Last updated: 23 October 2026. We checked the rules, dates and figures in this guide against current official and news sources. Rules can change at short notice, so check before you travel.

Saudi Arabia was, until recently, one of the most closed countries on earth for non-Muslim visitors. There was no tourist visa. There were no concerts, no cinemas, no mixed-gender restaurants. That has changed dramatically. Since the Kingdom launched tourist e-visas in September 2019 as part of its Saudi Arabia travel transformation under Vision 2030, international visitors have arrived in large numbers, and many are surprised at how welcoming the experience is. This guide covers exactly what non-Muslim travellers are allowed to do, where they can and cannot go, and the cultural rules that genuinely matter on the ground in 2026.

How Saudi Arabia Opened Up to Non-Muslim Tourists

Before September 2019, Saudi Arabia did not offer tourist visas, so leisure travellers had no general way in. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 programme changed that. The Kingdom introduced a tourist e-visa, open to 49 countries at launch (Arab News) and expanded since, launched entertainment mega-events like Riyadh Season, lifted the ban on women driving, opened cinemas and concert venues, and invested billions in tourism infrastructure along the Red Sea coast and in AlUla.

The result is a country that genuinely wants visitors. Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the Kingdom received about 122 million domestic and international tourists in 2025, including about 30 million international arrivals (Argaam, January 2026). For non-Muslims, the transformation is real but the Kingdom remains conservative by Western standards. Understanding where the new openness applies and where traditional rules still hold is the key to a smooth visit.

Where Non-Muslims Cannot Go: Mecca and Medina

This is the single most important restriction for non-Muslim travellers and it is absolute: non-Muslims are forbidden from entering the city of Mecca. This ban is long-standing and grounded in Islamic jurisprudence. Road signs on the approaches to Mecca indicate where non-Muslims must leave the highway. Do not attempt to enter.

There is no exception for curiosity, academic research, journalism, or any other purpose. If you are not Muslim, Mecca is off your itinerary entirely.

Medina: Partially Accessible

The rules for Medina are different and more nuanced. Non-Muslims can visit the wider city of Medina: you can walk the streets, eat in restaurants, stay in hotels, and explore its districts. However, the sacred core of the old city around Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque) is restricted to Muslims only. Respect any signs and instructions from security staff marking the boundary.

This makes Medina a worthwhile stop for non-Muslim travellers interested in Islamic history and architecture — you can see the mosque’s distinctive green dome from the surrounding streets and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the city, even if you cannot enter the mosque itself.

Dress Code: What Non-Muslims Should Wear

Saudi Arabia’s dress code has relaxed significantly but modesty remains the baseline. Here is what actually applies in 2026:

Women

• Abaya not required. Since 2019, foreign women are no longer required to wear an abaya in public. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman confirmed this in a 2018 interview.
• Modest clothing expected. The law requires “decent, respectful clothing.” In practice, this means covering shoulders and knees. Loose-fitting trousers or long skirts, tops with sleeves, and higher necklines are the norm.
• Head covering not required in most public spaces. However, you must cover your hair when entering any mosque (Medina’s open areas, for example) or very conservative rural areas.
• Swimwear is fine at hotel pools, private beaches, and resort facilities. Cover up before returning to public areas.

Men

• T-shirts are fine in Riyadh and Jeddah. The UK Foreign Office advises clothing that covers the elbows and extends below the knees, so long shorts or trousers are the safer choice in malls and tourist areas.
• Avoid going shirtless in public (fine at hotel pools and private beaches).
• For mosque visits, wear long trousers and a shirt with sleeves.

Regional Differences

Jeddah is the most relaxed city — you will see foreign women without head coverings and in relatively casual clothing. Riyadh is slightly more conservative but increasingly tolerant. Smaller towns and rural areas remain more traditional, and dressing more modestly there shows respect. The Asir highlands and eastern desert towns are noticeably more conservative than the major cities.

Alcohol: Still Banned for Tourists

As of October 2026, alcohol remains illegal for tourists throughout Saudi Arabia. There are no bars, no hotel minibars, and no licensed restaurants serving alcohol to visitors. This is one of the biggest adjustments for Western travellers and there is no legal workaround.

The only exception is a restricted alcohol store in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, which opened in January 2024 for non-Muslim diplomats. Without any official announcement, it was opened in late 2025 to non-Muslim Premium Residency holders (Reuters) and to non-Muslim foreign residents earning at least SAR 50,000 (about USD 13,300) a month (AFP). Tourists do not qualify. See our alcohol guide for details.

In May 2025, websites reported that Saudi Arabia would license about 600 tourist venues to serve alcohol from 2026. A Saudi official told Reuters the reports were “unfounded”, and in February 2025 the Saudi ambassador to the UK said alcohol would not be sold at the 2034 FIFA World Cup, including in hotels. As of October 2026 we found no report of any tourist venue licensed to serve alcohol. Plan your trip assuming a completely dry experience.

Important: Penalties for alcohol violations in Saudi Arabia are severe, including fines, imprisonment, and deportation for foreigners. Do not attempt to bring alcohol into the country or purchase it through informal channels.

Religious Expression and Worship

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law regarding religious expression:

• No public non-Islamic worship. The UK Foreign Office says practising any religion other than Islam is illegal, but private practice of other religions is accepted. Public prayer, religious gatherings, or worship services outside of Islam are not permitted.
• Personal religious items such as a Bible for private use are allowed, but importing large numbers of religious books may lead to prosecution. Displaying religious items prominently in public is inadvisable.
• Proselytising is illegal. Trying to convert people is against the law, and publicly criticising Islam can lead to arrest.
• Private worship is accepted in practice. Expatriate communities hold private religious services in homes and compounds.

For non-Muslim visitors, the practical advice is simple: respect Islam as the state religion, keep your own beliefs private, and avoid any public religious activity.



Ramadan: Travelling During the Holy Month

Ramadan reshapes daily life across Saudi Arabia. During the holy month (which began on 18 February in 2026 and moves earlier each year because it follows the lunar calendar), travelling during Ramadan requires extra planning:

• No eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during daylight hours, including in your car. The UK Foreign Office says this applies to everyone — Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
• Hotel restaurants typically serve meals to non-Muslim guests behind screens or in enclosed areas during the day. Room service is always available.
• Reduced business hours. Offices work shorter hours, and many shops and malls open later in the day and stay open after iftar (the sunset meal). Check opening hours.
• Evenings come alive. After sunset, cities transform. Streets buzz with iftar gatherings, markets stay open past midnight, and the festive atmosphere is worth experiencing.
• Dress even more conservatively during Ramadan. This is the most religious period of the year.

Ramadan can be a fascinating time to visit if you prepare for the schedule changes, but first-time visitors may prefer to come during a different period when restaurants and attractions operate on normal hours.

Best Destinations for Non-Muslim Visitors

With Mecca off-limits and Medina only partially accessible, non-Muslim travellers still have an extraordinary range of destinations. Saudi Arabia is a vast country — larger than Western Europe — and its diversity surprises most visitors.

Riyadh

The capital is where Vision 2030 is most visible. Riyadh offers the Al Masmak Fortress, the National Museum, the atmospheric mud-brick ruins of Diriyah’s At-Turaif district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the soaring Kingdom Centre tower. Riyadh Season brings international concerts, sports events, immersive entertainment, and late-night cafes; the 2026 season was announced to open on 21 October 2026 and run for ten weeks (Gulf News, September 2026). Boulevard City and Boulevard World are entertainment mega-zones with rides, restaurants, and live performances.

Jeddah

Jeddah is the most cosmopolitan Saudi city and the easiest for first-time non-Muslim visitors. The Al-Balad historic district — with its coral-stone houses and wooden lattice balconies — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The long Corniche waterfront, the contemporary art scene and the food make it a rewarding stop. Jeddah also hosts the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on its dramatic Corniche street circuit.

AlUla

AlUla is the jewel of Saudi tourism for non-Muslim visitors. The Nabataean tombs of Hegra (Madain Salih) — Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site — are a rival to Petra in Jordan, carved into golden sandstone over 2,000 years ago. Elephant Rock, the ancient Dadan kingdom ruins, and the AlUla Old Town add to a destination that feels genuinely otherworldly. This is pre-Islamic history at its most dramatic, and it is fully accessible to all visitors.

The Red Sea Coast

The Red Sea coast offers world-class diving and snorkelling with pristine coral reefs that have been largely untouched by mass tourism. Yanbu is a growing dive destination, and the new Red Sea Global resorts (Amaala and The Red Sea) are targeting luxury eco-tourism. Saudi beaches along this coast are stunning and uncrowded.

The Asir Highlands

The Abha and Asir region in the southwest offers a completely different Saudi Arabia — green mountains, cool temperatures, terraced villages, and misty peaks close to 3,000 metres. The hiking trails here are some of the best in the Middle East.

Unmarried Couples and Solo Female Travellers

Unmarried Couples

Unmarried foreign tourists can share hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia, the UK Foreign Office confirms. However, it also notes that sex outside marriage remains illegal, including for tourists, though legal action is uncommon. Public displays of affection remain off-limits for all couples, married or unmarried. Keep physical affection private.

Solo Female Travellers

Women can now travel independently in Saudi Arabia, drive rental cars, and book hotel rooms alone. The solo female travel experience has improved enormously since 2019, and most solo women report feeling safe and welcomed. That said, unwanted attention can occur in some areas, and female travellers should be aware that cultural conservatism varies by region.



LGBTQ+ Travellers: An Honest Warning

This section is deliberately blunt because the stakes are high. Same-sex relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia under Sharia law. Penalties can include imprisonment, fines and deportation for foreigners, and the maximum penalty is death. There are no legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and being transgender is not legally recognised.

In May 2023, the Saudi Tourism Authority updated its website to say LGBTQ+ visitors were welcome, and a spokesperson told CNN that everyone is welcome “provided that they follow and respect our culture, traditions and laws.” The law has not changed. The UK Foreign Office says legal action is uncommon, but the risk is real.

If you choose to travel to Saudi Arabia as an LGBTQ+ individual, absolute discretion is essential. Avoid all public displays of affection, manage social media and dating app profiles carefully (assume dating apps may be monitored), and understand that there is no legal recourse if you face discrimination or prosecution. Read the Saudi Arabia safety guide for broader security context.

Photography Rules

Tourists can photograph most public spaces, including heritage sites, landscapes, and cityscapes. However, important restrictions apply:

• Never photograph military installations, government buildings, diplomatic premises, palaces, or security personnel. The UK Foreign Office says photographing such sites is illegal.
• Do not photograph people without their consent — especially women, families, and children. It is a violation under the Public Decorum rules and deeply disrespectful in Saudi culture.
• Mosques: Exterior photography is usually fine. Interior photography is often restricted, especially during prayer times.
• Drones need official permission; check the General Authority of Civil Aviation rules before you bring one, and keep away from airports, government and military sites.

For more on where to point your camera, see the best photography spots in Saudi Arabia.

Food and Dining

Saudi food and dining is one of the highlights for non-Muslim visitors. The cuisine is excellent and increasingly diverse:

• Pork is not available anywhere in Saudi Arabia. All meat is halal. If you have dietary restrictions, communicate them clearly — vegetarian and vegan options are growing in cities.
• No alcohol with meals (see above). Restaurants serve fresh juices, Arabic coffee (qahwa), tea, and increasingly good specialty coffee.
• Family sections: restaurants used to have separate sections for single men and for families/women. Most restaurants in major cities now have open seating, though some traditional establishments may still keep separate areas.
• Tipping: check the bill for a service charge. Tipping is appreciated but not expected.

Must-try dishes include kabsa (spiced rice with meat), jareesh (crushed wheat porridge), mutabbaq (stuffed pastry), and fresh-caught Red Sea seafood in Jeddah.

Entertainment and Nightlife

Saudi Arabia’s nightlife and entertainment scene has been transformed since 2019. While there are no bars or nightclubs serving alcohol, the Kingdom now offers:

• Concerts and live music: International artists perform in Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla, and major boxing events have been staged in the Kingdom.
• Riyadh Season: The annual festival features shows, concerts, comedy acts and food events across multiple zones. The 2026 season was announced to open on 21 October 2026. For the latest, see Riyadh Postponed the Conference and Kept the Season.
• Cinemas: Banned until 2018, Saudi Arabia now has modern multiplex cinemas in every major city.
• Cafes: The cafe culture is booming. Specialty coffee shops, shisha lounges, and dessert cafes stay open late and serve as the primary social gathering spots.
• Sporting events: The Saudi Cup (horse racing), Dakar Rally, WWE events, and the Jeddah F1 Grand Prix all attract international visitors.

Check the Saudi Arabia events calendar 2026 for specific dates and bookings.

Practical Tips for Non-Muslim Visitors

Prayer Times

Saudi Arabia observes five daily prayer times, and you will hear the call to prayer (adhan) from mosques throughout the day. Shops have been allowed to stay open during prayer times since July 2021 (The National), but some smaller shops still close briefly. Plan around prayer times, especially Friday noon prayers (the most important of the week), when many businesses pause.

Weekend

The Saudi weekend is Friday and Saturday. Government offices and many businesses are closed on these days. Friday is the Islamic holy day — expect reduced activity in the morning and afternoon.

Currency and Payments

The Saudi Riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US dollar at approximately 3.75 SAR to 1 USD. Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, and Apple Pay and contactless payments are widespread. ATMs are plentiful.

Language

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken in hotels, airports, malls, and tourist areas in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province. Signage is bilingual (Arabic and English) on highways and in cities. In smaller towns, English proficiency drops — a translation app is helpful.

Connectivity

Pick up a local SIM card or eSIM on arrival. STC, Mobily, and Zain all offer tourist data packages. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafes. Check before you travel that the calling apps you rely on work in Saudi Arabia.

Getting Around

Getting around Saudi Arabia is easiest by domestic flight or rental car. The Riyadh Metro opened in stages between December 2024 and January 2025. Ride-hailing apps (Uber and the local Careem) work well in all major cities.

Health and Safety

Everyday risks include extreme heat (average daily highs in Riyadh are about 43°C from June to August), aggressive driving, and dehydration. Carry water at all times. Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended. Check our Saudi Arabia travel status page for airport closures and government travel advice before you book.

Common Misconceptions

Non-Muslim visitors often arrive with outdated assumptions. Here are the most common misconceptions corrected:

Misconception	Reality in 2026
Women must wear an abaya	Not required for foreign women since 2019. Modest clothing is sufficient.
Women cannot drive	Women have been driving since 2018. Rental cars are available to female tourists.
There is nothing to do	Riyadh Season alone draws millions. Concerts, sports, cinema, restaurants, and adventure tourism are booming.
Non-Muslims are unwelcome	The Kingdom is actively investing billions to attract non-Muslim tourists. Hospitality is deeply embedded in Saudi culture.
You cannot enter any mosque	Some mosques outside Mecca and Medina allow respectful non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times. Always ask permission.
Street crime is the main danger	Street crime is not the main concern for most visitors; heat, road safety and current security conditions matter more. Check the latest government travel advice before you go.
You need a male guardian to travel	This applied only to Saudi women and has been largely abolished. Foreign women travel freely and independently.

What to Budget

Saudi Arabia is not a budget destination but it is not extortionate either. The ranges below are our rough estimates from April 2026, not official figures; prices change, so check current rates when you book:

Category	Budget (USD/day)	Mid-Range (USD/day)	Luxury (USD/day)
Accommodation	$30–50	$80–150	$250–600+
Food	$15–25	$30–60	$80–150+
Transport	$10–20	$25–50	$50–100+
Attractions	$5–15	$20–40	$50–100+
Daily Total	$60–110	$155–300	$430–950+

For a detailed cost breakdown, see the Saudi Arabia cost guide. For hotel recommendations, check the Saudi Arabia hotels guide.

Suggested Itinerary for Non-Muslim First-Timers

If this is your first visit, a 7-day Saudi Arabia itinerary covering the non-religious highlights might look like this:

• Days 1–2: Riyadh — National Museum, Al Masmak Fortress, Diriyah, Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge, Riyadh Season events (if in season)
• Day 3: Fly to AlUla — Hegra tombs, Elephant Rock at sunset
• Day 4: AlUla — Dadan ruins, Old Town, Maraya concert hall, desert stargazing
• Day 5: Fly to Jeddah — Al-Balad walking tour, Corniche sunset, seafood dinner
• Day 6: Jeddah — Floating Mosque, contemporary art galleries, souk shopping
• Day 7: Day trip or departure — Red Sea snorkelling, or fly home

For the best time to visit, aim for November to February when temperatures are comfortable across most of the country.

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Explore More Saudi Arabia Travel Guides

• Saudi Arabia Travel Guide 2026 — The complete guide to visiting the Kingdom
• Saudi Arabia Dress Code — Exactly what to wear as a tourist in 2026
• Travelling During Ramadan — A non-Muslim’s guide to visiting during the holy month
• Solo Female Travel in Saudi Arabia — Honest 2026 guide for women travelling alone
• Is Saudi Arabia Safe? — A brutally honest safety assessment
• Saudi Arabia Visa Guide — Every visa type explained