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Travel guide, from the UK

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is home to Makkah and Madinah, the two holiest cities in Islam, and many visitors come to perform Umrah. It also has Historic Jeddah on the Red Sea, the Nabataean tombs of Hegra in AlUla and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in all. Dress modestly in public, in loose clothes that cover your elbows and knees; women do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair. Before you book, check the UK Foreign Office's latest advice. In October 2026 it advises against all but essential travel to the provinces of Riyadh, Aseer, Najran and Jizan and to the city of Taif. It also advises against all travel near the border with Yemen.

Photo: Angelina and Antonis, Unsplash License

A couple seen from behind holding hands before Qasr al-Farid, the rock-cut Nabataean tomb at Hegra near AlUla, Saudi Arabia
When to go
The cooler months are the best time to go. Winter, from mid-December to mid-March, is mild and suits AlUla and desert camping, and it can even snow in the north. Early autumn days are still hot, and spring is the wettest season, with more sandstorms. Summer, from mid-June to mid-September, averages around 45°C in most places, and the coasts are humid. Makkah is busiest during Ramadan, expected from early February to early March 2027. Umrah permits pause for several weeks around the Hajj season, so check the dates on Nusuk before you plan.
Getting there from London
Saudia flies direct from Heathrow to Jeddah twice a day, and the flight takes about 6 hours 15 minutes. From Jeddah airport, the Haramain train runs to Makkah and Madinah. There are also direct flights from Heathrow to Riyadh with Saudia, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Riyadh Air, but check the Foreign Office advice for Riyadh province first. There are no direct flights from the UK to Madinah. Regional tensions can bring short-notice airspace closures, so check your flight status before you travel.

What to do in Saudi Arabia

  1. 1Umrah in MakkahAl Masjid Al Haram is open only to Muslims, and Makkah has its own entry rules. Every pilgrim needs a free Umrah permit for a set date and time slot, booked on the Nusuk app or website. Saudi Arabia has confirmed that holders of all visa types, including the tourist eVisa, may perform Umrah.
  2. 2MadinahMany pilgrims add a few days in Madinah to pray at the Prophet's Mosque and visit Quba Mosque and Mount Uhud. Visiting the Rawdah needs its own Nusuk permit, booked in advance, with separate hours for men and women. The Haramain high-speed train links Makkah and Madinah in about 2 hours 20 minutes.
  3. 3Hegra, AlUlaSaudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest Nabataean site south of Petra, with more than 110 tombs cut into the rock. Visits are by organised tour only, with limited places each day, so book ahead. You cannot go inside the tombs.
  4. 4AlUla's winter seasonFrom October to January, AlUla's festival season brings Old Town Nights at AlUla Fort and concerts among the canyons, and Winter at Tantora is held around the turn of the year. In AlUla, women do not need a head covering or abaya, but modest dress is expected at places of worship.
  5. 5Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad)Jeddah has been a port since the 7th century and was the sea gateway for pilgrims bound for Makkah. Its old town, known for its tall tower houses, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
  6. 6The Red Sea coastVisit Saudi counts the Red Sea among the country's main destinations. New resorts along the coast, such as Shebara, Desert Rock and Shura Island, offer diving, sailing and days by the sea.

Getting around

Domestic flights with Saudia, flynas, flyadeal and Riyadh Air connect the main cities. The Haramain high-speed railway runs at up to 300 km/h between Makkah, Jeddah, Jeddah's King Abdulaziz airport, King Abdullah Economic City and Madinah; book early in the busy Hajj and Umrah seasons. In Makkah, the Makkah Bus app shows routes and live arrival times, and roads near the Haram can close at busy times, so expect to be dropped off further away and walk. Uber, Careem, Bolt and Jeeny work in the main cities, and tourists can hire a car with an international or GCC licence.

Living in the UK on a non-UK passport? You'll need a visa for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia visa from the UK →

Where these facts come from

Fees and rules are checked against official and visa-centre pages. Rules change: we confirm everything again before you pay.

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