Overland Saudi Arabia Travel

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Currency to display:

Visiting Saudi Arabia[edit]

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[edit]

Correct as of: July 2013

Required Paperwork[edit]

(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[edit]

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[edit]

State the cost for a vehicle to enter

Permitted length of stay[edit]

Newly launched (2020) eVisa will be a one-year, multiple entry visa, allowing tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country. 48 countries qualify.

Extension of stay[edit]

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

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country[edit]

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[edit]

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

Driving in Saudi Arabia[edit]

Recommended books for Overlanding in Saudi Arabia[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Insurance is mandatory and can be bought at the border.

Cost of vehicle insurance[edit]

State the price of insurance and a time period.

Where to purchase vehicle insurance[edit]

Insurance can be bought at the border.

Driving license[edit]

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

Driving side of road[edit]

Right.
RHD vehicles can not be driven without a special letter from a Nissan GTR club. With this letter you can enter Saudi without problems.

Mandatory items in vehicle[edit]

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

Roads[edit]

General Road quality[edit]

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

Road signs[edit]

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

Toll roads[edit]

No tolls in Saudi Arabia except on King Fahad Causeway that connects Saudi and Bahrain


Causeway tolls are as follows:

SAR 25 (Small Vehicles) SAR 35 (Light Trucks & Small Bus) SAR 50 (Large Buses) SAR 5 Per ton (Trucks)

Bribery in Saudi Arabia[edit]

Bribery is non-existent in the country

Checkpoints[edit]

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

Traveling with pets[edit]

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

Gas and Diesel price in Saudi Arabia[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Driving at night[edit]

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

Vehicle parking[edit]

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[edit]

Some far highways may not be fenced on both sides and may result in Camels wandering to the middle of the highway at night. Keep your high beams on whenever possible if highway isn't fenced.

Security advisories and information[edit]

Camping in Saudi Arabia[edit]

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[edit]

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water[edit]

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[edit]

Paper maps[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders

Vehicle Maintenance[edit]

Dealers[edit]

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages[edit]

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Saudi Arabia[edit]

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[edit]

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

  1. Gas Prices Around the World

Helpful External links[edit]

Add any helpful external links here.