PRACTICAL GUIDE
Why you should visit Saudi in 2024
Since opening to international visitors in 2019, Saudi has wholeheartedly embraced a number of changes, from relaxing dress codes and entry requirements to kickstarting multi-billion dollar tourism projects, in the process becoming 2024’s hottest destination...
Words by Karl Cushing
With its myriad resorts, enviable year-round climate and excellent diving and watersports, the Red Sea has long been an international tourism powerhouse. Excitingly, 2024 sees Saudi start to capitalise on this appeal, leveraging the untapped potential of its pristine western coastline through its vast Red Sea and Amaala projects, served by the strikingly-designed Red Sea International Airport, which welcomes international flights from 2024.
Visitors to the Red Sea Project will encounter an archipelago of beguiling offshore islands that will eventually feature around 50 upscale resort properties from the likes of Rosewood and Raffles. What’s more, three will be open by 2024.
Located in a secluded spot on the mainland, Six Senses Southern Dunes gives a nod to Bedouin style while the dreamily designed St Regis Red Sea Resort, located among the Ummahat Islands, wows with its sumptuous overwater and beachfront villas. More Ummahat overwater villa opulence awaits at Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, with around a dozen more peachy properties slated to open throughout the year.
Saudi hasn’t only opened up to international visitors it has opened up to the free exchange of international ideas. And with cultural promotion central to the Kingdom’s multi-pronged, tourism boosting Vision 2030 initiative, Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale is playing a starring role (biennale.org.sa).
Next year’s Biennale in Riyadh, running from 20 February to 24 May 2024, is the second instalment, the first having been held in December 2021. This latest incarnation embraces the central theme of ‘After Rain’, water being such a vital, life-giving resource in the Kingdom. All manner of inspiring, insightful and thought-provoking new works await visitors. Moreover, among the featured artists, hailing from 43 countries, there is a solid showing of regional talent, with around a third calling the Gulf region home, including Saudi artists such as Asma Bahmim.
In addition to becoming easier to get to, the relaxation in visa rules has made entering the Kingdom a doddle. Options include the Visa Waiver scheme, suitable for single-entry stays up to 180 days, and the effortless E-Visa process, enabling multiple entry for a year.
Another great option is the Stopover, or Transit, Visa, available to visitors passing through the Kingdom. This free visa enables intrepid travellers to break up their journey and spend time exploring the country, from tacking on cultural Riyadh city breaks to ticking off bucket-list adventures such as visiting the Nabatean masterpiece of Mada’in Salia Hegra in AlUla, or tracing Lawrence of Arabia’s footsteps along the historic Hejaz Railway route.
It’s also a boon for those keen to check out some of next year’s packed calendar of world class events, such as the Formula One Grand Prix (March 9, Jeddah). Airlines offering the Stopover Visas, valid for three months and suitable for stays lasting up to 96 hours, include Saudia and Flynas.
Given Saudi’s target of attracting 150 million annual visitors by 2030, visitors would do well to go now and beat the crowds. This while bagging some serious bragging rights by being ahead of the pack. Early arrivals could also take advantage of any special opening rates offered by new openings in resort areas such as the Red Sea Project and Amaala Project, respectively set to have caps of a million and 500,000 annual visitors once fully up and running. Moreover, come now and you’ll experience those pristine coral reefs and marine habitats in their untouched, seldom-visited prime.
That said, even when visitor numbers do start to rocket, one of the joys of visiting a country the size of Saudi is it’s never hard to escape the crowds. From active adventures exploring the Hijaz mountains and explorer style adventures in the Empty Quarter to kicking back in a bijou bolthole such as Six Senses Southern Dunes, it’s easy to carve out a corner of calm, tranquil bliss.
Practical information
Visas
It’s surprisingly simple and easy to get an e-Visa for Saudi and the process is very similar to applying for an ESTA for the USA. Over 50 nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa, including people from the UK and USA, with it costing (at the time of writing) 535 Saudi riyals (about £115 or US$143). Applications are swift and nearly all applicants will receive a response within three working days – most within 24 hours. To apply for your Saudi e-Visa, visit the official Saudi Tourism Authority website. If you’re from the USA, UK or the Schengen Area, you can also apply for a visa on arrival into Saudi. It’s slightly cheaper than an e-Visa, too, at SAR480 (about £102 or US$128).
Getting there & around
Local customs
To really embrace Saudi life and pay respect towards its traditions, there are a few local customs you should abide when travelling around the country. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their elbows and below their knees when out in public. If you’re heading to the coast, it’s still expected you dress modestly. When meeting and greeting locals, whether it’s a market stallholder or a private guide, say hello with ‘salam alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you’, as well as offering a handshake.
Weather
You might think it’s hot all year round in Saudi but it’s a little more nuanced than that. The best time to visit Riyadh is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime and rarely exceed 30°C. Summer months in Riyadh can get extremely hot, with temperatures often above 40°C between June and September.
Is English spoken in Saudi?
Arabic is the official national language but English is widely spoken.
What is the currency of Saudi?
The currency of Saudi is the riyal, with the current rate (at the time of writing), around SAR4.76 to the UK£. You’ll need to pre-order money before you travel, as in the UK it’s not usually stocked in currency exchange booths.
What’s it like travelling in Saudi as a female?
We think you’d be surprised! To find out more, read our first-hand account on what it’s like to travel in Saudi.
What’s the time difference in Saudi?
Saudi follows Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3) all year round.
