Transportation

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Saudi Arabia, you will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.  The information below concerning Saudi Arabia is provided for general reference only, and may not necessarily apply to all locations and circumstances.

Saudi Arabia employs an automatic traffic control ticketing and management system called “Saher” to improve traffic safety in major cities. The system is a network of digital cameras linked to the National Information Center of the Ministry of Interior to monitor traffic accidents and violations.

Residents should update their personal details through one of the methods available here to receive SMS notifications once a traffic ticket is issued.  Delay in payment of any ticket might result in doubling of the ticket amount.  Travelers will need to pay any fines issued through this system before leaving the country; this may be possible at the airport but only during regular Saudi office hours.

Temporary male visitors may drive using their U.S. driver's license.  Foreign men employed in Saudi Arabia must obtain a local driver's license from the Department of Traffic Police.  Women are not allowed to drive or ride motorcycles, bicycles, or any other type of vehicle on public roads. Article no. 42/3 of the Saudi Traffic Law states that a valid foreign or international driver’s license can be used for either a year or until the expiration date, whichever is closer.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2013 Global Status Report on Road Safety, Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest traffic accident and death rates.  Driving habits are generally poor, and accidents involving vehicles driven by minor children are not uncommon.  There is little regard for lane markings, and the right of way is often disregarded.  The main causes for accidents are speeding, unauthorized passing, and running red lights.  In the event of a traffic accident resulting in personal injury, everyone involved (if not seriously injured) may be taken to the local police station.  Drivers are likely to be held for several days until responsibility is determined and any reparations paid.  In many cases, all drivers involved in an accident are held in custody regardless of fault.  U.S. citizens involved in a serious accident resulting in injury or death should immediately contact their sponsors and the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. Consulate. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

Air Transit:  Air travelers may find lower-cost tickets between countries that include long layovers in Saudi airports.  Be advised that Saudi Arabia does not grant transit visas to air travelers, so any layover will be spent entirely in the airport.  Past experience shows that this is also true when flights are cancelled or delayed, occasionally leading to lengthy wait times in the gate area without access to other parts of the airport.  Services available to travelers may be extremely limited.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Saudi Arabia's air carrier operations.  Further information may be found on the FAA safety assessment page.