Saudi Arabia

You’re subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

Actions that are offensive or anti-social but not criminal in Australia could be against Saudi law.

If you break Saudi law, even without knowing, the punishment may be severe.

If you’re arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can’t get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Local authorities have arrested Australians travelling or living in Saudi Arabia and didn’t always report these cases to the Australian Embassy in Riyadh.

If you are arrested or jailed, access for Embassy staff to visit you may not be granted immediately.  

More information:

Drugs

Penalties for trafficking, possessing or using drugs are severe. These can include the death penalty.

More information:

Local and commercial matters

Get professional advice for local legal matters, including, but not limited to:

• family law – divorce, child custody and child support
• business or employment matters

Understand your rights and obligations. This includes if you’re involved in a commercial or employment/labour dispute with a Saudi company or person. Authorities may not let you leave the country until the dispute is resolved. Commercial/labour dispute cases may take years to finalise.

Marriage

If you wish to marry a Saudi national, your partner will first need a letter of approval from the Ministry of the Interior.

Residency card

If you are a resident, you must always carry your residency card (iqama). From 4 April 2020, Saudi authorities will automatically extend your residency permit for another 3 months. This extension also applies if your card expired on or after 18 March. Contact the General Directorate of Passports for details. 

If you come on a visit or business visa you must always carry your passport. Saudi authorities have the right to check ID. There are security checkpoints, both in cities and on roads between cities.

Some Saudi employers keep their foreign employees’ passports. They return them only when employees need to travel. Use your residency card (iqama) as identification if this happens.

Serious offences

Authorities can detain you without charge if you’re suspected of committing an offence.

You may have to wait months for legal help or for a court appearance while authorities investigate.

Trials are held under Islamic law and procedures.

People convicted of serious offences can face:

• long jail sentences
• lashing
• heavy fines
• deportation

Penalties for some offences are severe and can carry the death penalty. These offences include:

• murder
• serious physical assault
• adultery
• rape
• same-sex relations
• abandoning the Islamic religion
• offences perceived to undermine the state

Illegal items

It’s illegal to import weapons and items held to be ‘contrary to the tenets of Islam’. This includes:

• alcohol
• pork products
• pornography – including images of scantily clad people, particularly women
• political and religious books, comics and materials, other than those about Islam
• drones, without prior approval

Authorities scan passenger luggage on arrival.

More information:

Other illegal activities

In Saudi Arabia, it’s illegal to:

• show sympathy towards Qatar
• object to the Saudi Government’s policy on Qatar, including on social media
• preach or publicly practice a religion other than Islam
• produce or distribute printed or electronic material, without the Ministry of Culture and Information’s authorisation
• publicly display or wear non-Islamic religious symbols or text
• charity and fundraising activity, including online or via social media without prior approval from local authorities
• say anything blasphemous
• have sexual relations or live together outside of marriage
• get pregnant or give birth outside of marriage

It’s also illegal to:

• mock, provoke or question public order, religious values or public morals
• criticise Saudi Arabia, its people, the royal family, the leadership or Islam

This includes on social media.

It’s illegal to possess alcohol in Saudi Arabia. Authorities have detained travellers on arrival when police smelt alcohol on their breath.

It’s illegal to take photos of:

• government buildings
• military sites and checkpoints
• diplomatic missions
• palaces
• motorcades
• some religious sites

Get permission before taking photographs of people, especially women and children.

LGBTI laws

Same-sex relationships are illegal. Saudi Arabia doesn’t recognise or allow same-sex marriages and rights. Authorities can punish people by public lashing, jail and even death.

More information:

Sexual assault

If you’re sexually assaulted, you may face criminal prosecution. Authorities may not consider you to be a victim of crime.

Sexual assault victims may be jailed after reporting incidents to local police or when seeking medical help.

If you’re a victim of sexual assault, find out about support services as quickly as possible from the:

Consular officers can’t provide legal or medical advice. However, they can provide lists of English-speaking service providers who may be able to help. See Local contacts

Read the original advice at SmartTraveller.gov.au by Australian Government