Saudi Arabia

Why Saudi Arabia

For decades, Saudi Arabia has remained closed to the curious eyes of the world. Since 2019 and the opening of the tourist visa, a territory the size of Western Europe has finally been revealed: Nabataean tombs carved out of the pink sandstone of AlUla, 250-meter dunes in the Rub al-Khali, coral reefs preserved by thirty years of unintentional protection, and cities that are building their future at breakneck speed. This is not a country that resembles its clichés.

The moment is rare. AlUla still receives few visitors compared to Petra. The seabed of the Red Sea has not yet experienced overcrowding. Diriyah, the cradle of the Saudi nation, is emerging from the ground after two centuries of oblivion. To travel here today is to be among the first to see something that, in ten years' time, will be known to the whole world.

Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 transforms an oil-rich country into a cultural and tourist destination. The changes are real: women are driving, cinemas are reopening, concerts are multiplying. The Islam practiced remains structuring, Arab hospitality is sincere and overflowing, and travel requires respect for local customs. But the change of scenery is total, and the welcome, often, surprises by its warmth.

When to go

The high season runs from November to March. This is when Riyadh's temperatures drop to comfortable levels (14-25°C) and AlUla holds its Tantora festival, mixing international concerts with nights in the desert. December and January are the golden months: golden light on the sandstone cliffs, cool evenings under the stars, uncrowded sites during the week.

From April to October, the heat crushes the country. In Riyadh, the thermometers flirt with 44°C in July. The archaeological sites become impassable in full sun. The only exception is the Red Sea coast, which is pleasant to dive all year round, and Taif, at an altitude of 1,880 meters, which escapes the worst heat waves. Travelers who come in summer must book their visits in the early hours of the morning and evenings.

Ramadan, whose dates vary each year according to the lunar calendar, profoundly changes the rhythm of life: restaurants closed during the day, a more meditative indoor atmosphere. Some travelers experience it as a unique immersion, others prefer to avoid this period.

How much does it cost

Saudi Arabia is in the upper-middle range of destinations. A 3-4 star hotel in Riyadh or Jeddah costs between 70 and 130 EUR per night. The catering is varied: a meal in a popular restaurant costs 7-10 EUR, a quality local gastronomy restaurant 25-40 EUR. Entrance fees to the sites (Hegra, Diriyah) are usually paid and can be booked online.

Organized tours from France start at around 1,800-2,000 EUR per person for 10 days, excluding flights. The Paris-Riyadh return flight varies between 350 EUR in low season and 750 EUR in high season with Air France or Saudia. The local currency, the Saudi riyal (1 EUR ≈ 4.35 SAR), is stabilized on the dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted everywhere.

Where to go

Riyadh, the metropolis that reinvents itself

The Saudi capital is often the gateway to travel. The historic district of Diriyah, at the gates of the city, offers a striking counterpoint to the modernity of the skyscrapers: the At-Turaif district, the first Saudi state in adobe, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. The Bujairi terrace, with its restaurants open to the ruins illuminated in the evening, is one of the most amazing experiences in the region.

In the city, the Kingdom Centre Tower (300 metres, suspension bridge in the sky) and Al-Faisaliah Tower structure a rapidly expanding skyline. The National Museum of Saudi Arabia, on King Abdullah Boulevard, retraces 3,000 years of the peninsula's history with a first-rate scenography. The souks of Deerah, the old Riyadh, invite you to the slowness of spices, dates and copper crafts.

AlUla, Hegra and the Nabataean Desert

AlUla is probably the most impressive site in Saudi Arabia. The oasis, framed by 300-meter red sandstone cliffs, is home to Hegra, the kingdom's first UNESCO inscription: 131 monumental tombs dug into the rock by the Nabataeans 2,000 years ago. Their facades adorned with sculptures, eagles, snakes and Aramaic inscriptions, have resisted the wind for twenty centuries.

Elephant Rock, just a few miles away, is one of the most photographed rocks in the world, illuminated in red at sunset. Jabal Ikmah has been exhibiting thousands of pre-Islamic inscriptions inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register since 2023. The Maraya Concert Hall, a building entirely covered in mirrors that reflect the desert and the stars, hosts world-class performances in a sci-fi setting.

Jeddah and the Red Sea

The kingdom's second largest city, Jeddah looks at Islam head-on: it is the gateway to Mecca, a holy city forbidden to non-Muslims. But for tourists, it offers other virtues. Its Al-Balad district, an old city classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, is lined up with houses with rawasheen (wrought wooden balconies) built during the Ottoman Empire, some of them 500 years old.

The Corniche stretches for 30 kilometers facing the Red Sea, punctuated by the King Fahd Fountain, 312 meters of water visible from the plane. A stone's throw from the shore, the coral reefs are among the best preserved on the planet. Diving clubs have been operating from the port since the tourist opening, revealing depths that only local fishermen knew before 2019.

Our itineraries

In pictures

Practical advice

Formalities

The tourist e-visa, obtained in a few hours on visitsaudi.com, has opened the country to the French since September 2019. Its cost (SAR 440, about EUR 100) includes health insurance. It is valid for one year, allows multiple entries and allows up to 90 days of cumulative stay. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your date of entry.

In terms of health, no vaccination is mandatory for tourists (ACWY meningococcus only concerns Hajj/Umrah pilgrims). Check that your DTP, hepatitis A and measles vaccines are up to date. No risk of malaria. Take repatriation insurance with you: private care is expensive.

The MEAE has classified Saudi Arabia on normal vigilance since June 2026, with the exception of the Yemeni border area, which is formally discouraged. Register on Ariane (ariane.gouv.fr) to receive alerts during your trip.

Getting around

Saudi Arabia is a continental country, designed for the car. Riyadh and Jeddah have modern metros, but tourist sites usually require a vehicle. Car rental is easy, the national road network is excellent. Uber and Careem (local equivalent) work very well in the big cities.

For inter-city routes, fast and inexpensive domestic flights (Saudia, Flynas, Flyadeal) connect Riyadh, Jeddah, Tabuk (close to AlUla) and other centres. AlUla has had an international airport since 2021 with seasonal flights from several European capitals. The Haramain high-speed train (300 km/h) connects Jeddah with Mecca and Medina, but Mecca is off-limits to non-Muslims.

Culture and uses

Saudi Arabia practices a Sunni Islam of the Wahhabi tradition, structuring daily life. The five daily prayers punctuate the day: some shops close briefly. Alcohol is banned throughout the country, without exception.

The dress code has been relaxed for foreign women since 2019: the abaya is no longer mandatory. But in mosques, religious sites and residential areas, clothing covering the shoulders and knees remains the rule. For men, shorts and T-shirts are accepted in tourist areas and shopping malls.

Hospitality is a central value: it is not uncommon for a Saudi to offer you coffee or a meal. Physical contact between unmarried people of different sexes should be avoided in public. Tips are not mandatory but welcome (5-10% in restaurants). The right hand is the hand of exchange.

Frequently asked questions