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Travel Guidelines for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
  • Travellers should always carry a copy of their passport or national identity card.
  • Please ensure that you have all the required travel documents and sufficient funds for your trip.
  • Please contact your bank to confirm that your bank cards will be accepted and operational during your stay abroad.
  • Please register for the Tawajudi service.
  • For enquiries regarding applicable laws and guidelines, please contact the Mission of the United Arab Emirates.
  • To apply for a permit to return camels and grazing livestock owned by non-Saudi nationals, please visit the website of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture: https://naama.sa
  • Please check the requirements for issuing domestic worker visas well in advance of your travel date.
  • Comply with traffic laws and regulations to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
  • Ensure that you verify all health requirements applicable to your intended destination before travelling.
  • For information about the Kingdom, including travel guides, events and major attractions, please visit the Saudi Tourism Authority website: https://www.visitsaudi.com
  • Please comply with the laws and regulations in force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Photographing military areas and police personnel is prohibited by law.
  • Please ensure that accompanying domestic workers leave the Kingdom before their entry visas expire. Overstaying the permitted period may result in a fine of up to SAR 50,000, imprisonment for up to six months, and deportation.
  • Travellers must declare any cash, precious metals or valuable gemstones in their possession if the amounts exceed the applicable threshold stipulated under the customs regulations of the destination country.
  • Vehicle entry requirements: Travellers entering the Kingdom by vehicle must carry the vehicle's original registration document, which must be valid. The driver must be the vehicle owner or carry a valid international authorisation issued by the owner authorising the driver to take the vehicle across the customs border. If a UAE national intends to transit through Saudi Arabia to another Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country, this must be explicitly stated in the authorisation.
  • Vehicles must be insured before entering Saudi Arabian territory.
  • For customs laws and regulations, please visit the following link: https://zatca.gov.sa/ar/RulesRegulations/Taxes/Pages/default.aspx
  • Please ensure that GCC-registered vehicles do not remain in the Kingdom for more than 90 days within any 365-day period, in order to avoid traffic violations and the penalties prescribed under the applicable Traffic Law. An extension may be requested from the Ministry of Interior before the permitted period expires.

Customs Declaration Requirements

Travellers entering or leaving the Kingdom through air, land or sea ports must declare the following items if they are carrying them:

  • Gold, precious metals, gemstones and jewellery: Travellers entering or leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must make a customs declaration if they are carrying gold bullion, precious metals, gemstones or jewellery with a total value of SAR 40,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency). A purchase invoice must be provided as proof of value upon request.
  • Commercial quantities of goods: Any luggage, gifts or samples in commercial quantities, or in quantities exceeding personal use, with a value exceeding SAR 3,000 (or the equivalent in another currency).
  • Tobacco products: Any tobacco products exceeding 200 cigarettes or 500 grams in quantity.
  • Restricted items: Any restricted items requiring approval from the competent authorities, including medicines and drones.

Health Guidelines

  • Healthcare services are available throughout the Kingdom.
  • Hospitals and clinics in major cities are fully equipped.
  • All hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are licensed by the Ministry of Health.
  • To apply for a permit to import or carry restricted medicines for personal use, patients travelling to or from the Kingdom, or their authorised representatives, must submit an
  • application through the electronic Controlled Drugs System (CDS) platform using the following link: https://cds.sfda.gov.sa
  • For instructions on how to apply for the permit, please refer to the accompanying illustrative image. 

General Travel Guidelines

  • To ensure your safety and in the interest of protecting the health of Umrah pilgrims and Hajj pilgrims, the health authorities within the country advise you to receive all required primary vaccinations, particularly the influenza vaccine, before travelling to perform Umrah or Hajj. Please note that proof of influenza vaccination must be presented when departing through the country's departure ports.

Regulations for the Hajj Season

  •  Before travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Umrah permit must be obtained through the “Nusuk” platform to enter Makkah during the period commencing on 25 Shawwal 1447 AH, corresponding to 13 April 2026. The final date for departure is 1 Dhul-Qi’dah 1447 AH, corresponding to 18 April 2026.
  • The issuance of Umrah permits through the “Nusuk” platform will be suspended from 1 Dhul-Qi’dah 1447 AH, corresponding to 18 April 2026, until 14 Dhul-Hijjah 1447 AH, corresponding to 31 May 2026.

Hajj Season 1447 AH: Instructions and Guidelines

Umrah Pilgrim Guide