Three Advices Before Visiting Saudi Arabia, Essay Example

Visiting a new place is almost always an exciting prospect. However, it is critical that visitors are adequately informed about the place that they are planning to visit before they actually make their trip. This essay enumerates and this discusses three pieces of advice that people should consider before making a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The first advice that this essay expounds upon is that people visiting the KSA should first read up on the country’s laws and be aware of the country’s strict moral codes.Some of the laws that are upheld by the KSA are likely to be absent in a visitor’s home country. As thus, a visitor may not think that there is anything wrong with some of the actions that are considered illegal by Saudi Arabians. This is very dangerous since KSA laws are built on much stricter moral foundations than laws in other countries. Depending on the circumstances, wearing certain clothes or expressing certain behaviors are considered not just immoral but illegal. For example, openly expressing affection towards the opposite sex, especially if the affection is romantic in nature, can lead to legal repercussions depending on the gravity of the acts performed (Lindquist). Even drinking alcoholic drinks in the open or wearing revealing garments can lead to people getting arrested, and tourists are not exempted from any of these laws (Lindquist). Thus, being familiar with the laws of Saudi Arabia can be the difference between an enjoyable visit, and spending a few nights in jail.

The second advice that this essay gives is that people visiting Saudi Arabia should familiarize themselves with the Muslim religion and with Muslim customs and traditions. Saudi Arabia is a Muslim nation, and Saudi Arabians take their religion very seriously (Long 20). There are many things that Saudi Arabians would do based on the teachings of their religion that visitors to their country may not be aware of or accustomed to. For example, it is mandated by their religion that people pray five times a day facing the holy land of Mecca (23). Thus, merchants entertaining customers may drop what they are doing and go into prayer, and the visitor should know enough not to disturb the merchant or worse, demand service. Knowing about the Muslim religion can also give the visitor insights on his or her itinerary. Particularly since there are many holidays that dominant Muslim cultures observe which other cultures do not observe and vice versa. For example, the Muslim holy day is Friday, and so most shops are closed on Fridays and even Thursdays, but are fully open on Sundays (63).

The last advice that this essay gives is that people should take the necessary health precautions before making a visit to the KSA. Since the country is in the desert, visitors should ensure that they bring essentials against health risks when traveling in the heat, such as sun block. Saudi Arabian establishments are usually alfresco, and so people should prepare themselves for encountering the elements on most of their stops in their sightseeing tours. Visitors should also be aware of the different health risks that exist in specific regions of the country. For example, malaria is a common risk in some of the south-western parts of the country. Thus, it would be prudent for visitors to get the appropriate vaccinations.

Visiting Saudi Arabia can prove to be a highly enriching and pleasant experience. Following the three advices given in this paper can help make this so.

Works Cited

Lindquist, S. How to Prepare Yourself for Visiting Saudi Arabia. 2010. 13 Nov 2010. Web.

Long, D. Culture and customs of Saudi Arabia. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005.

World Index.  Saudi Arabia. 2010. 13 Nov 2010. Web.