Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia opened to leisure tourism only in 2019. Around 60-plus nationalities can get a tourist visa either as an e-Visa applied for online before travel (via the official Visit Saudi portal) or as a visa on arrival at major airports — eligible countries include the US, Canada, the UK, the EU/Schengen states, Australia and many more. The tourist visa is typically valid for a year, allows multiple entries and permits stays of up to 90 days per visit.

Visa rules depend entirely on your nationality, so verify your own passport's eligibility and process before booking — and note your passport should be valid at least six months from entry.

One important limitation: a tourist visa does NOT permit performing Hajj. It can be used for general tourism, business and Umrah outside the Hajj season, but Hajj requires a separate, dedicated visa. Confirm current requirements with Saudi Arabia's official sources before you travel.

The currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR), pegged to the US dollar, so exchange rates are stable. Saudi Arabia is highly card-friendly — Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, and contactless payment, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, is standard.

ATMs are plentiful in cities, airports and malls, and most Saudi bank ATMs accept foreign cards. It is still wise to carry some cash for small vendors, traditional souqs, taxis and tips.

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. A 15% VAT appears on most receipts — that is a government tax, not a service charge. In restaurants, leaving around 10–15% is a kind gesture if no service charge is included; tip in cash where possible.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative Muslim country, and Islamic law is taken seriously — but it has liberalised significantly for tourism, and visitors who show basic respect are warmly received. Modest dress is the key expectation: for women, the abaya is no longer legally required for foreign visitors and a headscarf is not required in public, but women should still cover shoulders and knees and avoid tight or revealing clothing. Men should also dress modestly — long trousers, no going shirtless.

Alcohol is strictly prohibited throughout the country, with no exceptions for tourists. Saudi Arabia also has strict cybercrime laws — posting anything online perceived as critical of the government, the royal family or Islam can carry severe penalties — so be cautious on social media, and don't photograph government or military sites, or people, without permission.

Daily life follows the five Islamic prayer times — many shops and restaurants briefly pause or close during each (typically 20–30 minutes). During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight hours is not permitted. Note that non-Muslims may not enter the holy city of Mecca; a friendly 'As-salaam alaikum' is the standard greeting, and the right hand is used for greetings and eating.

The main international gateways are King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia is a large country, so domestic flights (Saudia, flynas, flyadeal) are the fastest way to cover long distances.

Riyadh has a brand-new driverless metro — a clean, cheap, air-conditioned way to move around the capital, with one line connecting directly to the airport. Between the western cities, the Haramain High-Speed Railway links Jeddah, Mecca and Medina at up to 300 km/h.

For getting around town, ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem are widely used and usually the easiest, most transparent option, with fixed app-based pricing. Traditional taxis exist — agree a fare or insist on the meter first.

Getting online is easy. The main mobile operators are STC, Mobily and Zain, all offering tourist SIM cards with generous data — buy one at the airport or in malls (you'll need your passport). Coverage is excellent, with nationwide 4G and 5G across the major cities.

A convenient alternative is a travel eSIM, which you can buy and activate from a QR code before you land, skipping the in-store registration.

Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, malls, cafés and restaurants. For navigation, ride-hailing and translation on the go, a local SIM or eSIM is well worth it.

Saudi Arabia has a low crime rate, and most visitors find cities calm and secure — violent crime against tourists is uncommon. However, government travel advisories for Saudi Arabia have been unusually elevated amid regional tensions, and they change frequently: advisories warn against travel close to the Yemen border, and at times have raised broader warnings for other regions. This is genuinely changeable — check the US State Department, the UK FCDO and Australia's Smartraveller for the current status both before you book and again before you fly.

The emergency number is 911 for police, ambulance and fire. Healthcare in major cities is modern and of a high standard; comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care and evacuation is essential (and is in any case bundled with the tourist visa). If you take prescription medication, bring a doctor's letter, as some common medicines are controlled in Saudi Arabia.

Tap water is generally treated and considered safe in cities, but most residents and visitors drink bottled water, which is cheap and everywhere. The biggest practical health risk is the extreme summer heat — temperatures regularly exceed 45°C from roughly May to September, so stay hydrated, limit midday sun, and plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning or evening.

Power: Saudi Arabia uses Type G plugs — the same three-rectangular-pin design as the UK — at 230V. Travellers from the UK won't need an adapter; those from the US, Europe and elsewhere should bring a Type G adapter and check that devices support 230V.

Language: the official language is Arabic. English is widely spoken in cities, hotels, airports and anywhere tourism-related, and signage is typically bilingual, so language is rarely a barrier — though a few Arabic greetings are appreciated.

Best time to visit: winter (roughly November to February) is by far the most comfortable time to travel, with pleasant warm days. Summer (May to September) is extremely hot, often above 45°C. Note the Saudi working week runs Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday the weekend.

Time zone: Saudi Arabia runs on Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3), with no daylight saving.