Saudi Arabia

You need a valid visa to travel to Saudi Arabia. Which type of application is suitable for your travel plans and whether you are also allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia with an e-visa depends on a number of factors. We support you in applying for your electronic travel authorization (eVisa) for Saudi Arabia.

Are you planning a journey to Saudi Arabia? Then, you can look forward to stories and adventures from One Thousand and One Nights! But before you go, check out these useful tips for your stay in Saudi Arabia.

• Location: Arabian Peninsula, West Asia
• Area: 2,149,690 km²
• Currency: Saudi Riyal
• Official language: Arabic
• Population: about 36.7 million
• Capital city: Riyadh

The Arabian Peninsula experiences a hot and dry climate. In the interior, the day and night temperatures can vary greatly, ranging from 50 °C during the day to values below 0 °C at night. The low rainfall of 59 mm per year occurs mainly between the months of December and February.

Large parts of Saudi Arabia lie on extensive highlands; only in the Southwest do the peaks of the Asir Mountains rise to an altitude of around 3,000 m. To the West of the Arabian Peninsula stretch the coasts of the Red Sea, to the East lies the Persian Gulf, and to the South, the Gulf of Aden as well as the Arabian Sea.

Saudi Arabia's landscapes are dominated by deserts. There are no rivers, but wadis and a few smaller lakes. The vegetation is sparse and consists mainly of grasses and small shrubs. Date palms also grow in the isolated oases.

The most widespread animal species include the Arabian oryx antelope, wild cats, flying fowl, desert rats, burrowing rodents, and various reptiles and insect species. A great diversity of species can also be found in the coral reefs and coastal waters of the Red Sea.

For a trip to Saudi Arabia, you need a visa or electronic visa. Find out about the currently valid entry requirements for Saudi Arabia before your departure.

Between the major cities of Riyadh, Dammam, Al Qassim, Hail, Sakaka, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina, you can get around by train and bus. There is also a domestic air network, especially with connections between Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh airports.

Within the cities, public transportation is sparse, and getting around is mainly done by cabs and rental cars. To drive a car in Saudi Arabia, you need both your national driver's license and an international driver's license.

Many places in Saudi Arabia allow you to pay by credit card - even for smaller amounts. Paying with cash is also very common. The excellent ATM network, the Saudi Payments Network (SPAN), comprises more than 15,000 machines from which you can withdraw money anywhere in the country.

The local security situation in Saudi Arabia can change spontaneously. Keep up to date with current events and forecasts during your trip with the help of news and weather reports.

Travelers 12 months of age and older need a yellow fever vaccination to cross the border into Saudi Arabia if they are coming from a yellow fever area, or have spent at least 12 hours in a yellow fever area during transit. Travelers from an area with polio cases must also provide proof of vaccination against polio.

If you are on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, follow the current health regulations for pilgrims issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.

Saudi Arabia is considered the birthplace of Islam, and a large part of the population are devout Muslims. Mecca and Medina, the most holy cities of Islam, are both located in Saudi Arabia. Entering both places is only allowed for Muslims and strictly forbidden for travelers of other faiths.

Mecca is best known as the place of central pilgrimage, to which around 2.5 Muslims make the pilgrimage every year. The largest and most important mosque in the world, the Grand Mosque or Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Ḥarām), is located here. In its courtyard stands the shrine of Islam, the Kaaba, which Muslim pilgrims must circumambulate seven times during their pilgrimage. The city of Medina is the site of the Prophet's Mosque (al-Masjid an-Nabawi), which contains the tomb of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, is located in the country's center. It is home to some of the country's most notable buildings, such as the Al Faisaliyah and Kingdom Center skyscrapers, King Fahd Stadium, and the UFO-like building of the Ministry of Interior. Historically important is Fort Masmak, whose conquest by Abdul Aziz is considered the beginning of the present Saudi state.

The port city of Jeddah on the Red Sea is characterized by its beautiful old town, which has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014. Jeddah is also a city of records: Saudi Arabia's tallest television tower, the world's highest lighthouse, the world's highest fountain, and the world's tallest free-standing flagpole are all located here. Still under construction is the Jeddah Tower, which is planned to be the tallest skyscraper in the world at 1,007 m.

Saudi Arabia has a diverse and traditional cuisine that has hardly changed over the centuries. Its most common product is pitta, a flat and unleavened bread that is served with every conceivable dish.

Typical dishes are prepared on the basis of beef, lamb, chicken, or fish. They are accompanied by figs, dates, rice, lentils, hummus, and burghul. The dishes are usually hot or heavily spiced with cloves, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, or tamarind.

Fruit juices, sweet tea, Arabic coffee, or Qamar al-Din, a sweet drink made from apricots, are served with the meals.