Key facts
Saudi Arabia is a country located in Western Asia. There are 7 countries (Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) that Saudi Arabia shares its borders with. The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. Traveling across Saudi Arabia if English is your first (and only) language may be difficult due to language barriers.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Saudi Arabia was ranked 104th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Saudi Arabia is Saudi riyal (SAR). The riyal (ر.س) is subdivided into 100 halala.
Saudi Arabian
Banknotes
1ر.س5ر.س10ر.س20ر.س50ر.س100ر.س500ر.س
Saudi Arabian
Coins
5102550100
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Saudi Arabia is 159.1 Mbps and mobile is 224.1 Mbs.The global average is 187.01 Mbps and 128.37 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density When compared to the world average, Saudi Arabia has more ATMs.62.04 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Saudi Arabia, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There is one common socket type used in Saudi Arabia. Type G is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Saudi Arabia?
There are Mariott hotels in 4 cities.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
There are Radisson hotels in 11 cities.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
What fast food chains are present in Saudi Arabia?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The KFC chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The Burger King chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The Subway chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
The Starbucks chain operates in Saudi Arabia.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Riyadh?
Weather data for Riyadh (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains , and some of them are high-speed trains.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Saudi Arabia
Sources
- Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Saudi Arabia (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)