Saudi Arabia is a sacred land where the holy Kaaba is situated and is the pivot for the direction of all the worship of Muslims around the world. This is the sacred land where most of the Prophets were born. Muslims aspire to travel to the sacred city of Makkah for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj and minor pilgrimage of Makkah. A few years back Saudi Arabia only allowed the Umrah and Hajj pilgrims to enter the country and only offered the Hajj and Umrah packages, but lately Saudi Arabia has been investing a lot into the tourism sector. They have started offering the tourist visas for the people who only want to travel to Saudi Arabia for adventure sport and exploring the vast landscape of the kingdom. Many people travel from UK every year for the sacred pilgrimage of Umrah. The Islamic travel agency offer Umrah packages UK for people carry a British passport.
T has been established by the Arab news that Saudi Arabia has surpassed 116 million tourists in 2024. A considerable amount of these tourists was from UK and Europe. It is a non-negotiable rule that the tourists are not allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia during Hajj season. If you want to visit Saudi Arabia solely as a tourist, you must apply for the e-visa outside of the Hajj season. This guide gives an insight on what can you expect when you travel to Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Travel Tips for People on a Budget:
The expenses of travelling has exponentially increased in this inflammation. The peak time when Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah is the Holy month of Ramadan, in summers. This is the time when the prices of flights, Accommodation and travel are the highest and mostly occupied. People who have kept a limited budget for their trip from UK to Saudi Arabia, should definitely consider the option of traveling for Umrah in the month of December.
The weather is quiet pleasant for visiting the mesmerizing deserts and historical sights. It would be a lot easier to complete the rituals of Umrah in a moderate weather. The Islamic travel agency offers December Umrah packages from UK. This package has been designed for people living in UK who want to explore the vast landscape, vibrant culture and the coast of the Red Sea and perform Umrah during the same trip. During the off season, prices of flights, accommodation and traveling are quiet higher than usual. If you are travelling from UK to Saudi Arabia for the first time then below are somethings that you must keep in mind in order to have a smooth Saudi Arabian adventure.
Safety and Security:
It is very normal for the visitors to be a bit skeptical about the safety of the country that they are travelling to. Saudi Arabia has made its way among the safest countries among the world according to the survey of 2024. Saudi Arabia has recently invested in the latest security systems to ensure the safe stay of the pilgrims and visitors. There are security cameras with latest technology that are placed on the entrance and exit of the Masjid al-Haram to keep an eye on all the pilgrims and track any danger that might occur. It is safe for the female solo travelers to move through the country and this has been testified by a lot of female solo travelers.
Rules that Must be Followed by Tourists:
There are certain rules that are meant to respect the country’s values, customs and traditions. Some of these rules are described below.
- Men and women must dress modestly in public and should opt for clothing that covers at least their knees and shoulders.
- Tourists must avoid wearing extremely tight and see through clothes. Clothes with the vulgar text written on them is also not allowed to wear.
- The travelers are prohibited to bring pork or alcohol in the country.
- It is not allowed to smoke near the pilgrimage sites so you must avoid smoking and show respect for the holy places in Saudi Arabia.
- It is not permissible for the tourists to photograph the residential or public buildings and they must ask for the permission first. If they do not abide by this rule they will have to face the consequences according to the rules of Saudi Arabia, which are in alignment with the Islamic laws.
- Ramadan is a holy month in which Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking, during this holy month the tourists should avoid eating or drinking out in public to show respect for the holy month of Ramadan.
Arabs are usually known for their warm and hospitable manner but they are very strict about their rules and honor of the holy places. These rules are designed to look after the rights of local people and tourists who visit Saudi Arabia and these limitations are according to the rules of Islam which are set by the Allah Almighty and are mentioned in the holy book of Quran.
