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Staying safe

• •Saudi Arabia is a safe country crime-wise; the country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and you are unlikely to encounter problems.
• •At first, being in a fundamentalist Muslim country with very strict laws may feel scary and intimidating.
• •Although first-time visitors may be regaled with tales of beheadings and amputations, the full harshness of Saudi law is usually reserved for those actually seeking trouble.
• •For rules on clothing and mingling between sexes, see Respect below. Indecent clothing and mingling between unrelated men and women are criminal offences.
• •Saudi Arabia may be affected during times of heightened tensions in the Middle East (Israel, Iran, Lebanon), and there is often a heightened risk when travelling to or being within Saudi Arabia, during times of crisis.
• •Terrorist attacks have been considered very likely on Saudi Arabia by many countries.

Staying healthy

• •There are no major health risks for traveling in Saudi Arabia: water is generally drinkable, and food is usually, but not always, hygienic.
• •Smoking is the one sin that clerics haven't got around to banning yet, and consequently everybody smokes everywhere: hotel lobbies, airport lounges, shopping mall food courts, drivers in their taxis, etc.
• •The Kingdom has a wide-reaching national health-care system, but the services provided by this program are quite basic.
• •Tap water: Tap water in the major cities is generally considered safe, although it's not always particularly tasty, and in the summer can be very hot.
• •Bottled water is readily available and cheap at SR2 or less for a 1.5 litre bottle, so many visitors and residents choose to play it safe.