Do you plan to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? If so, there’s lots to see and do, from visiting the capital Riyadh to (if you’re on Umrah or Hajj) going on pilgrimage to Mecca. Here’s some useful information ahead of your trip:

  • Saudi Arabia is located in Western Asia. This country is bordered by 7 nations, namely Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.
  • The currency of this country is the Saudi riyal (currency code: SAR). If you’re carrying another currency, such as US dollars, you’ll need to exchange these to riyal, although international debit and credit cards are accepted.
  • Saudi Arabia’s international dialling code is +966, in case you need to book a hotel or manage another reservation by telephone ahead of arriving here.
  • The official language is Arabic, although English is widely spoken, particularly in the major cities and tourist areas. ‘Hello’ in Arabic is ‘ahlan’ while ‘thank you’ is ‘shukran’.
  • Top activities in Saudi Arabia include visiting Mada’in Saleh’s Lonely Castle, the ancient ghost town of Al’Ula, plus the so-called Edge of the World cliffs.
  • Top traditional dishes to try here include ‘kabsa’, a mix of rice and meat. Meanwhile ‘mutabbaq’ are folded pancakes, and ‘shawarma’ is kebab meat!

Check out our handy articles below to find out more.