Saudi-Arabien
Zuletzt geprüft:
Dieser Guide ist vorerst auf Englisch. Die Überschriften sind übersetzt.
- Hauptstadt
- Riyadh
- Währung
- SAR · Saudi riyal
- Sprachen
- Arabic
- Steckdosen
- Typ G · 230 V (some older buildings use other socket types, varies)
Notrufnummern
Top 5 Orte
- Hegra (Mada'in Salih) · AlUla
UNESCO-listed Nabataean rock tombs in a desert of sandstone canyons; visits are by booked tour.
- At-Turaif, Diriyah · Riyadh
UNESCO-listed mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state, with restaurants at Bujairi Terrace.
- Al-Balad historic district · Jeddah
UNESCO-listed old town of coral-stone houses with wooden balconies and souks.
- Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) · Near Riyadh
Cliffs dropping hundreds of metres over a desert plain; needs a 4x4 or tour.
- Masmak Fortress · Riyadh
Clay fort museum central to the founding story of modern Saudi Arabia.
Unterwegs vor Ort
Fahrdienst-App
Uber
Works in all major cities and is the easiest way to get around, since cities are spread out and walking is limited.
Fahrdienst-App
Careem
Widely used Gulf ride app; prices similar to Uber. Solo passengers often sit in the back in app cars, but in street taxis solo men are expected to sit in front (varies).
Fahrdienst-App
Jeeny / Bolt
Local alternatives that are often a little cheaper; compare prices in the apps.
Öffentlicher Nahverkehr
Riyadh Metro and buses (Darb app)
Riyadh's new metro lines and city buses; plan trips and pay through the Darb app or with cards at stations.
Züge
Haramain High Speed Railway
Fast trains linking Jeddah, King Abdulaziz Airport, Makkah and Madinah. Non-Muslims may not enter Makkah, so they can only use the Jeddah to Madinah section.
Züge
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)
Trains from Riyadh to Dammam and to the north (Hail, Qurayyat). Book in the SAR app.
Busse
SAPTCO
National intercity coach network with low fares.
Mietwagen
Car rental
Needed for AlUla, the Asir mountains and desert sights. Road accident rates are very high; drive defensively.
Geld und Bargeld
Währung: SAR · Saudi riyal
Fixed at 3.75 riyals to 1 US dollar. Cards and phone payments are accepted in most shops, restaurants and ride apps in cities, but carry some cash for small shops, souks, rural areas and tips. Bank ATMs are common and most accept foreign cards.
Trinkgeld
Tipping is not legally required but is appreciated, especially as many service workers earn low wages. Around 10% in sit-down restaurants without a service charge is a common guide. All restaurant bills include 15% VAT, which is a government tax and not a tip.
| Restaurants | 10-15% at sit-down restaurants if no service charge is shown, or round up at casual places. If a service charge is listed, an extra tip is optional. |
|---|---|
| Cafés und Bars | Round up or leave a few riyals for table service. |
| Taxis und Fahrdienste | Rounding up is enough; app tips are optional. |
| Hotels | 5-10 SAR per bag for porters and a similar amount per day for housekeeping. |
| Touren und Guides | About 10% or 50-100 SAR per day for guides and drivers (varies). |
| Essenslieferung | A few riyals or an in-app tip is common. |
Servicegebühr: was stimmt
Some upscale restaurants and hotels add a service charge (often 10-15%, varies); it should be listed as a separate line. The 15% VAT on every bill is tax. Sources do not show any rule that the service charge goes to the waiter, so assume it goes to the business.
Drucktaktiken, auf die du achten solltest
Tourists may be told that VAT or a service charge is the tip. Check the bill line by line: VAT is a government tax. If a service charge is listed, extra tipping is your choice; give cash directly to the server if you want them to get it.
Nützliche Sätze
- الحساب لو سمحت (al-hisaab law samaht) The bill, please.
- هل الخدمة محسوبة؟ (hal al-khidma mahsooba?) Is service included?
- شكراً (shukran) Thank you.
Umgangsformen
- Men and women must wear loose clothing that covers shoulders and arms to the elbow and legs below the knee. Foreign women do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair, except at mosques.
- Avoid public displays of affection, swearing, loud music and rude gestures.
- Do not criticise the government, the royal family or Islam, in person or online; old posts have led to prosecution.
- During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight.
- Non-Muslims may not enter Makkah or the central haram area of Madinah.
- Use your right hand to eat, pass and receive items.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women, and never photograph government, military or palace buildings.
- Public worship of non-Islamic religions is not allowed; personal religious items for private use are fine.
Maschen und wie du damit umgehst
Fake Hajj and Umrah packages
Wo: Websites and social media
So funktioniert’s: Fake operators sell pilgrimage packages 30-50% below normal prices and disappear after payment, often asking for transfers to personal accounts.
So vermeidest du es: Book only through licensed operators or the official Nusuk platform; never pay to a personal account.
Taxi overcharging
Wo: Airports, Makkah and Madinah, street taxis
So funktioniert’s: Drivers quote high flat fares or take long routes, especially with newly arrived visitors.
So vermeidest du es: Use Uber, Careem or Bolt, or agree the fare before getting into an unmetered taxi.
Phishing messages pretending to be Absher or government services
Wo: SMS, email and WhatsApp
So funktioniert’s: Messages ask for personal data or a payment for a fine or visa issue through a fake link.
So vermeidest du es: Use only the official Absher app or website; ignore links in messages.
Fake tour and event tickets
Wo: Social media sellers
So funktioniert’s: Tickets for Riyadh Season, AlUla or concerts that are invalid or never delivered.
So vermeidest du es: Buy from official event platforms and the official AlUla site.
Souk overpricing
Wo: Souks in Jeddah, Riyadh and Makkah area
So funktioniert’s: Prices for perfume, oud, gold or souvenirs are inflated for visitors; counterfeit perfume is common.
So vermeidest du es: Compare shops, bargain politely and buy gold where the daily price and weight are shown.
Card skimming and currency conversion at terminals
Wo: Standalone ATMs, shops
So funktioniert’s: Copied cards, or card machines that convert to your home currency at a poor rate.
So vermeidest du es: Use bank ATMs and always pay in SAR.
Sicherheit
- Crime rates are relatively low and petty theft is the main risk, especially in crowds at pilgrimage sites.
- Road safety is the biggest everyday risk: accident rates are among the highest in the world. Wear seatbelts and be cautious crossing roads.
- Zero tolerance for drugs; possession can bring years in prison and trafficking can carry the death penalty. Do not bring alcohol into the country.
- Some prescription medicines are controlled; carry a doctor's letter and check the Saudi FDA rules before travelling.
- Summer temperatures often exceed 45 C; plan desert trips with a guide, water and a full tank.
- Check government travel advice for regional security alerts, especially near the Yemen border.
Wie verbreitet Englisch ist
Widely spoken in hotels, malls and among younger Saudis in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province; many service workers are South Asian migrants who speak some English. Limited in rural areas.
Quellen
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Saudi Arabia, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Saudi Arabia
- OSAC: Saudi Arabia Country Security Report
- Arab News: Saudi Arabia warns about Hajj and Umrah online scams
- Al Arabiya: Absher warns of scams and suspicious links
- House of Saud: Saudi tipping guide
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