Saudi Arabia Travel Guide: AlUla, Riyadh, Jeddah, FCDO Advice & Visas

A By Anna · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Airports

King Khalid International, Riyadh (RUH); King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah (JED); AlUla (ULH)

Flight time

about 6h 30m from London direct

Best time to go

November-March

Currency

Saudi riyal (SAR)

Saudi Arabia only opened to leisure tourists in 2019, and in a few short years it has become one of the most talked-about destinations in the Middle East. The country is enormous, roughly ten times the size of the UK, with Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone at Hegra, the mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state at Diriyah, coral-built merchant houses in old Jeddah, cool mountains in the south-west and an almost untouched Red Sea coast.

Important: in October 2026 the FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 km of the border with Yemen and against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia, following Houthi missile and drone attacks on airports and infrastructure and a serious incident at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Travelling against this advice can invalidate your insurance. Check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Saudi Arabia before making any plans. The guide below is for when the advice allows. For the wider region, see our Middle East guide.

Why go

• AlUla and Hegra: Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with more than 100 monumental Nabataean tombs, plus Elephant Rock, the mirrored Maraya concert hall and desert canyons.
• Diriyah: the restored At-Turaif district on the edge of Riyadh, another UNESCO site, now home to museums and restaurants.
• Jeddah's Al-Balad: the UNESCO-listed old town of coral-stone tower houses with carved wooden balconies.
• The Red Sea: healthy reefs, dive sites and new luxury island resorts along a coast few tourists have seen.
• Edge of the World: dramatic escarpments a couple of hours from Riyadh, popular for sunset trips.
• Asir mountains: cooler highlands around Abha with painted villages and terraced farms. Note that the FCDO warnings currently highlight Abha among locations at risk.

Where to stay

• Riyadh: big international hotels, Diriyah boutique stays and the best base for the Edge of the World.
• Jeddah: corniche hotels and easy access to Al-Balad and Red Sea diving.
• AlUla: desert resorts and eco-lodges among the canyons, from tented camps to high-end villas.
• Red Sea coast: new luxury resorts reached by seaplane or boat.

Getting there

When flights operate normally, British Airways and Saudia fly direct from London Heathrow to Riyadh and Jeddah in around six to six and a half hours, and there are one-stop routes via Doha, Dubai and Istanbul. AlUla has its own airport with domestic links. British passport holders can apply online for a tourist eVisa. Note that non-Muslims cannot enter Mecca or central Medina. The FCDO currently expects further disruption at Saudi airports; follow its advice on alternative routes if you are already in the country.

Good to know

• Laws and customs: Saudi law is based on Islamic principles; public displays of affection, swearing and disrespect for religion can lead to penalties.
• Food: kabsa (spiced rice with meat), mandi, mutabbaq and Saudi coffee with dates.
• Prayer times: some shops close briefly during prayers, though this is less strictly enforced than before.
• Getting around: domestic flights cover the long distances; Riyadh has a new metro and high-speed trains link Jeddah, Mecca and Medina.
• Weekends: the weekend is Friday and Saturday.

Best time to visit

November to March brings warm days of roughly 20-30°C in Riyadh and AlUla, with cold desert nights. Jeddah stays hot and humid most of the year. From May to September inland temperatures regularly pass 45°C. Ramadan and the Hajj season affect opening hours, flights and prices.

We research every guide carefully, but prices, opening times and timetables change. Check them shortly before you travel. Links to our booking partners are affiliate links.