Organize your stay Saudi Arabia
Covid-19 : current situation Saudi Arabia
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Saudi Arabia. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information
Money Saudi Arabia
Currency. The Saudi currency is the Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR). The riyal is divided into 100 halalas. There are coins of 5, 10, 25 and 50 halalas and 1 and 2 riyals. The value of banknotes is 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 riyals. The 20 and 200 riyal bills are relatively rare. The exchange rate (December 2022) is :
1 € = 0.25 SAR
1 SAR = 0.25 €.
Payments. The Covid health crisis has made credit card payments widespread. Cabs, cafes, restaurants, hotels, entrance fees to sites, transport tickets, stores, you can pay everywhere by card, without contact. Saudis are surprised when we tell them that contactless payment is limited to 200 SAR. There is no such limit with a Saudi card. Only in some small local grocery stores or in the market you will have to pay with cash.
Banking and exchange. You can change money before departure or upon arrival. There are exchange offices in Riyadh and Jeddah airports. However, the rates are rarely to your advantage. Some hotels also have currency exchange facilities. Ask at the reception desk. But again, the rates are not very advantageous. In Riyadh and Jeddah, you will find currency exchange agents in town, often with better rates.
Credit card. Visa and MasterCard payments are possible everywhere in the country. ATMs at local banks also accept these cards widely. You will have no problem getting riyals; there are banks and ATMs in every city. Therefore, there is no need to take large amounts of cash with you, especially since life in the country is quite expensive. It is forbidden to enter the country with more than €10,000 in currency, without declaring it.
Money transfer. Due to a large foreign workforce, it is very easy to transfer money to and from Saudi Arabia. You can use the online services of Western Union. The major local money transfer company is Ejaz. You can find its services in banks in the country or in their dedicated offices.
Budget & Tips Saudi Arabia
Budget. The standard of living in Saudi Arabia is relatively comparable to that of France, with some notable exceptions. Gasoline is of course much cheaper. It costs 0.70 € per liter for unleaded. The price is fixed and the same throughout the country and at all gas stations. Food is significantly cheaper than in France. It is necessary to count 2 to 2,50 € SAR for a sandwich (shawarma, hamburger), 10 € for a meal in a correct restaurant, 25 € for a good meal. The price of hotels varies according to the destination. In Riyadh and Jeddah, the two major economic centers, you should expect to pay between €60 and €150 per night on average for a comfortable room. In medium-sized cities, you should expect to pay €40 for a good and cheap room, €60 to €80 for a comfortable hotel and €100 and more for a luxury hotel. AlUla, the luxury destination par excellence, is an exception. There are only a few offers for many requests. It is necessary to count 100 € for a room in the inhabitant's house, 200 € in a middle range resort and 800 € in a luxury resort. Trains, airplanes and buses make it easy to get around at reasonable prices. Car rental prices are the same as in Europe. On the other hand, the services of a car with driver or a guide for the day are extremely expensive. They do not hesitate to ask for 350 € to 400 € per day! Prices can rise sharply in winter, which is the festival season in cities like Riyadh or AlUla.
Small budget. With 50 to 90 € per person per day you will travel by bus from city to city, use Uber services in the cities, stay in hotel residences that are cheaper than hotels, eat cheaply in fast food restaurants and visit the main tourist sites. You can take one or two domestic flights to save time.
Average budget. With 100 to 150 € per person per day, you will rent a vehicle that will allow you more freedom and to visit tourist sites away from the city centers. You will have two meals a day in decent restaurants and stay in small hotels. You can take one or two domestic flights to save time.
Big budget. Between 200 and 500 € per day, you can choose between car rental and car with driver. You can use the services of a local travel agent for some desert excursions, such as the Yellow Lake in Al-Ahsa, the Wadi Disah in Tabouk, or a trip to the Rub' al-Khali desert. You will stay in the best establishments and can treat yourself to exceptional restaurants in the major cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. You can also use domestic airlines to save time and see more of the country.
Tipping. Tipping is common practice, but not mandatory. You'll never get a second thought if you don't leave one, but it is highly appreciated. Especially since waiters, drivers and baggage handlers are often immigrant workers who come to Saudi Arabia to send money to their families in the hope of improving their lot. Do not hesitate to leave 10 riyals or more when you are satisfied with the service. And the service is often impeccable!
Haggling. Bargaining is the order of the day in the souks. It is a social game, so there is no need to lose your temper. Traders are used to it and you will only earn a few riyals, a dozen at the most, unless the price of the item you want is high. The more expensive the item, the more you can earn on it. Don't start the bidding too low, or you'll insult the person you're bidding against.
Taxes. Consumer goods are subject to a 15% VAT. Taxes are always included in the price.
Passport and visas Saudi Arabia
Passport. All passports issued in France are now biometric. Your fingerprints are digitized in a chip inserted in the cover of the passport. To obtain a passport or its renewal, you must make an appointment at the town hall and complete a pre-application for a passport on www.ants.gouv.fr. You must also pay a tax stamp of 86 € for an adult (17 € for children under 15 and 42 € for teenagers between 15 and 17). The tax stamp can be obtained online at www.timbres.impots.gouv.fr. On the day of the appointment at the town hall, you must bring your old passport, a proof of address less than one year old, a passport photo taken less than 6 months ago and meeting specific requirements (light background, hair down, no glasses, etc.), the pre-application number and the tax stamp reference. Please note that it can take several months to obtain an appointment at the town hall and to deliver the document. It is essential to anticipate your application in advance.
The passport is valid for 10 years (5 years for children). It can be renewed free of charge if all the pages have been filled in.
Remember to photocopy and scan your travel documents before departure. Give a copy to a trusted person who can intervene on your behalf if necessary. If your passport is lost or stolen, the process will be simplified if you can provide complete information to the consular authorities. You can also keep a copy on the website www.mon.service-public.fr. Simply create a free account and scan all your identification and other important documents into your confidential space.
Visa. A visa is required to travel to Saudi Arabia. If you hold a European passport, you can apply for a tourist e-visa online at https://visa.visitsaudi.com. You will have to fill out an online form and upload a passport photo. You must also subscribe to a mandatory health insurance. Payment is made once the form is correctly completed. You will receive your e-visa information in your mailbox. You will have to present it to the immigration services upon arrival. The visa + health insurance costs approximately 100 €. The visa is issued for a period of 1 year, with multiple entries. Each stay must not exceed 90 days.
With a European passport, you can also apply for a visa on arrival. Just follow the signs "Visa on Arrival". A person will welcome you and help you with the application process, which must be completed at the computer terminals. The process is quick and easy. We were the only ones in line when we came for the guide.
For any information on obtaining a Saudi visa, you can refer to the page https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations.
Please note that if you are going to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, you must apply for a specific visa. The free visa is obtained from the consulate of your country of residence. Until 2022, it was mandatory to go through a travel agency approved by the Ministry of Hajj. Only the agency was authorized to apply for the visa. The Saudi government has changed the procedures for entering the Hajj in 2022. It is now necessary to register on the www.motawif.com.sa platform one month before the start of the pilgrimage. If you are selected, you will receive an email informing you. You will then have a few days to pay the pilgrimage fees on the Motawif platform and your specific eVisa will be sent to you. This system has allowed Saudi Arabia to bypass the approved agencies in different countries around the world, much to their dismay. No official information has yet been released regarding the registration process for the Hajj 2023.
Driver's license Saudi Arabia
It is recommended that you have an international driver's license in addition to your French driver's license, if you plan to rent and drive a vehicle in Saudi Arabia. Road controls exist and it is not sure that the Saudi police will be satisfied with a French driving license.
The application for an international driver's license is free and can be made on https://permisdeconduire.ants.gouv.fr. You will have to upload a proof of identity, a copy of your driving license, a passport photo, a proof of residence of less than 6 months and a stamped 50g envelope for the return. The international driving license is valid for 5 years. It can take between 2 and 6 months to obtain the license.
Health Saudi Arabia
There are no specific recommendations regarding health risks in Saudi Arabia. The main diseases circulating in the country are the same as in Europe. A preventive treatment against malaria can nevertheless be considered if you go for several days or weeks to the border with Yemen. Cases have been reported. However, due to the war in Yemen, it is not recommended to go near the border.
The tap water is drinkable, but highly treated. Saudis themselves prefer to drink bottled water. It is not recommended to drink well water.
Mandatory vaccination Saudi Arabia
Make sure your vaccination record is up to date before your trip. As a reminder, the mandatory vaccines are for chickenpox, DTP, measles and polio. It is recommended to be up to date with your Covid-19 vaccination schedule, but it is not mandatory to enter the country (at the time of writing, December 2022). Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are also recommended. Meningococcal B vaccine is required for anyone participating in Hajj or Umrah. Yellow fever vaccine is mandatory if you are coming from an infected area.
Rabies has been eradicated in Saudi Arabia. The risk is very low and only exists in case of a bite by a wild animal.
Security Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is an extremely safe country and you will never feel unsafe. However, due to Saudi Arabia's intervention in the civil war in Yemen, the area near the border is not recommended. Saudi Arabia itself advises against travel to the area. The situation is stable most of the time, but drone attacks from Yemen have occurred in the past. You can obtain travel safety information at www.diplomatie.gouv.fr.
Drugs and alcohol. The use of drugs or the possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. If drugs are available on the black market, you are strongly advised against seeking them out. You risk a prison sentence of 2 to 10 years and whipping.
Women traveling alone. There is no risk or danger in traveling alone in Saudi Arabia. However, you will sometimes be stared at, as few women travel alone. Saudi women have only been allowed to drive since 2017 and the changes in Saudi society regarding the status of women are not yet universally accepted. Wearing a veil or abaya is not mandatory. You are required to wear modest attire, i.e. arms covered up to the elbows, no cleavage and legs covered below the knees. This means that bathing suits are not allowed on public beaches. Leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt will do. However, you can wear a one-piece bathing suit at luxury resorts or some hotels that have women-only pools or with women-only hours.
LGBTQ+ travelers. Homosexuality is forbidden in Saudi Arabia and considered a Western stigma. If you are traveling as a couple, you can book a shared room. However, do not ask for a double bed if you have twin beds, and never make public displays of your relationship. Do not show off in public. This also applies to heterosexual couples.
Time difference Saudi Arabia
There is a 2 hour time difference between France and Saudi Arabia. It is 2pm in Riyadh, when it is noon in Paris. The time difference is reduced by one hour during summer time, between the end of March and the end of October. Saudi Arabia is on a single time zone.
Spoken languages Saudi Arabia
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. English is commonly used, especially with the foreign workforce, in the business community and in tourism. French-speaking guides are rare in the country.
Communication Saudi Arabia
Wifi is present in all hotels, most restaurants and cafes. The network is generally good or even excellent. It is the same for the cell phone network. On the other hand, network losses are frequent in the desert, in the middle of nowhere. Remember to download your maps if you are traveling by car and relying on your GPS.
Electricity and measurements Saudi Arabia
Electricity. The voltage is 230 V in Saudi Arabia and the plugs are English, with three rectangular pins. Bring an adapter to recharge your electronic equipment. You can also buy a charger on the spot, for about 10 euros.
Weights and measures. Saudi Arabia has adopted the metric system. Distances are given in kilometers and weights in kilograms. The abbreviation "kilo" is used for kilometers.
Luggage Saudi Arabia
The extremely hot and dry climate requires an appropriate wardrobe. Opt for loose-fitting, covering clothing that will protect you from the sun and allow air to circulate. Choose natural materials such as linen, cotton or silk. A hat and sunglasses are also essential. The high temperatures (46°C in Riyadh in September) can be enough to make you uncomfortable. A high protection sun cream is necessary for the face, especially if you plan to hike.
In winter, if it is still warm compared to France, the nights are cool. In the desert, it can be very cold as soon as the sun goes down. A down jacket is essential if you are going to the Asir or the Rub' Al Khali desert. Elsewhere, you will appreciate the warmth of a good fleece with a light down jacket.
A good pair of walking shoes is essential for the difficult terrain. Many deserts are rocky and sandals or small tennis shoes are not suitable.
A scarf is always useful to protect you from the wind in case of a sandstorm, hair in a holy city for women, neck under the air conditioning pushed to the limit in trains, cabs and stores.
