Saudi Arabia Travel Guide: Money, eSIM & Culture
Updated 2026-06-11 · By Awais Imran, Editor-in-Chief
Quick answer: Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Riyal (﷼, SAR), pegged to the US dollar at 3.75 SAR per USD since 1986 — the rate never moves. The kingdom only opened to tourism in 2019, and it's modernizing fast: cards and contactless ('mada') work nearly everywhere, women can travel independently, and tourist dress codes are modest-but-practical (no abaya required). Alcohol remains completely unavailable to visitors. The headline draw is AlUla's Nabataean tombs — Petra's sister city, without Petra's crowds.
- Currency
- Saudi Riyal (﷼, SAR) — pegged at 3.75/USD
- Typical daily cost (mid-range)
- $100–$180 USD
- Best time to visit
- November – March
- Visa (US/UK/EU/AU, 2026)
- eVisa online (~$143, 1 year, multi-entry)
- Power
- 230V / 60Hz, plug type G (UK-style)
- Tipping
- 10% appreciated, not obligatory
Saudi Arabia is the world's newest major tourist destination — closed to leisure visitors until 2019, now spending historic sums to build a tourism economy by 2030. For travelers, that means a rare window: Hegra's 2,000-year-old Nabataean tombs at AlUla (the kingdom's answer to Petra) with a fraction of the visitors, Jeddah's coral-built old town of Al-Balad, the sandstone canyons of the Edge of the World outside Riyadh, and Red Sea diving that rivals Egypt's — all before the crowds arrive. The country has changed at speed: women drive, travel solo, and attend football matches; cinemas and concerts are back; and the religious-police era has receded.
It remains a conservative Muslim kingdom with absolute rules — zero alcohol, modest dress, and Mecca closed to non-Muslims — and this guide covers how to navigate it: the dollar-pegged riyal, the eVisa process, what the banknotes show, tipping norms, prayer-time rhythms, and where the genuinely world-class sights are. Sending money in or out? Saudi Arabia is one of the largest remittance-sending countries on earth, and our comparison shows who delivers the most.
Convert to Saudi Riyal (﷼ SAR)
Live mid-market rate. Planning a bigger transfer? Compare money transfer providers for Saudi Arabia.
What Saudi Riyal notes look like
Quick colour reference so you can recognize denominations at a glance. Saudi Riyalnotes are standardized by colour — memorize these before you land and you’ll never hand over the wrong note.
5 SAR
Violet / Brown
King Salman (obverse), Shaybah oil field (reverse); newer polymer versions circulate
10 SAR
Green
King Salman (obverse), Murabba Palace, Riyadh (reverse)
50 SAR
Dark Green
King Salman (obverse), Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock (reverse)
100 SAR
Red
King Salman (obverse), the Prophet's Mosque, Medina (reverse)
500 SAR
Blue
King Abdulaziz (obverse), the Holy Mosque and Kaaba, Mecca (reverse) — large note, break it early
Cash vs card in Saudi Arabia
Cash
Cash is useful for souks (Jeddah's Al-Balad, Riyadh's Souq Al Zal), small tips, bakalas (corner shops), and rural stops, but no longer essential in cities. SAR 200–300 in mixed notes covers several days of incidentals. Bargaining in souks is expected and friendly.
Cards
Excellent and improving fast — Vision 2030 pushed payments hard, and the domestic 'mada' network means contactless Visa/Mastercard works at nearly every business, including small restaurants and taxis. Apple Pay is ubiquitous. Amex is limited to hotels and malls. Card is now the default for locals everywhere.
ATMs
ATMs are plentiful (Al Rajhi, SNB, Riyad Bank, Alinma) and most charge no local fee to foreign cards. The riyal's dollar peg keeps rates flat; the only loss vector is dynamic currency conversion — always choose SAR on screen. Machines dispense large notes; break them at supermarkets.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but not institutionalized: 10% in restaurants (check whether a service charge is included — common at hotels), SAR 5–10 for porters and valets, round up taxis and deliveries. Guides on AlUla and desert tours expect SAR 20–50 per person per day. No one will chase you over a missing tip, but service workers — largely expatriates — genuinely value them.
Common scams to avoid
- •Scams against tourists are genuinely rare — Saudi Arabia polices commerce strictly. The realistic frictions are overcharging rather than fraud.
- •Unmetered airport taxis quoting flat 'tourist rates' — use Uber or Careem from every airport instead; they're cheap, tracked, and the local default.
- •Dynamic currency conversion at terminals and ATMs — choose SAR every time; the dollar peg means any 'conversion offer' is pure margin.
- •Souvenir markup in tourist souks — oud, dates, and gold are quality-graded; buy dates from proper date shops (ask to taste) and gold from licensed dealers with hallmark receipts.
- •Unofficial 'guides' at heritage sites — AlUla and Diriyah run on timed official tickets and licensed guides booked through the official platforms (Experience AlUla); freelancers at the gate can't get you in faster.
Where to exchange money in Saudi Arabia
The riyal has been pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar since 1986 — divide any price by 3.75 and you have dollars; there is no timing, no spread anxiety, no 'good day' for the rate. Cards plus fee-free ATM withdrawals handle virtually everything; if you want cash exchanged, licensed exchange houses (Al Rajhi's Tahweel, Enjaz, and others built for the kingdom's enormous expat remittance market) beat airport counters comfortably. That remittance infrastructure is the story here: Saudi Arabia is consistently among the world's top three remittance-sending countries, and the SAR–INR, SAR–PKR, SAR–PHP, and SAR–EGP corridors are fiercely competitive — for sending money out, compare digital providers (Wise, Remitly) against the exchange houses on the final amount delivered; for transfers in, the peg makes USD-side comparisons straightforward.
Best eSIMs for Saudi Arabia (2026)
An eSIM gives you mobile data the moment your plane lands — no hunting for a SIM booth, no swapping physical cards. Below are the most popular options for Saudi Arabia, with prices checked April 2026.
Airalo
Airalo Saudi Arabia — 7 days, 3GB
- 3 GB data
- 7 days validity
- STC/Mobily networks
Affiliate pending — link goes direct.
Airalo
Airalo Saudi Arabia — 30 days, 10GB
- 10 GB data
- 30 days validity
- Longer trips
Affiliate pending — link goes direct.
Holafly
Holafly — Unlimited, 7 days
- Unlimited* data
- 7 days validity
- Unlimited data, no hotspot
Affiliate pending — link goes direct.
Nomad
Nomad — 10 GB, 30 days
- 10 GB data
- 30 days validity
- Hotspot allowed
Affiliate pending — link goes direct.
Culture & etiquette: dos and don’ts
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest cities, and religion structures daily life: prayer happens five times a day (many shops still pause briefly, though mandatory closures have relaxed), Friday is the holy day with a late, quiet start, and Ramadan reshapes the entire calendar. Within that frame, the social changes since 2017 have been dramatic — music, cinemas, mixed public events, and women's independence are all normal now in Riyadh and Jeddah. Saudis are strikingly hospitable hosts: expect Arabic coffee (gahwa) and dates offered ritually, genuine curiosity toward the new wave of visitors, and generosity that can be hard to politely refuse.
Do
- ✓Dress modestly — for men, long trousers and covered shoulders; for women, loose clothing covering shoulders and knees. The abaya is NOT required for visitors, and headscarves are optional except inside mosques.
- ✓Accept gahwa (cardamom coffee) and dates when offered — it's the hospitality ritual; take the cup with your right hand, and a gentle wiggle of the cup signals you're done.
- ✓Plan around prayer times — some shops and restaurants still pause for 10–20 minutes, especially outside the big cities; the Salah times are in every weather app.
- ✓Use your right hand for greetings, food, and handing over items; wait for a Saudi woman to extend her hand before offering yours.
- ✓Download the essential apps: Absher/Tawakkalna ecosystems aside, you mainly need Uber/Careem (the standard for getting around) and offline maps — distances are vast.
Don’t
- ✗Don't bring or consume alcohol anywhere — Saudi Arabia is completely dry for visitors, with no licensed venues, and penalties are severe. The same absolute line applies to drugs and pork.
- ✗Don't attempt to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim — it's strictly prohibited and enforced at highway checkpoints. (Medina's central Haram area has restrictions too, though the city itself is open.)
- ✗Don't photograph people without consent — especially women — or government buildings, palaces, and security infrastructure.
- ✗Don't show public affection — holding hands is tolerated for married couples, anything more is not; and avoid public criticism of religion or the state, online included.
- ✗Don't schedule daytime restaurant plans during Ramadan without checking — eating in public during fasting hours is prohibited for everyone, though hotels serve visitors discreetly.
Sports & local pastimes
Saudi Arabia has spent the 2020s buying its way to the center of world sport, and visitors feel it: the Saudi Pro League's galaxy of imported stars (the Ronaldo-at-Al-Nassr era transformed it), Formula 1 under lights on the Jeddah Corniche — one of the fastest street circuits ever built — world-title boxing and WWE cards during Riyadh Season, LIV Golf, and the Dakar Rally, which has opened every year in the kingdom since 2020. The traditional layer endures alongside: the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival (with beauty contests carrying multimillion-riyal purses), falconry as living heritage, and horse racing crowned by the Saudi Cup — the world's richest single race.
- →Saudi Pro League football (Aug–May) — Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal in Riyadh, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli in Jeddah; tickets are cheap and bought via the league's official apps.
- →F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Jeddah Corniche Circuit, spring) — night racing at one of the calendar's fastest tracks.
- →The Saudi Cup (Riyadh, February) — the world's richest horse race, $20M+ in purse, at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.
- →King Abdulaziz Camel Festival (Jan–Feb, outside Riyadh) — camel racing and the famous beauty pageant; a genuine cultural spectacle, free to wander.
Practical travel info
Best time to visit
November to March is the window: Riyadh and AlUla sit at a perfect 18–28°C by day (desert nights get genuinely cold — pack a jacket), Jeddah is warm and humid but pleasant, and the events calendar (Riyadh Season, AlUla's festivals, the camel festival, the Saudi Cup) is in full swing. April–May and October are hot but workable. June to September is extreme — 45°C+ inland — and only the elevated southwest (Abha and the Asir mountains, the kingdom's summer escape) stays comfortable. Ramadan inverts daily rhythms entirely; visiting then is culturally fascinating but logistically slower.
Visa (2026)
The tourist eVisa (launched 2019) covers some 60+ nationalities including the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia: apply online at the official visa.visitsaudi.com, pay roughly SAR 535 (~$143, including mandatory health insurance), and receive a one-year, multiple-entry visa allowing 90 days per visit — most approvals arrive within minutes to days. Eligible nationalities can alternatively get visa on arrival, and holders of valid US, UK, or Schengen visas qualify too. A free 96-hour stopover visa comes with Saudia and flynas tickets. Tourist visas cover Umrah (not Hajj) for Muslim travelers; Mecca remains closed to non-Muslims.
Safety
Saudi Arabia is statistically one of the safest countries a tourist can visit — violent crime is rare, theft rarer, and solo women travelers, while still a newer phenomenon, consistently report feeling secure; harassment is both socially condemned and legally punished. The risks are environmental and legal rather than criminal: extreme summer heat, vast empty driving distances (don't drive remote routes without water and a full tank; camels on night roads are a real hazard), and the kingdom's absolute red lines — alcohol, drugs, public criticism of religion or state, and Mecca for non-Muslims. Emergency number: 911.
Daily budget (USD)
- Backpacker: $50–$80 USD per day
- Mid-range: $100–$180 USD per day
- Luxury: $350+ USD per day
Backpacker means budget hotels (hostels are scarce), shawarma and kabsa houses (excellent eating for SAR 15–35), and buses/shared rides. Mid-range covers good hotels, restaurant meals, Uber everywhere, and domestic flights (often cheaper than driving the distances). AlUla is the premium pocket — accommodation there runs double the national norm. No alcohol means one classic budget line simply doesn't exist.
Plugs & power
Plug types G · 230V / 60Hz
Calling code & language
+966 · Arabic, English (widely spoken in cities) · AST (UTC+3)
Must-visit places in Saudi Arabia
AlUla & Hegra
Saudi Arabia's crown jewel — 100+ monumental Nabataean tombs carved into desert monoliths (Hegra was the kingdom's first UNESCO site), Elephant Rock at sunset, and Old Town's mudbrick maze. Book timed tickets via Experience AlUla; 2–3 days minimum.
Riyadh & Diriyah
The capital's Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge and National Museum, plus At-Turaif in Diriyah — the UNESCO-listed mudbrick birthplace of the Saudi state, restored into the country's flagship heritage district. Riyadh Season (Oct–Mar) adds concerts and events citywide.
Jeddah & Al-Balad
The Red Sea's historic port — Al-Balad's UNESCO old town of coral-stone tower houses and wooden rawashin balconies, the corniche's sculpture parks, and the gateway airport for AlUla and the coast.
Edge of the World
Jebel Fihrayn's sheer cliffs over an ancient seabed, 90 minutes from Riyadh — the kingdom's signature day trip. Go with a 4x4 tour for sunset; the final stretch is rough track.
The Red Sea coast
Pristine reef diving around Yanbu and Umluj ('the Maldives of Saudi') and the new ultra-luxury Red Sea resorts — coral on par with Egypt's, with a fraction of the divers.
Abha & the Asir mountains
The green, terraced, 2,000m-high southwest — juniper forests, baboons, hanging villages like Rijal Almaa, and 25°C summers while Riyadh bakes. The kingdom's least-expected landscape.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Saudi Riyal worth against the dollar?+
Exactly 3.75 SAR per US dollar — the riyal has been hard-pegged since 1986 and the rate never moves. Divide any riyal price by 3.75 for dollars: a SAR 30 shawarma meal is $8, a SAR 400 hotel room ~$107. Other currencies float with the dollar: as of June 2026, £1 buys roughly 5.0 SAR and €1 roughly 4.3 SAR.
How do tourists get a Saudi Arabia visa?+
Apply for the tourist eVisa at the official visa.visitsaudi.com — open to 60+ nationalities including the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. It costs roughly SAR 535 (~$143) including mandatory health insurance, is usually approved within minutes to a few days, and gives one year of multiple entries with up to 90 days per visit. Visa on arrival and a free 96-hour stopover visa (with Saudia/flynas tickets) are alternatives for eligible passports.
Do women have to wear an abaya in Saudi Arabia?+
No — since 2019, foreign women are not required to wear the abaya or cover their hair. The requirement is modest dress: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees. A headscarf is needed only inside mosques. Women travel independently, drive, stay in hotels alone, and attend events freely — the practical experience has transformed since the kingdom opened to tourism.
Can you drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia?+
No — Saudi Arabia is completely dry for tourists. There are no licensed bars, restaurants, or shops for visitors, importing alcohol (including duty-free in transit) is prohibited, and penalties are severe. Hotels serve elaborate mocktails and excellent coffee culture fills the social gap. If a bar scene matters to your trip, neighboring UAE or Bahrain is the regional answer.
Can non-Muslims visit Mecca or Medina?+
Mecca: no — entry is prohibited for non-Muslims, enforced at highway checkpoints, with no exceptions. Medina: yes, the city itself is open to all visitors, though the central Haram area immediately around the Prophet's Mosque is reserved for Muslims. Muslim travelers on tourist eVisas may perform Umrah (though not Hajj, which requires a dedicated visa).
Is Saudi Arabia safe for tourists?+
Statistically among the safest destinations anywhere — violent crime and theft are rare, streets feel secure at night, and harassment is legally and socially condemned. The real cautions are legal red lines (alcohol, drugs, public criticism of religion or state, Mecca for non-Muslims), extreme summer heat, and long empty driving distances — camels on unlit night roads are a genuine hazard. Emergency number: 911.
What should I see in Saudi Arabia first?+
AlUla — the Nabataean tombs of Hegra are the kingdom's Petra, with a fraction of the visitors, plus Elephant Rock and a restored mudbrick Old Town. Pair it with Jeddah's Al-Balad old town (the natural gateway) and Riyadh's Diriyah for the historical arc, with the Edge of the World cliffs as the capital's signature day trip. Two weeks covers all four comfortably; one week forces a choice between AlUla and the rest.
What's the best eSIM for Saudi Arabia?+
Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad offer Saudi eSIMs from roughly $13–$35 on STC/Mobily networks — coverage is excellent in cities and along highways, patchier in deep desert. Unlike the UAE, VoIP calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime) work normally in Saudi Arabia. Local STC/Mobily tourist SIMs from airport counters are competitive for longer stays but involve passport registration queues.
How does Ramadan affect a trip to Saudi Arabia?+
Significantly — eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight fasting hours are prohibited for everyone, most restaurants close until sunset (hotels serve guests discreetly), and business hours compress. The flip side: iftar at sunset is festive and hospitable, nights run late and lively, and experiencing Ramadan in Islam's birthplace is unique. Check the dates (they shift ~11 days earlier each year) and decide deliberately.
What's the cheapest way to send money from Saudi Arabia?+
Saudi Arabia is consistently among the world's top three remittance-sending countries, so the corridors out — SAR to INR, PKR, PHP, EGP, BDT — are intensely competitive. Digital providers (Wise, Remitly, Instarem) usually beat the exchange houses (Tahweel Al Rajhi, Enjaz) on rate, while exchange houses win on instant cash pickup networks. The dollar peg makes comparison easy: check the final amount delivered against the mid-market rate.
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Compare money transfers for Saudi Arabia→About the author
Awais Imran, Editor-in-Chief
Awais Imran is the editor-in-chief of SendMoneyCompare, covering provider reviews and corridor guides.