🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · Asia
Safety Saudi Arabia
Globalement sur
Saudi Arabia is statistically one of the safest countries in the world (14th on the 2025 Numbeo index) with very low crime. The main challenge isn't safety but strict respect for conservative laws: alcohol banned, modest dress, no public affection. The southern border area with Yemen is not advised.
Specific risks
Theft & petty crime
1Tres sur
Scams
2Globalement sur
Natural disasters
2Globalement sur
Health risks
2Globalement sur
Political stability
2Globalement sur
Areas to avoid
- The southern border area with Yemen (Najran, Jizan near the border) - security risk, formally not advised
- Mecca and the religious heart of Medina (Prophet's Mosque): off-limits to non-Muslims, checkpoints at the entrance to Mecca
Emergency numbers
Police
999
Ambulance
997
Fire department
998
Health & precautions
Vaccinations
- None required for tourism
- Vaccin contre la meningite exige pour le Hajj/Omra
- Updating routine vaccinations recommended
Drinking water
Tap water technically desalinated and treated, but most people drink bottled water, very cheap and available everywhere.
Mosquitoes
Few mosquitoes in the desert areas. Dengue risk in the south-western coastal regions (Jizan). No malaria in the main tourist areas.
General notes
Systeme de sante moderne et de bon niveau dans les grandes villes. Assurance medicale obligatoire pour le visa (couverture urgences jusqu'a 100 000 SAR). Risque majeur reel : la chaleur extreme en ete - deshydratation et coups de chaleur.
Women travelers
Ranked the safest G20 country for women traveling alone (Numbeo 2025). Women can now travel, drive and stay on their own without a guardian (mahram). Modest dress is expected (shoulders and knees covered); the abaya is no longer mandatory for tourists but handy to have. Street harassment is rare.
LGBTQ+ travelers
Homosexuality is illegal and severely punished. No legal recognition. LGBTQ+ travelers must stay very discreet: no affectionate gestures or visible signs in public, as for all couples.
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