Saudi Arabia
Warnings and insurance
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
Saudi Arabia-Yemen border
FCDO advises against:
- all travel to within 10km of the border with Yemen
- all but essential travel to areas between 10km and 80km from the border with Yemen
Abha International Airport
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Abha International Airport in Asir province.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Arriving in Saudi Arabia from Sudan
If you’re arriving in Saudi Arabia from Sudan, contact the Saudi authorities for the latest entry clearance procedures. See the latest Sudan travel advice for information about how to leave Port Sudan.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Update history
2024-10-26 08:23
On 26 October Israel carried out military action against Iran (‘Safety and security’ page)
2024-09-28 23:56
Updated information on the Conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)
2024-09-28 23:16
Updated information on the Conflict in Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)
2024-06-11 09:43
Information on Hajj 2024 (‘Pilgrimage’ page).
2024-04-26 12:38
Removal of some language on military activity in the region (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-04-19 15:01
Information on explosions in Iran, and unconfirmed reports of explosions in Syria and Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-04-14 09:19
13 April 2024 – drones and missiles fired from Iran into Israel (‘Warnings and Insurance’ page)
2024-04-12 20:02
Information on regional risks (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-08 11:26
Updated information on laws and cultural differences, and clarification of Umrah section (‘Safety and security’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages).
2024-01-12 00:20
Update to Safety and Security page
2023-12-22 13:17
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-11-10 12:44
Information under ‘Photography and media’ (‘Local laws and customs’ page).
2023-08-04 13:35
Updated information following the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) announcement (‘Entry Requirements’ page).
2023-07-14 10:32
Updated information following the end of Hajj 2023 (‘Summary’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages).
2023-06-29 12:12
Addition of information following an incident in Jeddah on 28 June (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-06-22 16:05
Information on Hajj 2023, travel to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif during Hajj, and about the risk of deportation for sentenced offenders (‘Pilgrimage’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)
2023-06-22 10:51
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-12 18:46
Saudi Government announces end of humanitarian evacuations from the Republic of Sudan (‘Summary’ page)
2023-05-10 18:27
Contact details for those needing urgent assistance if arriving in Jeddah from Port Sudan (‘Summary’ page)
2023-05-04 09:34
Information about non-British dependents travelling with British nationals and their arrival in Saudi Arabia from Sudan (‘Summary’ page).
2023-04-28 17:03
Travelling to Saudi Arabia from Sudan (‘Summary’ page).
2023-04-25 11:08
Updated information on Hajj, Umrah and Ramadan 2023 (‘Summary’, ‘Pilgrimage’ and ‘Local laws and customs’ pages).
2023-02-13 16:24
Updated information on Hajj 2023 (‘Summary’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages).
2023-01-06 15:04
Updated information following the end of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022 (‘Summary’ and ‘Local Laws and Customs’ pages).
2022-11-14 13:54
Updated information on Qatar World Cup 2022, and Local Laws and Customs (‘Summary’, and ‘Local Laws and Customs’ pages).
2022-10-20 10:07
Updated information on Qatar World Cup 2022, Safety and Security and Pilgrimage (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages).
2022-08-22 15:10
Updated information on Hajj (‘Local Laws and Customs’ pages)
2022-07-22 16:43
Updated information on Hajj (‘Summary’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages)
2022-07-11 16:33
Updated information on Hajj (‘Summary’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages)
2022-07-06 17:06
Updated information on Hajj (Pilgrimage page)
2022-06-30 17:09
Update to information on Hajj (‘Pilgrimage’ page)
2022-06-28 16:44
Update to information on Hajj (‘Pilgrimage’ page)
2022-06-24 17:07
Update to information on Hajj visa applications (‘Pilgrimage’ page)
2022-06-21 13:37
Updated information on Hajj (‘Pilgrimage’ page)
2022-06-14 15:35
Updated information on Hajj (‘Summary’ and ‘Pilgrimage’ pages), Coronavirus (‘Coronavirus’ page) and Terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-06-10 21:58
Updated information on Hajj (‘Summary’ ‘Pilgrimage’ page)
2022-04-01 09:29
Updated information on safety assessments (‘Terrorism’ page)
2022-03-23 17:10
Updated information on entry requirements following further lifting of restrictions (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-03-21 11:54
Updated information on attacks on energy facilities (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-03-13 15:30
Updated information following drone attack on a Riyadh oil refinery (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages)
2022-03-08 12:11
Updated information on lifting of PCR and antigen requirements for entry to Saudi Arabia (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)