What to know before visiting Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is straightforward to travel in, but a few things genuinely work differently here. None of this is difficult; it is just easier to know beforehand.

What to wear

Foreign women are no longer required to wear an abaya, and many visitors do not. What is expected of everyone is modest clothing: shoulders and knees covered, nothing tight or sheer. A loose long-sleeved top and long trousers or a long skirt is comfortable and correct. A headscarf is not required for non-Muslim women in public, though you will want one to enter a mosque.

Men should avoid shorts outside hotel grounds and beach clubs. Standards are more relaxed in Jeddah and the Red Sea resorts than in Riyadh or smaller towns.

Alcohol

Alcohol is prohibited throughout the country. It is not served in hotels or restaurants, it cannot be brought in, and penalties are serious. Assume there is none, and do not pack any.

Prayer times

Prayer happens five times a day, and many smaller shops and some restaurants close for roughly twenty to thirty minutes each time. Malls and larger venues increasingly stay open. It is not something to work around so much as to expect: if a shop shutter comes down while you are inside, you are usually welcome to wait.

The Saudi weekend is Friday and Saturday, and Friday midday prayer is the longest closure of the week.

Photography

Photographing landscapes, architecture and your own group is fine. Photographing people — particularly women and families — without asking is not, and is taken seriously. Avoid photographing government buildings, military sites, airports and palaces.

Money

• The currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR), pegged to the US dollar.
• Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafés; Apple Pay and mada are widespread. Carry a little cash for markets and rural stops.
• Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Rounding up, or 10% for good service, is normal.
• VAT is included in displayed prices.

Getting around

• Ride-hailing (Uber and Careem) works well in the big cities and is the easiest way to move around Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.
• Domestic flights are the practical way to cross the country; the distances are large.
• The Haramain high-speed railway links Makkah, Jeddah, KAEC and Madinah.
• Driving: on the right, and an international permit alongside your home licence is the safe combination. Long desert drives need planning; fuel stops can be far apart. If you would rather not drive, our car rental service can supply a car with a driver.

Everyday things that surprise people

• Hospitality is real and immediate. Being offered coffee and dates the moment you sit down is normal; accepting is polite.
• Some restaurants still have separate family and singles sections, though the rule was relaxed and many no longer do.
• English is widely spoken in cities, hotels and among younger Saudis.
• Public transport aside, almost everything runs late into the evening — dinner at ten is ordinary.

Common questions