10 Things to Know Before Visiting Saudi Arabia

I visited Saudi Arabia for a short time in March 2022. Here are 10 important things to know for everyone to know who plans to visit the Kingdom.

1. Women Can Travel Alone

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is constantly making headlines for their stark gender unequal laws. Anytime I bring up a feminist issue in the US, it is often met with the response, “If you really want to see an unequal world, why don’t you move to Saudi Arabia!” (Ok, not often, but that comment is definitely the most confusing response I’ve been met with.) When I was planning a visit in 2022, I was unsure as to whether women could travel without a guardian, husband, or sponsor. These are things I’ve heard from past travelers, but I knew with the new 2030 Vision Campaign to increase tourism in KSA, things have recently changed. I am happy to confirm, after having done so myself, women tourists can travel alone. I went with no husband or family member, and was never questioned or stopped. I was free to do as I please. I did hire a guide because I thought it would be helpful in getting around and understanding the history a bit more, but if you are a woman looking to travel somewhere solo, you can officially include Saudi Arabia on the list of viable options.

2. You Don’t Need to Dress in Traditional Clothing

One might assume upon entering a place as traditional as Saudi Arabia that they have to wear the exact garb as the locals, or follow a rigid dress code. Though I felt more comfortable blending in by wearing what the locals wear, it is not required. I did not see many tourists in Saudi Arabia, but at one point, I met an American man traveling alone in jeans and a salmon-colored T-shirt. Men can most definitely wear whatever they want, and women can wear what they’d like so long as it is modest. This means, no tight leggings/pants, long dresses/skirts, arms and cleavage covered, etc. I decided to wear a kaftan and keep a blue scarf around my neck for easy access incase I was to find myself in a holy site where my hair should be covered.

3. No Booze: Saudi Arabia is a Dry Nation

Alcohol is forbidden in Islam because it is considered an intoxicant, which technically means poison. The Holy Quran in several verses forbids intoxicants because one is not meant to harm oneself in any way or form. In simpler terms, there will be no alcohol in Saudi Arabia. Alcohol consumption, importation, brewing and selling is completely banned in Saudi Arabia. If you plan to fly via Saudia Airlines, there will be no alcohol served on the plane, and you cannot bring alcohol on the plane. However, if departing from a place where alcohol is legal, for me, the USA, you may consume alcohol at your departing airport.

4. It’s Expensive

I had heard Saudi Arabia is expensive, but wow, is it up there! The tourist visa alone will run you about $164. If you want to hire a private driver for a day in Riyadh (let’s say if you only have a day layover, like I did), it will cost around $150. Museum entries are free, but meals run about an average of $25/person. Luckily, everywhere in Saudi Arabia seems to take credit card, so at the very least, you’ll save on ATM fees, but keep in mind that Riyadh is one of the richest cities in the world per capita, and it certainly shows in their price tags.

5. Ditch the Utensils and Eat With Your Hands

It is traditional in the Middle East to ditch utensils and use your hands as your food vessel. Saudi Arabia is no exception. Though, of course, some dishes cannot be consumed via hands (i.e. jereesh; a bulgur-based stew), everything else, including rice, meat, vegetables, and more, are to be consumed with just your hands. You simply pack the rice around your hand, pop the meat or vegetable in the middle, and eat the whole thing. Meals are served family style, and everyone digs in with their hands off of the same plate. It’s a bonding experience that you must keep an open mind for, especially if you’re concerned over germs in our new pandemic world, but if you want to do as the locals do, ditch the utensils, and eat with your hands.

6. You Can Visit With a Free Transit Layover on Saudia Airlines

If Saudi Arabia isn’t a bucket-list destination per se, but your final destination has a cheap flight through Saudia Airlines, there’s a very good chance you’ll have a layover in either Jeddah or Riyadh. Of course, if you’re in a hurry to get to your final destination, an hour or two layover is fine, but if you want to take advantage of a free stopover, you can adjust this in your booking to extend your layover so you can leave the airport and explore a little of either city. This is how I was able to visit Riyadh. I landed at 8am and my departure flight was not until 6PM, giving me ample time to explore the city. This will not add any extra air ticket cost, and if you have checked luggage, you don’t have to worry about picking it up and re-checking it; it will move onto your final destination. In short, if you book with Saudia Airlines, you can essentially get two trips for the price of one airline ticket.

7. You Need a Tourist Visa

No tourists are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia without getting a tourist visa, unless they are nationals of any of the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. These nations include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Nationals of 50 sovereign nations may apply for an eVisa ahead of time (including the US), which can be applied for here. You will need a photo in PDF format to apply. Visas on arrival were temporarily halted due to Covid-19, however, it is wise to check for updates on Saudi Arabia’s tourism website to see if they have resumed, as things are constantly changing these days.

8. You Won’t Be Haggled

One of the nicest parts about traveling through Riyadh was though there were plenty of street vendors near the souks, not a single one haggled me to buy things. I was able to browse freely, ask questions about products, and even try samples without being expected to purchase anything. Most often is the case when traveling that nothing comes for free; not even a quick browse through a small shop. However, here, you won’t be expected to purchase anything, and you most certainly won’t be shamed if you choose not to.

9. Most Museums Are Free

As mentioned above, most museums in Riyadh are free. I was able to visit the National Museum, where I learned about Saudi Arabia’s rich history, and about its many natural resources, namely oil. I was also able to read about the Red Sea and see the different species both found in the sea, and found in the desert. Al Masmak Fortress was also free to enter, where I read about the different Kings in Saudi Arabia.

10. Their Weekends Are Different: Their “Sunday” is Our “Monday”

If you’re trying to decide which day is best to avoid crowds, Saturday is surprisingly your best bet. Saudi Arabia’s work week starts on Sundays, and their Saturdays are typically very quiet as most people use it as a day to rest before the busy work week begins. This means, if you’re looking for any type of excursion or tour, Saturday not only will be the best day to beat the crowds, but is typically cheaper as well. For example, a day tour to “Edge of The World” from Riyadh costs $199 on Saturday, but costs $134-$180 on all other days.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Riyadh/Edge-Of-the-world/d50285-262024P3

Have you been to Saudi Arabia? Did anything surprise you when you were there?