Visa Requirements
Everyone who enters the Kingdom should have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity and the appropriate visa. Unless you are a visitor from a GCC country or in transit, all other nationalities require a visa to enter the Kingdom. Visas can be for business, tourist, transit, residency, family, Hajj, or conference attendance.
Visas can be obtained from the visa department in the Saudi Embassy of the visitor's home country or from Saudi Consulates available in all main cities around the world. The cost of a visa is generally 200 Saudi Riyals. However, visitors should check with the Saudi Embassy or Consulate.
Important Instructions:
If a woman is arriving in the Kingdom alone, the sponsor or her husband must receive her at the airport. Every woman must have confirmed accommodation for the duration of her stay in the Kingdom. A woman is not allowed to drive a car and can therefore travel by car only if she is accompanied by her husband, a male relative, or a driver.
All visitors to the Kingdom must have a return ticket.
Pilgrims must also have all valid documentation and a passport that is valid for 6 months.
Currency
The Saudi currency is the riyal. Riyal banknotes are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 riyals. The riyal is divided into 100 halalas. Coins are issued in the value of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 halalas.
Business Hours
The working week is Saturday to Wednesday, although some offices and businesses also operate on Thursday morning.
Government Offices: open from 7.30 am to 2.30 p.m.
Banks: open 8.00 a.m. to 12 noon and 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Private Businesses: open 8.00 a.m. to 12 noon and 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Traditional Saudi dress/clothing
MALE DRESS
THOBE: The traditional clothing for men is the Thobe, a loose, long-sleeved, ankle-length garment. Thobes worn in summer are generally white and made of cotton. Thobes worn in winter are generally darker in color and made of wool.
TAGIYAH: The Tagiyah is a white knitted skull cap
GHUTRA: The Ghutra is a square scarf, made of cotton or silk, which is worn folded across the head over the Tagiyah. The end of the scarf can be draped across the face as protection in the event of sandstorms.
AGAL: The Agal is a thick, doubled, black cord which is worn on top of the Ghutra to hold it in place.
FEMALE DRESS
THOBE: Women wear the Thobe - a loose, long-sleeved, ankle-length garment, but, for women, the neck and front can be embroidered and decorated with beads.
ABAYA: The Abaya is a large, black cloak, worn either loose and flowing or wrapped around the body. The Abaya is generally made of silk or synthetic cloth.
BOSHIYA: The Boshiya is a black veil, light in weight, worn across the lower part of the face.
SURWAL: The Surwal are cotton or silk trousers worn by women under the Thobe.
Months/Days of the Week/Time
The Arab calendar is a lunar calendar. The 12 months are:
- Muharram (30 days)
- Safar (29 days)
- Rabi'a al-Awal (30 days)
- Rabi'a ath-Thani (29 days)
- Jumada al-Ula (30 days)
- Jamada Ath-Thaniya (29 days)
- Rajab (30 days)
- Sha'aban (29 days)
- Ramadan (30 days)
- Shawwal (29 days)
- Dhul Qa'dah (30 days)
- Dhul Hijjah (29 days: 30 days in a leap year)
The seven days of the week are:
- As-Sabt (Saturday)
- Al-Ahad (Sunday)
- Al-Athnain (Monday)
- Ath-Thulatha (Tuesday)
- Al-Arbia (Wednesday)
- Al-Khamees (Thursday)
- Al-Juma (Friday)
The time throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Greenwich Meantime plus 3 hours.
Prayer Times
- Fajr (Dawn)
- Shuruq (Sunrise) - the latest time by which Fajr should be performed
- Dhuhr (Midday)
- Asr (Afternoon)
- Maghreb (Sunset)
- Isha (Night)
Airline Offices in Madinah
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
P.O. Box 2496, Madinah al Munawwarah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 4 824 1741 / 823 2270 / 825 3684, Fax: 00 966 4 822134
Turkish Airlines
Kurban Al Nazir Street, behind Sony Co, PO Box 3645, Madinah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 4 822 4426 / 822 1828, Fax: 00 966 4 822 4426
Airline Offices in Jeddah
Air Canada
YUSUF BIN AHMED KANOO. Kilo 7, Medina Road. P.O. Box 812, Jeddah 21421, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 669 6933, Fax: 00 966 2 663 6881
Air France
P.O.Box 4570, Jeddah 21412, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 651 2000, Fax: 00 966 2 653 4254
Air India
P.O.Box 5781, Jeddah 21432, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 647 9601, Fax: 00 966 2 661 1385
AirLanka
Kanoo Tower, Kilo 7, Madina Road. P.O. Box 812, Jeddah 21421, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 263 2917, Fax: 00 966 2 263 2948
Al Khayala
National Air Services (NAS). 2nd Floor - Al-Jirasi Bldg. Madinah Road, Jeddah. P.O.Box 18118, Jeddah 21415, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 690 0122, Fax: 00 966 2 652 0394
Alitalia
Alkhayat Tower, Medeina Rd P.O. Box 2910, Jeddah 21461, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 660 0640, Fax: 00 966 2 660 8328
Austrian Airlines
Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 660 2356
Biman Airlines
P.O. Box 13541, Jeddah 21414, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 2733, Fax: 00 966 2 665 2850
British Airways
P.O.Box 52097, Jeddah 21563, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 667 0224, Fax: 00 966 2 660 3353
Cathy Pacific
PO Box 2223, Jeddah 21451, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 3088, Fax: 00 966 2 664 6555
Cyprus Airways
Cyprus Airways Ltd. SKAB Centre. P.O Box 18600, Jeddah 21425, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 8278 / 669 6304 / 669 6312
Emirates
P.O. Box 41142, Jeddah 21521, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 9405
Ethiopian Airlines
Adham Commercial Center, Medina Road, toward downtown. PO Box 8913, Jeddah 21492, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 651 2996 / 651 2365, Fax: 00 966 2 651 6670
Etihad Airways
PO Box 18600, Jeddah 21425, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 664 0024 / 26 / 28, Fax: 00 966 2 664 0064
Garuda Indonesia
1st Fl, No 25-26 City Centre, Medina Rd, PO. BOX 52025., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 6121, Fax: 00 966 2 665 5180
Iran Air
Al-Nakheel Center , Medineh Road , Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 4619, Fax: 00 966 2 667 3524
Japan Airlines
Shop No. 6, City Center Annexe, Medina Road, P.O.Box 863, Jeddah 21421, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 664 7202
KLM
Falcon Building, 4th floor, Madinah Road. P.O.Box 4570, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 651 8012, Fax: 00 966 2 651 5504
Kenya Airways
Kanoo travel Centre, Kilo7-MedinaRd, P.O Box 812, Jeddah 21421, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 669 6933, Fax: 00 966 2 660 9347
Kuwait Airways
Jamjoom Center, Palestine Rd PO Box 4724, Jeddah 21412, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 6675415 / 669 2616 / 669 4111, Fax: 00 966 2 660 4466
Lufthansa
P.O. Box 1719, Jeddah 21441, Falcon Building, 4th Floor, Medina Road, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 651 4000, Fax: 00 966 2 651 1175
Malaysia Airlines
Jamjoon Commercial Centre, Ground Floor Entrance Gate No 10 Palastine Street, P.O.Box 52118 Jeddah 21563, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 661 0150, Fax: 00 966 2 661 0041
Olympic Airways
King Abdul Aziz North Terminal (33km), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 685 3032 / 685 5416, Fax: 00 966 2 685 0696
Olympic Airways
Adham Commercial center, Medina rd South P.O. Box 11223. Jeddah 21345, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 651 1280 / 651 1216, Fax: 00 966 2 653 0776
Oman Air
Madina Road (Northbound) cor. Waly Al Ahad Street, P.O. Box 1688, Jeddah 21463, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 657 7979, Fax: 00 966 2 657 8690
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Al Hasan Centre for Businessmen, Medina Road, Opp Governor Office. P.O. Box 2033, Jeddah 21451, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 642 2642, Fax: 00 966 2 642 2644
Royal Air Maroc
Madina Road Down Mohammediah Plaza opposite the Hayatt Regency, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 650 2222 / 650 2211, Fax: 00 966 2 650 2111
Royal Brunei Airlines
PO Box 2069, 21451 Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 665 1611, Fax: 00 966 2 665 1730
Royal Jordanian Airlines
PO Box 3431, 21411 Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 667 4243, Fax: 00 966 2 660 3930
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Marketing Communications Department P.O. Box 620, Jeddah 21231, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 684 1701
Singapore Airlines
GSA Kanoo Travel Company. 4th Floor, Al Mohammadiyah Plaza, Madina Road, P.O. Box 52562, Jeddah 21573, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 657 9911, Fax: 00 966 2 657 9910
Syrian Air
Alrwaies Sarbatley Center, between Hael Street & Waley Alahed Street, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 651 9169, Fax: 00 966 2 651 3085
Turkish Airlines
King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 685 3487, Fax: 00 966 2 685 3486
Yemenia
Al-Kheima Shopping Center, Mena Road Opposite Saudi TV, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00 966 2 644 7042, Fax: 00 966 2 644 6089
