You are subject to all local laws and sanctions, including those that may seem hard for Australian standards. Investigate local laws before traveling.
The actions that are offensive or antisocial but not criminal in Australia could be against Saudi law.
If you break the Saudi law, even without knowing it, the punishment can be severe.
If it is arrested or imprisoned, the Australian government will do what it can to help you under our consular service letter. But we cannot get you out of problems or out of jail. Be sure to carefully read the information about our consular services letter to find out what we can and cannot do.
Local authorities have arrested Australians who travel or live in Saudi Arabia and did not always inform these cases to the Australian embassy in Riyadh.
If arrested, the approval of the local authorities so that the embassy staff visits it can take many months to obtain themselves.
More information:
Drugs
Trafficking sanctions, possessing or using drugs are serious. These may include the death penalty.
Police can stop it if it is in the company of someone involved in drug cases, including traffic, possess or use drugs. It can remain in detention until the investigations of all parties conclude.
More information:
Local and Commercial Affairs
Get professional advice for local legal matters, includingbut not limited to:
- Family Law: Divorce, custody of children and support of children
- Business or employment issues
Understand your rights and obligations. This includes whether it is involved in a commercial or labor/labor dispute with its employer or sponsor. The authorities cannot let the country leave until the dispute is resolved. doCases of omercial or labor dispute may take years to end.
You must also understand your rights to make decisions for your children or yourself if you are in Saudi Arabia as a dependent sponsored by a head of the primary visa. If he is sponsored and involved in a custody or domestic violence dispute with the head of the main visa, it is possible that he cannot leave Saudi Arabia for a prolonged period if the headline/sponsor of the primary visa refuses to issue a visa out of exit to allow you to leave the country.
Marriage
If you want to marry a Saudi citizen, your partner will first need a letter of approval from the Ministry of Interior. Verify the current requirements and the deadlines directly with the relevant local authorities.
Identity card for resident
If you are a resident, you should always carry your resident identity card (IQAMA).
If you travel through a visa, you should always take your passport. Saudi authorities have the right to verify identification. There are security control points, both in cities and roads between cities.
Serious crimes
The authorities can stop it without charge if it is suspected that he commits a crime and keeps him detained while investigating.
You may have to wait months to obtain legal assistance or for a judicial appearance while the authorities investigate.
The judgments are carried out under Islamic law and procedures.
People convicted of serious crimes can face:
- Long prison sentences
- strong fines
- deportation
- eyelashes
The sanctions for some crimes are severe and can take the death penalty. These crimes include:
- murder
- Severe physical assault
- adultery
- rape
- Same sex relationships
- Abandoning Islamic religion
- The perceived crimes to undermine the State
Illegal articles
It is illegal to import, possess or trade with weapons and articles considered “contrary to the principles of Islam.” This includes:
- alcohol
- pig products
- Pornography: including images of people with scarcely dressed, particularly women
- Books, comics and political and religious materials, apart from those found with Islam.
- drones, without prior approval
The authorities scan the passenger luggage upon arrival.
More information:
Other illegal activities
In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal:
It is also illegal:
- mock, provoke or question public order, religious values or public morals
- Criticize Saudi Arabia, its people, politics, the royal family, leadership, officials or Islam
- Do not comply with police instructions
- Support any group or organization considered by Saudi authorities to practice violence
- These actions are also illegal in publications on social networks, even if they were made outside Saudi Arabia and years before their visit. Foreigners have received long prison sentences for offensive tweets made in the past.
It is illegal to possess or trade with alcohol in Saudi Arabia. The authorities have arrested travelers when they arrived when the police smelled alcohol in their breath.
It is illegal to take photos of:
- government buildings
- Military sites and control points
- Diplomatic missions
- Palacios
- Candies
- Some religious sites
- accidents
- fights
Get permission before taking pictures of people, especially women and children.
LGBTQIA+ laws
Same sex relationships are illegal. Saudi Arabia does not recognize or allow marriages and rights between people of the same sex. Authorities may impose severe punishments.
More information:
Passports with gender identifier ‘X’
You cannot enter Saudi Arabia if your passport shows ‘X’ in the gender field.
Sexual aggression
Sexual aggression and harassment are illegal in Saudi Arabia, but they can still occur, particularly in large crowds.
If you are sexually assaultYou can face criminal prosecution. The authorities may not consider him as a victim of the crime. Victims of sexual assault can be imprisoned after informing incidents to the local police or when seeking medical help.
If he is a victim of sexual assault, find out about support services as quickly as possible to:
Consular officers cannot provide legal or medical advice. However, they can provide lists of English -speaking service providers that can help. See ‘local contacts’.
If you travel to Saudi Arabia for an important entertainment event such as the MDLbeast Music Festival (where sexual harassment reports are common), you may have to take additional precautions, particularly as a woman.
Women face greater risks than men and can be more vulnerable. These risks include:
- unwanted care
- verbal harassment
- Guestas (especially in crowded events)
- sexual aggression
Consider your clothes and dress. Many countries are more conservative than Australia and have different standards for women and men. Dressing conservatively can help you avoid unwanted attention, including clothing styles that locals may consider different.
Be aware of your environment. If you feel uncomfortable, go.
Be careful with the unpelled invitations of strangers, especially if they try to separate it from their travel companions.
Only use license taxis or approved shared travel services (such as Uber, Bolt or Jeeny). Reject the driver offers approaching you.
