Middle East and North Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There have been clashes with Saudi forces and Yemeni rebels on the Saudi-Yemen border in early November. This comes on the back of the renewed fighting in Northern Yemen between rebels and the Government of Yemen since August 2009. There is a continued risk of clashes. We advise against all but essential travel to areas close to the Saudi-Yemen border in the Jizan, Asir and Najran provinces. Please contact the British Embassy in Riyadh before travelling to these areas. Travellers should exercise caution in all areas close to the Saudi-Yemen border. Please check this advice for further updates. 
  
  
• Please note that until Eid, all Muslim visitors travelling to Jeddah and Medina will need to have a valid Hajj visa.  Non-Muslim visitors travelling to these destinations may be asked to explain the purpose of your trip or asked to show evidence of appointments before being allowed to board a flight to Jeddah if you are not travelling for the Hajj.  Any Muslim visitor arriving in Jeddah or Medina without a valid Hajj visa will be refused entry.  This requirement does not apply to other airports or British residents in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
• This year the Saudi authorities have introduced new entry requirements for Hajj pilgrims.  If you intend to travel to the Hajj, please see our Hajj-specific advice.
  
  
• There is a continuing high threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia.  We continue to believe that terrorists are planning further attacks, including against Westerners and places associated with Westerners in Saudi Arabia.  We believe aviation interests and oil infrastructure remain possible terrorist targets.  On 27 August there was an unsuccessful suicide bomb attack against a Saudi Government Minister in Jeddah. Two terrorists were killed, one arrested, and one policeman killed, in an incident at a checkpoint in Jazan on 13 October 2009.  The incident took place about 110km north of the Saudi-Yemeni border. The clashes in early November between Saudi Forces and Yemeni rebels took place close to the Saudi-Yemen border, several hundred kilometres from the pilgrimage sites and should not affect travel plans for the Hajj.
  
  
• There are confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) – Swine Flu in Saudi Arabia, including deaths (source: Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health).  All passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia will be screened and subject toa temperature check. If you have an elevated temperature you may be tested for H1N1. If tested you will have to wait in the airport for the results and may be subject to lengthy delays. Passengers with negative results will be released. Passengers who test positive will be quarantined at a local hospital  There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk.
  
  
• 52 British nationals required consular assistance in Saudi Arabia in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (31 cases); hospitalisations (5 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (8 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (58 cases). A significant proportion of requests for consular assistance were received from pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah, in particular in relation to disputes and dissatisfaction with tour operators. See the Pilgrimage section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Saudi Arabian Customs officials have authority to screen all electronic devices ( laptops, mobile phones, PDAs etc ) entering or leaving Saudi Arabia.  If requested, all passengers will be submitted to a thorough verification and inspection at international airports.  Anyone found to be carrying pirated or explicit materials will have their equipment confiscated.  Refusal to comply with this rule will result in detention and/or deportation.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.   See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.