[Closed] Saudi (Riyadh) travel advice

What has Tripadvisor got to say about the place?

Take a truck load of patience and then some more.
Allow an extraordinary amount of time for immigration
Forget photography and the desert, mainly for security reasons and secondly its way too hot (I doubt you could spend more than a few minutes outside the vehicle). Go to Oman to take pictures / visit the desert. Don't even pack your camera.
Stay in the hotel, take a book. Maximise energy for work.
Get a driver all day and have him wait for you outside meetings.

Good luck and stay safe.

It's Saudi the OP is going to, not Damascus.

It's Saudi the OP is going to, not Damascus.

It's not often that I agree with Jamba, but in this case he's right.

The best way to enjoy it is from the plane window as you leave.

Immigration is normally quick and painless at Riyadh. Nobody will stop you taking photographs round the usual tourist sights; video cameras are much more problematic.

At this time of year it sucks... but I would recommend Masmak fort anyway. Well worth a visit. Uber is how to stay cool.

Thanks Jamba and Joe a healthy reality check. I will probably just take a little point and shoot camera in case I do visit somewhere interesting.

Looking at the weather forecast interesting is likely to involve remaining within a very short distance of air conditioning at all times!
Sheesh, 44 degrees by day and 28 by night. 28 is about my limit normally and that's given a few days to acclimatise.

Also I love my photography so tips on how to not get arrested would be a bonus.

Don't take photographs would be my advice.

Colleague was arrested and jailed there a few years ago. Had a spare day at the end of his business trip so took some time to walk around. Was photographing some buildings when he was grabbed by the Mutawa and arrested.

Immigration is normally quick and painless at Riyadh.

My experience of Jeddah was the opposite, my first trip there I spent 6 hours in passport control as our visa wasn't on the system. We had to wait 3 hours for the Saudi government office to open, then 3 hours for the Saudi Embassy in London to open before we could go through. We did get our visa through the week before so perhaps it was just waiting to come through.

I read various advice about photography and whilst it's legal to take pictures, it's hasn't always been legal and not all policemen agree with the law. You may also have men shouting at you if they think the women in their family 'might' be in your photos. I have no experience of that it's just something I read. I didn't bother to try.

Use the hotel car service rather than taxis...the only taxi I used was a nutcase and he drove the wrong way up a one way dual carriageway beeping his horn and shouting out the window.

Eat some Oum Ali and try a bit of camel.

The Saudi KFC is nice too, I can't remember what it's called but the chicken was spicy.

Don't eat at American restaurants...I had dinner at a TGI Friday's and ended up stuck in the hotel room for 48 hours on Imodium. That might just be bad luck though.

Also, buy some dates to take home with you. One of the guys I was working with took me to a fancy tourist shop that sold dates soaked in honey and various other stuff...really nice.

just in case, don't eat anything containing poppy-seeds (eg bagels) befor you go. There'll be enough traces of opium in your system to get you locked up.

Moses - Member

just in case, don't eat anything containing poppy-seeds (eg bagels) befor you go. There'll be enough traces of opium in your system to get you locked up.

Also if you or any of your family or friends smoke weed it's probably a good idea to stop and make sure you buy new clothes and new bags before traveling there. Microscopic traces will land you in jail.

It's mostly ok for business. As above, allow plenty of time at immigration - I got through in 30 minutes as I was first off the plane - others from my company have been in the queue for 3-4 hours. I was in Dammam second industrial city. Not much to take photographs of but had a camera for work to take photos in the factory.

In general, when packing, if in any doubt don't take it. Worth thinking about electronic devices too. Photo's, videos, cache. They can search you and have strict policies on pornography and a definition that you may not agree with.

The KFC is probably Broasted. I had some pretty good food while I was there. I like ME food generally. I was only in the country for 8 days. Work provided a driver to pick me up at the airport and get me around when I was there. Either ate in the hotel or went out with locals from work.

I was nervous about going there. But read the FO advice, be sensitive to their culture even if you disagree and you will be fine. Most visits are. But with all that in mind it isn't somewhere I'd jump to go back to. Shame as the individuals I met were incredibly hospitable and friendly.

That all said - I'm in no rush to go back and it was nice to get on the plane to leave.

Travel regular for last 5 years, but usually stay in secure compound.

Immigration is normally quick and painless at Riyadh. - Keep right, towards the left its the indian sub continent and they dont process quickly.

Shopping - check for correct night for single male otherwise you will be escorted out.

Food is ok, pretty much westernized now

Camera never had an issue when out and about just be sensible

Its generally ok, parents lived there in 80's so its a lot better than it used to be, I assume its work as they dont give holiday visa's out :-))