Saudi Arabia Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
The complete Saudi Arabia travel guide - Saudi Arabia
holidays & Saudi Arabia flights.
Top destination guides for Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia Holidays
and Travel Overview
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia receives
hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, but few enter as
tourists. This conservative country connecting Africa and mainland
Asia contains the spiritual centre of the Islamic world, Mecca, and
the sacred city of Medina, so most of the visitors are pilgrims,
permitted on special religious visas. Others
come to this oil-rich nation on sponsored business trips, generally
finding little time or facility for leisure and pleasure. Saudi
Arabia is intent on keeping its traditions, culture and religious
heritage away from prying western eyes. Its cities, however, are
not backwaters but modern, bustling commercial centres, like the
Royal capital, Riyadh, offering excellent hotels and some
breathtaking sights, like the Al Faisaliah golden geodesic dome,
one of the tallest buildings in the region.
Amongst it all, the magic of Arabia shines through in the
souks (markets) where vendors tout everything from carpets to camel
milk. Rules and regulations make sightseeing difficult for
foreigners except on a few approved and expensive tours, but sites
like the ruins of 15th-century Dir'aiyah (the nation's first
capital) and trips to the world's largest camel market make for
interesting excursions. The preserved ancient city of Jeddah is
also listed as a 'tourist site', as is that city's seafront
corniche, a popular spot with the air of a British seaside resort
that draws the country's own domestic holidaymakers.
Occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula, and bordered by
no less than eight Middle-eastern states, many of them
conflict-ridden, Saudi Arabia manages its highly controlled
religious society alongside the onslaught of its progressive
oil-boom industry. The kingdom's strategic position both
geographically, culturally and spiritually at the centre of the
Arab world has made it an unsafe place for westerners, and those
who do visit are advised to plan well and be fully
informed.
Tourist Offices - The Supreme Commission for Tourism,
Riyadh: +966 (0)1 480 8855 or www.sct.gov.sa
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Entry Requirements
for Saudi Arabia Holidays & Saudi Arabia Travel
All visitors require a visa to enter Saudi
Arabia, and visas are only granted to those with sponsorship in the
country. Tourist visas are granted only to selected groups on a
limited basis. Everyone who enters the Kingdom should have a valid
passport with at least six months validity in addition to the
appropriate visa and a return ticket. Women entering the Kingdom
alone must be met by a sponsor or male relative and have confirmed
accommodation for the duration of their stay. Entry may be refused
to any visitor arriving in an intoxicated state, men wearing
shorts, women in tight clothing or with legs and arms exposed, and
to couples displaying affection in public. There are special
requirements for pilgrims undertaking the Haj or visiting holy
sites.
- For Australians -
Sponsored visa required.
- Sponsored visa required.
- Sponsored visa required.
- Sponsored visa required.
- Sponsored visa required.
Currency of Saudi Arabia
The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR), divided into
100 halala. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange
bureaux. Banking hours are generally Saturday to Wednesday from 8am
to 12pm and 4pm to 8pm. All major credit cards are accepted at
shops, hotels and restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Travellers cheques
are also accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes
in Saudi Arabia, so shopping is good value.
Saudi Arabia
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
Saudi Arabia has a good telephone network.
The country code is +966 and the outgoing international code 00,
followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa).
City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1 for Riyadh. Two mobile
telephone service providers operate GSM 900 networks and there are
Internet facilities in most cities. Email is accessible from hotels
and Internet cafes.
Saudi Arabia
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to Saudi Arabia do not have to pay
duty on 600 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g tobacco; or perfume or
cultured pearls for personal use. Duty is payable on cameras and
other electronic goods, and refunds on these are available if the
articles are re-exported within 90 days. Strictly prohibited are
food products and carbonated water, animals and birds and palm
trees or derivatives thereof. Other prohibited items include
alcohol, firearms, drugs, pork products and natural
pearls.
Saudi Arabia
Holidays - Tipping Information
Service charge is usually included in bills at
hotels. Elsewhere a tip of 10% can be offered for services
rendered. Taxi drivers can be given 10% of the
fare.
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