Published: January 27, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory and Saudi Arabia Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Riyadh:
Collector Road M, Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. P.O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693.
Tel: +966 (11) 835-4000
Hours of Operation: 0800-1700, Sunday-Thursday
U.S. Consulate General Jeddah:
Al Muhammadiyah District, near the new American School building, Jeddah.
Tel: +966 (12) 220 5000
U.S. Consulate General Dhahran: Corner of Salah Addin Al Ayoubi Road and Prince Fahad bin Sultan Street, Al Khobar.
Tel: +966 (13) 839-5700
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
Riyadh has an active OSAC Country Chapter which meets quarterly. The Eastern Province has an active OSAC Country Chapter which meets tri-annually.
Contact OSAC’s Middle East & North Africa team with any questions.
Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication indicates travelers should exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism. It also states:
Do not travel to the following locations due to the threat of missile and drone attacks and terrorism:
- Within 20 miles of the Saudi-Yemen border, including the city of Najran
- Qatif in the Eastern Province and its suburbs, including Awamiyah.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia.
Crime in Saudi Arabia has increased over recent years but remains at levels below most major metropolitan areas in the United States. Foreigners and third-country nationals remain susceptible to criminal activity. It is not uncommon for attacks and/or criminal activity to go unreported or underreported. Witnesses to criminal incidents may be prohibited from leaving the country until investigation of the incident is complete.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia.
The threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups continues despite recent counterterrorism efforts. Terrorist elements may resort to targeting individuals rather than carrying out large-scale attacks. Criminal kidnappings are usually associated with other violent crimes.
The U.S. Embassy periodically processes requests for assistance from U.S. citizens with children abducted or wrongfully detained in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Most cases involve one parent refusing to allow their child to return to the United States. Saudi Arabia is not a party to the Hague Abduction Convention; custody orders and judgments of foreign courts are not enforceable in Saudi Arabia if they contradict or violate local laws and practices. In the event of marriage or divorce under Sharia, parents do not share equal rights of custody to their children; religious/citizenship status affects the court’s judgment in custody cases.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran as being MEDIUM-threat locations for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.
Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Saudi Arabia. Terrorists may attack with little to no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Terrorists have targeted Saudi and Western government interests, mosques and other religious sites (both Sunni and Shia), and locations U.S. citizens and other Westerners frequent.
In June 2023, a lone-wolf gunman attacked the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah and killed a Consulate Local Guard Force member.
ISIS and al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) continue to demonstrate the ability to inspire individuals to conduct attacks and to expand operational capabilities for planning and executing attacks inside Saudi Arabia. Individual cells aligned with Shia militant groups also operate in Saudi Arabia. ISIS and AQAP have expressed their intent to continue attacks in Saudi Arabia. Multiple small-scale attacks have involved ISIS or ISIS-inspired assailants.
The Saudi government actively combats transnational and domestic terrorism. Authorities have conducted numerous arrests, identified smuggling routes, and interdicted attempts by ISIS and others to cross the border illegally. The government has a strong security force that has increased its ability to respond quickly anywhere in the Kingdom. However, the government continues to struggle with confronting illegal immigration and smuggling along its border with Yemen. Saudi border guards have reportedly stopped thousands of people from crossing the border illegally and have encountered an increased volume of smuggled firearms and ammunition. The government is working on new initiatives to mitigate transnational and domestic terrorism threats, including fingerprinting passengers at airports and border crossings. The government has increased its use of media to announce arrests and request assistance from the populace in identifying and locating terrorists.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran as being MEDIUM-threat locations for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, ruled by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is the head of state, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, who serves as head of government. The 1992 Basic Law sets out the Saudi system of governance, rights of citizens, and powers and duties of the government, and says the Quran and Sunna (the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) serve as the country’s constitution.
Protests & Demonstrations
Security forces generally do not tolerate public demonstrations and move quickly to prevent them from forming or gaining momentum. Security forces have sufficient resources (e.g., equipment, personnel) to respond to any civil disturbance. Additionally, social media posts which could be interpreted as even slightly derogatory towards the Saudi government are punished severely.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Westerners, and particularly U.S. citizens, remain targets of opportunity for terrorist groups and attacks inspired by terrorist rhetoric. Non-Muslims are forbidden from traveling to Mecca.
Law Enforcement
911 is the Unified Emergency Number for police, fire department/civil defense, and medical in Riyadh Region, Makkah Region, and Eastern Province (encompassing the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran). Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, call 999 for police, 997 for ambulance, and 998 for the fire department/civil defense.
In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities.
The Presidency of State Security, National Guard, and Ministries of Defense and Interior, all of which report to the King, are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order. The Presidency of State Security includes the General Directorate of Investigation (mabahith), Special Security Forces, and Special Emergency Forces; police are under the Ministry of Interior. These authorities generally maintain effective control over the security forces.
Police Response
Police response times to emergencies vary due to lack of physical addresses and street names. Residents have reported police response time averages about an hour. However, police elements are particularly responsive to the needs of the diplomatic and international business communities.
Saudi law is based on the local interpretation of Sharia (the religious law of Islam) and influenced by local customs and practices. Authorities may expel, arrest, imprison, or even execute those violating the laws, even unknowingly. Foreign visitors and residents are subject to all local laws.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Saudi Arabia, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia.
The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implements the law effectively. The government prosecuted some officials for corruption in the past year, although there were allegations of a significant lack of respect for fair trial guarantees and other human rights abuses or violations, including allegations of torture, in these cases. Human rights organizations have criticized the government for using anti-corruption campaigns as a pretext to target political opponents and for arbitrarily detaining and abusing individuals targeted in crackdowns.
Cybersecurity
The Saudi government continues to expand its cybersecurity activities. Major cyberattacks against Saudi Arabia in 2012 and 2016 focused on the private sector and on Saudi government agencies, spurring action from Saudi policymakers and local business leaders. The Saudi government continues to develop and expand its collaboration with the U.S. Government on cybersecurity.
The Saudi government blocks access to various websites reported to contain pornographic, religious, and political material it considers offensive or sensitive.
Cybersecurity should be an increasingly important focus for the U.S. private sector abroad. U.S. organizations based in the Middle East should increase the use of cybersecurity best practices, especially with regards to the identification and reporting of spear phishing emails. Cyber threat researchers report that Iranian hacking groups have used phishing emails to deliver malware and or harvest credentials. In previously observed campaigns, phishing emails and SMS sent to victims have contained malicious links designed to redirect users to credential harvesting websites, initiate scripts that install malware, and or malicious attachments containing malware.
State actors may use malware to conduct intelligence gathering in the form of stealing files, logging keystrokes, and or destroying data for disruptive purposes. Follow best practices for cybersecurity.
Import/Export Restrictions
Saudi customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning the importation of such banned items as alcohol, weapons, and any item that is held to be contrary to the tenets of Islam (e.g., pork or anything considered pornographic under strict Islamic principles). Penalties for the import, manufacture, possession, and consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs in Saudi Arabia are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences, heavy fines, and deportation. Imported and domestic audiovisual media and reading matter are censored. Banned items such as those identified above may be confiscated and the owner subject to penalties and fines. Electronic devices may be subject to inspection upon entry or exit. The use and import of satellite phones requires prior authorization, specifically a permit from the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). The Saudi Agriculture Ministry must approve all pets imported into Saudi Arabia.
The importation of drones for commercial or personal use is prohibited without prior approval from the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). A customs clearance certificate authorizing importation can be obtained as part of the GACA approval process.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
