What to Pack When Flying to Saudi Arabia

When travelling to Saudi Arabia, its worth considering the amount of luggage you will want to bring. Most airlines will allow you to bring one full size suitcase, as well as one handbag or rucksack as a carry on. So how can we maximise the utility we get out of this allowance. Firstly, as usual you will want to pack your travel essentials in your case. Stuff like your clothes, electronics and toiletries form the foundation of your necessities when travelling. You should also include a bottle of sunscreen for good measure.

In your carry on rucksack or purse, we recommend including a smaller bottle of sunscreen to keep with you throughout your travels, a bottle of water to stay hydrated as well as things to keep you entertained during the flight, such as a book or electronic device. (Which can enter flight mode as required.)

When you arrive at your hotel room and no longer need to lug around your larger suitcase, you can empty all non essentials from your carry on into your room, and use it as a travellers pack. This should contain sun tan lotion, a bottle of water, as well as sunglasses and a sun hat to help you defeat the heat that Saudi Arabia has in abundance.

When travelling we want to chill out and turn off while we cruise through the clouds and explore distant lands. In order to achieve this relaxed state of mind it is important that we take total care with our preparations, a major part of which is organising proper travel insurance. We never want to think about something going wrong on our trip, and with properly organised travel insurance, we can rest assured that we are covered in case of emergencies. Travel Insurance coverage varies from provider to provider, but generally you can get coverage in the case of injury as well as loss or theft of property while you are abroad. Ensuring you set this up through a reputable provider before you jet off lets you know you are covered on all fronts.

Equally important is ensuring you have made proper reservations to enter the county. Saudi Arabia requires travellers to register and then apply to get a visa with The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Visas are valid for up to 1 year after they were issued, so you can get your insurance and your visa early during your planning, and then feel good knowing that the baseline documents are sorted for your grand adventure ahead.

Find out more about travel visas and documents for Saudi Arabia here.

Saudi Arabia has incredibly strict laws about what items are prohibited from going through their airports. This might not come as a surprise to people who have travelled before as most airports have a pretty airtight policy on items that are banned. Typical things like blades, toxic liquids, compressed gas, firearms, explosives, et cetera.

We all know those, but did you know that Saudi Arabia has restrictions on other items that westerners might consider mundane? It is prohibited to bring any kind of food or drink with you into the country, including seeds from any plant. This is to prevent the spread of bacteria, microorganisms and invasive species of plants.

Saudi Arabia also prohibits a traveller from bringing devices such as cameras or even phones! This is because Saudi Arabia is one of few countries which does not mandate free access and usage of the internet. If you do want to bring a phone or other electronic device which can go online you will need to register it with the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) before you travel, and present the appropriate document to the airport security guard.

Alcohol is also prohibited in any capacity. Locals who are caught drinking within the country are fined or jailed, and travellers caught drinking will usually be deported. This is because Saudi Arabia is a dry nation, with a strict alcohol ban.