Arabia Saudita

Arabic is the official language and appears on street signs, menus, and in government offices outside major hotels. English is widely used in business, tourism, and by younger Saudis in cities, though less so in small towns and among older generations. Arabic uses its own script and reads right to left, so learning to recognize a few key words helps with navigation outside tourist areas.

Prepaid SIM and eSIM plans are sold at the airport and by carriers such as STC, Mobily, and Zain. Passport registration is required at the point of sale. Voice and video calls in messaging apps such as WhatsApp generally work without issue. Some websites and streaming services may be blocked or restricted. A small number of travelers use a VPN for this, though it is a personal choice, not a requirement.

Tap water is treated and meets official safety standards, but most residents and visitors drink bottled or filtered water, which is sold everywhere. Pharmacies are common in cities, and many stay open late. Pharmacists can advise on minor ailments and sell some medicines over the counter that require a prescription elsewhere. No special vaccinations are required for general tourism, though travelers attending Hajj or Umrah must show proof of a meningitis vaccination. Summer heat is the main health risk: stay hydrated and limit outdoor activity during the hottest hours.

Citizens of about 66 countries can apply for an eVisa online before arrival. It is valid for one year with multiple entries and allows stays of up to 90 days per visit. Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries do not need a visa. Travelers not covered by the eVisa program should contact the nearest Saudi embassy or consulate.

The eVisa also covers Umrah outside the Hajj season. Hajj itself requires a separate visa arranged through an authorized operator, and access to Mecca is restricted around the Hajj period even for eVisa holders.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

• Dress modestly in public: shoulders and knees covered, for both men and women. An abaya is no longer legally required for women, but loose, non-revealing clothing is still expected outside resorts and hotel pools.
• Inside mosques and near Islamic holy sites, women should cover their hair, and some sites require full-length, loose clothing for all visitors.
• Avoid photographing people, especially women, without asking first, and never photograph government buildings, military sites, or checkpoints.
• Public displays of affection between couples are frowned upon.
• Friday is the main day of prayer; some shops and restaurants pause briefly around midday prayer time.
• Alcohol is illegal to buy, sell, or consume anywhere in the country, including in hotels.

Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates shift each year. Ramadan affects daily life most: many restaurants close during daylight hours, and offices and shops often open later and close earlier. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha bring public holidays of several days each, when many businesses close and domestic travel gets busy.

Outside these periods, most shops keep long hours, often into the evening, and pause briefly for the five daily prayer times.

• By air: domestic flights on Saudia, flynas, and flyadeal connect major cities quickly, often faster than driving given the country's size.
• By train: the Haramain High Speed Railway links Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina in under two and a half hours; book at Haramain High Speed Railway. A separate line connects Riyadh to the Eastern Province.
• By bus: SAPTCO runs inter-city coaches to most towns, a budget option for longer overland trips.

Saudi meals center on rice, grilled or slow-cooked meat, and bread eaten with the hands. Kabsa, spiced rice with chicken or lamb, is the closest thing to a national dish, alongside mandi, meat cooked in an underground pit oven. Breakfast is often simple: flatbread, cheese, dates, and eggs, while lunch is typically the largest meal of the day.

Street food centers on grilled skewers, shawarma, and sambousek (fried pastries). Dates come in dozens of varieties, sold everywhere from supermarkets to roadside stalls. Alcohol is banned nationwide, so drink culture centers on strong Arabic coffee (qahwa), spiced with cardamom and served in small cups, alongside sweet black tea and fruit juices. Restaurants range from simple canteens to elaborate fine dining, and many offer separate family sections for more private seating.

Cities: Riyadh, the capital, mixes glass towers with restored mudbrick forts. Jeddah is the main Red Sea gateway, known for its old coral-stone quarter. Ta'if sits in the mountains above Mecca and draws visitors for its cooler climate and rose farms.

Holy cities: Mecca and Medina are Islam's two holiest sites, each restricted to Muslims either entirely or in their central areas.

Heritage and desert: AlUla holds Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone cliffs, and Diriyah preserves the mudbrick birthplace of the Saudi state, just outside Riyadh.

Eastern Province: Dammam anchors the Gulf coast. Inland, Hofuf sits in the Al-Ahsa oasis, one of the world's largest, known for its palm groves.

South: Abha, high in the Asir mountains, offers a cooler climate and terraced villages, a contrast to the desert lowlands.