Riyadh Tourist Traps

Before planning to come to the Kingdom, you must be absolutely clear about your needs. Saudi Arabia does not impose any kind of taxes and 100% of your savings can be renumerated back home. However, if you think life is easy here, then you are totally mistaken.

First of all, you need to make up your mind on what you need. Are you looking only for savings or are you looking for a good lifestyle? It if is the latter, then unfortunately, the place doesn't offer much as compared to other Middle East locations like Dubai or Qatar. Remember that this is a completely restricted society - no alcohol, no cinemas, no community events, etc. :-S So, if you are the kind of person who wants to "enjoy" life totally, then this place is not for you. However, all said and done, Saudi Arabia is the only place in the whole of Middle East where you can have maximum savings, simply because there just aren't enough outlets for you to spend! :D

Working in Saudi Arabia could be quite taxing and the maximum day temperature during summer touches 52 degrees Centigrade in most parts of the kingdom. Summer in Saudi Arabia starts by mid-April and may go on till almost end of October. Worse than the heat, is the humidity which is intolerable, particularly during July and August. Sandstorms are quite common as also hailstorms and one must be prepared for this. However, all indoor locations are usually air conditioned. If your workplace is going to be outdoor most of the time, then be prepared for such weather conditions. But don't get discouraged, people do work here and the happiest day is when you stand in the queue of Western Union to send money back home ;)

If you are male and first time to arrive to Riyadh (King Khaled International Airport), not being picked up by your employer...Please take the licensed airport limousines.

There are some people using their private cars as limousines who might approach you at the arrival gate. Those people tend to get as many customers as possible yet you pay the same fare with the licensed limousines.

Also, by taking this unlicensed limousines, the possibility of being dropped to your destination may take longer.

There's hardly a tourist trap in Saudi Arabia. This is because there's hardly any tourist in there.

Not that the country would not have anything to offer. Its Red Sea beaches, mild winter climate, red sand dunes and camel souqs would be a sure attraction for tourists of all sorts.

The problem is that getting a tourist visa, though technically feasible, is a next-to-impossible achievement. In 2004 the number of tourists that the whole of Saudi Arabia received was in the order of a few thousand. Compare this to 5 million yearly visits to Rome and go figure.

The good side of this is that you are extremely unlikely to be ripped off, or treated badly or unfairly, by anyone. So don't hesitate to jump on that taxi or dine on the 77th floor of that skyscraper, you're almost sure you'll get a fair treatment and pay a fair price.

Visas: There is no such thing as a tourist visa for Saudi Arabia. You can enter the country with a visitor's transit or (if you're Muslim) hajj or umrah visa. To get a visitor's visa you will have to be sponsored by a Saudi individual or company. Another option is a 24- or 48-hour transit visa - to get one you have to prove that you had no choice other than to stopover in Saudi Arabia en route to your final destination. You can now also visit the country as a non-Muslim if you join an approved (and expensive - 5000.00 plus) organised tour.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +3
Dialling Code: 966
Electricity: 127/220V ,60Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

this is not an exact tourist trap, but you will most probably get trapped there anyway since most of the embassies are there, it is still a beautiful well designed district

Unique Suggestions: bring your passports I guess!!

While at the gold market, it was my experience that jewelry was sold for what it was worth, (price of gold + a modest sum) it is near a rug market, where brass etc. can be found. The phrase of the day for this place is, 'caveat emptor.' Don't be afraid to negotiate and get a good look at the product.

They copy everything out there,Nike become Mike,Adidas becomes Adibas.C Ds and dvds are in plentiful supply.
But in the gold souks its all top quality stuff.

Unique Suggestions: Always haggle,no need to be rude though.

As Saudi is not a hit tourist destination, there is little to be wary of. The Saudi public are very friendly and will help you if asked politely.