Saudi Arabia

SAFETY: good
Public order is under control and crime is very low: in the cities and on the tourist circuits (Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Diriyah, the Red Sea) normal caution is enough. The Italian Foreign Ministry advises against travel to the southern provinces of Jazan, Najran and Asir and to the border belt with Yemen, affected by missile and drone attacks on energy infrastructure (resumed from July 2026), and calls for caution in the border areas with Iraq and Bahrain and in the Qatif area (Eastern Province); access to the 20 km strip along the northern border is prohibited. The Saudi armed forces have a missile defence system and Civil Defence an alert system with sirens: in the event of an alarm stay indoors, away from windows, and follow the authorities' instructions. Avoid crowds and the immediate surroundings of mosques on Fridays and during Ramadan; do not photograph military or security installations. Before departure, check the country page on viaggiaresicuri.it and register your trip on dovesiamonelmondo.it.

DOCUMENTS AND VISA: passport valid for at least 6 months. Italian citizens obtain the electronic tourist visa (eVisa) online on the official portal visa.visitsaudi.com, with no sponsor required: it is valid for one year from issue, multiple entry, with stays of up to 90 days, and covers tourism, events, visits to family and Umrah (not Hajj). The fee includes compulsory basic health insurance, which may not be enough in the event of a hospital stay: additional cover is recommended. Alternatively a visa on arrival is available at the dedicated terminals of Riyadh and Jeddah airports for residents of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, but the Italian Foreign Ministry recommends obtaining the eVisa before travelling. Check the visa expiry date carefully (also shown in Arabic numerals and according to the Islamic calendar): overstaying means fines and being stopped on departure. Hajj requires a specific religious visa through the government platform Nusuk. From 1 November 2025 entering with controlled medicines (in particular psychotropic drugs) requires compliance with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority guidelines (sfda.gov.sa): carry your prescriptions. Minors need their own passport.

CLIMATE: desert, among the hottest in the world. Inland (Riyadh, AlUla, the Nafud desert) summers exceed 45-50 °C with very dry air, while winters are short, dry and cool, with nights close to freezing in the desert; the Red Sea coast (Jeddah, Yanbu) is hot and humid all year, with light rain between November and February; the Eastern Province (Dammam, Al Khobar) is humid, with temperatures above 40 °C in the hot months; the Asir highlands (Abha) are cooler. The best time to visit is November to March, with mild days (20-28 °C) and clear skies; from June to August the heat makes outdoor sightseeing demanding.

CURRENCY: Saudi riyal (SAR), divided into 100 halalas, pegged to the US dollar (1 USD = 3.75 SAR). Euros are easily changed at banks, exchange offices (open until late evening) and airports. Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard accepted practically everywhere, even for small amounts, as are contactless smartphone payments; American Express and Diners less widespread; ATMs are plentiful. Some cash is useful for markets (souqs), taxis and tips. Amounts over SAR 60,000 (about 13,500 euros) must be declared at customs.

TIME ZONE: UTC +3, +2 hours compared with Italy, +1 during Italian daylight saving time (Saudi Arabia does not use it). The weekend falls on Friday and Saturday; offices and banks work from Sunday to Thursday.

LANGUAGE: Arabic (official language); English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, airports and throughout the tourist circuit. Road signs are bilingual in the cities, mostly in Arabic outside the main centres.

HEALTH AND VACCINATIONS: no compulsory vaccinations for tourists (a yellow fever certificate only for travellers from at-risk countries); routine vaccinations and those against hepatitis A and B and typhoid are recommended. The quadrivalent ACWY meningococcal vaccination (at least 10 days before arrival) is compulsory only for pilgrims (Umrah and Hajj). MERS-CoV, linked to contact with camels, is present in the region: avoid close contact with the animals and unpasteurised camel milk. Health facilities are of Western standard, with many private fee-paying hospitals, but hospital costs are very high: in addition to the basic insurance included in the visa, a policy covering medical expenses and repatriation is strongly recommended. Drink bottled water, protect yourself from the sun and heat and drink plenty of fluids.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V and 60 Hz – Sockets: type G, British three-pin standard (bring an adapter); some older buildings still have other socket types (A/B) at 127 V: check before plugging in appliances that are not dual-voltage.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 00966 – Code for Italy: 0039 – GSM: stc, Mobily and Zain networks with excellent 4G/5G coverage in the cities and along the main routes; tourist SIM cards and eSIMs are available at the airport (registration with passport); roaming with Italian operators works but is expensive – Internet: free Wi-Fi in hotels, shopping malls and many venues – Web extension: .sa – Emergency numbers: police 999, ambulance 997, fire brigade 998; Italian Embassy in Riyadh (emergencies) +966 50 525 4792, Italian Consulate General in Jeddah +966 50 667 8310.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: Saudi Arabia is governed by Islamic law and, despite the openings of recent years (women driving, cinemas, events, tourism), remains a deeply religious country: behaviour considered normal in the West can be a criminal offence. The import, possession and consumption of alcohol, drugs (penalties up to death for trafficking), pornographic material (including magazines and catalogues), public displays of affection, homosexuality and criticism of religion, the religious authorities and the Royal Family, including on social media, are forbidden and severely punished. Public practice of religions other than Islam and proselytising are offences; religious symbols (crucifixes, Bibles) should be kept in private. Mecca is closed to non-Muslims (with checkpoints and a compulsory exit on the access road); Medina can be visited except for the area of the Prophet's Mosque. Dress: foreigners may dress freely but respectfully, covering shoulders and knees and avoiding tight or see-through clothing; women are not required to wear the abaya or a veil, except in religious places. During Ramadan (in 2027 roughly from 8 February to 9 March, with dates set by the sighting of the moon) there is no eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours and many restaurants open only after sunset. Do not photograph people without consent, nor government or military buildings and oil installations. Penalties are applied strictly and consular assistance during investigations is limited: if detained, contact the Italian Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate General in Jeddah immediately.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Location: Arabian Peninsula, between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf; borders Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen – Area: 2,149,690 sq km – Capital: Riyadh – Population: about 35 million – Religion: Islam (state religion) – Languages: Arabic; English widely spoken – Measures: metric system.

SOURCES: Viaggiare Sicuri – Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (viaggiaresicuri.it), the Italian Embassy in Riyadh (ambriad.esteri.it) and the Kingdom's official visa portal (visa.visitsaudi.com).