Saudi Arabia

Even today, despite the extraordinary variety and the unique beauty of its landscapes, the stereotype of vast monotonous extend of sand remains the only image that comes to mind when speaking about Saudi Arabia. But be sure that to the curious-minded people willing to see over the stereotypes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reveals its hidden treasures. And they are plenty. Indeed, nobody will be surprised that Saudi Arabia hosts the largest sand dunes desert in the world, the mythical Rub' Al-Khali.

On the west of this immense desert stand the high plateaus of Aseer and Al-Bahah that reach 3000 meters of altitude and overlook the coastal plain of the Tihamah from the top of of vertiginous cliffs. There are Green hills and terraces in Aseer's countryside north of Abha. There are the impressive cliffs of the Sarawat mountains close to the village of Mohayil that carry countless of thousands-of-years old carvings including inscriptions using ancient scripts that have disappeared for more than a millennia.

Along those mountains that run through the whole country from the Yemen until Jordan are hundreds of volcanoes including rare white-color craters such as Wa'abah crater. Along the western shore of Saudi Arabia lay hundreds of kilometers of coral reefs displaying their flashy tones through the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia has dozens of kilometers of pristine beaches along such as the coral archipelago of Farasan populated by countless birds.

The Nabataean people who built Petra in today's Jordan had their second most important city, Hegra, in today's Saudi Arabia. The Nabatean tombs in the ancient site of Hegra (Maddain Saleh) was the first site of Saudi Arabia listed as UNESCO World Heritage

The iconic sandstone formations of the famous Jordanian desert of Wadi Rum spread 200 kilometers south of the border with Saudi Arabia where it is named Jibal Hisma. Some rock art of the northwest of the country which is over 10 000 years old depict a time when today's arid deserts were green savannas.

Saudi Arabia welcomes visitors from around the world to discover its blend of culture and history and experience the inherent hospitality of its people. Arabian values are rooted in universally shared principles, and generosity is an integral part of the DNA.  The Arabian spirit is contagious; mixing with Saudis, you will soon find that mirroring local behaviour is encouraged and taken as a gesture of appreciation and heart openness.


Dress code is dependent on individual establishments, some casual, others keen on sophistication.  Places of worship specifically do require you to dress modestly while visiting. As you roam around, you will organically get a sense of what works best.

Bad language, loud behavior, and encroaching on other people’s boundaries are considered disrespectful. Respectful public decorum is always advised. Using polite words in Arabic (e.g., Ahlan for Hi, Shokran for Thanks) is encouraged and viewed as a gesture of endearment.

Certain shops close briefly during prayer times to allow time for worship. During the holy month of Ramadan, the rhythm of the country changes into a mellow, spiritual one that allows savoring the revered month. Learn more about how to participate in Ramadan while in Saudi, whether you are visiting Jeddah or Riyadh.

The sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol and drugs is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Riyal is the name given to the official currency of Saudi Arabia. The Riyal has been the currency for the country since before the name Saudi Arabia existed. The Riyal was also used as the currency for The Kingdom of Hejaz from 1916-1925. The Riyal is currently pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of 1 USD = 3.75 SR.

The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic which is used in business and other communication purposes. English is also widely spoken and is taught as a compulsory second language in schools. Though Arabic is the language spoken by a majority of the people, there are other minority languages spoken mainly by expatriates.

Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia, and the mother tongue for most of Saudi’s natives. The classical version of Arabic is hardly used in regular conversations and is mainly found in the Quran and other classical works, poetry, and is used by religious scholars. Classical Arabian is considered an exclusive written language rather than a spoken one. Modern Standard Arabic is the most widely spoken version which is used in media, schools as a second foreign language, and published works. In Saudi Arabia, there are three standard dialects of spoken Arabic including Najdi Arabic, Hejazi, and Gulf or Khaliji Arabic.

Najdi Arabic is used as the first language in the central region of Saudi Arabia with a total of about 8 million speakers. Najdi has four major sub-dialects, which include Northern Najdi, Central Najdi, Southern Najdi, and Badawi Najdi. Northern Najdi is spoken in Qaseem, Jabal Shamaar, and Zufi regions in Saudi Najd. Central Najdi is an urban dialect spoken in Saudi Arabia’s capital. Southern Najdi is spoken in south-central Saudi in the city of Kharj and towns and villages surrounding it. Badawi Najdi is spoken by the nomadic people of Najd region of Saudi.

Hejazi or Western Arabian Arabic is spoken predominantly in the western region of Saudi Arabia by approximately 8 million of the population. Hejazi is in two main dialects; the rural dialect spoken by the rural Bedouin population and the urban dialect mainly spoken in Mecca, Yanbu, Jeddah, and Medina cities of Saudi.

Gulf Arabic or Khaliji Arabic is spoken along the shores of the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. The dialect is similar to the other Gulf Arabic dialects in other countries except for a few differences.

Saudi Arabia has a large foreign population attracted by the lucrative oil business. The foreigners speak their native languages making up part of the languages spoken in the country. Some of the common languages in this category include:

All visitors, including pilgrims, need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.

You can apply for a tourist visa online or on arrival at any of Saudi Arabia’s international airports. Muslim tourists may perform Umrah on a tourist visa, but a separate visa is needed for Hajj. See separate guidance in the Pilgrimage section

Tourist visas are valid for 360 days from the date of issue and can be used for visits of up to 90 days, and for a total of no more than 180 days in a single year. A daily fine will be levied if you overstay your visa.

If you’re travelling for any other purpose, you should apply for a visa through visa agencies accredited to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. If you overstay your visa you will be fined and deported.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia.