelin-star restaurants at Marina Bay Sands. Michelin-starred restaurants, the 57-story SkyPark, a huge shopping mall designed by Moshe Safdie, and the most future-thinking museum, the ArtScience Museum, are some of the main attractions of this iconic Singapore site.
Shop at Orchard Road district, which encompasses multi-story shopping centers and world-class hotels. It is one of the best shopping centers in Asia.
