Things to Know Before You Go – Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia seems to be one of those countries that is either high on your list to travel to or you have no interest in going. Often the country and the GCC region, comes shrouded in mystery or misconceptions. While some of it may have been true in the past, Saudi Arabia is actively trying to change the narrative and make their country more welcoming to visitors. In 2016, the ruling family announced Vision 2030 as an ambitious blueprint to get the kingdom to not rely so heavily on oil and instead invest in technology and tourism. You can see the ongoing results and future projects of this blueprint throughout the country now. With the recent winning bid for World Expo 2030 and as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia is quickly making a name for itself on the international stage. 

You will often see the country abbreviated KSA which stands for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You will hear it referred to as just the kingdom as well. 

Visa

In an effort to attract more visitors, Saudi Arabia now has two easier ways to get your visa. The eVisa online is a fast and efficient way of getting the visa before coming. Just visit this site, add your details and within a few hours you’ll have an email confirmation. Otherwise you can get a visa on arrival. The process is relatively simple by putting in some personal information along with your stay details. The hardest part was waiting in line with others as there were only a few kiosks in the airport. But once we got to the front of the line, it was simple. One thing to note is that for most people, there is only one option which is a one year visa. The price is higher than other countries in the region at 395 riyal. To make the most of the expense, either plan a longer trip or try to come back again within the year if you can! 

Currency

We were able to get away without pulling cash out while traveling in Saudi. Most places accept electronic payments. Their system is called Mada. Do make sure you take a look at the sign on their cash register or door. Even if they use Mada, they don’t always accept all forms of payment. Twice we were in a little convenience store or market and didn’t realize they didn’t take Visa until we were at the register so we couldn’t purchase and had to go somewhere else. Always check and ask before shopping to avoid any hassle. 

When to Visit Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a desert and as such, the summer months get oppressively hot. The best time to visit is November – March when the weather is pleasant enough to be outside. If you want to spend time outside, we recommend not visiting April –  October. June, July, and August experience the hottest temperatures, which usually maintain a constant temperature of 104 F / 40 C. April/May and Sept/Oct cool a little to 90-100 F / 30-37 C but even then, it’s hard to be outside in the direct sunlight. Luckily most places have air conditioning and many indoor activities to help beat the heat of the summer. 

What to Wear in Saudi Arabia 

Yes it is true that in the past, Saudi Arabia used to have a strict dress code for all women, including visitors. Women had to wear the abaya (long black robe to cover body) and hijab (to cover the hair). While this is no longer a rule, we would definitely recommend continuing to dress in a conservative manner. Walking around, we did not see any tank tops, shorts, or leggings. Honestly most women, whether local or foreign, were still wearing the abaya. Some wore it open so you could see their outfits, but it definitely covered them. Most also wore some type of head covering like a scarf loosely covering their hair as well. I did not cover my hair and it was ok. Occasionally we saw some men running in shorts, but that’s it. Some cafes and restaurants even had dress codes posted saying no shorts, no tank tops, no pajamas.  

Knees, shoulders, and female hair can never be shown in a mosque so if you plan to visit one, bring appropriate items to cover. A scarf goes a long way! 

Religion 

The predominant religion is Islam. Islam was founded in Saudi Arabia by Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century. Therefore many Muslims make journeys to Saudi Arabia for different religious purposes. Two very holy sites/cities in Saudi Arabia are Mecca (Makkah) and Medina (Madinah). The religion also permeates daily life and culture so you will hear things like the call to prayer 5 times a day, you will see that shops will close as men go to pray at the mosques at specific times, and you will notice that food/drink like pork and alcohol are strictly prohibited. 

One thing to note is that Ramadan is observed yearly in Saudi Arabia. It’s a holy month that requires its observers to fast from sunrise to sunset. For visitors this means no eating or drinking in public. Yes that’s right, you cannot even drink water in public. All restaurants will be closed during the day and only opened for dinner. This makes traveling really hard during this time. We’d recommend to avoid traveling to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan if you can. We were there during Ramadan and our hotel provided breakfast to our room, but we were not allowed to eat in public. Also Ramadan changes each year. Since it’s based on the lunar calendar not the Gregorian calendar, it shifts a few weeks each year. Look it up before you book your trip. 

Speaking of calendars, the work week in Saudi Arabia is Sunday through Thursday with Friday and Saturday being the weekend. One thing to note is that Friday is a holy day which means almost everything is closed in the morning. Seriously, we tried to go to a grocery store but were turned away until after 1pm. Also most restaurants and cafes didn’t open until after 1pm on Friday so plan accordingly and lay low on Friday morning.

Muslims are called to journey to Saudi Arabia to observe the religious practice of Hajj and Umrah at the city of Mecca. Mecca is a holy city about an hour from Jeddah. As such, you will see many people starting their journey to Mecca in white towels, the standard dress for this practice. You can also see tour groups leading people on this pilgrimage. 

Food in Saudi Arabia 

One thing we’ve noticed in the Arab countries is that food, while very similar, has country specific differences. Here in Saudi Arabia, the most common dish you’ll find is the chicken and rice dish called kabsa. They have also pulled influences from all over the region to have hummus, baba ganoush, wrapped grape leaves, and of course Arabic coffee and dates.

Saudi also has most major restaurant brands/chains including The Cheesecake Factory, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Five Guys, Subway, Nandos, Starbucks, and Raising Cane’s Chicken. We prefer to eat local but just in case you were worried and needed to know if you can find comfort food, they got you covered!

If you want to try some local KSA brands of things, here are some recommendations. For coffee there is Brew 92 and 95 Celsius which both boast in their specialty coffee and it’s delicious. For burgers try: CB Century Burger. It has a limited menu but that’s how you know it’s good. The burgers are flavorful and fresh. Bonus points, they have a keto bun! Soft drinks: Kinza is a beverage company. We love their sparkling water and they have a line of soft drinks as well. You can find them in any convenience or grocery store. Dates: Saudi is world renowned for their dates. You will see them everywhere from markets to grocery stores to hotels and restaurants. We found most often they serve the golden plump and juicy ones that are insanely amazing. Make sure to try some with a cup of golden Arabic coffee! 

Where to Visit and What to Do in Saudi Arabia 

The two biggest cities are: Riyadh (the capital with a population of 6 million) and Jeddah (population 4 million). Both are modern big cities with so much to explore. If you look at a map, you can see that the country is vast with a lot of desert. The Empty Quarter desert is located on the southeast side of the country. You’ll notice that there are no roads over there as the orange sands of the desert are not hospitable to construction. You can also experience these incredible orange sands in Oman. 

Saudi Arabia continues to discover and build up tourism at amazing sites throughout the country. If you are looking for a desert experience, check out Al Ula where you can experience the architectural illusion of Maraya mirrors, or hike under the stars, explore some insane rock formations like Elephant Rock or Sharaan Nature Reserve or relax poolside at a resort or wellness retreat. It’s a nature paradise highlighting the beautiful desert landscape. 

If you are looking for sporting events, you are in luck with a wide variety of sports related action. Not only does Saudi boast an amazing Formula 1 (F1) racing track in Jeddah that hosts the F1 circuit, it also hosts other races like the E-Prix. Football/soccer fans are in for a treat as Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League so check out your favorite teams to see if they are playing a match while here. If you enjoy running, Jeddah hosts a marathon and AlUla a trail race for a fun change in scenery. If biking is your jam, the AlUla Tour, hosts some of the world’s top cyclists racing through AlUla’s picturesque yet demanding terrain over five days. UFC and LIV Golf also make stops in Riyadh! Finally, the Saudi Cup boasts itself as the richest horse race in the world attracting the best jockeys and thoroughbreds from around the globe for this two-day event.

If you are looking for concerts or desert raves, check out SoundStorm held each year in the desert outside of Riyadh. This is the country’s largest rave. To give a size comparison, last year they welcomed +700k visitors while the largest rave in Las Vegas only hosted 400k. So it’s quite a big deal in the area. Last year it had big name acts like Eminem, Linkin Park, A$AP Rocky, and David Guetta.

Overall, we’ve been really impressed with Saudi Arabia’s offerings as a country. There seems to be a lot of new things to do recently as they invest in their tourism and are making the country more accessible to more travelers. Our caution is to plan your trip during the ideal time to be outside like November through March so you can take advantage of all the country has to offer instead of being stuck inside!