Apsley Travel · Bespoke Luxury Travel
Saudi Arabia is a safe country for international leisure tourists. Since opening to tourism in September 2019, the kingdom has invested heavily in visitor-facing infrastructure across AlUla, Riyadh, Diriyah, Jeddah, the Red Sea coast and NEOM's Sindalah, and has extended its eVisa to more than 60 nationalities. Serious crime affecting tourists is very rare. What matters most for a smooth trip is understanding a small number of cultural and legal norms — dress, alcohol, public conduct and prayer times — all of which are straightforward once briefed.
Yes. Saudi Arabia is safe for international tourists in the tourism regions (AlUla, Riyadh, Diriyah, Jeddah, the Red Sea and NEOM's Sindalah), with an eVisa available to 60+ nationalities including the UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia. Dress modestly in public, respect alcohol prohibition, and standard cultural courtesies apply.
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Citizens of the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia and 60+ other nationalities can apply online for the Saudi eVisa — a one-year multiple-entry visa with 90-day stays. Our team handles the process end-to-end.
Yes. Women can travel independently in Saudi Arabia — drive, dine, stay in hotels alone and move freely in the tourism regions. Modest public dress is expected, but headscarves are not required.
No. Alcohol is fully prohibited throughout the kingdom, including in international hotels and resorts. Hotel bars and restaurants operate serious non-alcoholic and mocktail programmes.
No — the two holy cities are closed to non-Muslims and are explicitly excluded from the tourist eVisa. All other destinations on a Saudi Arabia luxury itinerary (AlUla, Riyadh, Diriyah, Jeddah's Al-Balad, the Red Sea, Sindalah) are open.
In public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees — linen trousers, midi dresses, long shirts. Headscarves are only needed inside a mosque. At hotel pools and on Red Sea island resorts, swimwear is fine.
Yes — and it can be one of the most rewarding times to visit. Hotels operate normally for international guests; the main courtesy is not to eat, drink or smoke in public between dawn and sunset. Iftar dinners in Al-Balad and on the Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah are a genuine highlight.