Travel Safety in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has been impacted by the ongoing conflict in Iran and the broader Middle East region. Drones emanating from Iran have targeted oil infrastructure, while a strike hit the United States embassy in Riyadh. Travellers should monitor the potential for terrorist incidents targeting interests associated with the United States; civil unrest relating to political and conflict events; and the potential that Iran will engage Saudi Arabia in direct conflict. Ordinarily, the main concern travellers face when visiting Saudi Arabia is the country’s conservative Islamic governance and judicial system, which imposes restrictions on visitors. This is particularly relevant to female and LGBTQ+ travellers, who could face both legal and societal recriminations. Crime is not generally a concern for travellers. Demonstrations are illegal, and those that do occur are quickly brought to an end by security forces. Medical facilities are adequate in towns and cities. There is an ongoing risk of terrorism posed by transnational Islamist militant networks opposed to the ruling al-Saud regime. The terrorism risk is most pronounced in the Eastern Province, as well as in the capital, Riyadh, and these have previously targeted foreign nationals and Western interests. Saudi Arabia’s border area with Yemen faces heightened security risks due to the conflict against the Yemeni rebels, the Houthis. This has led to missile and drone attacks in Saudi Arabia’s southern provinces. Some zones have been declared ‘out of bounds’ in Saudi Arabia, such as areas within 20km of the border with Iraq and some towns in Eastern Province.