From Wikitravel Shared

Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern country in Asia that occupies most of the Arabian peninsula and has both Persian Gulf and Red Sea coast lines. Its surrounding countries are Jordan to the northwest, Iraq to the northeast, Kuwait and Qatar to the east, United Arab Emirates to the south east, Oman and Yemen to the south.

Saudi Arabia contains the holy Muslim site of Mecca, a place that all Muslims try to pilgrimage to at least once in their life.

Much of Saudi Arabia (about 98%) is desert and is largely uninhabited. Only the existence of petroleum, and the wealth it generates, tempts people to explore and live in much of this harsh landscape.

[edit] Regions

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah)

• Al Bahah
• Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah
• Al Jawf
• Al Madinah
• Al Qasim
• Ar Riyadh
• Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province)
• Asir
• Ha'il
• Jizan
• Makkah
• Najran
• Tabuk

[edit] Cities

• Riyadh - the capital

• Abha - a summer tourist mountain resort city in the southwest near Yemeni border
• Dhahran - city that houses Saudi ARAMCO, the world's largest petroleum company
• Jeddah - large metropolitan city on the Red Sea
• Al Jubail - largest industrial city in the kingdom
• Ha'il - moderate size city
• Mecca (Makkah) - holy city #1
• Medina (Madinah) - holy city #2
• Najran
• Taif - moderate size mountain town, summer capital

[edit] Other destinations

• Hajj - the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca

Some people make excursions into the desert to look at the railway line the Turks tried to build and that Lawrence and his lads repeatedly blew up.

For foreigners, this requires a group of four-wheel-drive vehicles well supplied with tow ropes for getting each other out when they bog down in sand. Large numbers of local Arabs drive around the same area in two-wheel drive Toyota trucks, and never seem to bog down.

[edit] Understand

Saudi Arabia is one of two countries named for their royal families, along with The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The family were sheiks of Nejd, the area around Riyahd, but were driven out by a neighbouring tribe, hiding with their relatives, the sultan of Kuwait. Then in 1902, young Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud and a few dozen lads rode out to raid their home territory. As it turned out, the invaders had been ruling badly, so many locals joined them. They not only re-captured Riyadh, but much of the surrounding territory.

After that, Abdul Aziz set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. The area united under him became known as Saudi Arabia.

In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. A burgeoning population, unemployment, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns.

[edit] Economy

Saudi Arabia is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the private sector.

Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. Riyadh expects to have a budget deficit in 2002, in part because of increased spending for education and other social programs.

The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

Unemployment among young Saudis is a very serious problem. While part of this can be explained by Saudi reluctance to take many types of work, it is also true that imported labor is much, much cheaper than that of the locals.

[edit] Geography

Climate 

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain 

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources 

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use 

arable land: 1.72%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 98.22% (1998 est.)

[edit] Holidays

National holiday 

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)*

Eid-Ul-Fitr Eid-Ul-Adha

• They vary according to Islamic calender.

[edit] Get in

Saudi Arabia has some of the most restrictive travel policies in the world, and advance visas are required for all foreigners desiring to enter or leave. The only important exception are residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Nationals of Israel and those with evidence of visiting Israel will be denied visas, although in theory merely being Jewish in and of itself is not a disqualifying factor.

However, things have loosened up a little compared to the past. Tourist visas, long near-impossible without a Saudi sponsor, are now available but only for guided tours. Transit visas are limited to some long-distance truck drivers. Hajj (pilgrimage) visas are issued by the Saudi government through Saudi embassies around the world in cooperation with local mosques. Hajjis, and those on transit visas are prohibited from traveling freely throughout the kingdom.

Most visitors are guest workers. These visas are provided by the Saudi government to employers.

Exit visas are required to leave. Note that if you have a work visa, you cannot get an exit visa without a signature from your employer. There have been cases of people unable to leave because of controversy with employers.

Saudi Arabia has very rigorous customs inspections at all entry points. Alcoholic beverages, pork, non-Islamic religious materials and pornography (very widely defined) are all prohibited. Computers, VCR tapes and DVDs have all been seized from time to time for inspection by the authorities. A visitor should expect all bags to be opened or x-rayed.

[edit] By plane

Saudi Arabia has 3 international airports at Riyadh, Jeddah and Ad Dammam. The airport at Dhahran is now closed to civil traffic, so passengers to the Eastern Region now fly into Dammam.

Saudi Arabia is served by the national airline, Saudia as well as Gulf Air, Alitalia, Air France, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, Air India, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), Qatar Airways and now SriLankan Airlines. British Airways stopped service to the kingdom in March, 2005. During the Hajj, numerous charter flights supplement the scheduled airlines.

A popular option is to fly into nearby Bahrain and then cross into Saudi Arabia by car.

[edit] By train

There are no railroads connecting Saudi Arabia with other countries.But there is a railway connection between Dammam-Hasa-Riyadh

[edit] By car

Automobile crossings exist on all the borders, although those into Iraq are currently closed.

[edit] By bus

The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) operates intra- and inter-city buses as well as international buses between the kingdom and Bahrain and the UAE.

[edit] By boat

A passenger ferry runs between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By plane

In addition to Saudia, low-cost carrier Nas Air [1] flies from Riyadh to Jeddah and Medina, with additional destinations planned soon. Also a new airline called "Sama Air"[2] has begun its domestic operations covering destinations like Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Dharan, Tabuk, Nejran, Abha, etc...

[edit] By train

Several passenger trains run each day from Dammam to Riyadh. Arrive early at the station as the trains are often sold out. You must buy tickets at the station.

[edit] By taxi

In Riyadh, Taxis will charge you anywhere between SR5 for nearby distances to SR20 for city outskirts. Taxi drivers at airports use a fixed rate to take you in a drive from and to airports.

[edit] By motorcycle

The popularity of motorcycles are rapidly growing all over Saudi Arabia now, you can ride your motorcycle around to see the country in a special way..

[edit] Talk

Arabic is the official language of the Kingdom, although English is widely spoken. Hindi and Urdu is extensively used in the marketplaces and by sub-continent expatriates. All major languages are spoken in the markets of Makkah. There is a significant Tagalog speaking expatriate minority as well.

Nearly all road signs are in English as well as Arabic.

[edit] Buy

The Saudi currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR), which trades at a fixed 3.7450 to the US dollar since 1986.

Prices are generally fairly expensive. Figure on US$25/50/100 for budget, midrange and splurge-level daily travel costs.

Few local products are of interest to tourists. Locally grown dates are of high quality, and religious paraphernalia is widely available, but almost exclusively imported. Copies of the Holy Quran are produced in a wide range of editions and sold at very low prices. Zam zam water is available throughout the Western Region and at all airports.

Carpets are a favorite purchase, most of these coming from nearby Iran. Jeddah in particular has lots of carpets, many brought by pilgrims who sell them there to help finance their trip to Mecca.

Large gold and jewelry markets are prominent in all major cities. Bargaining is a norm in most small to medium sized stores. Makkah and Medina offer a lot of variety in terms of luggage, clothing, jewelry, knick-knacks, souvenirs, toys, food, perfume, incense, and religious literature, audio, and paraphernalia.

Large, well maintained air-conditioned malls and grocery stores (i.e. Safeway, Giant Stores) are scattered throughout the kingdom.

[edit] Do

Entertainment in Saudi Arabia is very family-oriented. There are few activities for just couples or singles. Single men are usually frowned upon in family areas. Family beaches are partitioned from the bachelor beaches, for example. Women are generally expected to be accompanied by a male in public.

ATV rentals are often found along the roadside on the outskirts of major cities. Amusement parks (many of them indoor) are often found near malls or beaches. Desert excursions are particularly popular with the native Arabs. There are few desert dune bashing tour operators, if any. Many upscale hotels provide light activities (specially hotels located along the beaches). Many large cities have public parks and small zoos. Horseback riding, camel riding, etc. are also available at horse-racing tracks and some popular beaches.

[edit] Eat

There are numerous American franchises operating in the various cities, including McDonalds, Burger King, Little Caesars, Cinnabon, Pizza Hut, Subway, and Dunkin' Donuts. In addition to chains well-known in Europe and North America, there are some local businesses such as:

• Al-Baik - fried chicken- in Mecca and Madinat-ul-Munawwarah, but not Riyadh

• BAAK - Pizza (thin crust and quite good), fried chicken, lasagna, sandwiches

• KUDU - Saudi sandwich chain [3]

• Herfy Burger - biggest fast food chain in the country, 100% Saudi owned

• House of Donuts - "The Finest American Pastries" - a chain begun by Saudi students who studied in America
• Villa d'Este Cafe - ( Luxury & small coffee shop ) with outdoor garden. Very special place. Al Kahayyat center 2-Tahlyah Street

Your local Saudi or expatriate host may be able to show you some places.

In the evenings, very affordable shawarma is available throughout medium to large cities.

For fine dining, most of the best restaurants are to be found in the larger international hotel chains.

[edit] Drink

It's fair to say nobody comes to Saudi Arabia for the alcohol culture.

Alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden throughout the country. The police generally turn a blind eye to goings-on inside compounds for foreign expats. However, if they catch people involved in smuggling or distilling booze in quantity, then expat or not, Saudi law applies. A foreigner may not get the sentence a local would, but can expect a few days or weeks jail, public flogging, and deportation.

Do not drink and drive! is good advice anywhere, but especially in Saudi Arabia. If you have an accident, or otherwise attract police attention, the consequences might be serious indeed.

The locally-brewed white lightning called "siddiqi" (Arabic for "my friend") or just "sid" is of course illegal. It is also extremely potent (anything up to 90-odd percent alcohol) and remarkably unpalatble.

"Saudi champagne" is common in restaurants. Fill a large pitcher with ice cubes, then pour in equal quantities of apple juice and soda water. This is surprisingly palatable and probably quite good for you. In the heat you need fluids and the salts in the soda as well.

Although tap-water is safe for drinking, it reportedly has a stale smell. It's also very warm coming out of the cold-water tap (therefore people either refrigerate their water, or buy cold bottled-water).

[edit] Sleep

Hotels of all types are available throughout the Kingdom. Most tourist cities (i.e. Makkah, Medina, Taif, Al Abha) will also have very affordable and spacious shigka-maafroosha (short-term furnished rental apartments). Shigka-maafroosha owners generally loiter in hotel lobbies. Often, they will approach civilized-looking people (generally families) and make an offer. Prices for shigka-mafrooshas and small hotels are always negotiable to a great degree. Smaller hotels will only accept cash, normally in advance.

Larger, more expensive hotels are abundant in all major cities. The prices for 4 to 5 star hotels are comparable to international rates. Higher-end hotels in Saudi Arabia offer extensive room-service and amenities.

[edit] Stay healthy

Saudi Arabia is a developing country with both First- and Third-World aspects to health.

The Kingdom has a wide-reaching national health-care system. The services provided by this program are quite basic.

Private hospitals are often run with the participation of foreign partners. These facilities range from fairly rudimentary to very advanced and very expensive. Pharmacies are widely available and prescriptions are not required for most medications. Psychoactive medications are tightly controlled and available only through government pharmacies.

The public health situation in Saudi Arabia also ranges from one extreme to another. While a modern infrastructure is in place. Cleanliness in the preparation of food in commercial establishments can be substandard.

Bottled water is easily available, and as they say, is more expensive than gasoline (which in July, 2006, costs $0.6 per gallon)

An aggressive program of inoculations is recommended to persons traveling to Saudi Arabia, specially in populous locations such as Makkah and Medina (where you are likely to come in close contact with people from all sorts of different countries).

[edit] Work

There are quite a few jobs for expatriates in Saudi Arabia. Generally, the pay is good but foreigners find the strictly Muslim society a difficult place to live. See Teaching English for more information.

To get a working visa, you must have a Saudi sponsor. Then to get an exit visa, you need your sponsor's signature. Sometimes this leads to problems.

[edit] Stay safe

.

There is currently a low-level insurgency which targets foreigners in general and Westerners in particular. It is prudent not to draw attention to oneself. Foreigners should register their presence with their embassy or consulate. Emergency alert systems using e-mail and cell phone messages are maintained by many governments for their guest workers.

While crime is low by Western standards, a certain background level of non-violent opportunistic theft does exist. Locking doors and keeping valuables on one's person is called for. Violations of Saudi law can bring a visitor into contact with the local police and justice systems. Corporal and capital punishment are both used against both Saudi and other nationals. Embassies can provide only limited help in these situations.

Additionally, in the month of Ramadan, everyone is expected to respect the fast of Ramadan and not eat or drink in public since all Muslims will be fasting.

[edit] Respect

Saudi Arabians adhere strictly to the Islamic faith. Public expressions of religions other than Islam are forbidden. Insulting Islam is punishable.

The flag of Saudi Arabia bears the Islamic declaration of faith. Any inappropriate use of the flag is considered insulting.

Saudi etiquette is complex. That being said, should a visitor cause some minor offense, the reaction would generally be amusement rather than anger.

Women, be they local or foreign, are all required to wear an abaya, a long and loose black robe. While a headscarf is optional for non-Saudi females, one should at least be brought along in order to avoid possible harassment from the Muttawah (religious police) or to be used as a means of deflecting attention from potentially aggravating men, especially in case of blondes. Men with long hair might want to consider a cut before entering the kingdom, although shoulder-length locks can be considered reasonable, anything longer can be considered as grounds for rejection from shopping malls and public places by the Muttawah. Insulting the King and the Royal Family is extremely serious in Saudi Arabia and results in the death sentence.

[edit] Contact

Police: 999 Car Accidents: 993 Ambulance: 997 Fire: 998 Phone Directory (Fees Apply): 905 --Full MooN 17:27, 31 May 2007 (EDT)Badr Al Saif

This is a usable article. It has information about the country and for getting in, as well as links to several destinations. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!