A little more
Saudi Arabia.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Saudi Arabia: what to know before you go

Saudi Arabia covers most of the Arabian Peninsula, from Red Sea coral reefs to vast sand deserts and the green highlands of the south-west. Since opening to leisure tourism in 2019, visitors have been able to see Nabataean tombs at Hegra, the mud-brick old towns of Diriyah and Jeddah and wide desert landscapes. It suits travellers interested in archaeology, desert scenery and Arabian culture.

Where to go

• AlUla and Hegra. A desert valley of sandstone cliffs in the north-west.
• Diriyah. On the edge of Riyadh, At-Turaif district was the original seat of the Saudi royal family in the eighteenth century and is a UNESCO-listed complex of restored mud-brick palaces, with museums, restaurants and walkways around it.
• Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad). The old town of the Red Sea port, UNESCO-listed, with tall coral-stone houses decorated with wooden latticed balconies (rawasheen), busy souqs and the city's corniche nearby.
• Edge of the World. Dramatic cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment north-west of Riyadh, rising high above the desert floor.

Best time to visit

November to March is the best time to visit, with warm days and cool nights; desert nights can be cold. April and October are hot but manageable.

Staying online in Saudi Arabia

Coverage is excellent in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and other cities, with fast 4G and 5G, and good along major highways. Signal fades in the open desert, in the Empty Quarter and in remote parts of the mountains and AlUla valley. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, malls and cafés. Some internet calling features of messaging apps have been restricted in the past, so check that the apps you rely on work. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.