Riyadh Warnings or Dangers

Saudis are quite serious about banning alcohol of all kinds.
Like many Arabian Gulf states, alcohol drinks are not allowed in Saudi Arabia. I recommend that you don't bring any of that with you while traveling to Kingdom, and avoid having it with you in public if you anyway have it from black market within the Kingdom.
From what I heard, the black market is full of bad quality alcohol drinks and that may cause some danger to your health. so please watch what you carry with you, and be careful if you really want to have it from black market.
alcohol is available in most western embassies receptions and parties, that is not a secret, and seems there are large trading for it outside the emabssies.
Actually alcohol is hugely consumed in these embassies parties as people who attend it take the chance to drink as much as they can. That is weird I know.


	Terrorism	Tip Rating:

on April 27, 2005

A lot of questions in the VT forum verge on security and terrorism. You can get a good snapshot of the current situation from the American embassy web site.

This is the official version. However, reality is different. I won't take responsibility if you choose not to follow the official guidelines, but can tell you that in practice the terrorism situation has considerably improved in Saudi Arabia since the attacks on foreigner compounds in May 2003. The Saudi authorities have finally got a hold on this terrorism thing, and the truth is that most of the wanted terrorists are either detained or dead.

This said, you should be careful when going around, but since terrorist attacks are unpredictable, I'd suggest you take care when crossing the street, it's much more likely that you die because of a reckless driver than an islamic terrorist in here.

Website: http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/saudi-arabia/citizen_services.html


	Wear An Abaya!	Tip Rating:

Updated By freddie18

on June 30, 2006

If you are a woman travelling to Saudi Arabia especially in Riyadh, as soon as you get off the aircraft, women should wear an Abaya. This is mainly to cover oneself so as not to expose any body attributes or beauty. It is a women's garment worn over other clothing sometimes with headscarf and veil. Abaya is made of loose black long-sleeved worn by Muslim women and all women visitors of the Kingdom. Warning: Before travelling to Saudi Arabia - ask information on the pros and cons to avoid embarrassment and punishment.


	Watch Out For Camels!	Tip Rating:

Updated By freddie18

on June 30, 2006

by freddie18
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Yes, if you are travelling on a highway along the desert in any part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia especially on your way to Riyadh or from a shopping trip from Alkhubar to Tanajib, you have to be aware of camels. Be careful of driving at night as the accident of camels being run over by vehicles is very common. You have to watch out for camels crossing the street as most of the time they come in group.
Warning: Do not overspeed. Follow the speed limit. By doing this, you can avoid serious accident when you hit a camel on the road.


	Riyadh's police are to be avoided at all costs.	Tip Rating:

Updated By K1W1

on May 2, 2005

by K1W1
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Be careful of where you point your camera. One night when I was wandering home I came across a 'spaceship' of a building and thinking that it was a flash hotel, I took a photo. It was around midnight and I didn't use a flash but the cops must have seen me as I had only just turned to head home when vehicle with flashing lights stopped me. I got to see inside the 'spaceship' as it was their HQ ! and without even asking if I had taken a photo, my film was removed from my camera, which contained almost all of my Bahrain photos !
Although I tried to be friendly, I found the police to be totally unreasonable, unfriendly and on a power trip. I since returned to take several shots of the building (for my VT page) the following evening (a block away with my 300mm lens). Had the officers been reasonable I would never had bothered.


	Beware of cars	Tip Rating:

By bzh

on January 15, 2003

by bzh
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A typical car in Saudi

Saudis are not careful drivers. They mostly drive big and heavy american limousines at frightening speed. The fact that Riyadh is sprawled on a very large area that enables the main streets to be 6 or 8 lane highways doesn't help.


	Foreigners are issued with...	Tip Rating:

By Mushtie

on August 27, 2002

Foreigners are issued with Iqamas as shown in the attached picture. Make sure you carry your iqama at all times, this justifies your stay in Saudi Arabia if asked by the local Police.

I advise not to use the public transport of buses, although cheap they are driven by mad men! Saudi Arabia also has the highest rate of car accidents in the world so be careful walking down streets.


	Muttawa or religious police...	Tip Rating:

on August 26, 2002

Muttawa or religious police take their job very seriously. It is very important that anyone travelling to Saudi research the restrictions on clothing and adhere to the strictly enforced standards. This is especially true for women. The muttawa carry sticks and they aren't afraid to strike violators. Basically, women need to be covered from head to ankles in black while men need to wear a shirt with a collar and long trousers.


	Do not bring in any drugs or...	Tip Rating:

By Strand_Man

on August 26, 2002

Do not bring in any drugs or alchol - you will loose your head or be deported.
Do not bring in a Bible, cross etc.
Do not wear jewellery in public.
Do not touch a person with your left hand.
If you do cross your legs you must make sure that you do not show anyone the bottom of your shoe as this is taken as a insult.

RIGHT OR WRONG THIS IS THEIR COUNTRY & THEY CAN MAKE THE RULES & LAWS _ SO JUST OBEY THEM & YOU WILL DO FINE.


	Road Entertainment or Road Shock

Updated By Dthey

on February 12, 2008