Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO SAUDI ARABIA

Capital:

Riyadh

Religion: 

Religion is a core aspect of everyday life in Saudi Arabia. It plays a dominant role in the country’s governance and legal system, and deeply influences culture and daily life. The official religion is Islam, with the majority of Saudi citizens being Sunni Muslims (roughly 90%).

Language in Saudi Arabia:

Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but English is widely understood.

LOCAL TIME

Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC +3

ELECTRICITY

The electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz. Three-pin, flat-bladed plugs are in use, in addition to round/flat-bladed two-pin plugs, as well as flat-bladed two-pin plugs with a third, round pin for grounding

PASSPORT & VISA FEE:

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Currency & Money

The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR).

Credit cards: 

Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted credit cards, but some establishments also accept Discover or American Express cards. Travelers’ checks are also widely accepted, but can sometimes be difficult to change. Money changers tend to stay open past regular Saudi banking hours.

ATM: 

Reliable ATMs are available throughout the country. Making a cash withdrawal could cover you in places that don’t accept credit cards. Though this may come with additional fees.

Banking hours: 

Banking in Saudi Arabia is easy and painless, with local and international banks offering efficient, up-to-date services – in most cases. Banking hours are 9:30 to 16:30 from Sunday to Thursday. Some banks offer services on Saturdays, so it's worth checking on your provider's website. Banks in Saudi Arabia are closed on Fridays, the weekly holiday. Branches at the country's airports are open 24/7.

Currency exchange: 

There are bureaux de change in town and banks.

Clothing: 

• Although Saudi women are expected to wear the traditional black, long gown called the abaya while in public, foreigners are exempted from this rule.
• Women must dress modestly at all times, covering their knees and shoulders.
• Although the abayais optional, you will need to wear it while entering mosques, in respect of the Muslim culture.
• In a few places, you might have to wear a headscarf, particularly in Riyadh.
• Sleeveless shirts, short dresses, loose tops, short bottoms, crop tops and miniskirts are strictly not allowed.
• Night clothes, under garments or anything that is inappropriate to be worn in public must be avoided.
• Bikinis, which are common among westerners, are taboo in Saudi Arabia, even on the beaches.
• You can wear the shoes of your choice – trainers, sandals, heels or open toed footwear. There are no restrictions on this. However, you will have to remove your footwear when entering religious institutions.
• Make sure the fabric of your clothes is not see through and not super tight.
• In case you are wearing jewellery that is represents any other religion than Islam, you need to tuck it into your clothes. Make sure it isn’t visible.
• Lastly, modest make up is preferable to bright colours on the face.
• Foreign men are not required to wear the thobe or thwab, the traditional Arabic dress.
• Men are required to wear clothes covering their shoulders and legs at all times.
• Make sure to avoid skinny jeans, sleeveless shirts and shorts in public.
• If you are at a workplace, a shirt, tie and a dark business suit are appropriate.
• Apart from a wristwatch or a wedding ring, any other jewellery, including bracelets, necklaces, etc., particularly in gold, is considered inappropriate.
• You must not be shirtless under any circumstances.

Both men and women should be careful not to wear a top or shirt with indecent or loud graphics and quotes on it. However, you can wear whatever you like within western compounds or areas where expats reside. Bikinis are still not allowed, and you need to stick to one-piece swimsuits. Whatever you wear, make sure it is modest and respectful of the tenets of Islam.

Telephone:

Phonecards are available for use in payphones. SIM cards are available for mobile phones and the Ghana network supports many data-roaming packages.

Emergency numbers:

Ambulance: 997

Fire: 998

Police: 999

Mobile phone:

Mobile phones in Saudi Arabia operate on a GSM network. In addition, most operators are now moving toward 5G technology. However, while phone signals are generally excellent in major towns and cities, they are significantly weaker in less built-up areas. To get an idea of mobile network coverage in Saudi Arabia

Internet:

Saudi Arabia’s international dialing code is +966. Zain Saudi Arabia, Mobily, and Saudi Telecom Company are Saudi Arabia’s three main cellphone operators. Cellphone reception is easily available in most parts of Saudi Arabia, except for the most isolated desert regions, and foreigners can easily bring their own phones. Internet cafés and access are easily available at all major Saudi cities, and Saudi Telecom Company has a monopoly on Saudi internet communication. Although Saudi Arabia is notorious for its tight censorship regulations, most banned websites are either pornographic or blatantly anti-Islam.

Saudi Arabia Food and Drink

Saudi Arabia has a rich and ancient food culture where meals – often big communal platters of rice topped with roast meat – are joyously shared with visitors since the times when nomadic tribes and trade caravans roamed the Arabian Peninsula. These days, the hospitable Saudis still prefer to nurture friendships over meals and many cups of qahwa (roasted coffee ground with cardamom and flavoured with saffron).

Breakfast is a simple affair; dates with qahwa or flatbread with cheese and date jam are often served. Lunch is the main meal of the day and Kabsa, the national dish of Saudi Arabia, is a must-try.

Specialties: 

• Kabsa: rice topped with meat and vegetables, often flavoured with cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, nutmeg and loomi (sun-dried black limes).
• Matabaq: stuffed and fried roti.
• Shakshuka: rich and spicy tomato sauce topped with poached eggs.
• Jareesh or Harees: boiled crushed wheat with rice and meat, along with plenty of spices. Highly popular during the month of Ramadan.
• Thareed or Tharid: stewed meat and vegetables served with rice or on a thin piece of bread
• Umm Ali: a type of bread pudding filled with nuts, honey, milk and spices.
• Ma'amoul: cookies stuffed with nuts and dates

Regional drinks

Arabic coffee and fruit drinks are popular alternatives to alcohol.

Alcohol-free beers and cocktails are served in hotel bars.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Saudi Arabia is an extremely dry country and rainfall is minimum. In summers, the country witnesses blistering heat and humid temperatures thus, making it uncomfortable to get around. From November onwards, the weather is welcoming. However, nights are quite chilly but you can easily explore the place during day time.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit Saudi Arabia is from January until May and September until December, when you will have a pleasant till very hot temperature and none till limited rainfall. The highest average temperature in in Saudi Arabia is 108°F in July and the lowest is 68°F in January.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

If a service charge is not included, tipping 10%-15% is recommended.

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.