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Country guide · Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia travel apps and what you need before you go

Before anything else, check current travel advice: since July 2026 Houthi missile and drone attacks have hit Saudi airports, Riyadh's King Khalid airport was suspended in October 2026, and the UK advises against all but essential travel. If you go, many passports, including US, UK, most European, Canadian and Australian, can get the one-year tourist eVisa at visa.visitsaudi.com (passport valid six months or more). Install Uber or Careem for rides, darb for the Riyadh Metro, the SAR or Haramain train app for intercity rail, Nusuk if you plan Umrah or a Rawdah visit, and HungerStation or Jahez for food.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202611 apps · 3 to set up at home
Qasr al-Farid, the great rock-cut Nabataean tomb at Hegra near AlUla
Photo: Ahmad AlHasanat, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check travel advice before you bookHouthi missile and drone attacks since July 2026 have targeted airports and infrastructure. On 21 October 2026 operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were suspended, while Jeddah and Dammam airports were running with delays. The UK advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia and all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border. Do not film or share images of missile or drone activity or impact sites; this can create legal liability. Source: GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Saudi Arabia · U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia: Security Alert, 21 October 2026

What you need to enter Saudi Arabia

Saudi entry rules depend on your passport, so check the official eVisa portal (visa.visitsaudi.com) or the Saudi embassy in your country before you book.

Tourist eVisa

Citizens of eligible countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, about 40 European countries, Australia and New Zealand, can apply online for a one-year, multiple-entry tourist eVisa allowing stays of up to 90 days per visit. It covers tourism, events, visiting family and Umrah, but not Hajj, work or study. Fees are shown at payment and are not refundable.

Source: Saudi eVisa portal (Ministry of Tourism) · Saudi eVisa terms and conditions · Experience AlUla (Royal Commission for AlUla): Visa and entry

Visa on arrival and other routes

Nationals of eligible countries can also get the tourist visa on arrival at a Saudi port of entry. If your nationality is not eligible, you may still qualify if you hold a used US or Schengen visa, are a permanent resident of the US, EU or UK, or hold a GCC residence visa valid for at least three months. Medical insurance approved for use in the Kingdom is required.

Source: Ministry of Tourism: Tourist Visa Regulations

Passport validity

Your passport must have at least six months left from the date you enter Saudi Arabia, and you must arrive on the same passport you used to apply. Carry a copy of the eVisa; biometrics are taken on arrival.

Source: Saudi eVisa terms and conditions

Umrah and Rawdah permits (Nusuk)

To perform Umrah you need a permit booked through the Nusuk app before heading to the Masjid al-Haram, and prayer at Al-Rawdah Ash-Sharifah in Madinah is booked through Nusuk only. Umrah is not permitted on a tourist visa during the Hajj season. Non-Muslims may not enter the Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

Source: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah visit guide · Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Rawdah permit · Saudi eVisa terms and conditions

Alcohol

Do not bring alcohol or drugs into Saudi Arabia; importing them is illegal.

Source: Experience AlUla: Practical information

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check your government's travel advice and your airline's latest flight status, especially for Riyadh.
  2. Confirm your passport has six months left and apply for the eVisa at visa.visitsaudi.com.
  3. Buy medical insurance valid in Saudi Arabia if it is not already included.
  4. Install Uber and Careem and verify them with your home number.
  5. Install Nusuk and book your Umrah permit or Rawdah slot if you plan to visit.
  6. Book Haramain or SAR train tickets for intercity trips.
  7. Download offline maps for remote areas.

The apps that matter in Saudi Arabia

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Entry and official apps

Nusuk

The official Hajj and Umrah platform for Umrah permits and Rawdah prayer bookings.

Set up at home

Required if you plan Umrah or prayer in Al-Rawdah Ash-Sharifah. Rawdah permits are free, issued immediately and open to visitors; slots go quickly, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Official siteSource: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Rawdah permit · Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah visit guide

Taxis and ride hailing

Uber

Ride-hailing across many Saudi cities, including airport trips.

Your home account and card work as they are. Uber also partners with Saudi Arabia Railways, so you can book onward rides from train stations.

Official siteSource: Uber Newsroom: SAR and Uber partnership · Bento Travel: Saudi ride-hailing (Aug 2026)

Careem

Regional ride-hailing app for city and airport rides, with scheduled airport pickups in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.

Set up at home

Register with your home number before you fly so the SMS code arrives while you still have your home SIM.

Official siteSource: Bento Travel: Saudi ride-hailing (Aug 2026)

Bolt

Ride-hailing app operating in Riyadh and listed as an airport option in Jeddah.

Limited for visitors

Coverage outside Riyadh and Jeddah is less clear, so keep Uber or Careem as your main app and use Bolt to compare prices.

Official siteSource: Bolt: Riyadh · Bento Travel: Saudi ride-hailing (Aug 2026)

Metro, buses and city transport

darb

Official ticketing app for the Riyadh Metro and Riyadh Bus, with day, week and month passes and a digital card.

You can also skip the app and tap a contactless bank card or Apple Pay at the gate. A 2-hour regular ticket is SAR 4 and covers metro and bus; the Yellow Line serves King Khalid airport.

Official siteSource: King Khalid International Airport: Riyadh Metro · Royal Commission for Riyadh City

SAPTCO

The national intercity bus company, linking major cities.

A low-cost option between cities that trains do not reach; buy tickets in the app or on the website.

Official siteSource: Gulf News: Saudi intercity bus travel

Trains and long-distance travel

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)

Booking for the Haramain High-Speed Railway (Makkah, Jeddah, Jeddah Airport, KAEC, Madinah) and SAR's North and East lines from Riyadh.

Book Haramain seats at sar.hhr.sa with your passport details and a card, and book early around weekends and holidays. Trains are a useful alternative while flights are disrupted.

Official siteSource: Saudi Arabia Railways · Gulf News: Haramain High-Speed Rail guide (Aug 2025)

Maps

Google Maps

Maps, driving and walking directions and place search.

Set up at home

Download offline maps before road trips; coverage can be thin in remote areas such as around AlUla.

Official siteSource: Experience AlUla: Practical information

Messaging and calls

WhatsApp

The everyday messaging app for hotels, drivers and tour guides.

Keep your home number on WhatsApp even after you switch to a local SIM, so existing chats keep working.

Official siteSource: WhatsApp

Food and delivery

HungerStation

One of the largest food and grocery delivery apps in Saudi Arabia.

Add your hotel name and room number in the address notes, and keep a reachable phone number on the account.

Official siteSource: Bento Travel: Saudi food delivery

Jahez

Saudi food delivery app with wide restaurant coverage.

Jahez also owns The Chefz, a delivery app focused on restaurants, sweets and gifting, if you want a second option.

Official siteSource: Bento Travel: Saudi food delivery

Money: Saudi riyal (SAR)

Credit cards and contactless payments, including Apple Pay at Riyadh Metro gates, are widely accepted, but some small shops take cash only, so carry some riyals. ATMs and exchange counters are found at airports and in cities. Tipping is appreciated but not expected; rounding up or leaving small change is fine.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Type G sockets, the same as in the UK. Bring an adapter if your plugs differ.
Emergency numbers
Unified emergency number 911. Police 999, ambulance 997, highway security 996. Turn on cell broadcast alerts to receive Saudi Civil Defense warnings.
Mobile data
Buy a SIM from STC or another operator at Riyadh or Jeddah airport. Coverage can be weak or absent in remote desert areas.
Dress and conduct
Dress modestly in public; clothing with offensive words or images, and sleepwear in public, can be fined under the public decency rules. Women do not need a head covering or abaya. Playing music during prayer times and photographing people without permission are also fineable.
Prayer times
Some shops and restaurants close briefly for each of the five daily prayers, so allow extra time around prayer times when shopping or eating out.
Tipping
Appreciated but not expected. Round up or leave small change.

Questions travelers ask

Is it safe to travel to Saudi Arabia right now?

As of October 2026, Houthi attacks have disrupted airports and the UK advises against all but essential travel. Riyadh's main airport was suspended on 21 October 2026. Check your own government's advice and your airline before travelling.

Do I need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

Yes, most visitors do. Many passports, including US, UK, most European, Canadian and Australian, can get the one-year tourist eVisa online or on arrival. Others may qualify with a used US or Schengen visa or US, UK or EU residency. Check visa.visitsaudi.com.

Do tourists still need Tawakkalna?

No current official entry rule requires tourists to use Tawakkalna. You need Nusuk only if you plan Umrah or a Rawdah visit.

Can I do Umrah on a tourist visa?

Yes, the tourist eVisa covers Umrah outside the Hajj season, but you must book an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before going to the Masjid al-Haram.

How do I pay for the Riyadh Metro?

Tap a contactless bank card or Apple Pay at the gate, buy a darb card at a station, or buy a pass in the darb app. A regular 2-hour ticket is SAR 4.

Do women have to wear an abaya in Saudi Arabia?

No. Visitors should dress modestly, but women do not need a head covering or abaya.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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