Middle East and North Africa

Saudi Arabia

Still current at: 08 January 2009

Updated: 25 November 2008

Terrorism/Security

There is a high threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia. We continue to believe that terrorists are planning further attacks in Saudi Arabia, including against Westerners and places associated with Westerners.  We believe aviation interests and oil infrastructure remain a possible terrorist target.

The Saudi security forces are maintaining enhanced security measures and have succeeded in disrupting terrorist operations, killing and capturing many terrorists and seizing arms and vehicle bombs during 2005 and in the first half of 2006.  On 23 June 2006, police arrested one militant and killed a further six in a Riyadh suburb.

This success should not give rise to complacency: even though terrorist networks are disrupted we continue to believe that remaining terrorists may resort to opportunistic attacks on western targets.

Terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia have taken various forms.  At their height in 2003 and 2004 they included kidnapping, large scale truck bombings of residential compounds and Saudi government offices; an attack on the US Consulate in Jeddah; targeted shootings of individuals; small scale car bombings; parcel bombings and bombing of shopping areas.  Most recently on 24 February 2006, terrorists attacked an oil processing centre in Abqaiq, EasternProvince, detonating two car bombs, but were prevented from doing serious damage.  In a related operation three days later, the Saudi security forces raided a house in Riyadh, during which five terrorists were killed.

You should take all necessary steps to protect your safety and should make sure you have confidence in your individual security arrangements.  You should maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places.  You should take sensible precautions for your personal and vehicle safety.

British residents in Saudi Arabia are given specific guidance by our mission including through Wardens notices. 

You should follow news reports and be alert to regional developments.  Any increase in regional tension might affect travel advice.

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Political situation

Saudi Arabia Country Profile

Developments in Iraq and on the Middle East Peace Process continue to have an impact on local public opinion in the region.  You should be aware of local sensitivities on these issues.  You should follow local news reports and be alert to local and regional developments, which might trigger public disturbances.   You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings.

Pilgrimage

Saudi government regulations stipulate that British pilgrims performing Umrah and Hajj can only travel with UK travel agencies accredited with the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. You should confirm the full itinerary for your pilgrimage before departing the UK. If you find yourself in difficulties during your pilgrimage, you or your relatives should contact the British Consulate-General in Jeddah (tel: +966 2 622 5550/5557/5558).

In recent years, many pilgrims have been killed due to over crowding.  In 2006 over 400 pilgrims, including three British nationals, were killed in a stampede at the Hajj.

There has been an increase in the number of reported cases of pickpocketing and other forms of theft in Mecca, particularly in the region of the Grand Mosque and in Medina.  You should take additional care with travel documents, tickets and other valuables while visiting these two areas.  We also recommend that you should make a copy of your passport before you travel, and keep it in a safe place.

The Saudi authorities have issued instructions forbidding the taking of photographs (still or video, including mobile telephone photographs) at the Holy Mosque at Makkah or at the Prophet's Mosque at Medina.  This restriction also includes the courtyards surrounding these two holy sites.  Any violation of these instructions is likely to lead to the confiscation of either film and/or camera.

For more general information see Hajj Pilgrims.

Crime

The crime rate is low and is not usually a problem for travellers in Saudi Arabia.  However, petty crime does occur especially in crowded areas.  Occasionally, British nationals have been the victims of more serious crimes such as assault and robbery, the latest being a British national who was stabbed in Jubail, Eastern Province on 20 November 2006.  Four French nationals were shot dead in an incident in the vicinity of Medina on 26 February 2007.  You should exercise caution when travelling outside urban areas.

 

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

 

Local Travel

Sea Travel

Shipping serving the oil installations should be aware that oil infrastructure remains a possible terrorist target.  Shipping must ensure that their SSPs are fully and robustly implemented while operating in the area.  All ships are to maintain a high state of vigilance while in Saudi Arabian ports and report anything suspicious to the appropriate authorities.
 
There have been acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around the Red Sea.  Mariners should take appropriate precautions.

Many areas of the Gulf are highly sensitive, including near maritime boundaries and the islands of Abu Musa and the Tunbs in the southern Gulf.  Vessels entering these areas have been detained and inspected; and there have been occasional arrests.  Mariners should make careful enquiries before entering these waters or considering visiting ports.

 

On 30 March 2006, a Dhow capsized in Bahrain. There were 58 fatalities, including 12 British nationals. You should exercise care when travelling by Dhow, as the safety of these vessels may not be up to UK standards. You should also ensure that life jackets are available.

For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country in which Islamic law is strictly enforced.  You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see Travelling during Ramadan.

 

The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is not permitted; nor is an intention to convert others.

 

The Saudi authorities do accept the private practice of religions other than Islam, and you are allowed to bring a Bible into the country as long as it is for your personal use.  However, importing larger quantities can carry severe penalties as it will be viewed that it is your intention to convert others.

 

Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are also enforced rigorously.  You should respect them fully.

 

Homosexual behaviour and adultery are illegal and can carry the death penalty.

 

The penalties for the possession of, or trade in, alcohol are severe. Both result in prison sentences.  The punishment for importing drugs includes the death penalty. You should not arrive in Saudi Arabia under the influence of alcohol: the consequences could be serious.  You should carry with you a doctor’s prescription for any medication you have with you.  The importation of pork products is also forbidden.

 

The possession of pornographic material, or of illustrations of scantily dressed people, especially women, is prohibited.

 

The Saudi legal system differs in many ways from the UK.  Suspects can be held without charge and those detained have in the past not been allowed legal representation.  The Saudi authorities have detained witnesses and victims of crimes.  If you require consular assistance our staff will seek to visit you as soon as they are aware of the case.  However, in some instances they have not been permitted to do so immediately or have had limits applied to access once granted.  We have raised our concern about reports of mistreatment of some suspects during their detention.

 

Photography of government buildings, military installations and palaces is not allowed.  You should avoid photographing local people.

 

It is illegal for women to drive.

 

Anyone involved in a commercial dispute with a Saudi company or individual may be prevented from leaving the country pending resolution of the dispute.

 

Passports are often retained by sponsors or government bodies for official purposes.  You should carry a photocopy of your passport.  Make sure you have included in your passport details of those who should be contacted in an emergency.

 

It is illegal to hold two passports in Saudi Arabia: second passports will be confiscated by the immigration authorities if they are discovered.

 

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Visas

All visitors, including pilgrims, require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.  These should be applied for through visa agencies accredited to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. 

British residents in Saudi Arabia should remember that they require a valid exit/re-entry permit from the Saudi Ministry of Interior in order to leave the country.
 
On occasion, Saudi visas have been refused when passports have reflected travel to Israel or indicated an Israeli birthplace.
 
Passport validity

Passports must have a minimum validity of six months on arrival to allow the holder entry to Saudi Arabia.

Female travellers

Women visitors and residents are required to be met by their sponsor upon arrival.  Women travelling alone, who are not met by sponsors, have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on other flights.

Foreign women married to Saudi nationals require permission from their husbands for themselves and their children to leave Saudi Arabia.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country, or in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. 

Healthcare facilities in major cities in Saudi Arabia are of a high standard.  Outside these major cities most towns have a health centre or basic hospital.  Serious cases generally necessitate ambulance/air transfer to hospitals in a major city that might be some distance away.

There have been cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in south-west Saudi Arabia, mainly in the Jizan area.  There have also been cases of cerebral malaria but only in Jizan itself.  The outbreaks of cerebral malaria are local and do not affect Jeddah or any other areas of Saudi Arabia.  If you intend to visit the Jizan region should you seek medical advice on Rift Valley Fever and cerebral malaria before travelling.  There have been a number of isolated cases of dengue fever in Jeddah over the last year.  You should take sensible precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Particularly during Hajj and Ramadan, contagious diseases spread quickly, and pilgrims should take basic medicines with them and consume adequate liquids and salts.  Saudi government regulations set out that ACWY quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine is mandatory for people travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and Umrah.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

 

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Saudi Arabia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

 

For more general health information see Travel Health.

 

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

 

On 2 April 2007, the Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed that there have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the Wafra Al-Gamma in Al-Katief district, Eastern District (Ash Sharqiyah).  There have been no human infections or deaths reported.

 

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low.  As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

See Avian and Pandemic Flu for more details.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance for the whole duration of your proposed trip before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

 

Consular registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.