Saudi Arabia Travel Guide

Riyadh

RUH · King Khalid International — Riyadh's main hub. Metro to city centre available. Taxi: SAR 60–100.

Jeddah

JED · King Abdulaziz International — gateway to Mecca (non-Muslims cannot enter). Jeddah itself has excellent historic old city (Al-Balad, UNESCO).

AlUla

ULH · Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz — small airport serving AlUla and Hegra. Direct flights from Riyadh and Jeddah.

Currency

Saudi Riyal (SAR)
3.75 SAR = 1 USD (pegged). Cards widely accepted in Riyadh and major cities. Cash still needed in traditional souks.

Value

Saudi Arabia offers a wide range from affordable to ultra-luxury. Dining is generally good value compared to Dubai. Vision 2030 has brought excellent mid-range hotel options.

Time Zone

AST — Arabia Standard Time
UTC+3 year-round. No daylight saving time.

Vs. US Eastern

Riyadh is 8 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (7 hours in US summer).

Riyadh

Best: Nov–MarAvoid: Jun–Aug (45°C+) Desert climate, extreme in summer. Winter is warm and pleasant (15–25°C).

AlUla

Best: Oct–Apr Desert landscape — hot days, dramatically cold nights year-round. The Maraya concert venue is most atmospheric in winter.

Language

Arabic — English increasingly spoken in Riyadh's business and hospitality sectors, especially post-Vision 2030.

Tourist eVisa

Citizens of 49 countries (including USA, UK, EU, Australia) can get a tourist eVisa at visitsaudi.com. One-year multiple entry, 90 days per visit.

Laws

Alcohol is completely prohibited. Public decorum laws apply. Photography of government buildings and military sites is forbidden.

General

Safe for Tourists Saudi Arabia's tourist zones are safe and increasingly visitor-friendly. Rapid cultural change underway since Vision 2030.

Emergencies

911 — Unified emergency line (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

Saudi Arabia

Destinations in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh