What should I buy in Saudi Arabia, and where?

What makes a good souvenir?

Item	Where	Tip
Oud and bakhoor	Perfume souqs, Arabian Oud, Abdul Samad Al Qurashi	Real oud is expensive, so very cheap "pure" oud is not
Dates	Madinah date market, Al-Ahsa	Taste first, and ask for vacuum packing
Gold	Gold souqs in Makkah, Jeddah and Riyadh	Priced by weight plus a making charge. Compare both
Honey	Asir and Al-Baha markets	Sidr is the prized variety
Sadu weaving, bisht	Souq Al Zal, heritage shops	Handmade costs more and it shows
Prayer items	Around the holy mosques	Prices drop a few streets away
Saudi coffee and spices	Any traditional souq	Asiri-grown Khawlani coffee is a good gift

Which souqs should I visit?

• Souq Al Zal, Riyadh: oud, bisht, carpets and antiques.
• Al-Balad, Jeddah: spices, textiles and perfume.
• Qaisariah, Hofuf: a restored covered market.
• Souq Al-Thulatha, Abha: Tuesday market for local produce.

Which malls are the biggest?

Riyadh has Kingdom Centre, Riyadh Park and Granada. Jeddah has Red Sea Mall and Mall of Arabia. Khobar has Mall of Dhahran. For everyday goods, try Panda, Danube, Tamimi or LuLu, and Jarir for electronics and books.

When are shops open?

Malls usually run from about 10am to midnight. Traditional shops close in the afternoon and reopen until late. Some may still pause briefly for prayer. Friday mornings are quiet.

Can I take Zamzam home?

Airlines usually allow a sealed 5-litre bottle as checked baggage, but each has its own rules. Buy the sealed official bottle, and check before you leave for the airport.

What should I avoid?

Do not buy antiquities without paperwork, as exporting them is restricted. Be wary of "designer" goods in small shops, and buy gold only with a receipt.