Is it safe or even possible for an unmarried American girl to visit Saudi Arabia?

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Devastated

There's no tourist visa to enter Saudi Arabia. You're allowed to enter the kingdom using either business visit, family visit, or pilgrimage (for muslim) visa.
But recently, Saudi opens visa for tourists in tour group via an official tour operator.
If you want to visit Saudi in tour group, please contact http://www.samallaghi.com/index.htm
They can arrange group tour to visit Saudi.

Adam

There are No tourists visa to KSA. You have to be sponsored by a resident if u wish to go...simple as that, you dont just book a flight and go.....Saudi is one of the safest countries in the world. If a woman is raped and the man is caught, he is publically executed...simple as that. In Riyadh you can witness this and thieves having thier hands amputated. Sounds harsh, but it really leads to a Very low crime rate..

Faisal A

In 2004, Saudi has announced the acceptance of tourist tour visa applications from a number of countries, including the USA.

Getting an individual touristic visa is not yet on the table (soon though), however, you can visit Saudi for tourism if you're with a group (organized tour).

I've met a few visitors to Saudi, including an American female who was in charge of one of those groups.

Currently, I think that's the best way to see Saudi, because:

1- They'd take you to places that you wouldn't normally visit alone, and
2- It makes it even more easy and acceptable for you, a single female

Hope this helps

sarahh_f

I don't know, it is probably. If you study deeper into it, you'll find there are a lot of requisites to meet.

However, once you're here, you can go out in the public without male chaperones. That one I can answer with most certainty. Women go about all the time, with friends/family members [that don't necessarily have to be males] etc. Most of the rich Saudis even go out alone [with personal drivers ofcourse]. Anyway, if you really are willing to come here to learn about the culture, make sure you find a lot of Saudi friends. You'll learn so much more that way. They have rich beautiful traditions, but I dont think many will be able to adapt.

You have to wear a cloak in public. You may or may not cover your head [if you're an American with typical western looks [lighter locks, lighter complexion etc. , you'll get away with it any time].

Hope you find more info on this :)

happy face

The answer is yes. you can visit KSA. However, you should be very careful. KSA is an Islamic country, governed by Islam and a lot of customs such as driving: women can not drive a car under any circumstances.My mother in low lived there for 14 years. she had to put a long coat and a scarf to cover her hair because men used to come and told her: cover yourself satan.So I think you better go and buy a long dress and some scarfs.Then find a woman there to help you because there is nothing called i ll find a touristic guide. And finally learn some comman arabic words. Ithink KSA is a safe and a nice place if you know how to act. Now i have a questio for you. Is it safe for an unmariied muslum girl with scarf to visit USA?

desigirl64

yea, its fine..
ppl go there all the time. Why do you guys take this so seriously? i mean yea its culture, but nobody really follows it anymore. and besides, your a tourist.

Trust me nothing is going to happen.
You might want to bring someone who can speak arabic, it will be a lot easier.

Tip: Get a hotel near the airport. Not too far.

Mintee

yes as the last 2 posters stated, you cant just up and come to Saudi.. You have to have a sponsor.. and even at that, you might not get a visa approval.. There is a lot of red tape involved.. its a closed country and not open to tourism except in extremely tight group organized tours.. Women never ever just come over to Saudi.. If you want a taste of arabic culture, why not visit Bahrain its small enough to be quaint and a slight slow paced culture.. If you want fast paced arabic culture, visit Dubai or Kuwait. ...
If you do ever get here, you dont have to be afraid of appearing in public without a man.. I am a Saudi-American and I go out shopping alone or with my girlfriends all the time. We just hire a taxi and off we go.. I see women haggling with the shop owners on prices and doing banking and business all the time.. Some wealthy women even own their own cars, although they cant drive, they hire a driver and then they go about doing whatever they please. But it would be advisable to find a group to come visit here, or someone who is already here that can take you around on little personal tours.

Hell Raiser

If going there is a necessity then stick to big cities and cover yourself real good, do a lot of research first shouls go, shouldn't go, what to do, what not to do etc

wolf

You can't just enter Saudi Arabia. It's not a country for tourists. The only visas Saudi Arabia has are Umrah visa(short pilgrimage), Hajj(Longer pilgrimage), Business visa, resident visa(you need a sponsor like you have to be married to a Saudi man to get that visa), and a family visa(again you have to have family in Saudi Arabia). It's really safe and the crime rate is very low to non existent. Umrah and Hajj are only for Muslims. You can't enter Mecca or Medina but you can see the suburbs. Saudi people are really nice but the men drive like maniacs. You will have to wear an Abaya and hijab because the Muttawa might stop you and harass you until you cover up. If anything happens to you the USA embassy in Riyadh will deal with Saudi Arabia. I think you need documentation to prove that you are a Muslim otherwise you can't enter Saudi Arabia. Anyone with a Israeli stamp on their passport is denied entry. Women can't drive at all. You could get a ticket if stopped. Be careful when your outside.

well if you were able to secure the visa, it is safe. However, don't go to historical sites outside of the big cities. Notify your embassy upon arrival. No need for male companion but you will definitely need a driver to drive you around.

HayatAnneOsman

You would be safe, as long as you respect local customs. Women are respected, probably more than anywhere else in the world.

You certainly don't need a male chaperone! My daughters and I go out alone all the time.

However, it's difficult for a non-Muslim to get a visa for Saudi, unless s/he has been hired by a Saudi employer. A few tour companies now are licensed to offer tours, but the tourists have to stay with the group.

husain

I think it safety it is funny to visit Saudi Arabia , don't afraid from any one in Saudi Arabia because every body here is very nice man and woman ... every body say welcome .. i hope to enjoy and have happy time when you visit Saudi Arabia ...

nono

Hi there,

I've seen groups of America women come to Saudi for tousim. It is safe as long as you come with a group, dress properly, and hire a toure guide. Overall, it's safe...

Sassafrass

You already got a lot of good answers...but note that if you have an israeli stamp you can apply for a new passport and use that instead of the one with the israeli stamp. Or if you planned to visit both places you are able to get extra passport pages ( I am sorry, I forgot what they are called). There is a form to fill out, they are for people who travel a lot or who know they are planning to visit countries that might not accept passports with certain stamps...

Anyway, the US Embassy is there to help but they can only do so much ( I know somebody that worked at the US Embassy in KSA).

Maybe try to befriend some Saudis and then when you want you can easily go there to visit.

Boombastic

Your an American so you are fine. If anything happens the good old U.S. Embassy has your back.

dtravelbiz

Why even go there, especially in these times. Keep it to the books and other readings. There are other places, much safer you can visit.

Mr $

Why dont u visit some other countries like dubai, lebanon, egypt, bahrain etc...

& i would like to remind u that next month ramadan (fasting) begins too.
so better not go to saudi, cus v need to see u in Y!A again.

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