Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/pc/text/tvltxt/saudi_ar.tvl

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STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Saudi Arabia
============================================================
Saudi Arabia - Public Announcement
 December 9, 1995

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 Office of the Spokesman
 For Immediate Release

 THREAT TO AMERICAN CITIZENS IN SAUDI ARABIA

On December 7, 1995, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh released the
following message to U.S. citizens:

"We have received unconfirmed information that additional bombings
may be planned against Western interests in Saudi Arabia, including
facilities and commercial centers occupied and/or frequented by
Americans.  These attacks could occur anywhere in the Kingdom.  We
continue to stress our previous advice that Americans in Saudi
Arabia should be vigilant of their personal security and
surroundings at all times and under all circumstances, and should
report any suspicious activities to the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S.
consulate."

The Department of State's Public Announcement of November 25, 1995
remains in effect.



Saudi Arabia - Public Announcement
 November 25, 1995

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 Office of the Spokesman
 For Immediate Release


Following the November 13 bombing of the Saudi Arabian National
Guard training program building in Riyadh in which Americans were
killed and wounded, threats have been made against American citizens
in Saudi Arabia.  The U.S Embassy in Saudi Arabia has advised
Americans in Saudi Arabia to exercise caution, keep a low profile,
reduce travel within Saudi Arabia, and treat mail received from
unfamiliar sources with suspicion.  Some U.S. military personnel in
Saudi Arabia have had their travel and activities within the country
restricted.  Americans in Saudi Arabia should be especially vigilant
at all times and under all circumstances of their personal security
and surroundings and should report any suspicious activities to the
nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  The government of the United
States and the government of Saudi Arabia are cooperating closely to
investigate the tragic incident and to assure the security of all
Americans in Saudi Arabia.

This announcement replaces the Department's Public Announcement of
November 15, 1995.



Saudi Arabia - Consular Information Sheet
 April 10, 1995

Country Description:  The Saudi Arabian political system is a
monarchy.  The King is chosen from and by members of the Al-Saud
family.  The King rules through royal decrees issued in conjunction
with the Council of Ministers, and with advice from the Consultative
Council.  Members of both councils are appointed by the King.
Islamic law is the basis of the authority of the monarchy, and
provides the foundation of the country's conservative customs and
practices.  Saudi Arabia has a modern and well-developed
infrastructure, and facilities for travelers are widely available,
although the country does not issue visas for tourism.  The workweek
in Saudi Arabia is Saturday through Wednesday.

Entry Requirements:  Passports and visas are required.  Tourist
visas are not available for travel to Saudi Arabia.  Visas are
required for persons on vessels calling at the port of Jeddah.
Visitors must have a business or personal sponsor.  Women visitors
and residents are required to be met upon arrival at a Saudi airport
by their business or personal sponsor.  Residents in Saudi Arabia
generally must surrender their passports, and the passports of
family members, to the Saudi sponsor while in the kingdom, and are
required to get an exit/reentry visa each time they leave Saudi
Arabia.  Those on visitor visas do not need an exit visa to leave
the kingdom.  Residents carry a Saudi residence permit (iqama) for
identification in place of their passports.  The U.S. Embassy and
Consulates General cannot sponsor private American citizens for
Saudi visas.

Visitors to Saudi Arabia generally obtain a meningitis vaccination
prior to arrival.  A medical report is required to obtain a work and
residence permit.  This includes a medical certification stating
that the individual is free of AIDS.  Temporary visitors need not
present an AIDS-free certification.  For further information on
entry requirements, travelers may contact the Royal Embassy of Saudi
Arabia, 601 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037,
telephone [phone], or a Saudi Arabian Consulate General in
Los Angeles (telephone [phone]), New York (telephone
212-752-2740) or Houston (telephone [phone]).

Exit Permission:  Residents in Saudi Arabia may not depart the
country without obtaining an exit permit, which requires the
approval of their Saudi sponsor.  The U.S. Embassy and Consulates
General cannot apply for an exit permit for a U.S. citizen under any
circumstances.  A married woman residing in Saudi Arabia with her
husband must have her husband's permission for herself and her
children to depart the country, even if they are U.S. citizens.
Persons in Saudi Arabia on visitor visas do not need an exit visa to
leave the country.

Saudi Customs, Religious Police, and General Standards of Conduct:
Islam pervades all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia.  It is the
official religion of the country, and observance of any other
religion is forbidden.  Non-Muslim religious services are illegal
and public display of non-Islamic religious articles such as crosses
and bibles is not permitted.  Travel to Mecca and
Medina, the cities where the two holy mosques of Islam are located,
is forbidden to non-Muslims.

The norms for public behavior in Saudi Arabia are extremely
conservative, and religious police, known as mutawwa'iin, are
charged with enforcing these standards.  To ensure that conservative
standards of conduct are observed, the Saudi religious police have
harassed, accosted or arrested foreigners, including U.S. citizens,
for improper dress or other infractions, such as consumption of
alcohol or association by a female with a non-relative male.  While
most incidents have resulted only in inconvenience or embarrassment,
the potential exists for an individual to be physically harmed or
deported.  U.S. citizens who are involved in an incident with the
mutawwa'iin may report the incident to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or
the U.S. Consulates General in Jeddah or Dhahran.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington advises women traveling to Saudi
Arabia to dress in a conservative fashion, wearing ankle-length
dresses with long sleeves, and not to wear trousers in public.  In
many areas of Saudi Arabia, particularly Riyadh and the central part
of the Kingdom, mutawwa'iin pressure women to wear a full-length
black covering known as an abaya and to cover their heads.  The
result is that most women in these areas wear the abaya and carry a
headscarf to avoid harassment.  Women who appear to be of Arab or
Asian ethnic origin, especially Muslims, face a greater risk of
harassment.

Some mutawwa'iin try to enforce the rule that men and women who are
beyond childhood years may not mingle in public, unless they are
family or close relatives.  Mutawwa'iin may ask to see proof that a
couple is married or related.  Women who are arrested for
socializing with a man who is not a relative may be charged with
prostitution.  Women who are not accompanied by a close male
relative have not been served at some restaurants, particularly
fast-food outlets.  In addition, many restaurants no longer have a
"family section" in which women are permitted to eat.  These
restrictions are not always posted, and in some cases women
violating this policy have been arrested.

Women are not allowed to drive vehicles or ride bicycles on public
roads.  In public, dancing, music, and movies are forbidden.
Pornography is strictly forbidden.

Homosexual activity is considered to be a criminal offense and
those convicted may be sentenced to lashing and/or a prison sentence.

The Hajj:  American pilgrims planning to participate in the annual
Hajj pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah (Mecca) and Medina
should be aware of the following travel advice:

All travel plans should be made through a travel agent in the
United States in order to book accommodations in advance.  Hajj
visas are required and are valid only for travel to the two holy
cities.  Stopovers in Jeddah or onward travel to Riyadh or other
cities in Saudi Arabia are not permitted.

King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah is a large and
modern facility, with a special terminal with facilities to
accommodate hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.  However, due to the
extremely large number of visitors arriving, waiting time at the
airport upon arrival during the Hajj may be as long as ten hours.
Pilgrims should plan on a lengthy wait before leaving the airport on
their way to Makkah or Medina.  Travelers with only carry-on bags
will find baggage transfer at the airport much easier than with
checked baggage.

Before leaving home, travelers should make copies of their
passports, including the pages stamped with Saudi visas.  One copy
should be left with someone at home and one taken with the traveler.
 Passports are turned over to Saudi officials upon arrival in the
Kingdom and will be given back immediately prior to departure.  Upon
arrival, all pilgrims are issued an identification card or
wrist-band.  Travelers should carry this identification at all times.

A money belt or pouch is the best way to carry valuables.  Upon
arrival it is possible to buy what is known as a "Hajj belt," which
is somewhat larger than American equivalents.

Visitors should check with the Centers for Disease Control, their
travel agent, or a Saudi consulate or the embassy regarding
recommended or required shots.

Travelers should expect extremely crowded conditions during the
Hajj.  Temperatures in Makkah range between 80 and 107 degrees in
May.  There are many facilities providing water, public
accommodations, and other amenities.  In case of emergency, Hajj
pilgrims should contact United Agents Office (Makkah), telephone
[phone], or National Adilla est. (Medina), telephone
[phone], and then contact the American Consulate General in
Jeddah.

Alcohol and Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws
of the country in which they are traveling or residing.  In Saudi
Arabia penalties for the import, manufacture, possession and
consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs are severe and convicted
offenders can expect sentences of jail terms, fines, public
flogging, and/or deportation.  The penalty for drug trafficking in
Saudi Arabia is capital punishment.  Saudi officials make no
exceptions.

Child Custody:  In Saudi Arabia, child custody decisions are based
on Islamic law.  It is extremely difficult for an American woman,
even a Muslim, to obtain custody of her children through a Saudi
court decision.  Further information on this subject can be obtained
in the Department of State publications "Marriage to Saudis" and
"Child Custody Disputes in Saudi Arabia" which are available from
the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State,
Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, telephone [phone], or from the
U.S. Embassy or Consulates General in Saudi Arabia.

Business Disputes:  Prior to the execution of a final contract,
some business persons and contract employees of Saudi companies have
obtained an independent translation of the Arabic-language contract,
to ensure a full understanding of all terms, limits and agreements,
because the Arabic version usually governs under Saudi law.
Settlement of disputes depends on the type of agreement and the
agency involved.  If the Saudi party in a business dispute files a
complaint with the Saudi authorities, Saudi law permits barring the
exit of the foreign party from the country until the dispute is
settled.  U.S. consular officers can provide lists of local
attorneys to help U.S. citizens settle business disputes, but
ultimate responsibility for the resolution of disputes through the
Saudi legal system lies with the parties involved.

Medical Facilities:  Basic modern medical care and medicines are
available in several hospitals and health centers in Saudi Arabia.
Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health
services.  U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the
United States.  Supplemental medical insurance with specific
overseas coverage has proved useful.  The international travelers
hotline at the Centers for Disease Control, telephone (404)
332-4559, has additional health information.

Information on Crime:  Crime is generally not a problem for
travelers in Saudi Arabia.  However, private Saudi citizens who
perceive that conservative standards of conduct are not being
observed by a foreigner may harass, pursue, or assault the person.
The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported
immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate.  Useful information on safeguarding valuables and
protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in
the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad".  General
information about travel to Saudi Arabia can be found in the
Department of State publication "Tips for Travelers to the Middle
East and North Africa."  Both pamphlets are available from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington D.C. 20402.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy or
the U.S. Consulates General may obtain updated information on travel
and security within Saudi Arabia.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is
located at Collector Road M, Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. The mailing
address is P.O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693, or AMEMBASSY, Unit 61307,
APO AE 09803-1307.  The U.S. Embassy telephone number is (966-1)
488-3800, fax [phone].

The U.S. Consulate General in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, is located
between Aramco Headquarters
and Dhahran International Airport.  The mailing address is P.O. Box
81, Dhahran Airport 31932, or Unit 66803, APO AE 09858-6803.  The
telephone number is (966-3) 891-3200, FAX [phone].

The Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is located on
Palestine Road, Ruwais. The mailing address is P.O. Box 149, Jeddah;
or Unit 62112, APO AE 09811-2112.  The telephone number is (966-2)
667-0080, FAX [phone].  The workweek in Saudi Arabia is
Saturday through Wednesday.

 No. 95-049

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Saudi Arabia dated
April 22, 1994, to add information on entry requirements for women
travelers, to add the section on Hajj travel, and to update the U.S.
Embassy and Consulates' fax numbers.


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STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Saudi Arabia
============================================================
Saudi Arabia - Public Announcement
 December 9, 1995

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 Office of the Spokesman
 For Immediate Release

 THREAT TO AMERICAN CITIZENS IN SAUDI ARABIA

On December 7, 1995, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh released the
following message to U.S. citizens:

"We have received unconfirmed information that additional bombings
may be planned against Western interests in Saudi Arabia, including
facilities and commercial centers occupied and/or frequented by
Americans.  These attacks could occur anywhere in the Kingdom.  We
continue to stress our previous advice that Americans in Saudi
Arabia should be vigilant of their personal security and
surroundings at all times and under all circumstances, and should
report any suspicious activities to the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S.
consulate."

The Department of State's Public Announcement of November 25, 1995
remains in effect.