Everything to Know Before You Go
Practical answers on Saudi weather, laws, dress, safety, health, money, food, shopping, SIM cards, transport and useful Arabic, kept up to date.
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Independent guide, not a government website.
Guides in this section
- Weather by month Monthly temperatures for seven cities, and the best time to go.
- Rules and laws Decency code, customs, drones, medicines, plugs and water.
- What to wear and etiquette Dress for women and men, mosques, and social customs.
- Safety and emergencies Official advisories, emergency numbers, scams and road risks.
- Health and vaccinations Umrah vaccine rules, heat, water, pharmacies and insurance.
- Money, tipping and costs The riyal, cards, tipping, haggling, VAT refunds and daily costs.
- Food and drink Dishes to try, Arabic coffee, dates and where to eat.
- Shopping and souvenirs Oud, dates, gold, souqs, malls and what to bring home.
- SIM cards and WhatsApp calls stc, Mobily, Zain, eSIMs, and whether WhatsApp calling works.
- Getting around Airports, flights, trains, metro, buses, car hire and rides.
- Saudi Arabic phrasebook Useful phrases with pronunciation, audio and a quick quiz.
Travel Tools
Free tools for Saudi Arabia: one-tap emergency numbers, a Saudi phone number formatter for calls and WhatsApp, a currency converter and a VAT calculator.
Open the toolsCommon questions
What should I know before visiting Saudi Arabia?
Dress modestly, do not bring alcohol or pork, ask before photographing people, and check your government's travel advice. Weekends are Friday and Saturday, and summers are extremely hot.