Travel advisory · Saudi ArabiaGovernments advise against all travel to Saudi Arabia.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

King Fahd International Airport, Dammam · avoid all travel · Canada, France
King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
Asir province · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Italy
Jazan province · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Italy
Najran province · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Italy

Also named by one government: 10 km strip along the Yemen border (UK), 100 km strip along the Yemen border (France), 20 km strip along the northern border (Italy), 30 km strip along the Yemen border (Canada), Aramco administrative building, Dhahran (New Zealand), Aramco headquarters, Dammam (New Zealand), Aramco refinery, Riyadh (New Zealand), Border area to Hafar Al Batin and Khafji (Italy), King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah (France), Mecca (Italy), Yemen border (US)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Reconsider Travel	Oct 23, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Avoid non-essential travel	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Vor Reisen nach Saudi-Arabien wird gewarnt	Oct 29, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Do not travel to Saudi Arabia (military conflict, missile and drone strikes)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Rest of the territory: avoid unless imperative reason	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

A large building in the middle of a desert

Middle East

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia pairs the Rub' al Khali sand desert with Red Sea coral reefs, historic Diriyah and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Start with the essentials Where to stay Plan a trip to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a kingdom in West Asia, in the Middle East, that covers most of the Arabian Peninsula. Riyadh is the capital and largest city. Jeddah is the commercial and tourist center on the Red Sea and the main gateway to the two holy mosques, in Mecca and Medina. At about 2.15 million km², the country is the fifth-largest in Asia, with the Red Sea to the west and the Persian Gulf to the east.

Most of the country has a desert climate. Its scenery ranges from the Rub' al Khali, the world's largest continuous sand desert, to Red Sea coral reefs and mountains. The Emirate of Diriyah, founded in 1727, was the first Saudi state. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with average temperatures around 29 °C. Summer averages about 45 °C and can reach 54 °C. The trip suits travelers who want cities, desert and sea. Because the country is large, one or two regions make a more practical plan than trying to see it all.

Five things to know before Saudi Arabia

Check the travel advice, including near Yemen
The UK advises against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border and all but essential travel up to 80 km, including Abha. Canada says avoid non-essential travel; Houthi missiles and drones have targeted cities since 13 July. UK travel advice
Apply for the tourist eVisa before you fly
British citizens can get a tourist eVisa online or at an international airport, valid for a year with up to 90 days of stay, including basic health cover. Check your own passport on the official visa portal. Visas and entry
Fly between regions, not just drive
Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla are hundreds of kilometers apart. Domestic flights save full days; a fast train links Mecca, Jeddah and Medina, but non-Muslims may not enter Mecca. Getting around
Dress modestly and leave alcohol at home
Alcohol is illegal and may not be brought in. Visitors of any gender should cover shoulders and knees in public; women are not required to cover their hair.
Plan around Ramadan and Hajj season
During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public by day and expect changed hours. Around Hajj, flights to Jeddah and Medina fill and some routes are restricted; both dates move each year.

Saudi Arabia travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Riyadh

Metro, Diriyah and the Najd desert edge, in one city guide

Read the guide Jeddah

Al-Balad, the Corniche and the Red Sea coast

Read the guide Visas and entry

The tourist eVisa, visa on arrival and passport validity.

Read the guide Travel insurance

What the eVisa cover includes, and what it leaves out.

Read the guide Getting around

Domestic flights, the Haramain train and long desert drives.

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

Data plans for cities and remote desert roads.

Read the guide Money and costs

Cards almost everywhere, cash for rural stops.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Saudi Arabia

See all attractions in Saudi Arabia

Museum · JeddahAl Taybat International City Museum of Science and Information

Mosque · JeddahAl Shafee Mosque

a large building with two towers on top of it

Palace · RiyadhMasmak Fortress

Park · RiyadhWadi Namar WaterfallBring your own food and drink, since no restaurants are nearby.

Destinations in Saudi Arabia

a beach next to a city with tall buildings

CityJeddahExplore

The Kingdom Centre skyscraper against a warm orange sky in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

CityRiyadhExplore

Traditional mud brick architecture with a tall tower reflected in a ground puddle

CityAlUlaExplore

Where to stay in Saudi Arabia

Neighborhood first, hotel second.

All stay guides

RiyadhWhere to stay in Riyadh: downtown, financial district, Diriyah

a large white trailer parked in front of a building

JeddahWhere to stay in Jeddah: Al-Balad, Corniche or Art Promenade

Itineraries

ItineraryRiyadh in 2 days: National Museum, Metro and Diriyah at nightRiyadh in 2 days: the National Museum by Metro, then At-Turaif at Diriyah in the evening, with heat timing, conflicting hours to check and a backup plan.

ItineraryJeddah in 2 days: Al-Balad, the Corniche and heat timingJeddah in 2 days: Al-Balad's souqs and heritage houses, the Corniche and King Fahd's Fountain, heat timing and a backup plan for rain and security alerts.

When to go

Rainy days

Best

JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Mild, cool nights
FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Mild
MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Warm
AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low21°Hot
MayClear1 rainy dayHigh39°Low26°Very hot
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh42°Low29°Extreme heat
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh44°Low30°Hottest
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh43°Low30°Hottest
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh40°Low27°Extreme heat
OctoberClear0 rainy daysHigh35°Low22°Hot
NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Warm
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Mild

Average daily high and low in Riyadh, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Saudi ArabiaPut the places you like in Saudi Arabia on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Saudi Arabia

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 25°
Humidity: 18%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Saudi Arabia

11:06 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+3

Today34°21°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue33°21°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed33°20°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 33°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu31°21°0%Thursday: Clear. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri32°22°0%Friday: Clear. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat32°22°0%Saturday: Clear. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun32°21°0%Sunday: Clear. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 07:39 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.75 SAR

Amount

Converted to

SAR · Saudi Riyal

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Before you go to Saudi Arabia

eSIM for Saudi ArabiaCoverage beyond the citiesRead the guide Travel insuranceTop up the eVisa coverRead the guide Tourist eVisaApply before you flyRead the guide Cards and cashContactless is the normRead the guide

Rules for Saudi Arabia, checked

Do not bring alcohol into Saudi Arabia: importing it is illegal, and so is drinking or being drunk in public.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Read more British citizens can get a tourist eVisa (up to 90 days, valid a year), and the passport must be valid for six months from the day you arrive.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Read more

Saudi Arabia FAQ

Can tourists visit Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Saudi Arabia has issued tourist visas since 2019, and eligible passports can apply for the eVisa online. Mecca is closed to non-Muslims, and Medina's central area around the Prophet's Mosque is for Muslims only.

Do women need to wear an abaya in Saudi Arabia?

No. Women visitors are not required to wear an abaya or cover their hair, but modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is expected in public.

How many days do I need in Saudi Arabia?

A week covers Riyadh and Diriyah, AlUla and Jeddah's old town with two domestic flights. Add days for the Red Sea coast or the mountains.

Is it safe to drive in Saudi Arabia?

Main highways are good, but speeds are high and camels wander onto rural roads at night. Avoid driving after dark outside the cities.

When is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?

November to March, when Riyadh and AlUla are mild. Summer highs pass 40°C inland, and Jeddah is hot and humid most of the year.