ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW • POPULATION (2023 EST.): 37,181,870 • CAPITAL: Riyadh • MAIN CITIES: Jeddah, Mecca • VISA: U.S. visitors can now travel to Saudi Arabia thanks to the country’s newly launched eVisa scheme, which allows tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country • HEALTH: A yellow fever certifi cate is required by visitors arriving from an infected area. Precautions against hepatitis A and typhoid are also recommended, as well as precautions against malaria and meningitis depending on the area being visited • CURRENCY: Saudi riyal (SAR)
• TIPPING: 10-15 percent for good service is customary • TIME: GMT +3 • ELECTRICITY: 230 volts. Adapter required • DRIVING: On the right. U.S. visitors may drive using their driver’s license for up to 90 days • PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2024): Feb 22; Apr 10-13. 15; Jun 15-18; Sept 23 • LANGUAGE: Arabic, English • RELIGION: Muslim • COUNTRY DIAL CODE: +966
GETTING THERE • MAJOR GATEWAYS: King Khalid, Riyadh (RUH) King Abdulaziz, Jeddah (JED) King Fahd, Dammam (DMM)
CLIMATE Saudi Arabia has a typical desert climate of blistering hot days and cool nights. Summers can be extremely hot with temperatures rising to 130F in some areas. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 76F