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Once one of the most difficult countries to visit, Saudi Arabia is finally issuing visas for tourism purposes and independent travel.
Before, the only way to travel to Saudi was on a business visa, via a strong local connection who could sponsor your visit, or by getting a pilgrimage visa to visit Mecca and Medina (only for Muslims).
Therefore, the fact that all of a sudden, Western tourists can visit Saudi Arabia on their own, with a backpack, both men and women, is a very radical change.
This incredibly big change, however, didn’t come alone.
During the last couple of years, a lot of their super strict Islamic laws have been softened or, at least, they have become more flexible. For example, allowing women and men to hang out together in public spaces was one of the most significant changes.
All these small changes will make things easier for future international visitors.
Despite everything that you may have read in the media, Saudi Arabia is an incredible country. There is just so much to do and see, a country filled with loads of stunning sites, both natural and archaeological, hugely contrasting landscapes and some extremely hospitable people that could easily rival my beloved friends from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.
I strongly believe that this is the most underrated country on this planet, and here I have compiled a comprehensive travel guide to Saudi Arabia packed with tips and everything you need to know to travel to the Kingdom.
This guide contains all the practical information. For places to visit read my Saudi Arabia itinerary
In Saudi Arabia, the internet is censored, which means that some websites and internet services are blocked. If you want to access them you will need a VPN and for that, I recommend ExpressVPN, the fastest and works best for Saudi.
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COVID-19 travel restrictions for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia reopened its borders in August 2021.
As of today, these are the COVID-19 entry requirements for traveling to Saudi Arabia:
- Certificate of vaccination (2 shots)
- Travel insurance (purchased along with your visa)
Once you got your visa, you must register your vaccination details on the government portal, no later than 72 hours before departure.
Furthermore, upon your arrival in Saudi Arabia,…
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