Overland Saudi Arabia Travel

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Currency to display:

Visiting Saudi Arabia

Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.

Entering Saudi Arabia with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: July 2013

Required Paperwork

(To check if you need a travel Visa for Saudi Arabia, application instructions and fees see: Saudi Arabia Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
List the paperwork required to enter with a vehicle, including number of copies

Process at border

Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle

An excellent write-up of the process to get the ferry from Sudan is http://travelafricaoverland.com/ferry-sudan-to-saudi/

Cost of entry

State the cost for a vehicle to enter

Permitted length of stay

It is almost impossible to get more then a three day transit permit.

Extension of stay

Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.

Driving in Saudi Arabia

Recommended books for Overlanding in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia (lonely Planet Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia (lonely Planet Saudi Arabia)
by Anthony Ham, Brekhus Shams, Anthony Madden
From $154.18 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
New Views: The World Mapped Like Never Before: 50 Maps...
New Views: The World Mapped Like Never Before: 50 Maps...
by Alastair Bonnett
From $35.00 on Amazon

Travel insurance for Saudi Arabia

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements

Insurance is mandatory and can be bought at the border.

Cost of vehicle insurance

State the price of insurance and a time period.

Where to purchase vehicle insurance

Insurance can be bought at the border.

Driving license

State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.

Driving side of road

Right.
RHD vehicles cannot be driven unless being driven in the desert or being used in private compounds. Overlanders have reported having an RHD Australian vehicle and they had to get it onto a truck and drive it to the Jordanian border in November 2011.

Mandatory items in vehicle

State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)

Roads

General Road quality

Roads are in excellent condition. All tarmac and well maintained.

Road signs

Road signs are in abundance and are usually, but not always, bilingual. Arabic and English.

Toll roads

List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.

Bribery in Saudi Arabia

Briefly describe how common bribery is and whether it should be expected, and the best way to deal with it.

Checkpoints

describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.

Traveling with pets

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas and Diesel price in Saudi Arabia

Last updated: March 2011

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Regular $0.61 USD per Gallon (US)[1]
Super (88)  ??
Premium (90)  ??
Ultra (95)  ??
Diesel  ??

Link to external websites with price & quality information, if available.

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

Saudi is a major producer of fuel so shortages are very unlikely
Although distances are big, every small town has one or more gas stations so you're probably never further then 100k from a gas station.

Gas and Diesel Quality

Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.

Vehicle parking

Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.

Special driving considerations

A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.

Security advisories and information

Camping in Saudi Arabia

Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.

Navigation

Paper maps

Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
by Reise Know-How Verlag
From $4.99 on Amazon
Saudi Arabia & Kuwait Travel Reference Map 1:1,750,000...
Saudi Arabia & Kuwait Travel Reference Map 1:1,750,000...
by ITMB Publishing LTD
From $10.14 on Amazon
Saudi Arabia: Country Flag A5 Notebook To Write In Wit...
Saudi Arabia: Country Flag A5 Notebook To Write In Wit...
by Travel Journal Publishers
From $5.99 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Saudi Arabia

Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Saudi Arabia

  • iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Special Overland Travel interests

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders

Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Saudi Arabia

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.

  1. Gas Prices Around the World

Helpful External links

Add any helpful external links here.