New Delhi, March 16 -- As a food and travel writer, I have been incredibly lucky to snag notoriously hard-to-land reservations at some of the world's most exceptional restaurants both celebrated and hidden gems. Yet, the most enchanting meals have often been at a local's home, shared with warmth and personal stories. Recently, I had one of those moments in Saudi Arabia. This is no ordinary home but that of Abir Abusulayman who holds a unique place in history as Saudi Arabia's first female tour guide, a role previously reserved for men. Her groundbreaking work paved the way for numerous women to follow her lead. The country opened to nonreligious tourism only in 2019.

Much before Abusulayman (60 years) started showing tourists around the ...