Heading to Saudi Arabia for a tour, ladies? This guide could save you some headaches. It pertains primarily to Jeddah—which is one of the less conservative Saudi Arabian cities. Keep in mind though, other cities might have stricter rules.
When I tried to look for a guide about touring Saudi Arabia as a woman, I couldn’t find one. Hence, I decided to write this based on my experience.
Before we start, let’s acknowledge one thing – Saudi Arabia has a different culture and despite our difference back in the U.S, I wouldn’t have wanted to be from anywhere else. I saw many restrictions for women in Saudi Arabia which hurt to witness, but some of these customs are part of their faith. No judgement here, but forcing others to follow the same can be unfair.
Now on to the tips and stories from my tour.
Starting off with wardrobes, invest in an abaya – it’s a must. The locals usually wear simple black ones, but if you want to, you could choose a colorful one—just be prepared to stand out a bit more.
Moving on to men- if you plan on visiting general places like malls or restaurants, you should be safe applying your usual travel caution. But do expect your appearance to gain some attention. When I ventured alone dressed in my Saudi-friendly outfit, I attracted unnecessary car honks and hollers.
Hijabs or scarves for your head, can also provide some relief from unwanted attention. In Jeddah, you can choose whether to wear one when going from the airport to your hotel or workplace.
One hiccup I did face was the choice of when to put on my abaya — should I change during my flight or wait until arrival? Looking back, I’d recommend changing into your abaya on the plane towards the end of your flight to avoid feeling overly exposed upon arrival.
As for what to wear under your abaya, just consider the heat. Dress comfortably—tank tops or t-shirts with leggings work well.
One thing to keep in mind, there’s not a lot to do for entertainment—so bring your own. Maybe avoid poker chips though since gambling is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the cultural differences, there are some cool places to visit such as Al Balad Marketplace or the Mall of Arabia. Also, if you’re a coffee lover, you’re in for a treat!
In conclusion, touring in Saudi Arabia is safe if you’re cautious. Remember, just play by their rules and respect their customs. On the bright side, you might save quite a bit as there isn’t much to spend on! Also, you’ll probably appreciate your rights and freedoms back home a lot more after your tour here. Lastly, pack smart and don’t rely on expensive international data plans because they might not work too well.