Saudi Arabia Travel Guide

Language

Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but English is widely understood.

Currency

The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR), divided into 100 halala. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange bureau. 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. Travelers checks are also accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes in Saudi Arabia, so shopping is good value.

3.7513

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

125 volts, 50Hz, but 215 volts, 60Hz in some (more remote) areas.

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. Mobile telephone service providers operate GSM 900 networks, and there are Internet facilities in most cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers 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.

Tourist Office

The Supreme Commission for Tourism, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 480 8855 or www.scta.gov.sa.

Embassies in Saudi Arabia

• United States Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 3800.
• British Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 0077.
• Canadian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2288.
• Australian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7788.
• South African Embassy, Riyadh: + 966 (0)1 422 9716.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Saudi Arabia Embassies Abroad

• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 342 3800.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7917 3000.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 237 4100.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6234 6900.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa +27 (0)12 362 4230.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 997 (Ambulance)

Language

Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but English is widely understood.

Currency

The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR), divided into 100 halala. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange bureau. 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. Travelers checks are also accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes in Saudi Arabia, so shopping is good value.

3.7513

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

125 volts, 50Hz, but 215 volts, 60Hz in some (more remote) areas.

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. Mobile telephone service providers operate GSM 900 networks, and there are Internet facilities in most cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers 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.

Tourist Office

The Supreme Commission for Tourism, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 480 8855 or www.scta.gov.sa.

Embassies in Saudi Arabia

• United States Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 3800.
• British Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 0077.
• Canadian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2288.
• Australian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7788.
• South African Embassy, Riyadh: + 966 (0)1 422 9716.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Saudi Arabia Embassies Abroad

• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 342 3800.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7917 3000.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 237 4100.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6234 6900.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa +27 (0)12 362 4230.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 997 (Ambulance)

Language

Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but English is widely understood.

Currency

The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR), divided into 100 halala. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange bureau. 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. Travelers checks are also accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes in Saudi Arabia, so shopping is good value.

3.7513

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

125 volts, 50Hz, but 215 volts, 60Hz in some (more remote) areas.

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. Mobile telephone service providers operate GSM 900 networks, and there are Internet facilities in most cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers 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.

Tourist Office

The Supreme Commission for Tourism, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 480 8855 or www.scta.gov.sa.

Embassies in Saudi Arabia

• United States Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 3800.
• British Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 0077.
• Canadian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2288.
• Australian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7788.
• South African Embassy, Riyadh: + 966 (0)1 422 9716.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Saudi Arabia Embassies Abroad

• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 342 3800.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7917 3000.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 237 4100.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6234 6900.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa +27 (0)12 362 4230.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 997 (Ambulance)

Language

Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but English is widely understood.

Currency

The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR), divided into 100 halala. Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange bureau. 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. Travelers checks are also accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes in Saudi Arabia, so shopping is good value.

3.7513

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

125 volts, 50Hz, but 215 volts, 60Hz in some (more remote) areas.

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. Mobile telephone service providers operate GSM 900 networks, and there are Internet facilities in most cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers 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.

Tourist Office

The Supreme Commission for Tourism, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 480 8855 or www.scta.gov.sa.

Embassies in Saudi Arabia

• United States Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 3800.
• British Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 0077.
• Canadian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2288.
• Australian Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7788.
• South African Embassy, Riyadh: + 966 (0)1 422 9716.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh: +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Saudi Arabia Embassies Abroad

• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 342 3800.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7917 3000.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 237 4100.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6234 6900.
• Saudi Arabian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa +27 (0)12 362 4230.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 997 (Ambulance)