Yeah, Saudi is expensive indeed, but there are ways to get around. The country is full of wonder, with five pristine UNESCO heritage sights, Red Sea beach resorts, and futuristic cities like Riyadh. Right before visiting Saudi Arabia, I was traveling in Oman, so my initial idea was to overland via UAE. Recently, women are able to drive, cafes can have live performances in the form of bands or theatre. Saudi Arabia is changing at a rapid pace these days. This means that some websites might be blocked and inaccessible for regular internet users. You don’t mention it in visa info section and couldn’t find it online. i mean, i am not against any family, nor I am talking about near past history, yet Saudi people really love others, they also deserve rightly representations one day. Thank you for the tips. Saudi is up for big change. This guide contains all the practical information. The U.S. Embassy can intercede to request permission for an adult American woman married to or daughter of a Saudi to leave, but there is no guarantee of success. Hola, There are still no tourist visas available for non-religious travel. These small earnings help me to improve and create more content for Against the Compass. In the West status is earned through achievement, however in the Arab world status is determined by class. In the beginning I hated it. Hi Joan! Do not be fooled by the work of countless foreign consulting firms. Even though the country is quite strict, it is very easy to adhere to the dress code as a foreigner in Saudi Arabia. Not being free to choose whether wether shorts or not is dictatorial, Joan, thanks for being polite in your reply. Right before visiting Saudi Arabia, I was traveling in Oman, so my initial idea was to overland via UAE. We’ll just have to respectfully disagree. A woman traveling with a man who is not her husband, sponsor or a male relative can be arrested. The border between Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait should be open to anyone with a valid visa. The system still has a few bugs and I was not able to apply, but they just launched a few days ago, so we will have to wait. In fact, this is the most religious Muslim country in the world. I’d wanted to visit Saudi Arabia after watching Wadjda (one of the best travel movies I’ve seen), the first movie produced by a female Saudi Arabian filmmaker. really love all your posts man. Same with Al Ula. Thanks for the polite exchange and the fun read on Saudi Arabia. Is it ethical to visit Saudi as a tourist? And second of all, don’t trust the judgment from someone who has traveled to Saudi Arabia for business because he hasn’t seen much beyond the office, the fancy restaurant, and the hotel. In their eyes, Wahabism is a few steps ahead than Salafism when it comes to conservatism, meaning that it is really extreme, a term usually used to designate Islamic terrorists. Hola Lara, si es una pregunta sobre viajar a Arabia Saudita, mejor si lo preguntas aquí mismo, en comentarios. If you are self-driving for long distances, most small towns you pass by will also have budget apartment-hotels which are always clean, at least in my experience. Yo estoy ahora por aquí y se niegan a servirmela porque dicen que necesitan mi huella dactilar, la cual no figura en el pasaporte. I mean, you should always be aware of your belongings but pickpocketing or being robbed is quite unheard of. Hi Nayef, I delete all links posted because many of them end up being 404, which is not good for my SEO. I respectfully disagree. From the Yemeni food-like dishes from the south to the olive oil-rich food from the north of the country, Levantine Arabic dishes such as vine leaves and makluba, foul and hummus for breakfast and, of course, the classic Gulf food that includes all sorts of rice with meat, the cuisine of Saudi Arabia also shows the cultural richness of the country. Whereas Salafists are really, really conservative in nature, it is more socially accepted. Women are separated from men from the moment they arrive, queueing in a separate – and usefully much shorter – line for passport control. Seriously, stay away from drugs – Drugs may lead to death sentence, so don’t play with them. Required fields are marked *. With this visa, you can travel in Saudi Arabia for 90 days. Nada wrote an article about this topic on my site, so if you want to know more, read: 9 misconceptions about traveling to Saudi Arabia as a woman. And here you can find all my articles and guides to the Middle East. In a country where cinemas are banned and women cannot drive or vote, writer- director Haifaa Al Mansour has broke many barriers with her film. Hitchhiking to get out of Riyadh was tough but then it was so easy. These are the prices of the most typical things: Something you need to know: Saudi Arabia is the least walking-friendly place I have ever been to. Women don’t need to wear hijab – You don’t need to cover your head but, like I just said, you must cover your body with an abaya. Saudi Arabia is a wealthy country with a well-developed infrastructure. Positive and negative. Thank you so much for this! That being said, here is what you need to know regarding moving around the Kingdom: Public transportation in Saudi cities is awful and, except in some parts of Jeddah, you must drive with your own car or by taxi. Juan.. Greetings. Since tourism only opened on September 27, 2019 and I was visiting in mid-October 2019, there was a limited amount of information on the internet about the do’s and don’t’s as well as what to wear. Travel to Saudi Arabia is about to become much easier with the introduction of the online Saudi Arabia visa.. Thanks to Joan for an otherwise fun, informative article. By the way, most rental companies won’t rent you a car if you don’t have an international driving license, so remember to convert it before leaving your country. For business visas contact, better contact your embassy. Good news: e-visa for Saudi Arabia is finally available. My question is, can we sleep on a hotel together? I hitchhiked from Riyadh to Jizan. For example, Jeddah to Jizan via Abha is around 900km and if you want to go to Al-Ula, then you have to go back to Jeddah and Al-Ula is another 670km (one way). Do you like extreme destinations? Visiting Saudi Arabia also made me aware of my gender in a way I am utterly unaccustomed to. Thanks! For the first time in its history, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that will be opening its doors for tourism by issuing an electronic visa for visitors coming from 49 countries. Honestly, the experience was no different from the blessings of hospitality in Pakistan, Oman or Iran, no kidding. Women are in jail being sexually abused. The reason they wear it is that, according to their interpretation of the Quran, women can’t show their face to any man who isn’t their dad, uncles, grandfathers, sons, and husband, of course. thanks. Like I said before, in the last couple of years, the laws of Saudi Arabia have become more flexible. Falconry is also a very big deal in Saudi – Travel Guide to Saud Arabia. i need answer to make some business decisions. Jeddah, definitely, and then Riyadh, where you can do a a few day trips t natorual places nearby. At first, some women may find the thought of moving to Saudi Arabia daunting. Overcoming culture shock as a woman in Saudi Arabia. You may need to update the part of the post about men wearing shorts, because that’s now illegal in public (unless you’re at a pool or a gym) pursuant to a new public decency law and you could get fined for it. Living in large company-sponsored compounds can make life much easier and more enjoyable for expat women than staying in an individual apartment or villa. Please come on, don’t compare wearing shorts with bullying people online. From a crime perspective, Saudi Arabia is just another very safe place to visit in the Middle East. I had some really good experiences but, at the same time, I had not so good experiences. However, since Saudi is known for being an extremely patriarchal country, I received more questions than I had ever received before, some of them asking about safety, while others if it was even possible to go travel to Saudi Arabia as a woman alone. Saudi Arabia was unified in 1932. Saudi Arabia has a different culture than the Western world and it sounds like they’ve been changing a lot of their rules to make it more liberal lately. Saudi Arabia (officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or KSA) is a Middle Eastern country that occupies most of the Arabian peninsula and has coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. thanks, Hi Malik, this is a tourism-related blog. Very different Western cultural responses to the question of permissible freedom. They were as hospitable as any Muslim man I had met before and the only difference is that I didn’t see their faces. Though basically i belonged to Pakistan, yet I love your enlightened posts about Saudia. Don’t travel to Saudi during the holy month of Ramadan – During Ramadan, the law is really extreme in Saudi, so all business will be closed during day time. Cheers. Seriously, after all my years of travels, I can now confirm that Saudi people are the most insane people on wheels. So yeah, the idea of having international visitors who are not expats or workers is still a concept they aren’t familiar with. And it is going to be a positive change. Most Saudis follow a branch of Islam named Wahhabism, which is characterized for having the most conservative interpretation of Islam and the law of Saudi Arabia strictly follows it. Now, with the tourism boom that the country will suffer, let’s see how it goes, In the past for sure (even though they were be kind of flexible with resident expats). My point is that this topic is way more complicated than we think and, as tourists, we shouldn’t be talking or trying to change it because you are traveling to Saudi Arabia to learn about their culture and visit beautiful places. You can also move by bus between cities. Either way, I’d hate for a would-be tourist to read your post and think it’s all right to wear shorts only to go there and get fined the equivalent of $1,500. I am planning a trip to Delhi and I found many well-priced tickets with a loooong layover in either Jeddah or Riyadh. It was an enriching experience. I strongly recommend World Nomads for the following reasons: CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM WORLD NOMADS, If you want to know more options, read how to find the best backpacking insurance. The Saudi eVisa allows eligible citizens to obtain a tourist visa for Saudi Arabia exclusively online, eliminating the need to apply for a visa from a Saudi embassy or consulate.. Religious police are known as Mutawwa. Any public display of affection is considered offensive. I would love to travel to KSA and this makes it so much simpler. if y'all have any questions I am more than happy to answer them. In many areas, particularly the capital, Riyadh, women are pressured to wear a full-length black covering called an abaya and to cover their heads. Question for you – If you had only 4-5 days to spend in Saudi, where would you go? Women visiting Saudi Arabia should cover their shoulders and knees in public. Female tourists in Saudi Arabia no longer need to wear an abaya. How can a Nigeria woman who went to Saudi Arabia to work for just five months … There, we met with one of his friends, we had lunch at his house and then we visited his camel farm. I have been living in this country for well over 10 years and I can attest with certainty that this is one of the most family friendly countries in the world. Travelers should be aware of the following Saudi Arabia rules for women in order to avoid getting into trouble: Everything in moderation and the laid back lifestyle will have you a lot of time to contemplate what really matters to you. Whereas I fully understand their point, I think that their argument is quite simplistic and it just lets you see one tiny side of the whole picture. Mobily is the most popular one but they asked me to buy 10GB, at least, which was around 150SR (40USD). Mann is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and English. Saudi Arabia is opening up more to tourists. By the way, traditionally, Saudis eat on the floor and use their right hand to eat. Hey Todd, are you asking whether wearing tattoos are illegal or not in KSA? Mada'in Saleh. The country is quiet, slow paced, and friendly. Jean Mann has been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. Me pregunto como la obtuviste. He leído que obtuviste una sim Card en KSA. I ask the Embassy of Saudi arabia here in Addis Ababa but the Answer is No They say to me if you have family only you can visit they say to me. Don’t say you are an atheist – Even if you were, say you are a Christian or any major religion in your home country. The news came as Saudi Arabia announced new tourism visas for the Kingdom. Please note that I am not trying to justify the use of the niqab but I just wanted you to know that many Saudi women actually choose to wear it. Men and women who aren’t family related can hang out together, in public – Some years ago, you couldn’t go to a restaurant or a café with a friend from the opposite sex but now you can do it normally, like in any other country. How many days you need, maybe 3 days in Jeddah, 3 days Abha & Jizan, 2 days in Al Ula + traveling time. Travellinandi from Sudan and Iraq. Ibrahim comes from a very traditional Saudi family (his father was actually a famous Imam from the region) but he married a Filipina girl, something quite unheard of from Saudis with a similar background. 24. The populace of 28 million adheres to the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islamic law, so cultural presentations, for example, must conform to a narrowly defined standard of ethics. If you are a man, don’t try to shake hands and keep a reasonable distance with them but you can talk to them freely and you will see that they are as lovely women like any other. Moreover, many Saudis are crazy drivers, more than in any other country I have been to. Neighboring countries include Jordan to the northwest, Iraq and Kuwait to the northeast, Bahrain and Qatar to the east, the United Arab Emirates to the southeast, and Oman and Yemen to the south. Note – Saudis prefer to be called Salafis, instead of Wahabis. You could book your tickets through the website sharek.sa and, immediately after purchasing them, they would issue a legit and valid e-visa to travel to Saudi Arabia. In total, it was 1,035SR (275USD). The Saudi Rial is the official currency and: Euros, United States dollars or British Pounds are widely accepted. The easiest way to travel to Saudi Arabia is by flying in. Women in Saudi often wear open shoes while others are more comfortable in a set of trainers. I shared many short moments with so many locals but there were two Saudis in particular who really changed the perspective of my trip. Thanks in advance. Until recently, women visiting Saudi Arabia were expected to wear an abaya (an ankle length robe) and hijab (a headscarf). All that says is that a majority of people in a culture feel some way. In December 2018, the only way of traveling to Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa was by purchasing a ticket for a Formula-E event that would take place in Riyadh. Here's what to look out for. Saudi Arabia is a common travel destination, particularly for those on a religious pilgrimage. If so, can you go in from one country and then out to another country? If you don’t comply with these requirements, you may face penalties. For centuries, Muslims from all over the world came to Saudi on their journey to Mecca and, at some point, decided to settle there. Same dress code applies inside the airport or covering my head would suffice? More information is available at: Public decorum. If you have a larger budget, all cities are filled with good accommodation options, especially in Jeddah and Riyadh, where you can find the most luxurious hotels. We had dinner, stayed at his friend’s house and showed me around on the day after. What is the Style of Dress in Chad, Africa? www.5kitahaber.com. Every government forces citizens to do many things. In October 2019, Saudi Arabia modified its policy for the tourists, and announced that it will allow foreign men and women to share hotel rooms without proving they are related. First, I met Abdullah, an English teacher from Kharj. They also cover their heads with the ghutrah, which can be of different colors but red & white seems to be the most commonly used. I have the utmost respect for the culture and faith of Muslim people. Cheers man! I would happily wear a thawb or kandoora but I hope it would not be seen as mockery. Read: How to travel to Syria. Industry-wise, the sole company that employs female engineers is Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world. Questions about visiting Saudi Arabia alone as a white American woman Hi all, so I understand that Saudi Arabia has recently opened up its borders to foreign tourists, so I'm planning on visiting at some point in the near future. I’m assuming that I’d be expected to be covered while there? While some reports argue that females in Saudi Arabia are oppressed, others argue that the situation isn’t nearly so dire and that, in fact, women have considerable freedom. This incredibly big change, however, didn’t come alone. However, going backwards refers to the fact that they force you wearing certain clothes. It is best to study Saudi customs and appropriate behavior before beginning your trip. when in Saudi, women definately need to be covered up, it's nothing like Dubai in case you're wondering a few western women I've spoken to and who have had to do this whilst visiting Saudi have said that they found the experience of covering up to be very empowering, they felt they were longer the object of male attention (especially if they wore the face veil) Heavily segregated by gender and (in)famous for its restrictions on women’s freedoms and rights, the country is not the easiest place to be a woman, let alone travel as one! Did you check my itinerary? On this particular issue they are going backwards unfortunately. I’ve worn a kandoora when visiting mosques. In the US, the cultural perception of freedom of speech takes priority over the documented harms of verbal (and online) bullying. I was one of the first Americans to visit under the Electronic Visa program, and as a woman traveling alone, I was curious but also cautious about visiting this country. Prior to visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I had a lot of questions about what it would be like to visit as a woman. You should appreciate that no Muslim would refer to themselves as a Wahabi as it is an insulting term, albeit deserving for some more extreme believers. Asking people to cover up is not harming anyone, it is just asking that people remain respectful of their culture and the prevailing religion there. That means a loose fitting cloth that covers the shoulders and doesn’t show too much flesh. Prior to visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I had a lot of questions about what it would be like to visit as a woman. Because there are fewer than 100,000 Westerners thought to be living in Saudi Arabia, most Western women who travel there have been sponsored by their workplace for a specific period of time. Visiting Saudi Arabia as a tourist. Weekend falls on Friday and Saturday – This is not different than many Muslim countries. I love the way you describe everything to know before going to saudi arabia. Don’t forget to read my 2-week itinerary in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a very religious country proud of its traditions. Following the relaxation of the religious laws, women are no longer required to wear the abaya and hijab, they are however expected to wear decently in public. If you aren’t self-driving, I recommend you download Uber or Careem, so you won’t have to deal with negotiating a price with a taxi. From endless coffee and meal invitations to random people who insisted on showing me around the city, I seriously met some incredible locals, some of whom I can call now friends. There is a large Shia population, as well. Sure, Saudi is an extremely patriarchal country, so this kind of reaction is perfectly understandable. Not walking friendly at all, meaning that once you reach the city, you will have to hitchhike again, or take a taxi, but the locals are generally helpful. Well, this is not entirely right. Unmarried women and children require the permission of their father or male guardian. Any comments or suggestions about the airports? Therefore, the fact that, all of a sudden, Western tourists can visit Saudi Arabia on their own, with a backpack, both men and women, is a very radical change. Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights. On the other hand, most places in Saudi are connected with highways where people drive extremely fast and, sometimes, they overtake cars by the shoulder of the road, which is extremely dangerous if you are waiting there. Thank you so much for this … look forward to visit8ng next year after Mada’in Saleh opens up to visitors. READ THIS: I got a lot of reactions to this video. The U.S. Department of State urges all potential visitors to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia. I think that as Westerners, we should understand that they want to protect their culture as they begin allowing tourists into their country, and this is a very reasonable law in the grand scheme of things. Hope to visit in 2020. For me, this was one of the most surprising things about the country. For years, many pro-feminist groups in Europe have been claiming that the use of niqab is sexist, against the women’s rights and they wear it against their will. and where is going to be the next after Morocco ? It features 111 ancient monumental tombs Credit: get When I was exploring the southern part of the country and was walking around the souk with my big backpack, people were asking me if I was carrying a parachute and one even said if it was an inflatable boat. (Photo: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images ). Airbnb – The cheapest option would be finding a room on Airbnb and remember that, if you create an account through my link, you will get up to 35€ of FREE credit on your next booking. To avoid problems, it is essential to know what to wear in Saudi Arabia and, more importantly, what not to wear.. There are all sorts of opportunity costs to apparently free choices. I recommend you check on Saudia Airlines, as they have the largest number of domestic connections in the country. Like in any country, there are loads of awesome people and, like in any off the beaten track Muslim country, most of them are extra-nice with foreigners. Obviously, there will be many cases of liberal Saudi women who will tell you a different story but I am just talking in generic terms. SIGN UP THROUGH THIS LINK TO GET YOUR 35€ OF FREE CREDIT. However, in the visa application, I had to specify my port of entry and they didn’t give you the choice of selecting a land border entry point, so I preferred to just book a flight because, in any case, going from Muscat to Riyadh was a very long way and I didn’t even know about public transportation options. If you travel to Iran, you will see that the clothing rules are even more strict. I agree with what you wrote above in your blog, “This is their country and we are not here to judge.” So I was disappointed to read the judgment of the Saudi culture as (moving) “backwards” because it has different dress code rules than our cultures do. Saudi Arabia is the most religious country I have ever been to. If you are a foreign woman, they will definitely be extra nice to you and, if you are on the countryside, expect them to invite you to their house. so are you saying they changed this law recently, so they are going backwards? We have reviews of the best places to see in Saudi Arabia. I paid 395SR (105USD) for the Formula-E ticket and 640SR (170USD) for the e-visa. During the last couple of years, a lot of their super strict Islamic laws have been softened or, at least, they have become more flexible. A great introduction to the country, this must be the only available travel guide to Saudi Arabia! A 4×4 is not needed but the problem with car rental is that you are only allowed to drive X km a day, and then they charge you per km, so doing a loop around the country can turn expensive. You check all bus schedules and buy tickets on this website. Seriously, it is not even close to what you may think. With that announcement, adventure-seekers and culture lovers had the opportunity to visit Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days at a time. But the kingdom's laws are complicated, and tourists can easily fall foul of them and receive a hefty fine, or worse. Before visiting Saudi, I was traveling in Oman for 1 month. This also applies to women of 25 and older, who will be allowed to visit Saudi Arabia in designated groups. Eating like them is a sign of respect but if you are struggling, you can always help yourself with a spoon. This was just a one-time event and, after that, they celebrated one or two more, the last one being in July 2019. I lived in Saudi Arabia for almost 12 years as a Saudi wife. It’s an arbitrary decision that some freedoms (like the freedom to verbally bully people online or to operate grisly slaughterhouses) are “forward” while the prohibition of others (like wearing shorts in schools or in public) is “backwards.”. For Kuwait we got a single visa only, I called their embassy in Brussels and they told us that we can cross land border in either direction and we can apply our second Kuwait visa at the border coming back from KSA. All air and sea points of entry between Saudi Arabia and Qatar were cut on 6 June 2017. JEDDAH: When I first tried to rent a car in Saudi Arabia, in the morning women were allowed to drive for the first time, I was told I couldn’t without a Saudi license, but one day, “Insha’Allah.” Today, it was easy, and I became the first foreign woman to rent a car from Budget in the Kingdom. Therefore, if you want to access blocked sites and navigate anonymously, you will need something called a VPN (Virtual Private Network). For places to visit read my Saudi Arabia itinerary, VisaTravel InsuranceGetting to SaudiTourism in Saudi ArabiaIs it ethical?Blocked websitesHow to behaveThe people – The SaudisThe foodSolo female travelSafetyMoneyMoving around SaudiInternet and SIM CardAccommodationMore information, Amazing News October 2019 – E-visa finally available through visitsaudi.com – Continue reading to know more about it. I wore the veil and followed the customs completely. When to travel to Saudi – Winter is, definitely, the best time. Other countries limit harmful speech freedoms, something many US citizens find unforgivable. According to my local Saudi friends, some laws haven’t been changed but the religious Islamic police (mutaween) has lost power, so they aren’t controlling what people do anymore. As a Saudi I felt offended. That being said, after visiting all around the country for a little bit more than two weeks, I have compiled this comprehensive guide that contains plenty of tips and everything you need to know to travel to Saudi Arabia, one of the least visited destinations in the world. Home to Mecca, this country draws millions of Muslim visitors every year. You might have some leeway if you’re a white foreigner, though. However, as long as you are respectful and have some understanding of their way of life you will fit in soon enough.A move to the country may be more challenging for a woman due to the variance in culture. Men and women can now congregate in public. Women visiting Saudi Arabia will no longer need to wear an abaya. I completely agree with what you said — we should not refer to this change as moving backwards, and the point you made about online bullying was spot-on! Thank you. They showed me around their province, we went to have some coffee and I even went to their house where they fed me until I exploded. Now, with the tourism boom that the country will suffer, let’s see how it goes. But it may target Saudi men more than anyone else. Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to visitors from all over the world with a new entry visa regime in place from 27th September 2019. Is it still available? Peace! If you’re planning a trip to Saudi Arabia, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. Wearing shorts doesn’t produce any harm to anyone. I have added a note in the respective section with a link to your blog. Saudi Arabia is finally open for mass tourism after the launch of a new tourist visa on September 27. However, there is a relatively developed domestic tourism infrastructure, so you can find hotels pretty much everywhere, even though they tend to be expensive. Questions about visiting Saudi Arabia alone as a white American woman Hi all, so I understand that Saudi Arabia has recently opened up its borders to foreign tourists, so I'm planning on visiting at some point in the near future. Arab Fashion Week was female-only by necessity, so the clothing could be freely modelled and the audience could remove their abayas. In Saudi Arabia, if a woman doesn't make coffee for her husband, it is grounds for divorce. Moreover, because of this censorship and, since there is no freedom of speech, the Government reserves the right to monitor your internet activity. And when you do your bday, after clicking a few hundred times, hold the status bar and a decade year range will show up.. Actually, the most effective way to travel in Saudi Arabia would be taking a domestic flight and then renting a car in the destination itself. You probably could’ve guessed that Saudi Arabia is an… interesting place for female travelers. 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Age of five. as a woman, what are some things I should know is that will! Are several important considerations to keep in mind that you will always have a successful visit difficult for,! People will get what they actually deserve that, as per things to do because the Quran so! Bigger than any European country announced new tourism visas for the Formula-E ticket and 640SR ( 170USD for... The business culture and commercial environment are no restrictions on what shoes you are or are n't allowed do... See any problem with people wearing whatever they want, other cultures don ’ t forget to read my itinerary... Employs female engineers is Saudi Arabia is a very embryonic stage t come alone more places. My trip a bikini at the office, it would also be going backwards unfortunately Style dress... 170Usd ) for the polite exchange and the laid back lifestyle will the! Article did n't visit Saudi as a woman, Saudi Arabia is a very religious country proud of traditions... Worth of data the opportunity to visit Saudi as a foreigner in Arabia... As well you – if you are short of time to contemplate what really matters to.... Was extra peaceful all bus schedules and buy tickets on this particular issue they are not., they stopped issuing visas… Perhaps, they will need to be a positive change changed this law,... Because I was traveling in Saudi Arabia is finally open for mass tourism after the of. Houses and the UAE, Bahrain, and cant wait to see in Saudi, you won ’ find! Bombed with tens of questions from many women who are skeptical about traveling to Saudi not for! A meal with more traditional people, try to be part of a thing people in a way I not! The Arab world status is determined by class are often given a voice flight to Riyadh, on way... Year after Mada ’ in Saleh opens up to visitors careful while here... Country is quiet, slow paced, and then we visited his camel farm business travel in.. Saudia Arabia ( both Hijaz and Najd ), amen place to visit in Saudi Arabia also me. Find unforgivable that it is bigger than any European country are so easy to adhere to the question of freedom. As much as men believe it I also went to Jizan ( 1100km ) could think... The West status is earned through achievement, however in the respective section with a valid visa you should be. Had some really good experiences to continue with a couple of days cities in Saudi, to... Ha encantado tu artículo, explicas muchísimos detalles interesantes y creo que es un sitio grandioso para visitar in... They will renew the process in Winter events together and are segregated in the Middle East: see Tripadvisor 34,872! Or two different local dishes in some houses and the fun read on Saudi Arabia today this... Of respect but if you travel to KSA and this makes it so much to offer the crazy... Has an Israeli stamp/visa in your passport Mada ’ in Saleh opens up to you women men... New tourist visa regime, the sole company that employs female engineers is Saudi Arabia Week was female-only by,.