Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Website of the Saudi Arabia Embassy
Arab Net

Diplomatic representations

List of Saudi Embassies abroad

For more information

Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Greece
71, rue Marathonodromon
154 52 Psychico
Phone: 21 06 71 69 11-13
Fax: 21 06 74 98 33
gremb@mofa.gov.sa

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Taxis services are available from all main airports to the traveler's destination. The fare should be negotiated in advance. Service taxis which are shared by people charge fare equivalent to buses.
Buses operated by Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) are comfortable and usually follow schedule.

Maps of urban networks

Maporama
SAMIRAD

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Taxis remain the most suitable means of transport for foreigners. They are regulated by government.

Rail companies

Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO)

Flight from Greece

No aircraft company operates direct flight from Athens to Saudi Arabia. To find out air connections from Greece to Saudi Arabia click here

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

Disobeying traffic signals and driving beyond speed limits is common practice. These are also the main reasons for high rate of traffic accidents. Within cities taxi or renting a car is highly recommended. Most road signs are in Arabic, though, many of them are in English too.

Road maps

PlacesOnLine

Find an itinerary

Live Search Maps

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities of Islam are the most important part of historical tourism in the country.  
Jeddah is home to numerous historical landmarks and buildings such as: the Old Jeddah Wall and Gates, the old quarters, historical mosques.

Cultural

Islam is the focus of Saudi Arabian culture. Festivals and Events are an integral part of Saudi Arabian culture. These celebrations highlight the customs and traditions in the country and give a beautiful perspective to this wonderful land.

Nature

Witness the astonishing landscape and wildlife of the Asir, a range of coastal mountains and the only part of the kingdom where there is significant wild vegetation. View a picturesque settlement of fishermen and weavers on Tarut Island. It is also the site of the oldest town on the peninsula.

Religious

- Al-Masjid al-Haram (The Holy Mosque), Mecca
- The Ka'ba and Black Stone, Mecca
- The Prophet's Mosque, Medina
- Floating Mosque of Jeddah, etc.

Thermal

Though thermal energy is the main source of power in Saudi Arabia, there are no natural hot springs. However few hotels provide hot spring spas.
For more details, visit Saudi World.

Beach

Some prominent beaches are Durrat Al-Arus, Shums, Bait Albahar, Salhia and Al Nakeel.

Winter sports

None

Outdoor activities

People also show a lot of interest in activities like scuba diving, windsurfing, and sailing, Golf, horse and camel racing. Do watch the King's Camel Race which takes place in April or May during the national Heritage and Cultural Festival at Jenadriyah.

Shopping

Saudi Arabia has a blend of traditional open air markets and modern air conditioned shopping plazas and malls to choose from. If open air Souk is a great place to bargain then the Saudi malls offer the popular international brands. The shops are closed on Fridays and during prayer times.

Tourism organizations

Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTTA)
Saudi Tourism

Eating

Food specialties

Saudi food is often strongly flavored and spicy. The most common meats are lamb and chicken, beef is rare and pork is proscribed under Islamic law. The main meat meal of the day is lunch. Some of the popular culinary specialties of Saudi Arabia are:
- Pitta bread accompanies every dish;
- Rice, lentils, chick peas and cracked wheat are also common;
- Kultra is popular for lunch;
- Kebabs served with soup and vegetables;
- Mezze.

Drinks

Consumption of alcohol is prohibited and Arabic coffee and fruit drinks are popular alternatives.
Gawha, the ritual of serving coffee, is an important part of Saudi culture.

Dietary restrictions

Alcohol, pork and some birds are prohibited by the religion which is followed very rigorously by the Muslims.

Paying

Domestic currency

Saudi Riyal

ISO Code

SAR

To obtain domestic currency

Foreign currency can be changed at commercial banks and moneychangers. Changing currency at hotel may not be advisable as the exchange rate can be very high.

 

Possible means of payment

Payment is usually in cash although credit and charge cards are also popular. ATMs are also available at Banks and Shopping malls.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Saudi Arabia, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

Arabic

Other languages spoken

English is most widely used. Other languages spoken in Kingdom are Indonesian, Somali, Tagalog, Urdu, Western Farsi.

Business language

Yes, English is widely used as business language.

Getting some knowledge

Visit the following sites: Speak7; Learn Arabic.

Free translation tools

Free Online Language Translation - Online translation tool between different languages
EmailAddress.com - Free online translation tool
TV5 - Free Greek-Arabic-Greek translator
Lexicool - Free Greek-Arabic-Greek dictionary

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: February 2012