The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is governed by the tenets of Sharia law. The strict requirements of this method of government affect every aspect of the country's customs and practices. Visitors must also live by the law or face retribution. In spite of protests from international humane organizations, the Kingdom seeks to protect the traditional practices that have been passed down for generations. One method of achieving this is to limit foreign interference in order to reduce the effect of foreign culture on Saudi Arabia. The passport and visa regulations are designed to discourage visitors from lingering in the Kingdom after achieving the purpose of their visit.
It is advisable to pay special attention to the information on your visa. The visas are not stamped with their expiry dates but there are stiff penalties for staying longer than permitted. In order to figure out when to depart, visitors will have to study Saudi Arabia's Islamic calendar, which is based on lunar months. The year 2008 in the Western world is the year 1429 in the Kingdom. Also, the approved duration of a visit may be shorter than the validity of the visa.
Saudi citizens do not need visas to visit the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). The GCC consists of the Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Citizens of these countries do not need visas to enter Saudi Arabia either. Citizens of these member states are allowed to work in any of the states.
As is required by other countries, visitors to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must hold passports that are valid for at least six months from the date of their arrival. The passport must have at least two blank pages that are side by side.
Visitors must also have a visa and this must be obtained in advance. Visas are only issued for religious, transit, work, business, or family visitation purposes. Tourists can only receive visas if they will be part of an approved tour group. A female visitor who is traveling alone must also present a document from her father, husband, brother or uncle showing that she has been given permission to travel.
Like most of the Islamic countries, Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. As a result, anyone who has had anything to do with Israel will be denied entry. This includes citizens of Israel, those who were born in Israel, those with evidence of having been to Israel or intending to visit Israel. Visitors to the Kingdom who have Israeli stamps on their passports have been sent back.
