How should tourists dress in Saudi Arabia? Resorts of Saudi Arabia: elite tourism in an oil country How tourists should dress in Saudi Arabia.

General information about the country

Saudi Arabia- the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Jordan to the north, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to the east, and Oman and Yemen to the south. It is washed by the Persian Gulf in the northeast and the Red Sea in the west.

Official name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Capital: Riyadh.
Language: Arab.
Territory: 2,218,000 sq. km.

Climate and weather in Saudi Arabia
The climate is hot, dry, close to continental in the interior. The average temperature in winter is +14, in summer +33 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation is about 100 mm.

Time
It coincides with Moscow in winter and lags behind by 1 hour in summer.

Saudi Arabian holidays and non-working days
Public holidays are the Feast of Breaking the Fast (celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan) and the Feast of Sacrifice (celebrated during the Hajj period). The Day of the Proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also celebrated - September 23 (1932). Days off in government institutions - Thursday, Friday.

Currency of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Riyal.

Saudi Arabia: visa, border customs sanitary and veterinary control
The issuance of tourist visas is subject to the following restrictions: tourists are required to travel only in groups and through the mediation of Saudi travel agencies, which will accompany them until they leave the country.

When crossing the border, you must present a passport with an entry visa and an insert filled in in English, which indicates: full name, date and place of birth, citizenship, nationality, profession, date and place of issue of the passport, its number, institution or private the person on whose behalf the visa was issued.

Entry into Saudi Arabia is prohibited for the following categories of citizens: persons with an Israeli passport; persons whose passports contain an Israeli visa; persons whose passports contain a note about the Jewish religion.

Items imported into KSA by private individuals for personal consumption are not subject to customs duties. The exceptions are photo, radio and video equipment, typewriters, and computers.

Duty-free import of cigarettes is allowed - 1600 pcs., perfumes - in the amount necessary for personal use, food - in the amount necessary for personal consumption during the day.

The import of alcoholic beverages and products containing pork components is prohibited; firearms and bladed weapons; medications containing narcotic substances (except for cases when they are intended for personal use, which must be confirmed by a medical certificate).

When exporting from KSA, you must present checks or receipts for gold products, antiques and art purchased in the country.

The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country is under constant control of government agencies. Thanks to the development of healthcare, the number of cases of dangerous infections has been significantly reduced. When entering the country, young children are required to be vaccinated against polio, whooping cough and tetanus. A medical certificate is not required to enter KSA.

Taking into account the possible complications of the sanitary situation in the country during the Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage to the holy places in Mecca and Medina), much attention is paid to preventive measures for pilgrims. In addition to strict medical controls at the border, quarantine towns are being created in the Hajj area.

All those arriving for the Hajj must receive the following vaccinations and submit the relevant certificates: vaccination against yellow fever (for all those arriving from countries where an epidemic has been registered), vaccination against viral meningitis (for all those arriving from any country), vaccination against diphtheria (for those arriving from the Russian Federation). Federation).

additional information

There are no restrictions on movement throughout the country, with the exception of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, which non-Muslims are prohibited from visiting. The use of alcoholic beverages and drugs is prohibited and strictly punishable by law.

Providing first aid for foreigners and treatment are paid. Private healthcare institutions accept cash or non-cash forms of payment. To receive medical care, full international medical insurance is strongly recommended.

The state religion of Saudi Arabia is Sunni Islam. Other religions are prohibited in the country. It is not permitted, inter alia, to import religious items, paintings depicting temples and rituals of other religions, Christmas greeting cards, etc. When entering the country and when obtaining a residence permit, it is mandatory to indicate your religion.

It is better for visiting foreigners to dress more modestly: men, despite the hot weather, wear trousers and shirts, and women should wear loose and long clothes without cutouts at the neck. A mandatory addition to your outfit should be a scarf that will cover your hair. Women should have their legs and arms covered up to the hands. The local abaya, a wide cape, is best suited for this. The religious police (mutawwa) vigilantly monitor violations of public morals, including in relation to clothing. In general, neglecting these rules can in some cases lead to significant trouble.

Road transport is the main means of transportation in the Kingdom. The country has a right-hand rule, traffic is usually one-way, international road signs, and speed in populated areas is limited to 40 km per hour. In case of violation of the speed limit, a fine is imposed on the spot. Women are prohibited from driving.

You can exchange currency in almost any bank and store, as well as in numerous private money changers. Credit cards are accepted for payment in all major shopping centers, hotels and transport.

Telephone "unified rescue service" - 999.

For many centuries, a flourishing country, where every resident cherishes the traditions of their ancestors and lives in wealth and prosperity. They say that Allah blessed this people, giving them the opportunity to live in paradise. But rather the fact is that the subsoil in Saudi Arabia contains more than a quarter of all the world's oil. This is the center of the Muslim religion, where an absolute monarchy reigns and the main revered shrines are located. It is here that pilgrims and curious tourists flock in millions when they are lucky enough to receive a visa to this space closed from the world.

When is the best time to go?

In summer, this country experiences unimaginable heat. The extremely dry climate and summer temperatures up to +50 are a test that not everyone can endure, and the snow we are used to can only be seen occasionally at the very tops of the mountains. In the kingdom of dunes, due to the peculiarities of the local sand, you can surprisingly encounter low degrees, down to 0, due to the peculiarities of the local sand. The air temperature drops as much as possible in January - the thermometer reaches +20 in the city, in the desert area - up to +30.

Main cities

The famous sacred center of Muslim culture and religion, a huge “house” in its area - this is how its name is translated from the ancient dialect - is located in a valley of stones next to the Red Sea and surrounded by numerous mountains. These marvelous sacred lands have long abandoned military operations, the destruction of forests and vegetation, and the extermination of animals, except for those consumed as food or sacrificed to higher powers. During prayers and religious rituals, Muslim people strictly observe the direction to Mecca and in particular to the holy Kaaba. It is believed that about one and a half billion people head in this direction every day.

The second holy city of the Muslim planet, whose name was given by the prophet Muhammad himself. The “City of the Prophet” was the first in the world to accept Islam, because it was here that the world learned about the holy commandments of the once new religion. Here the great preacher found his final rest. The Arabs themselves call Medina the “Shining City” - in our time it is a modern, developed city with a population of one million, visited whenever possible and with great honor by pilgrims who dream of touching the holy land and seeing the coveted shrines in person. The city is partially closed to people of other faiths, but the comfortable hotels located here can be used by visitors of any faith.

The glorious capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, occupying the center of these lands in a fertile valley. The name of the heart of Saudi Arabia from the local dialect is “Gardens”; it grew and developed at a favorable intersection of trade routes, where rich caravans and craft villages stopped. Here tourists will find the residence of the king himself and all the main government institutions. After the discovery of rich oil deposits on this land, Riyadh grew from a town of clay houses and narrow streets into a metropolis with luxury hotels, shops, newly built schools, villas, breathtaking palaces and mosques, surrounded by a riot of greenery and colors. In the entire Middle East there is no more amazing palace than the royal Murabba, as well as the chambers of the emirs - the founders of the state. Here are the elite stables of the king with world-famous selected Arabian horses and horse races that take place with pomp, attracting more adventurous tourists.

Popular attractions

Masjid al-Haram mosque. One of the brightest attractions of Mecca. The world's largest mosque, in the courtyard of which stands the Kaaba - the main shrine - but more about it later. The mosque itself was built in 1570 and changed its appearance many times - a seventh was added to the six minarets at the will of the Sultan, and the most recent restoration of the building dates back to 2012 - and since then it can safely receive almost a million 200 thousand people, meeting pilgrims at the new Royal Gate .

Kaaba. The heart of Holy Mecca is a laconic but impressive, simple but expressive architectural cube structure. Turning their faces to her in a single prayer, all Muslims of the world rallied. The power of the Kaaba's influence on pilgrims and mere mortals is enormous - a black figure, dotted with mysterious gold and silver black writing, evokes tears of happiness in those who come here. A complete copy of the heavenly Kaaba was born with the first earthly man and the first of the prophets and has remained the main revered place of Islam on the planet since ancient times.

Park named after King Abdullah. The capital's youngest park for lovers of cultural recreation, completed in 2013. It is adjacent to the local stadium and occupies an impressive area, a good half of which is green space. There are several beautiful gardens here, there are family areas and playgrounds for the little ones, areas for active sports, shady alleys, and even a large restaurant that is welcoming to guests. The local dancing fountain with laser illumination, a huge mirror lake and a summer theater with a varied cultural program are amazing.

Security in the country

In large cities of Saudi Arabia, local authorities have created a system that is gradually reducing the level of street crime and using tough measures to maintain local order. Traveling in the rural part of the world is also quite safe - due to the low population density and the character traits of the local residents.

The few women you'll talk to on the street are expats, and they're all Muslim. This photograph shows a Somali girl in Jeddah.

Saudi men rub their noses together like Eskimos to say hello! They can also walk holding hands. Don't think they are gay. Homosexuality is severely punished in Saudi Arabia, although less so than extramarital affairs.

Left: Beginning of the sacred area. These arches, which are clearly visible on roads around Jeddah, mark the boundaries of areas where non-Muslims can travel. Behind them the road leads to Mecca. Breaking the law can result in imprisonment or even the death penalty. Right: Relics on the Farasan Islands date back to the first century BC.

Saudi people say that if you find an open door, you can come in. Most of the time you will be greeted by an Indian servant and you will never see another woman. This kind of hospitality can be expected in small villages where you will be invited to drink tea and eat dates.

In the south of the country, very young young people driving a car are not uncommon. At the same time, until the end of 2017, not a single woman could drive a car. Violation of this unspoken rule threatened both the woman and her guardian with serious fines.

The Kingdom is considered by many to be a rich and developed country, but outside of the cities it remains rural. You may well see scenes that will be reminiscent of “biblical” times, such as here when a camel turns a mill to press sesame oil.

Falconry in the Arabian Desert. The released dove is chased by a falcon in the sky and the owner of the falcon in a jeep (the falcon cost him $20,000). A minute - and the dove is caught. His head and heart will serve as a reward for the bird of prey.

Camels are the number one animal for Saudis. Many citizens of the kingdom have camel farms in the desert. Elite animals bring income to their owners as they participate in breeding.

Traditionally, Saudi Arabian women are deprived of many rights and given many responsibilities. So, to leave the house, they have to wear an abaya like this girl.

Without the permission of a guardian (this could be a husband, father, brother), women are denied many things. They can't just drink coffee in the yard, swim in the pool, ride a bike, enroll in a university, or even go to a restaurant with a person who is not a relative.

Najran market. Men's toys.

Every meeting with a Bedouin is an opportunity to taste frothy camel milk. It is a protein-rich food, also sold in supermarkets, and is believed to have medicinal properties in preventing some forms of cancer.

Saudi Arabia is the world's third largest producer of dates. The date palm is one of the main symbols of the country.

No, you are not in a Swiss chalet, but in a tent in the Saudi desert. City families like to spend a few days in their tent, usually on weekends. A modern version of the Bedouin life of their ancestors, but with satellite TV, air conditioning and a refrigerator.

A Somali beggar on the streets of Jeddah. Since 2013, SA authorities have waged a campaign to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal migrant workers.

This house is made of clay. To protect the premises from rain, stones, like tiles, are placed in a circle at regular intervals to ensure proper drainage. Thick walls help maintain temperature in the summer. There is a terrace upstairs where you can get some fresh air.

Many of the modern houses are brightly colored inside and out. This art has been known since ancient times and is protected by UNESCO. Women are responsible for maintaining such beauty.

Saudi Arabia, like Yemen, has mountains. Their altitude is 2000 m or more, and housing here is in great demand due to the cool climate.

Extravagance is one of the hallmarks of urban design in Saudi Arabia. The photo shows a train leaving a store on the main shopping street in Jeddah.

Who has been working as an oil worker in Saudi Arabia for several years now, but lives, however, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, writes: “I wanted to write 100 facts about Saudi Arabia, one of the most closed countries in the world. I don’t pretend to be the ultimate truth, what I came across, that’s what I wrote about.”

1. Firstly, do you know why Arabia is Saudi? The name comes from the Saudi dynasty, which fought with the Rashidi dynasty (and if they had won, it would have been called Rashid Arabia, but in the end the Saudis won), and since then the country has been called the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2. Well, from the name it’s clear that this country is ruled by a king. The old 90-year-old king passed away and his 79-year-old brother ascended the throne.

3. The new king, by the way, as soon as he ascended the throne, distributed money to the Saudis. WithoutDmozDmezDno. All civil servants, pensioners and students received two salaries/pensions/scholarships.
4. In general, since they are officially allowed to have four wives, the entire royal family numbers about 5 thousand (!) princes and princesses.
5. In 1938, the first oil was found, and now CA is the first oil producer in the world and one of the richest countries.
6. Power is inherited, only to members of the Al-Saud family.
7. The country lives under the strict laws of Sharia (Islamic law), any public entertainment (theaters, cinemas, etc.) is prohibited.

8. However, there are also concessions (I think due to events in the Middle East) - this year the king allowed women to vote in local municipal elections.
9. A couple of years ago they wanted to hold a film festival in Jeddah, but it was canceled on the eve of the opening under some plausible pretext.
10. A woman is a person without rights. Has no right to work (although women have recently begun to appear at reception desks in hospitals), has no right to drive a car, and cannot appear in public alone (only with a male family member, even if the man is only 6 years old).
11. Women try to defend the right to drive a car and periodically organize protests and drive along the streets. They are caught, reprimanded and released on bail to their husbands. One was recently sentenced to flogging.

12. There are executions, but less than in the past.
13. For drugs - death penalty. For alcohol - flogging, prison and deportation.
14. This does not stop Indians and Filipinos from brewing moonshine, which is called “sadyki”. A terrible thing, 60 degrees.
15. You can buy more noble drinks, whiskey, for example, but a bottle will cost about 300 bucks. Smuggling.
16. A significant part of SA is desert. In the south the desert is called Rub al-Khali, the Empty Quarter. There, the sand changes color throughout the day depending on the temperature, from red in the morning to light yellow in the afternoon.
17. During the day in June-July, the temperature in the desert easily reaches 60 degrees and above.
18. On the east coast, humidity periodically rises to 100%. At a temperature of 40-45 degrees.

19. On the west coast, high humidity is almost always present. But they don’t have sandstorms like in the east.
20. Along the western coast there are the mountains of Hijaz and Asir. The highest point is 3353 m.
21. The capital is Riyadh, a huge city in area, with very few high-rise buildings. The average height of the building is five floors.
22. The cars are mostly American. Until the end of the 80s, there were practically no Japanese cars, until one entrepreneur (I don’t remember his name) brought several dozen exclusive Japanese models and presented them to princes and all kinds of nobility. Now about half of the cars are Japanese. There are European ones too, but not many.
23. Despite the fact that income allows them to buy decent cars, many people drive junk cars from the 70s and 80s. One of the most common cars is the Chevrolet Caprice Classic from the late 80s.
24. They drive as best they can - the average speed in the city is 80-100 km/h, outside the city it is officially 120, but in fact, as many as possible, no less than 120.

25. It’s not uncommon to see a Saudi man driving a car with a small child in his arms.
26. They also like to move the seat as far back as possible, recline the backrest, bend their left leg under them or rest it on the left side of the dashboard and steer while sitting sideways and holding the steering wheel with one hand. Almost all cars have an automatic transmission.
27. Gasoline is cheaper than water. A 0.6 liter bottle of water costs 1 rial, 1 liter of gasoline costs 0.6 rial. Something like this.
28. Restaurants are divided into a family section and a section for singles. Singles are not allowed into family rooms.
29. In general, depending on the stubbornness of the security, a lone Arab (or a group of Arabs) may not be allowed into the shopping center. There are shopping centers just for families.

30. There are no stray animals. Well, almost not. I saw dogs a couple of times in almost 5 years, mostly cats, but very few.
31. There are pet stores, you can buy a cat. But the Arabs don’t keep livestock at home, it’s impossible.
32. Images of humans and animals are prohibited by the Koran. People are getting out of the situation as best they can, in Jeddah there is a monument to something unknown, but if you look closely, it looks like a camel.
33. Even in Jeddah, there are just so many incomprehensible monumental compositions - monuments to a teapot, tongs, a construction trowel, and something else, I don’t remember.
34. Previously, in photographs on advertisements in crowded places, people’s faces were blurred. Now they seem to have decided that photography is light painting, Allah gave the light, which means photography is a God-pleasing work.

35. Taking photographs of people without their consent is not recommended, especially women and police officers.
36. You can’t take pictures of anything here at all—everywhere you spit, there’s a government building, or a security checkpoint, or a compound for foreigners.
37. I tried to photograph a fire truck in Jeddah - a police car immediately appeared from under the ground, and they almost took the camera away. The friend excused himself.
38. Three key Arabic words are inshallah, bukra and maalesh. Inshallah - like “God willing”, everything is the will of Allah, bukra - tomorrow, maalesh - well, to hell with it.
39. Accordingly, inshallah is added wherever there is a mention of some plans. Bukra inshallah can mean either “maybe tomorrow” or “never.” In general, bukra is a period of time between now and never.

40. Most Arabs cannot swim.
41. Despite the proximity of the Persian Gulf, there are practically no boats and yachts. There are few jet skis. I saw windsurfers once.
42. My favorite pastime is driving a car up a sand dune. The height of the dune is 30-40 meters, the angle of climb is quite steep. Some are trying to do this in passenger cars.
43. There are practically no trees here, it’s a desert. Arabs love to go to the desert for picnics, with tents, barbecues, etc.
44. There are unwritten laws of the desert - if you see a car on the side of the road in a deserted place - stop, maybe your help is needed.
45. Saudi Arabia is a very dirty country. Tons of garbage along the roads, on the beaches. Flying bags, plastic bottles.
46. ​​There is a problem with normal shoes, because Arabs mostly wear sandals and flip-flops.
47. In general, they are not very accustomed to European clothes. Pants are always short. Some absolutely ugly shoes.
48. And the combination of a traditional Arabic outfit (I think it’s called a toba) and boots with socks that reach almost to the shin is absolutely hell.
49. The Internet is seriously moderated, sites with the slightest hint of pornography are closed, as are many proxy servers.

50. There is practically no railway connection, despite the rather large territory. There is a Dammam-Riyadh line. The Mecca-Medina line is under construction. In 2008, Russian Railways won the contract for the construction of the North-South railway, but then the tender was cancelled.
51. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering Mecca and Medina. But we accidentally ended up in Mecca last year.
52. In Saudi Arabia there is a cult of family. Children often live with their parents; the eldest son supports his elderly parents. Respect for elders is instilled from childhood.
53. The walking one greets the standing one, the younger one greets the older one.
54. When meeting, Saudis kiss three times on the cheek (or both in turn), but not everyone, only close relatives and old friends.
55. There is very specific business etiquette here. It is considered normal to be late; before starting a business conversation, they drink tea and coffee and talk about life.
56. There is no Saudi Arabic language. There are Hijazi (west coast), Najdi (central) and Sharqi (east coast) dialects, which differ from each other. Plus, visiting Arabs bring color - Egyptians, Palestinians, Syrians, Jordanians.
57. They say that Eve, the same one, lived in Jeddah, and her burial place was worshiped before. But then the Wahhabis destroyed the burial site and cemetery. All that remains of that cemetery is the arch at the entrance.
58. Any other open religion other than Islam is prohibited. Accordingly, on the eve of any non-Islamic church holidays such as Christmas, the activity of the Sharia police “mutawa” intensifies.

59. If you have a cross, it is better to wear it under your clothes.
60. There are no Christmas trees for sale, not even artificial ones.
61. But Christmas tree decorations are sold in small souvenir shops. Paradox. I myself bought several papier-mâché balls that were clearly Christmas-like in appearance with camels on them.
62. Russian nesting dolls are also sold, only they are subject to national modding. On women's nesting dolls black abayas (capes) and niqabs (scarves) are painted, on men's dolls there are thobas and gutras, respectively.
63. A hoop on a man’s head over a scarf is called agal. Now it is made from horseradish, you know what, but previously it was made from horse hair and was used to hobble livestock (mainly camels).
64. Fresh camel milk is very tasty, but if you have stomach problems, it’s better not to drink it. It may take effect within half an hour.
65. Saudis are quite hospitable, but they rarely invite you into your home. Most communication takes place in a small gazebo attached to the house. Be sure to treat you to Arabic coffee and dates.
66. Arabic coffee is a different story. Firstly, this drink is yellow-brown in color. Secondly, it is full of additives - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and sometimes anise. Thirdly, it is served in microscopic bowls. Fourthly, this is a very tonic drink, you won’t drink much. Well, they will definitely bring you a glass of cold water.
67. Arabs love to scratch their tongues. They are constantly on the phone.
68. There is a list of professions, officially approved by the Ministry of Labor, for which only Saudis are accepted. For example, in the human resources department or government relations.
69. In general, the state strictly regulates the issue of employment. An international company must recruit a certain percentage of Saudis, at least 10% of the total number (I could be wrong). This is called Saudization.

70. Sometimes it is easier and more effective to negotiate with such an employee so that he receives the minimum salary for his position and does not come to work at all. The sheep are safe and the wolves are well fed.
71. The chronology differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is now 1432 Hijri.
72. As we understand it, the Saudis do not celebrate New Year. The last month of the year is Hijjah, the month of pilgrimage to Mecca. On the 10th day, the holiday of Eid Al-Adha, the Great Eid, begins and continues until sunset on the 13th day of the month of Hijjah.
73. Birthdays are not celebrated either. In general, for many Bedouins, the date of birth is set from the bulldozer, the 1st day of the approximate month of birth. Or the last one. If we get lucky.
74. They pray 6 times during the day. Everything is closed during prayer. This is not the case in neighboring Gulf states. In the Emirates and Bahrain, everything works even during prayer.
75. Islamic laws prohibit usury, so you can get a loan from a bank at only 2% (operating expenses of banks). True, the interest on the deposit is also scanty.
76. There is no sales tax or VAT.
77. Foreign banks here have 50% of the capital on an equal basis with the Saudi founders, respectively, the names of the banks are not generally recognized worldwide (such as Citi Bank), but local (Samba Bank - Saudi-American Bank, for example).

78. Among the Saudi youth here there are a lot of hipsters - tight jeans, unimaginable hairstyles, glasses that cover half the face. They look funny. The girls are all in abayas, their faces are often also covered. Only the eyes glow from under the niqabs.
79. In addition to the mass of Islamic radio stations, there are two or three broadcasting rock, pop and classics. One is in Bahrain, two belong to Saudi Aramco. Sometimes you can catch Russian Radio from Dubai and Qatari in French.
80. The television is in perfect order, satellite dishes in every home.

81. Traditional Saudi food has to be found in purely Arab neighborhoods. It was supplanted by Lebanese, Jordanian, Syrian, Filipino, Malaysian and Chinese cuisine.
82. Japanese cuisine is unpopular. There are currently 2 or 3 drying shops in Khobar; the 4th one has not opened for a year.
83. There are more than enough junk food chain restaurants. McDonald's door to door with Burger Kings, Dunkin Donuts 10 meters from Krispy Kreme.
84. In this regard, there are a lot of fat people. The Saudis also have a very cool attitude towards sports.
85. Favorite game is football.

86. The Saudi team is popularly called Al-Sakur (Falcons) or Al-Akhdar (Greens). The Saudis perform so-so at the World Championships, but at the Asian Championships they were champions three times.
87. There are quite a few football clubs. The best is Ittihad from Jeddah.
88. I’m even afraid to imagine what will happen if, during the draw for the World Cup, the Saudis get to play with Israel.
89. They don’t like Jews. For Palestine as well.
90. Palestinian brothers are constantly helped with money. The last aid was in September of this year. 200 million dollars, just a minute.
91. Russians are treated well. People ask about Putin all the time.

92. There are several purely Saudi Arabian gestures that cannot be described, because facial expressions also play a role there.
93. The right hand is clean, the left is dirty. Used for washing, sorry. Well, they eat right. Greet each other with the right hand. If you give something, you have to take it with your right hand.
94. Thieves used to have their hands cut off. Right. It’s such a shame to eat with a washed-out hand. Although, maybe they are cutting it now.
95. Executions are carried out at mosques, but not everywhere, only in a few cities.
96. In Saudi Arabia, an infidel cannot enter a mosque. In Bahrain - please.
97. There is practically no public transport. There are some suspicious intercity buses. And so everyone travels either by their own car or by taxi. Poor Hindus and Pakistanis ride bicycles or, in extreme cases, walk. But in the summer it's a complete mess.
98. On weekends, Saudis go with their families for walks on the embankment, lay carpets on the lawns and have picnics.
99. By the way, the day off is Friday. And Monday begins on Saturday, like the Strugatskys. Thursday is usually working until lunch.
100. You cannot come to Saudi Arabia just to get a visa; you must have an invitation from a local office. International tourism does not exist here.

The largest state on the Arabian Peninsula, occupying more than 80% of the territory, is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To the north, this country borders Jordan. The giant country's eastern neighbors are Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. Yemen and Oman border Saudi Arabia to the south. This state is washed by the sea on two sides: the Red Sea in the west, and the Persian Gulf in the northeast.

Along the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula stretches a chain of magnificent Al-Hijaz mountains. Their height reaches 3000 m. Their foot attracts numerous tourists with its mild, warm climate and unique variety of greenery. The eastern and southern parts of the country are occupied mainly by deserts, and are inhabited by nomadic Bedouins.

Saudi Arabia is a country of numerous Muslim mosques. It was here that one of the largest religions in the world, Islam, was founded.

Saudi Arabia opened to tourists quite recently, no more than three years ago. She is pleased to offer her guests the unique flavor of the Arabian deserts, as well as numerous shrines of the Muslim world. The ancient traditions of the East and the modern environment make this country attractive for lovers of unconventional holidays. A feature of the country's tourism business has become diving, which allows you to explore the diversity of the unique underwater world of the Red Sea. Camel beauty contests have no analogues in the whole world. And taking part in the famous falconry will give you new experiences.

Climate and weather

The climate in Saudi Arabia is unusually arid and dry. Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places where the temperature in summer never drops below +50 °C.

The north of the country belongs to the subtropical climate zone, and the south to the tropical. Snow here can only be seen in the mountains, and even then not every year. In January, the air temperature does not exceed +20 °C in cities and deserts, and on the coast red sea the air warms up to +30 °C.

Summer in Saudi Arabia gets unusually hot. In the shade, the air temperature ranges from +35 °C to +45 °C. But in deserts, due to the ability of sand to give off heat very quickly, you can encounter low temperatures, sometimes reaching 0 °C. For this area, sharp changes in day and night temperatures are a fairly common occurrence.

Rainfall in Saudi Arabia is uneven. Moreover, in the east and center of the country the rainy season lasts from February to April, and in the west - exclusively in the winter (from late November to early February). In winter, thick fogs are often observed in the mountains of the Arabian Peninsula.

Tourists prefer to visit Saudi Arabia from the first days of September to mid-October, as well as at the end of spring. Throughout May, the temperature here is not too high, and the sea wind brings some moisture into the fairly dry air.

Nature

The nature of Saudi Arabia is truly unique. On the territory of this state you can find huge hot deserts, high cool mountains, and wonderful warm sandy beaches.

Beautiful and mighty mountains rise along the Red Sea coast Hijaz. The height of some of them reaches three kilometers. In the same area is located one of the most attractive resorts in the Middle East - Asir. It attracts tourists from all over the world with its rather mild, pleasant climate and unique vegetation. This resort is preferred by ecotourism lovers.

The eastern part of the Kingdom is completely covered with deserts. The largest of them is Rub al-Khali, which occupies almost the entire south and part of the southeast of the country. The invisible border of Saudi Arabia with Oman and Yemen runs along it. The total area of ​​deserts in this country reaches almost 1 million km 2. Most often, such deserts are inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes.

Attractions

Saudi Arabia, as a strictly Muslim country, is notable for tourists for its religious relics and shrines. The most attractive places to visit are the famous Arab cities, such as the capital Riyadh, Mecca, Medina And Jeddah.

The most visited city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is its capital Riyadh. The most popular attraction of this city is the citadel of old Riyadh, which houses Museum, dedicated to King Abdulaziz. Also widely known Royal Center, owned by the Prince of Saudi Arabia, it is the tallest building in the entire Kingdom. This huge complex includes a large number of residential apartments, offices, fine restaurants and luxury shopping centers.

Of course, no stay in Saudi Arabia is complete without a visit to the Muslim shrine - the city Mecca. The founder of the largest religion in the world, the Prophet Muhammad, was once born in this area. In Mecca there is a famous one since 1570. Holy Mosque Haram. Its area is more than 300,000 km2. This majestic building of Arabic architecture is completely covered with beautiful lilac marble and includes nine minarets, each of them reaching a height of almost 95 meters. The famous Haram can simultaneously accommodate up to 700 thousand people.

There is a shrine in the center of the Haram Kaaba. Its corners are oriented to the cardinal points. The eastern corner of the Kaaba stands out among others due to the presence of the Black Stone. Some scientists believe it is a meteorite. But Muslims are of a different opinion, that it was this stone that God gave to Adam, who was expelled from paradise, after his repentance. The legend says that the color of the stone was white, and after being touched by sinners it changed to black.

Mecca is known throughout the world for its many Islamic shrines. During the Hajj, this city is visited by more than two million people from all over the world. People who profess other religions cannot enter this holy place.

Another major attraction of Saudi Arabia is the national Asir Park, which is located near the city of Jeddah. Its unique vegetation and peculiar fauna attract many ecotourists.

Nutrition

The national cuisine of Saudi Arabia includes the culinary traditions of all countries of the Middle East. The main foodstuffs of local Arabs are mutton, poultry, lamb, eggs and fish. The traditional side dish for these dishes is rice with raisins. Traditional dishes of Arabic cuisine include all kinds of soups (rice, peas, beans) and stews, which are seasoned with onions and lentils.

Not a single feast in Saudi Arabia is complete without a national dish " burgul" This original name is given to porridge made from corn or wheat grits with the obligatory addition of sour milk. Also a popular dish, especially among the southern peoples of Saudi Arabia, is flour porridge with the addition of olive oil and pepper.

Local restaurants are happy to provide their customers with the famous national dish " geese"- it includes baked lamb meat, generously seasoned with special spices, rice and nuts.

As in other Arab countries, in Saudi Arabia, when preparing meat dishes, it is customary to use only heat treatment without adding fat. Rice, which is traditionally seasoned with tomato paste and onions, is usually served as a side dish for meat dishes. Some restaurants may serve meat and fries.

All kinds of fruits and vegetables occupy a large share in the diet of Saudi Arabian residents. Dates and figs are especially popular here. Local residents pay great attention to the consumption of healthy nuts.

The most favorite drink in Saudi Arabia is coffee. In this country there is a special ceremony for preparing and drinking this wonderful drink. In Saudi Arabia, people are accustomed to flavoring their coffee with all sorts of spices, especially cloves and cardamom, but the Arabs do not add sugar to their coffee at all. Arabs are very fond of various spices.

Dishes made from fermented milk products are especially popular in this country.

Accommodation

The development of tourism business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is only at the initial stage. Strict Muslim customs create certain restrictions on attracting foreign tourists to this country, which is why not all hotels in the Kingdom have the required number of stars. Mostly those hotels that are part of large hotel chains have passed the international classification. However, it is worth noting that all hotels are happy to offer visitors service and comfort at a quite decent level, which meets all European standards.

Most of the best hotels are located in the capital of Saudi Arabia Riyadh. They offer their clients not only spacious and comfortable rooms, but also additional services of excellent restaurants, fitness centers, spas, and swimming pools.

The hotel has become absolutely special for this country “ Lyauzan", which was built exclusively for women. Here, despite the rules of behavior prescribed in a Muslim country, they can independently book and check into rooms.

The cost of renting a separate apartment in Saudi Arabia is about $800 per month in the capital of the state, and in other cities - no more than $400.

Entertainment and relaxation

Most foreign tourists choose the capital of the state to explore local attractions Riyadh. While there, you should definitely visit the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, where a huge exhibition is presented that introduces visitors to the history and culture of this unique Muslim country. It is worth paying attention to the tallest building in the country - Royal Center, owned by the prince. This building is commonly associated with the oasis of modern life in Saudi Arabia.

Not a single tourist who decides to come to this wonderful country will leave it without visiting Mecca. Local residents call her “Mother of Cities”. This city is the most sacred place for all Muslims in the world and represents a kind of center of spiritual culture of the Kingdom. It is worth noting that only adherents of the Muslim religion can visit this place; dissidents are not allowed into Mecca. If, however, you managed to get into the territory of this ancient city, then you should definitely visit the famous Haram mosque, look into the main sanctuary of all Muslims - Ka'b.

Close to the famous city of Medina is the most famous uninhabited city Madain Salih. This is the largest and most spectacular archaeological site in Saudi Arabia. Be sure to visit this unique place, and it will not leave you indifferent.

Saudi Arabia has some of the most beautiful coral reefs on the entire planet. Therefore, this country is a must-visit for all lovers diving.

The real entertainment for men here is Falcon hunting. Many centuries ago, such an activity was a kind of means of survival. Today this is one of the most popular sports, however, the price for this type of recreation is not cheap at all. The cost of one hunting falcon reaches $80,000.

Another great entertainment in Saudi Arabia - magnificent and unforgettable yacht cruises along the offshore islands. Such a short trip, which helps you get acquainted with the local beauties, will leave an indelible impression. The yachts that are used for such cruises have everything you need on board: air-conditioned rooms, separate cozy bedrooms, and spacious rooms with video systems.

For lovers of a relaxing holiday, Saudi Arabia is pleased to offer an excellent opportunity to catch local fish in deep-sea places in Persian Gulf. If the captain stops the yacht in a fishing spot, you will remember such an amazing bite for the rest of your life.

It should be noted that lovers of nightlife in Saudi Arabia will not find their usual activities, since such events are prohibited by strict Sharia laws.

Purchases

The country's fame was brought not only by Muslim shrines, but also by a huge number of different retail outlets. These include traditional Arab markets, large department stores and large shopping centers. Moreover, here you can find both expensive boutiques and quite cheap shops.

Visiting shops is a favorite pastime of local residents, since other entertainment is prohibited by the Koran - there is not a single night bar, club or casino in this country.

Stores usually open without specific hours. As a rule, the working hours of most retail outlets are from 9 am to 1 pm, as well as from 5 pm to 8 pm. During the month of Ramadan, shops are open from 20:00 to 1:00 am. Friday is considered a day off in Saudi Arabia. On this day, it is customary to attend traditional sermons and prayers in mosques.

As in all eastern countries, locals love to bargain. It is common for this country to be able to reduce the quoted price by more than 40%. You can bargain with sellers in almost all retail outlets, except large supermarkets.

Transport

There are several modes of transport in Saudi Arabia. Railway connection(several hundred kilometers of roads) connects the capital Riyadh with major ports in the Persian Gulf. In addition, construction has begun on a separate railway line connecting Mecca and Medina.

Public transport is mainly represented by city ​​buses and taxis. The quality of the Kingdom's roads leaves much to be desired. At the same time, the roads in Riyadh are among the best in the country. The road surface in large cities has a special composition that can significantly reduce the amount of reflected heat, which greatly saves local residents from the sultry heat.

All buses in this country are very cozy and comfortable. The cost of one trip around the city ranges from 1 to 2 $.

There are 208 in Saudi Arabia airports, and three of them have international status. The average price of one flight across the country ranges from $120 to $150.

Landlocked, Saudi Arabia contains a large number of seaports. Some of them are quite large, for example, Jeddah, Duba, Jizan, Jubail. They are the main links between Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.

Connection

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones provides a fairly high level of communication. The mobile communications system in this country is excellently developed. In most cities, telephone companies prefer to remove old pay phones due to the fact that they are rarely used anymore. Almost all residents of this state, with the exception of some Bedouin tribes, are happy owners of mobile phones or radio stations.

The cellular network has a large coverage area: the area around Riyadh and other large oases. Only some areas of the desert are not served by cellular companies.

The World Wide Web is quite widespread in all major cities of Saudi Arabia. Most hotels, post offices and business centers provide their visitors with services for using the World Wide Web.

Telephone communications in this country are provided by the latest equipment, which allows for high quality data transmission. Using simple street machines you can make a phone call anywhere in the world. The cost of such a call will be slightly less than $2. The operation of such machines is carried out both from coins and from a prepaid plastic card.

Safety

Saudi Arabia is closed to solo travelers. All movements around the country must be carried out exclusively in groups and accompanied by a local tour operator, whose responsibilities include accompanying tourists everywhere and monitoring their timely departure.

There are practically no restrictions on movement around the country. The exception is ancient Muslim cities Medina And Mecca which are closed to persons of other religions. It is worth noting that local legislation even prohibits the import into this Muslim country of items that are related to other religions.

Saudi Arabia can be called a relatively safe country. Almost all tourist trips take place without criminal incidents. In large cities, including the capital, street crime is completely absent. This is due to the special mentality of the Arabs, as well as methods of combating the organization of crimes. Local authorities prefer to deal with hooligans using fines.

If we talk about the features of road transport, it is worth mentioning that traffic in Saudi Arabia is one-way, and the speed in cities and towns is reduced to 40 km/h. This innovation is quite unusual for Europeans.

Business climate

Huge oil reserves in Saudi Arabia have made this country a major producer and exporter petroleum products in the world (the Kingdom’s closest rival in this area is the Russian Federation). Such a colossal concentration of natural resources makes the country attractive for doing business. Moreover, recently the Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz, has introduced some innovations into the legislation of his country to simplify doing business. This is especially true for the tourism industry.

With the increasing interest of Muslim tourists in the beauty of famous religious shrines and thanks to the implementation of policies that soften the rules of the Koran, some foreign businessmen prefer to invest their investments in the economy of this particular country, which is currently the most promising in the development of the country. religious tourism.

It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia has recently been known for hosting major summits and conferences related to oil production and exports.

Real estate

Most scientists believe that Saudi Arabia's real estate market is almost the most stable in the world. It is not affected by the global economic crisis. Thanks to the deliberate strengthening of the country's economy and a good demographic situation, the Kingdom's real estate market is growing steadily.

This state has the largest real estate market among the Arab Gulf countries. Thanks to the high level of urbanization, large cities in the country began to develop quite quickly, which required the construction of new residential buildings.

Most recently, Saudi Arabia passed a law allowing the sale of real estate and land for construction to foreign citizens. But there are some limitations here. Firstly, the potential buyer must permanently reside in the state and purchase real estate only for his own use. The sale of premises to foreign investors for doing business in the state is also allowed.

Secondly, when purchasing a plot of land in Saudi Arabia, for a positive decision by the General Investment Authority, the cost of the construction project must exceed $8 million. In addition, the entire investment must be made in the country within five years. Otherwise, the purchase will be refused.

It is worth noting that the sale of real estate to foreigners in Mecca and Medina is strictly prohibited.

If you want to visit this unique Kingdom, you should pay attention to some strict rules of behavior in Muslim society.

• When entering the state, women must wear a burqa or a long dress that covers their legs and arms. A mandatory condition for a woman going out is to cover her head with a scarf. If you break these rules, you may be expelled from the country without explanation.
• Any immodest clothing that exposes the arms above the elbows and legs, as well as a woman’s head not covered with a scarf, can cause sharp condemnation from the religious police.
• In Saudi Arabia, women of any nationality are prohibited from driving.
• Although the ban on photography and videography in public places has recently been lifted in Saudi Arabia, special permission is required to photograph military installations and people, private and government property.
• For the use of alcoholic beverages, drugs, for committing theft or premeditated murder, according to local laws, a very serious punishment is faced: from cutting off hands to beheading.

Visa information

When visiting Saudi Arabia, you should make sure you have the necessary visa. It is strictly forbidden for people who have an Israeli passport or an Israeli visa to enter this country, as well as people who have a note in their passport about the Jewish religion.

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Moscow is located at: 119121, Moscow, 3rd Neopalimovsky Lane, 3.