– Introduction to Saudi Arabia | Planning your Saudi Arabia holidays
Saudi Arabia is one of the last frontiers in the world of travel, due to the fact that it was previously so hard to enter. Until recently, it was only accessible if you are a pilgrim during Hajj, or an expat working in the country. However, it is now accessible to certain countries with the implementation of the new Saudi Arabia tourist visa. Read on for information on how to plan your Saudi Arabia holidays.
Despite the image most people have of Saudi Arabia, it does have some amazing sights and places to see. For a cultural experience it is hard to beat this country. From the daily call to prayer which resonates throughout the country five times a day, to the many small restaurants and eating houses run by, and for, the numerous sub-continentals living and working here.
Saudi Arabia is of course famous for its oil industry. Less known is the remarkable diving available on the Red Sea. As well as the ruins of Mada’in Saleh which was the second largest city of the Nabateans. (The largest is much more famous and is of course Petra in Jordan). Other little known areas are the green hills in the southwest of the country. Or the snowy areas in the north during the winter.
– What can you expect from Saudi Arabia?
Initially a culture shock, but once you get used to this you’ll find this country has a lot to offer. Get used to a lot of small talk and questions about your family and learn to not rush anything.
Click here for our article on Living and Working in Saudi Arabia.
– How we got to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is accessible through four international airports, the main ones which are in Riyadh, and Jeddah. Nowadays the immigration system at the airport is much more efficient than it was even five years ago. Due to this the queues are a lot less and the waiting times are a lot shorter.
Most people coming to Saudi Arabia will be coming for work. They will have their visa organised by their company. If you are coming with the new Saudi Arabia tourist visa, you can apply for the eVisa online.
Click here to be brought to the website.
Land borders are open except currently at Qatar due to an ongoing embargo. The main land border used in Saudi Arabia is the causeway to Bahrain, which gets extremely busy during weekends.
– Map of Saudi Arabia & places we were
Places we visited;
- Riyadh
- Jeddah
- Dammam
– Where to Stay
For many people living in Saudi Arabia, the accommodation is in either compounds or apartments. Compounds are guarded communities which are more relaxed inside with regards to rules about abayas and males and females mixing. However, don’t get carried away as you still need to maintain your dignity and respect inside these as often people will get banned for doing something they shouldn’t. Living in these is extremely expensive compared to other accommodations but you are paying for the ease of lifestyle.
For the short term stay hotels are available but can be expensive. There are also furnished apartments available for short term which can work out to be more affordable.
– Car Hire
Car rental is available in Saudi Arabia and gas is extremely cheap. If you are resident here then you will require a Saudi driving licence which is easily obtained. Be warned, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest accident rates in the world, and when you drive here you will quickly see why. Tailgating and general threatening behavior while being behind someone in the fast lane is common, even if the person in front can’t move out of the way. Best advice is to stay in the middle lanes and keep out of the way of those who want to be aggressive. Safety is not enforced enough and you will see people on telephones, not wearing seat belts, and children standing on front seats. In general don’t be shocked at what you see while driving as anything goes.
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in one of the many accidents daily in the country, no matter how small, then do not go anywhere until the insurance company or police arrive. If you do not have the proper police report when you report the damage to your company or hire company they cannot get it repaired and they will charge you for the damage.
– Activities and Sights
The following items are some of the things that are recommended to see and do in Saudi Arabia;
- Go diving in the Red Sea in Jeddah
- See the sister city to Petra in Mada’in Saleh
- Learn about the importance of camels in the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival
- Take in the culture in the Janadiriyah Cultural Festival
- Escape the summer heat and visit the many rose gardens in Taif
- See the traditional buildings in the UNESCO site at Dirai’yah
- Haggle in the souqs in Batha and Dirah in Riyadh
- See Riyadh from the skywalk in the Kingdom Tower
- Take the cable car in Jebel Soudah
- Witness where Lawrence of Arabia assisted in the Arab Revolt at the Hejaz Railway
- Drive an ATV on the Red Sand Dunes Riyadh
- See the great views from the Edge of the World Riyadh
- Eat at a Yemeni Restaurant Riyadh
– Food and Drink
Foods to try
– Kabsa is a dish made with rice, vegetables, and meat. Kabsa comes in large plates and takes a lot of eating!
– Mande is similar to Kabsa but the meat is cooked differently. Don’t be shocked when you see a head of a sheep looking back at you from this plate.
– Dates are naturally eaten a lot and go very well with the Arabic coffee.
– Mutton and chicken are very popular so these are the two main meats eaten in the local dishes.
– Laban is like a yogurt drink commonly taken at breakfast. Don’t make the common mistake of picking this up instead of milk in the supermarket as a lot of people do when they first get to Saudi Arabia.
– Pork is banned in Saudi Arabia so don’t be expecting any dishes containing pork products.
Drinks to try
– Alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia so the major drink is fruit juices. Almost all restaurants serve fresh juices.
– Saudi champagne is a non-alcoholic drink made with apple juice, and a variety of other fruits and soda water or sprite.
– Non-alcoholic beer is available in all shops and is often flavored in a large variety of flavors.
– Arabic coffee is served in small cups and is usually served with dates.
– Tea with mint is drank with lots of sugar and no milk. Get used to this if planning on going to the jewelry shops to get some bargains as you will be brought in and sat down and given some. It is considered polite to take it and drink it.
– Additional Information
Plugs and electricity:
The common plug used is the British plug. Some places have the US plugs but these are becoming less common.
Vaccines: All travelers are recommended to have their Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, and Rabies vaccines still in date before traveling.
COVID: For information on any restrictions and other information please click here.
Currency: The currency is the Saudi Riyal (SAR). This is linked to the USD so does not fluctuate. For current conversion rates check http://www.xe.com/ before you go. You can find ATM machines throughout the major towns and cities and in most areas there are drive through ATMs available.
Language: The main language of the country is Arabic. Most people will speak English or will attempt some words. But do not expect everybody in government services to speak English. It is always advisable to know somebody who speaks Arabic that you can call on as you may need them.
Climate: The climate is not all scorching hot as everyone thinks for the full year. In Riyadh during the summer it will reach 50°C. However in the winter it is not unusual for it to be below 0°C. Rain will be quite common between the months of November to March and can make driving conditions hazardous. In the coastal regions the temperatures are a more constant 30°C-40°C all year round.
Security: Saudi Arabia is extremely safe in the major cities. There is a large police presence everywhere you go. The military and police man a number of checkpoints throughout the country. At present there is an ongoing war with Yemen which makes the southern borders inaccessible and unsafe to go to. When driving outside the main urban areas of Saudi Arabia, always be aware of your route and make sure that someone knows where you are going.