Saudi Arabia is famous for rising to wealth and power through its oil output. Saudi Arabia is also the center of the Muslim world. hundred thousand or even millions of Muslims yearly set out on the Hajj, which is a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Jeddah tower is currently under construction but by 2020, the tower is meant to dethrone Burj Khalifa and reach a whopping height of 1 kilometer.

Traveling info

All visitors require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia, and visas are only granted to those with sponsorship in the country. Tourist visas are granted only to selected groups on a limited basis, and all visitors to Saudi Arabia are required to have a valid passport with at least six months validity, in addition to the appropriate visa and a return ticket, with all necessary documents. Due to the strict requirements of Saudi Arabia, women entering the Kingdom alone must be met by a sponsor or male relative and have confirmed accommodation for the duration of their stay. Additionally, entry may be refused to any visitor judged as behaving indecently, according to Saudi Arabia law and tradition. To drive in Saudi Arabia, a valid driver’s license from country of residence is required. An International driving license is highly recommended for anyone to live outside Saudi Arabia as some car hire company will require international drivers to present an IDP. Women have recently received the right to drive vehicles removing yet another barrier for local women and female tourists.

Traveling hazards

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2009 Global Status Report on Road Safety, Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest traffic accident rates. Driving habits are generally poor, and accidents involving vehicles driven by minors are not uncommon. The main causes of accidents are speeding, unauthorized passing, and running red lights. Despite high traffic accident rates roads in Saudi cities and highways outside of urban areas are in excellent condition. In the event of a traffic accident resulting in personal injury, everyone involved may be taken to the local police station. Drivers are likely to be held for several days until responsibility is determined and any reparations paid. In many cases, all drivers involved in an accident are held in custody regardless of fault.

Environmental hazards

Although large predators such as wolves and leopards and hyenas inhabit the Arabian peninsula, attacks by these animals are almost unheard of. The venomous snakes in Saudi Arabia mostly belong to the viper family. These include the saw-scaled viper, the carpet viper, the false-horned and horned vipers. In Saudi Arabia, snake bites are extremely rare. There are less than 5 reported viper bites in the last 20 years. The fat-tailed scorpion is one of the most dangerous of its species on earth. A sting from these lethal scorpions can cause a number of terrible symptoms, including seizures, unconsciousness, and hypertension. There are numerous beaches in Saudi Arabia and it is generally safe to swim there. Shark attacks are almost unheard of but do happen. These, however, take place only far out in the sea. Women must wear a veil regardless of when swimming or not.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and hurricanes are the most commonly occurring natural hazards that cause widespread destruction of lives and property on a frequent basis. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prone to such natural hazards.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Saudi Arabia. The government of Saudi Arabia requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. There are several other vaccinations which are recommended but not required. These are the routine vaccines also known as MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis and rabies vaccine. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against malaria. Malaria is contracted through mosquito bites, therefore, it is vital to protect against mosquito bites. You may receive medicine on prescription against malaria after consultation with a physician. Public healthcare is delivered to Saudi citizens for free. Healthcare sector has hugely grown in the country with hospital and clinics being now available throughout the country. The private sector is responsible for 30% of the delivered services however the Saudi government intends to expand that number. Be sure to get medical insurance as expats are required to pay both for public and private services.
In case of an emergency dial 997.

Crime

Crime rates in Saudi Arabia are extremely low. Both violent and petty crime rates are very rare due to very strict laws. Criminals are treated with zero tolerance and many of them are publicly executed which is a strong deterrent for people who think of committing a crime. Tourists are generally safe in Saudi Arabia and are generally not concerned by crime. Women tourists should be careful and comply with the local laws as disobeying it is strictly punished regardless of nationality. There is a risk of Muslim terrorists who target particularly westerners in the country. Drug laws are extremely harsh and mere possession may lead to a death sentence.

Summary

Although Saudi Arabia is one of the most tourist restrictive countries in the world, the country has recently been more open to tourists and is slowly ending its women segregation laws. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.visabureau.com/worldwide/saudi-arabia-visa.aspx
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/saudi-arabia