Exploring Saudi: Travel Options For Americans

Americans can travel to Saudi Arabia, but they need a visa to do so. Since September 2019, American citizens have been able to apply for a tourist visa through a simple eVisa application. The visa application can be completed online and typically takes 24-72 hours to be approved. The eVisa is valid for 1 year from the arrival date included in the application, and travellers can stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days. However, it is important to note that the U.S. Department of State advises Americans to exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism.

Visa requirements for US citizens

US citizens need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of the visit. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers several visa options, including business visas, diplomatic visas, and religious pilgrimage visas.

Electronic Visa (eVisa)

Since September 2019, American citizens have been able to apply for a tourist visa through a simple eVisa application, eliminating the need to visit an embassy or consulate. The eVisa can be obtained entirely online, and the application process is quick and straightforward. The form requires basic personal, passport, and travel itinerary details, along with a recent passport-size photograph. The approximate processing time is between 24 to 72 hours, and the eVisa is valid for one year from the arrival date included in the application.

The eVisa fee includes the cost of obligatory medical insurance for Saudi Arabia. The insurance covers emergency medical cases up to a value of 100,000 SAR ($26,660).

Other Visa Requirements

• US citizens must have a valid passport with a minimum of six months' validity beyond the date of travel.
• One blank passport page is required for the entry stamp.
• Currency restrictions: Amounts exceeding 16,000 USD must be declared upon entry and exit.
• For residency permit-holders (iqama), an exit/re-entry permit is required to leave Saudi Arabia, along with six months' validity on the passport.
• Females and minors may require a male guardian's permission to leave the country, even if they are US citizens or dual nationals.
• Work Visas: Foreigners working in Saudi Arabia are subject to the country's sponsorship system, which gives substantial legal authority over the employee to the employer.
• HIV/AIDS: A medical report confirming the absence of contagious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, is required to obtain work and residence permits. Those who test positive will not be allowed to work in the country.

Travel warnings and restrictions

The US Department of State advises US citizens to exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism. Some areas are deemed high risk, including within 20 miles of the Saudi-Yemen border and Qatif in the Eastern Province, including Awamiyah. The US Embassy and Consulate personnel must adhere to these travel restrictions, and the US government has limited ability to assist US citizens in these locations.

Terrorism is a concern in Saudi Arabia, with attacks potentially occurring with little or no warning. Religious sites and other places frequented by US citizens have been targeted. Terrorists are using less sophisticated methods of attack, including knives, firearms, and vehicles. Targets often include tourist locations, large gatherings, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and government facilities.

Social media activity deemed critical, offensive, or disruptive to public order by Saudi authorities could lead to arrest. US citizens have been arrested for past social media activity, even for comments made outside of Saudi Arabia. Saudi laws on cybercrime and terrorism are used to prosecute these cases, with punishments including prison sentences of up to 45 years.

It is illegal to bring certain items into Saudi Arabia, including drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, gambling-related items, weapons, pork, and materials considered obscene or suggestive. Penalties for importing prohibited items are severe by US standards.

Due to risks to civil aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) for the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Saudi Arabia.

The CDC recommends that travelers to Saudi Arabia take necessary precautions, including getting recommended vaccinations and being aware of the presence of various diseases, such as measles, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and malaria.

The Australian government advises its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in Saudi Arabia due to the threat of terrorism and missile and drone attacks. It also warns of severe penalties for participating in demonstrations and protests, which are illegal in the country.

Crime rates in Saudi Arabia are generally low, but theft can occur, especially in crowded places and from vehicles. Physical, verbal, and sexual harassment are also possible.

Driving in Saudi Arabia can be hazardous due to aggressive driving, lax enforcement of traffic regulations, and high traffic volume. The annual road death toll is extremely high.

Entry Requirements

US citizens need a valid visa to enter Saudi Arabia. A tourist visa can be obtained through an eVisa application, which is valid for one year from the arrival date and allows travelers to stay for up to 90 days. The visa fee includes the cost of processing obligatory medical insurance.

Health and safety advice

Vaccinations and Medication

• Check the latest vaccination requirements on the Saudi Ministry of Health website.
• Ensure you are up to date with all routine vaccines, including chickenpox, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR).
• Check with your doctor at least a month before your trip to get any additional vaccines or medicines you may need.
• If you are travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah or visit the Holy Mosques, you will need to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.
• If you are travelling from an area with a risk of yellow fever, you will need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.
• Malaria is a risk in some parts of Saudi Arabia. If you are going to a risk area, fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough medication for the entire length of your trip.
• If you plan to bring medication, check if it is legal in Saudi Arabia. Always carry your prescription medication in its original packaging, along with your doctor's prescription.

General Health and Safety

• Stay alert in large crowds and/or locations frequented by foreign nationals.
• Avoid contaminated water and soil.
• Avoid contact with camels or products contaminated with camel secretions.
• Sandstorms and dust storms are common. They can cause allergies and breathing problems. During sandstorms or dust storms, stay indoors, wear a mask, or seek medical advice.
• Use insect repellent to protect yourself from insect-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis.
• Stay safe around water. Swim only in designated swimming areas and avoid swallowing water when swimming.
• Keep away from animals. Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.
• Reduce your exposure to germs by washing your hands often and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid sharing body fluids. Use latex condoms correctly and do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin.
• Know how to get medical care while travelling. Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals, review your health insurance plan, and consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Select safe transportation. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for healthy US citizens in foreign countries. Choose official taxis or public transportation, wear a seatbelt at all times, and avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes.
• Maintain personal security. Use common sense, stay alert and aware of your surroundings, and monitor travel advisories and alerts. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Dress modestly in public, covering your shoulders and knees, and avoid tight-fitting clothing or clothes with profane language or images.

Social media and local laws

Social media activity deemed critical, offensive, or disruptive to public order by Saudi authorities could lead to arrest. U.S. citizens have been arrested for past social media activity and comments made while outside of Saudi Arabia. This may include posting, re-posting, or liking comments critical of Saudi institutions, policies, or public life. Saudi laws on cybercrime and terrorism are used to prosecute these cases. Punishment for social media activity has included prison sentences of up to 45 years. Saudi courts do not necessarily consider the timeframe of the posts, or the location from which they were made, to be material.

Saudi Arabia's Anti-Cyber Crime Law sets out all cyber crimes and their associated penalties. The law criminalizes "producing something that harms public order, religious values, public morals, the sanctity of private life, or authoring, sending, or storing it via an information network". It imposes penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 3 million riyals ($800,000).

The country's restrictive absolute monarchy places substantial limits on the range of information and services available online. Authorities operate extensive censorship and surveillance systems. Critics, activists, and others perceived to voice dissent online are subject to severe punishment, including harassment and arrest. Users were arrested for social media content deemed offensive to "customs and traditions".

The Saudi government exercises technical control over internet infrastructure for the purpose of restricting connectivity. The government maintains technical control over Saudi Arabia’s generally robust internet infrastructure. Rural villages and provinces have historically had poorer internet connectivity compared to urban areas.

The Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law aims to secure the safe exchange of data, protect the rights of users of computers and the internet, and to protect the public interest and morals as well as people’s privacy.

A cyber crime can occur as a main crime (e.g. by transmitting illegal content) or it may be associated with another crime (e.g. transmitting content evidencing drug procession or use). A number of cyber crimes can be committed by using social media and each of these has a penalty.

The following is a list of the main cyber crimes which are committed by use of social media, along with their associated penalties:

• Gaining Illegal Access to a Computer to threaten or blackmail a natural or legal person to force him/ her to do or abstain from a certain action.
• Defamation of a Natural or Legal Person through Social Media.
• Breaching the Privacy of a Natural Person by Taking Pictures or Recording Videos using Cell Phone.

Whoever commits any one of the above cyber crimes shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and/or a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000.

Hacking a Social Media Account

Whoever obtains unauthorised access to a user’s account and prevents or obstructs access to it shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years and/or a fine not exceeding SAR 3,000,000.

Transmission, Publication or Storage of Material that is Inconsistent with Public Order or Morality, Religious Values or which Breaches the Privacy of a Natural Person. Social media users daily transmit, post or tweet news, pictures and videos through social media without knowing that such acts might result in imprisonment and/or fines if the transmitted content is of an objectionable nature (e.g. content that violates public order or morality).

Publishing Pornography. Pornography is forbidden in Saudi Arabia. It is a cyber crime to publish or transmit any material of a pornographic nature through social media.

Promotion or Facilitation of the Use or Distribution of Narcotics or Psychotropic Substances. Use of narcotics and psychotropic substances is itself a crime in Saudi Arabia, but using social media to promote or facilitate their use is a crime in its own right that may be prosecuted in conjunction with the main offence.

Whoever commits any of the above crimes shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and/or a fine not exceeding SAR 3,000,000.

Travel insurance

Americans can travel to Saudi Arabia, but the U.S. Department of State advises travellers to exercise increased caution due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism.

When travelling to Saudi Arabia, it is important to have comprehensive travel insurance to protect yourself against unexpected events. Here are some key components your travel insurance should include:

• Emergency Medical Coverage: For most international trips, it is recommended to have at least $50,000 in medical coverage. The mandatory health insurance policy for the tourist visa only covers medical emergencies up to SAR 100,000, which is roughly $27,000.
• Medical Evacuation: Your insurance should cover the cost of emergency medical evacuations to a suitable medical facility. It is recommended to have at least $100,000 in Medical Evacuation Coverage.
• Trip Cancellation: This protects you financially if you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, injury, death of a family member, or natural disasters.
• Baggage & Personal Item Loss: Make sure your insurance policy includes coverage for loss, theft, or damage to your luggage and personal belongings during your trip.
• Delay Coverage: Reimbursement for expenses incurred due to travel delays, missed connections, or trip disruptions caused by factors such as flight cancellations, severe weather, or transportation strikes.
• Emergency Assistance Services: All good travel insurance providers offer 24/7 emergency assistance services to support you before and during your trip.
• Terrorism Coverage: Given the geopolitical situation in some regions, it is advisable to check if your insurance includes coverage for acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or political instability.

The cost of a comprehensive travel insurance policy is determined by a range of factors, including the total insured trip cost, the length of your trip, your age, and the extent of your coverage. On average, travellers to Saudi Arabia spend between $350-$400 on a comprehensive travel insurance plan, with an average trip cost of around $6,500.

It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia did have a compulsory travel insurance requirement in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this has since been lifted. However, it is still highly recommended that travellers to Saudi Arabia obtain adequate travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions