OZU /SAUDI ARABIA /JEDDAH /GUIDE
Jeddah: practical tips
1 h route3 stopsBest: Read before booking: the month and the clothes are half the decisionUpdated July 2026
Saudi Arabia opened to tourism in 2019, and since then several rules have changed considerably and quickly. That has a direct practical consequence: much of the information floating around is out of date, and anything that depends on regulation is worth checking against official sources.
What doesn’t change is the climate, which here rules the timetable. Jeddah is at sea level on the Red Sea coast, and that means heat with high humidity for much of the year.
The route, stop by stop
3 STOPS- 01
Heat, calendar and the weekend
From June to September Jeddah passes forty degrees with very high humidity, and being outdoors at midday stops being reasonable. The good season is November to March, when it settles around twenty-five to thirty and you can walk. Two calendar points: the working weekend is Friday and Saturday, and Friday midday is the main prayer, with many shops shut for a while. And Ramadan, which moves each year because it follows the lunar calendar, changes the whole city’s hours.
- 02
Clothes, customs and what has changed
Since 2019 foreign women have not had to wear an abaya or cover their hair in the street, though many wear a loose garment for comfort and out of respect. What is expected of everyone, men included, is modest dress: shoulders and knees covered. To enter a mosque, women also cover their hair. Jeddah is noticeably more relaxed than the interior, something Saudis themselves will tell you. Even so, avoid photographing people, women especially, without permission, and be aware that public displays of affection are frowned upon.
- 03
Money, alcohol and connectivity
You pay in Saudi riyals here and cards are accepted for practically everything, taxis and many small stalls included. Phone payment is widespread.
Alcohol is prohibited nationwide without exception, and carrying it in your luggage is an offence, so it isn’t a minor matter.
Mobile coverage is excellent in the city and on main roads, and an eSIM has you connected on arrival: which here solves the immediate things. Ordering a ride from the terminal, which is how everyone moves, buying Haramain tickets and translating menus and signs in Arabic. In the desert and the mountains there are dead zones.
Frequently asked
Do you need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
It depends on your passport, and the rules have changed several times since the country opened to tourism in 2019, so check the official source before booking. Many nationalities can apply for a travel authorisation online.
Can women travel alone to Jeddah?
Yes. Since the 2019 reforms foreign women can travel and stay alone without a companion or authorisation, and no abaya is required. Modest dress is still expected and some places have sex-segregated areas.