Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shopping centres
9am or 10am to midnight Saturday to Thursday
Shops & souqs
8am or 9am to 1pm or 2pm and 4.30pm or 5pm to 9pm, Saturday to
Wednesday
Note that during prayer times - five times a day -
everything
shuts.
In Saudi, the weekend is Thursday and Friday.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography in certain areas is still off-limits due to security concerns - government
buildings, embassies, airports, seaports, desalination or electricity plants, oil rigs, royal
palaces and police stations or anything vaguely connected with the military or security
services. Don't photograph people without their permission, and never photograph women
(even in a general street scene).
Filming is still prohibited at some archaeological sites; if you get caught, your camera
may be confiscated. If you're coming to Saudi with a tour operator, it can organise a video
permit for you, as well as a letter to customs (stating that you'll arrive with a camera).
Memory cards and batteries can easily be found in Riyadh and Jeddah.
POST
The queues at Saudi post offices can be long, especially in the main city branches at
weekends and in the evenings.
Any internationally addressed parcel must first be taken to the post office unwrapped so
that Saudi customs can inspect it. If a parcel includes DVDs they may be viewed by cus-
toms before you can mail them.
Most Saudis use their company mailboxes instead of a private box. If you're living in
Saudi, you should follow suit or get a box at your local post office.
Public Holidays
No holidays other than
Eid al-Fitr
(dates vary),
Eid al-Adha
(dates vary) and
National
Day
(23 September) are observed in the Kingdom.
SAFE TRAVEL
Dos & Don'ts
Conservative dress is the rule of thumb in Saudi Arabia. Shorts in public are a big no-no
(except at the private beaches operated by some top-end hotels and expat compounds).
Unmarried couples shouldn't travel together and if they do they may be stopped and in-
vestigated.
Alcohol is strictly illegal in Saudi Arabia.
