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Currently reported don'ts for 'Saudi Arabia': 19

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia
  • Capital

    Capital

    Riyadh

  • Local time

    Local time

    23:05

  • Population

    Population

    33.43 m

  • Driving side

    Driving side

    Right

  • Calling code

    Calling code

    +966

  • Currency

    Currency

    ر.س SAR (riyal)

Read more facts about Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia
Socket
  • Capital

    Capital

    Riyadh

  • Local time

    Local time

    23:05

  • Population

    Population

    33.43 m

  • Driving side

    Driving side

    Right

  • Calling code

    Calling code

    +966

  • Currency

    Currency

    ر.س SAR (riyal)

  • Average Salary

    Average Salary

    $ 1 786

  • Petrol price

    Petrol price

    € 0.16 pl

  • Precipitation

    Precipitation

    59mm /year

Geography & travel

  • Country Area

    Country Area

    1 960 582 km2

  • Protected Area

    Protected Area

    31%

  • Forest Area

    Forest Area

    1%

  • Agricultural area

    Agricultural area

    80%

  • Railways

    Railways

    1412km

  • Annual air passengers

    Annual air passengers

    34.51 m

Population

  • Ethnicity

    Ethnicity

    Arab - 90 %
    Afro-Asian - 10 %

  • Religion

    Religion

    Islam - 100 %
    Islam - 100 %

  • Literacy rates

    Literacy rates

    94.4%

  • Languages

    Languages

    Arabic

  • Armed Forces

    Armed Forces

    251 500

  • Murders

    Murders

    2 per 100k

  • Alcohol consumption

    Alcohol consumption

    0.2 l/person

  • Smoking

    Smoking

    27.9%

  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    20%

  • Malaria

    Malaria

    0%

  • Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis

    12 per 100k

  • HIV

    HIV

    0.1%

Economy

  • Industries

    Industries

    crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide, cement, fertilizer, plastics

  • Agriculture

    Agriculture

    wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus, mutton, chickens, eggs

  • Natural Resources

    Natural Resources

    petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

  • Energy Import

    Energy Import

    -191%

  • Natural Resources

    Natural Resources

    petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

  • Renewable Energy

    Renewable Energy

    0%

  • CO2 Emissions

    CO2 Emissions

    601 047kt

  • Ease of Business

    Ease of Business

    92 (Best=1, Worst=200)

  • ATMs per 100k people

    ATMs per 100k people

    76

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What not to do when visiting Saudi Arabia

1/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t forget to shake hands when greeting (men). Good friends may greet with a handshake and kiss on each cheek. Women usually hug and kiss. Opposite sexes don’t greet each other in public.

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2/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t criticise Islam and don’t discuss any religion. The public practice of other faiths than Islam is prohibited.

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3/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t eat, drink, smoke or chew chewing gum in public during the holy month of Ramadan.

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Did you know

Did you know?

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river. And if a woman wants to travel, she can only do so with the permission of her husband.

4/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Social Events

Don’t ask about or discuss Saudi’s wife - it’s better to ask about health or family.

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5/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t travel to military zones or border posts - it’s banned for tourists.

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6/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t forget women must be met by their sponsor upon arrival, according to Saudi Arabia’s regulations. Women who are travelling alone and are not attended by sponsors have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on other flights.

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7/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t forget married women, including non-Saudis, require their husband’s permission to depart the country, while unmarried women and children need the permission of their father or male guardian.

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8/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t bring your pet without an official approval the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture must approve all pets imported into Saudi Arabia.

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Did you know

Did you know?

Movie theatres in Saudi Arabia have been outlawed for years and were only recently decriminalised.

9/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t dance, play music or show movies in public - it’s forbidden.

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10/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t be surprised many areas of life in Saudi Arabia is segregated by sex to ensure that unrelated men and women have no possibility of mingling.

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Tell us your experience

Tell us your experience

We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?

Submit your story

11/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t drive or ride motorcycles, bicycles, or any other type of vehicle on public roads if you’re a woman - it’s not allowed.

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12/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t expect anything to be open on Friday - it's the Muslim holy day. Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday.

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13/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t wear tight and unveiling clothes - always dress conservatively.

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Tick
14/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Business & Communication

Don’t use your left hand for eating or handing things over.

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Tick
15/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t forget to maintain good hygiene all the times.

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16/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t necessarily drink camel’s milk unless you’re really willing to.

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17/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Street & Behavioral

Don’t forget same-sex sexual relations are criminalised in Saudi Arabia.

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18/19
Marker Saudi Arabia
Social Events

Don't refuse the invitation for a coffee or meal.

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Tell us your experience

Tell us your experience

We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?

Submit your story

19/19
Marker Western Asia
Business & Communication

Don't bath naked or topless.

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Tick

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