Saudi Arabia

Traveling

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service: Website of the Saudi Arabia Embassy
Arab Net
Diplomatic representations: List of Saudi Embassies abroad

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation: Taxis services are available from all main airports to the traveler's destination. The fare should be negotiated in advance. Service taxis which are shared by people charge fare equivalent to buses.
Buses operated by Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) are comfortable and usually follow schedule.
Maps of urban networks: Maporama
SAMIRAD

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation: Taxis remain the most suitable means of transport for foreigners. They are regulated by government.
Rail companies: Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO)

Airlines

Name	Type	Domestic flights	International flights
NAS Air	Low cost	Yes	No
Saudi Arabian Airlines	Traditional	Yes	Yes
Al Khayala	Traditional	Yes	No
Jazeera airways	Low cost	Yes	Yes
Sama Airlines	Low cost	Yes	No

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation: Disobeying traffic signals and driving beyond speed limits is common practice. These are also the main reasons for high rate of traffic accidents. Within cities taxi or renting a car is highly recommended. Most road signs are in Arabic, though, many of them are in English too.
Road maps: PlacesOnLine
Find an itinerary: Maporama
Live Search Maps

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical: Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities of Islam are the most important part of historical tourism in the country.
Jeddah is home to numerous historical landmarks and buildings such as: the Old Jeddah Wall and Gates, the old quarters, historical mosques.
Cultural: Islam is the focus of Saudi Arabian culture. Festivals and Events are an integral part of Saudi Arabian culture. These celebrations highlight the customs and traditions in the country and give a beautiful perspective to this wonderful land.
Nature: Witness the astonishing landscape and wildlife of the Asir, a range of coastal mountains and the only part of the kingdom where there is significant wild vegetation. View a picturesque settlement of fishermen and weavers on Tarut Island. It is also the site of the oldest town on the peninsula.
Religious: - Al-Masjid al-Haram (The Holy Mosque), Mecca
- The Ka'ba and Black Stone, Mecca
- The Prophet's Mosque, Medina
- Floating Mosque of Jeddah, etc.
Thermal: Though thermal energy is the main source of power in Saudi Arabia, there are no natural hot springs. However few hotels provide hot spring spas.
For more details, visit Saudi World.
Beach: Some prominent beaches are Durrat Al-Arus, Shums, Bait Albahar, Salhia and Al Nakeel.
Winter sports: None
Outdoor activities: People also show a lot of interest in activities like scuba diving, windsurfing, and sailing, Golf, horse and camel racing. Do watch the King's Camel Race in April or May during the national Heritage and Cultural Festival at Jenadriyah.
Shopping: Saudi Arabia has a blend of traditional open air markets and modern air conditioned shopping plazas and malls to choose from. If open air Souk is a great place to bargain then the Saudi malls offer the popular international brands. The shops are closed on Fridays and during prayer times.

Top 10 highlights of the capital city
Riyadh National Zoo
Al Musmak Castle
Riyadh Museum
Al Thumairi Gate
Al Douh Park
Diplomatic Quarter
Al-Murabba'a Historical Palace
Olaisha Park
Ad'Diriyah
E'Sense

Top 10 highlights of the country
Riyadh: The capital city
Hasa is well known for its vast coastal areas and teeming fish market places.
Mecca: A spiritual hub of Islamic religious beliefs and faith.
Jeddah: this historic place occupies great significance in the history of Saudi Arabia.
Hejaz: The city is the nerve center for different political activities coupled together with being the cultural capital of the country.
Medina: The second-holiest city in Islam and also forbidden to non-Muslims.
Arafat: The city has two important Islamic religious places namely Jabal Rahmah and Masjid Numrah.
Mina. It has many religious spots like : Masjid Kheef, Masjid Kauthar, the three Jamaraat, etc.
Taif: where the grave of Abdullah Ibn Abbasis.
Abwa: It is the birthplace of the 7th Imam Musa al Kadhim. The grave of Amina, mother of the Prophet Mohammad, also exists in this city.

Tourism organizations: Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTTA)
Saudi Tourism

Living conditions

Health and safety

Health precautions

- A certificate of vaccination against Meningococcal Meningitis, for people travelling for HAJJ.

- Children between 3 months and 2 years of age must be given two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine.

- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers arriving from an infected area.

- Tetanus vaccine is required

Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. So it is advised to take necessary measures.

International hospitals

Some world famous hospitals in Saudi Arabia are King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, etc.
For more on list of hospitals in the country, visit the website Hospital worldwide.

For further information on sanitary conditions

Saudi Customs

For further information on safety conditions

US Department of State

Emergency numbers

Police	999
Fire and Ambulance	997
Fire	998
Road Accidents	993

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference: It is %T:%M %A in Riyadh (GMT+3)
Summer time period: None

Map of the time zone

Fuseau(x) horaire

Type of climate

Saudi Arabia has a desert climate. Topography plays an important role in making the climate of Saudi Arabia so varied. In Jeddah it is warm for most of the year. Riyadh, which is inland, is hotter in summer and colder in winter, when occasional heavy rainstorms occur.

Though average rainfall is less than 5 inches, in the Asir highlands it may exceed 10 inches. Great temperature extremes ranging from as low as freezing point in winters to 50 degrees Celsius in summers.

Frequent sand-laden winds blow from the northern deserts, for days at 25-30 miles an hour.

For further information: Meteorological and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA)

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Climate

Eating

Culinary specialties: Saudi food is often strongly flavored and spicy. The most common meats are lamb and chicken, beef is rare and pork is proscribed under Islamic law. The main meat meal of the day is lunch. Some of the popular culinary specialties of Saudi Arabia are:
- Pitta bread accompanies every dish;
- Rice, lentils, chick peas and cracked wheat are also common;
- Kultra is popular for lunch;
- Kebabs served with soup and vegetables;
- Mezze.
Drinks: Consumption of alcohol is prohibited and Arabic coffee and fruit drinks are popular alternatives.
Gawha, the ritual of serving coffee, is an important part of Saudi culture.
Dietary taboos: Alcohol, pork, birds and shellfish is prohibited by the religion which is followed very rigorously by the Muslims.

Paying

Domestic currency: Riyal
ISO Code: SAR
To obtain domestic currency: Foreign currency can be changed at commercial banks and moneychangers. Changing currency at hotel may not be advisable as the rate will invariably be much less than at a bank or bureau de change.
Possible means of payment: Payment is usually in cash although credit and charge cards are also popular. ATMs are also available at Banks and Shopping malls.

Speaking

Official language: Arabic
Other languages spoken: English is most widely used. Other languages spoken in Kingdom are Indonesian, Somali, Tagalog, Urdu, Western Farsi.
Business language: Yes, English is widely used as business language.
Getting some knowledge: Visit the following sites: Speak7; Learn Arabic.
Free translation tools: Free Online Language Translation - Online translation tool between different languages
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