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Film CommissionsIntroduction
Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula. It contains Rub al-Khali - the world's largest sand desert. With the exception of some highlands, the entire country is desert. Droughts can last for several years, with temperatures exceeding 45°C in the interior during the summer. Temperatures are lower on the coast, but high humidity makes the heat uncomfortable. There are no permanent rivers or bodies of water, only seasonal riverbeds. The largest oasis in the world, Al Hasa, is in the country's eastern province. | General Information Location: Middle East
Local Time: GMT+3
Capital City: Riyadh
Population: 26 million
Area: 1,960,582 square km, 756,985 square miles.
Language(s): Arabic (all correspondence with Government Departments must be in Arabic), English
Dialling Code: 966
Emergency: Police: 999
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL/SECAM
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence accompanied by officially sanctioned Arabic translation required. International Driving Permit with translation recommended. Women are not allowed to drive
Electricity: 125/215V AC 50/60Hz
Business & CurrencyCurrency: Saudi Riyal (SAR 1 = 100 Halalas)
Notes: SAR: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500
Coins: Halalas: 5, 10, 25, 50. Qurush: 1, 2, 5, 10
Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted Opening Hours
Bank: 0830-1200 & 1700-1900 Sat-Wed, 0830-1200 Thur
Office: 0900-1300 & 1630-2000 Sat-Thur (during Ramadan 2000-0100), 0730-1430 Sat-Wed (Government offices)
Shops: 0900-1300 & 1630-2000 Sat-Thur (during Ramadan 2000-0100) Public Holidays
2010
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr/ Djoulde Soumae (Ramadan ends), 23 Sep Saudi National Day, 17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Note: Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar Business/Social Hints: Personal introductions are a great advantage. If the visiting executive is a woman this must be clearly stated in initial correspondence. Women should dress conservatively. A headscarf is essential. Business is usually conducted in Arabic. Many senior business executives speak English. Business cards to have Arabic translation on reverse side. Islamic conventions apply. At meetings it is polite to drink coffee or tea, when offered. It is the convention to use the right and not the left hand when shaking hands and passing or receiving anything. Almost everything stops five times a day, for prayers. When sitting cross-legged on sofas or cushions, soles of the feet must not be shown. Visits during Ramadan should be avoided. Smoking is generally accepted but restrictions may apply in public buildings and especially during Ramadan. Alcohol is strictly forbidden by law. On social occasions be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. There are many restrictions on photography Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants & for taxis
| HealthReciprocal health: Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas.
Meningococcal Meningitis vaccination certificate required if arriving for Hajj pilgrimage and Umrah, or for seasonal work. Certificate must have been issued no more than 10 years and more than 10 days prior to arrival. All arrivals from the African Meningitis belt (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan) will be administered antibiotic treatment as an extra precaution.
Poliomyelitis vaccination certificate required for all pilgrims under 15 from Afghanistan, Angola, Chad, Congo DRC, India, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan. Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, influenza*, malaria, meningitis*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid*, rabies*
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month. Risks: Malaria exists all year in most of the Southern Region (except in the high altitude areas of Asir Province) and in certain rural areas of the Western Region. There is no risk in Mecca or Medina. Rabies. | AirportsDammam King Fahd International (DMM)
Dhahran (DHA)
Jeddah King Abdulaziz International (JED)
Riyadh King Khaled International (RUH)
Passport & VisaThe following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate Restrictions: Entry & transit is refused to:
1) Holders of Israeli passports or passports valid for Israel, containing a visa, either valid or expired, or any indication that the passenger has been in Israel
2) Persons not complying with Saudi Arabian requirements regarding general appearance & behaviour PassportsRequired by all Passport Validity: Passports must be valid 6 months beyond intended length of stay Passport Notes: VisasThe following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Saudi Arabia
2) Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar & United Arab Emirates
Air TransitRequired by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 18 hours, and holding a confirmed ticket.
a) Only one landing is permitted in Saudi Arabia. In order to avoid any possible inconvenience it is advisable to obtain a transit visa in advance
2) Persons holding a 3 day transit visa may be hosted by the transporting carrier in a hotel until the departure of their connecting flight (except nationals of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czech Rep, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Korea (North), Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan & Vietnam)
Exit PermitsRequired by nationals and alien residents of Saudi Arabia Special Notes1) All visitors must hold onward/return tickets which are non-refunable in Saudi Arabia & documents required for next destination
2) All wives & women travelling to Saudi Arabia must be met at the airport by husband/sponsor & hold confirmed onward reservations | ClimateThe climate is extremely dry and arid throughout the year, with unreliable rainfall. What little rain there is falls between Nov-Dec-Apr or May. Temperatures from May-Sep are extremely high and although inland the humidity is quite low on the coast it can become high adding to the discomfort. Temperatures in winter are generally mild/warm but inland and in higher areas these can fall low enough for frost and snow to occur. Winter nights in the desert can be particularly cold ClothingLightweights or tropical throughout the year. Warmer clothing required for nights inland and for winter months in Riyadh and Jeddah Charts for Riyadh | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | | Max Temp (C) | 21 | 23 | 28 | 32 | 38 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 39 | 34 | 29 | 21 | | Min Temp (C) | 8 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 13 | 9 | | Humidity am (%) | 70 | 63 | 65 | 64 | 51 | 47 | 33 | 35 | 42 | 47 | 60 | 75 | | Humidity pm (%) | 44 | 37 | 36 | 34 | 31 | 31 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 33 | 52 | | Rainfall (mm) | 3 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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RepresentativeUK Tourist Office
Saudi Information Centre
Seymore Street
London, W1H 7HU
tel: +44 20 7486 3470
fax: +44 20 7629 0374 Embassy
Embassy of Saudi Arabia
30-32 Charles Street
London, W1J 5DZ
tel: +44 20 7917 3000
fax: +44 20 7917 3255
website: www.mofa.gov.sa
hours: 0900-1130 (Mon-Fri) lodging, 1400-1530 (Mon-Thur), 1330-1430 (Fri) collection |
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