Youth Exchange Programme

Saudi Arabia – Singapore

Travel Booklet

Table of Contents
Section Page
I. Trip Flight Details
Details Itinerary
Packing List
Weather & Climate Details
Contact List
General Rules & Regulations
Luggage Restrictions & Details
II. Fast Facts
Essential People
Country Geography
Details History
Culture
Economy
Government
Travel Tips
III. Behaviour Tips
Personal Safety & Security
Guide Traffic Safety & Road Conditions
Special Circumstances
Criminal Penalties
IV. Reflection Tool
Personal Notepad
Notes

COMPILED BY AARON & DIANA 

FOR YOU!

SECTION 1: TRIP DETAILS

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1.1 Flight Details

1.2 Itinerary
1.3 Packing List

S/ Items Suggested Quantity Tick

N
1 Passport and photocopy of
Compulsory
passport
2 Long sleeved shirts Sufficient for 15 days
3 Long Pants/Jeans Sufficient for 15 days
4 Undergarments Sufficient for 15 days
5 Abaya/Hijab (for girls only) 1
6 Wind breaker/jacket 1
7 Sleep wear 4 sets or more
8 Reusable plastic bags / zip lock
bags
15 or more
(Keeping of used clothes, socks
etc etc…)
9 Canvas shoes or sports shoes 1 pair
10 Sandals or slippers
(for use only during shower or 1 pair
sleeping time)
11 Socks (white) Sufficient for 15 days
12 Towel (bath / face) 2
13 Personal toiletry kit
(Bath soap/gel, shampoo, facial
Sufficient
wash, toothbrush, toothpaste,
powder, comb etc etc…)
14 Personal medication
(enough medication to last two As required
weeks e.g. asthma inhalers)
15 Spectacles or contact lenses As required
16 Water bottle 1
17 School Bag 1
18 Stationery (example: pencil
case, pen, pencils, highlighters, Sufficient
notebooks etc etc…)
19 Flashlight and spare batteries 1 Set
20 Cash (for your personal use) No more than SGD$1,000
21 Diary (for daily reflections and
1
record of daily’s activities)
22 Personal gift(s) to host family 1 set
23 Group gift(s) to The Kingdom
3 sets
Schools
24 Books Optional

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25 Camera, Batteries, charger Optional

26 Hand Phone (with auto roaming) Optional
27 Tissue packets Optional
28 Sunglasses and sunblock Optional
29 Hair accessories
Sufficient
(black color only)
30
31
32
33

The following is the Packing List for YEP trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The
quantity stated is for the students’ reference unless otherwise indicated.
Please bring more if required or as sufficient.

Please DO not bring along the following:

1. Bible or any other religious items
2. Expensive electronic devices

Gentle Reminders:
1. Rest well before the long flight.
2. Do not wear contact lenses on flight.
3. Wear loose comfortable clothing.
4. Take proper medication at least 2 hours before flight if you are prone to
motion sickness.

1.4 Weather & Climate Details

• General conditions: dry and hot

• City (Riyadh) received four inches of rain (102 mm) per annum, mostly
from Jan-May
• In summer, hot winds can send temperatures soaring up to 113°F
(45°C)
• Winter can be surprisingly chilly, particularly at night when
temperatures can plunge below freezing
• The best months in Riyadh, when days are pleasantly tolerable and
nights are cool, are between October and May.

Month May June

Min Temp 25 27
(°C)
Max Temp 38 41
(°C)
Rainfall 10 0
(mm)

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1.5 Contact List

Raymond Huang (CEO 9733 6863 -

Heartware)
Elaine Lim (Heartware) 91171304 -
Ee Feng Hui Dileen 67922530 92301478
92317953
Neo Wen Hsuen 64815138
Prasanth Kumar S/O
Santhakumaran 63102694 93545948
Vergis Vijay Thomas 65616526 97497774
Kiew Shi Hui Charity 68580110 81273015
Shen Yanling Belverlin 62883315 81639156
Seah Ying Cong 65647305 96834810
Wong Tien Yong Benjamin 64832778 97565928
Diana Natasha Abedeen
Tyebally 64794376 94890786
Tan Yan Ying Rhea 64622933 82184562
Isaac Chay Wei Jie 68535312 81864716
Koh Zhan Wei Aaron 63834775 81260164
Embassy of the Republic of 966(1)480-3855 -
Singapore

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore

Diplomatic Quarter
Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
P.O. Box 94378
Riyadh 11693
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel No: 966(1)480-3855
Fax No: 966(1)483-0632
Operational Hours: Saturday - Wednesday : 8.00 am - 3.30 pm
Visa Hours : 9.00 am - 11.00 am (Submission)
2.00 pm - 3.00 pm (Collection)
Closed on Thursday and Friday

1.6 General Rules & Regulations

♦ Be mindful of your actions and surroundings in Saudi Arabia

♦ Remember that you are representing Singapore, thus your best behaviour
is expected
♦ Think before you act; always keep their culture and traditions in mind

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♦ Do not engage in playful banter with the opposite sex

♦ Take utmost care of your belongings
♦ Always be courteous, optimistic and go there with a positive attitude
♦ Be willing to learn; and be able to accepted any difficulties faced
♦ “When in Rome, do what the Romans do”

1.7 Luggage Restrictions & Details

It is advisable to bring one check-in luggage and one hand-carried luggage

with the essentials.
Hand-carried luggage should contain the following:
a. An extra set of clothing
b. Passport
c. Money
d. Travel handbook
e. Gifts
f. Valuable Personal Belongings
g. Anything else used to pass time on the plane

On 8 May 2007, Singapore implemented guidelines that restrict the amount

of liquids, aerosols and gels that passengers can carry in their hand-carried
luggage. The guidelines apply to all flights departing Singapore. Passengers
are advised to check-in all liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) that do not meet
the new guidelines. Liquids, aerosols and gels in hand-carried luggage should
be packed in accordance with the new guidelines, before passengers arrive at
the airport.

The guidelines on hand-carried luggage are :

a. Liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers with a maximum

capacity of not more than 100ml each. Liquids, aerosols and gels in
containers larger than 100ml will not be accepted, even if the
container is partially-filled;
b. Containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag with
a maximum capacity not exceeding 1-litre. These containers must fit
comfortably within the transparent re-sealable plastic bag, which must
be completely closed;
c. Each passenger is allowed to carry only one transparent re-sealable
plastic bag, which must be presented separately for examination at the
security screening point;
d. Exemptions will be made for medications, baby food and special
dietary items. These items will be subjected to additional checks at the
security screening point.

Passengers are encouraged to check in 2 to 3 hours before their flight

(subject to airlines' requirements).

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Liquids include :

• Drinks, including water and juices

• Soups and sauces
• Perfumes and deodorants (liquid or liquid-solid mixture)
• Creams, balms, lotions and oils
• Cosmetics such as mascara and lip gloss
• Pastes, including toothpaste
• Pressurised foams and sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and
spray deodorants
• Gels, including hair and shower gels
• Contact lens solution
• Any other items of similar consistency

Generally, you must not take on board:

• Firearms of any type including replicas or toys

• Explosives including fireworks, flares, toy gun caps
• Gases including compressed gas cylinders, tear gas, mace, pepper
sprays, household aerosols
• Flammable materials including petrol, lighter fuel, paint, thinners, non-
safety matches, fire lighters, flammable glue
• Poisons including weed killers, pesticides, insecticides
• Corrosive substances including batteries, mercury, drain cleaners
• Other dangerous goods such as magnetized or radioactive material,
toxic or infectious substances like laboratory diagnostic sample

What is allowed on hand-carried luggage:

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• Wines and Spirits in retail packaging or containers of up to 5 l. (Note

that the wines and spirits may be subjected to duties in the country of
destination.)
• Medical or toilet articles such as hair sprays, deodorants, perfumes and
aftershaves, in containers of up to 500 g or 500 ml each, to a total of 2
kg or 2 l
• Hydrocarbon gas-powered hair curlers (limited to no more than one per
person), provided the safety cover is securely fitted at all times over
the heating element. Separate gas refills for such curlers are not
permitted
• Safety matches or lighters only when carried on the person (the lighter
can contain only absorbed liquid or liquefied gas fuel). Refills are not
permitted
• Battery-powered wheelchairs as checked baggage only - but contact
your airline in advance to check whether special conditions apply

SECTION II: ESSENTIAL COUNTRY DETAILS

2.1 Fast Facts

Country Full Name Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Languages Spoken Official: Arabic

Population 24.200.000

Time Zones GMT/UTC +3

Currency Name: Saudi Riyal Code: SAR Symbol: SRIs

Country Dialling Code +966

Electrical Plugs

Weights and Measures Metric

110/220V 60Hz

2.2 People

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• Estimated population (2007): 27.6 million, including 5.6 million

resident foreigners
• Some cities and oases have densities of more than 1,000 people per
square kilometer (2,600 per sq. mi)
• Saudi Arabia is known as the birthplace of Islam
• The cultural environment in Saudi Arabia is highly conservative; the
country adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic religious law
(Shari'a)
• Cultural presentations must conform to narrowly defined standards of
ethics
• Men and women are not permitted to attend public events together
and are segregated in the work place.
• Most Saudis are ethnically Arab; some are of mixed ethnic origin and
are descended from Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, Africans, and
others, most of whom immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz
region along the Red Sea coast.
• Many Arabs from nearby countries are employed in the kingdom
• There also are significant numbers of Asian expatriates mostly from
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines
• There are less than 100,000 Westerners in Saudi Arabia.

Nationality: Noun--Saudi(s). Adjective--Saudi Arabian or Saudi.

Population (2007 est.): 27.6 million (22.0 million Saudis, 5.6 million foreign
nationals).
Annual growth rate: (2007 est.): 2.06%.
Ethnic groups: Arab (90% of native pop.), Afro-Asian (10% of native pop.).
Religion: Islam.
Language: Arabic (official).
Education: Literacy—Total: 78.8% (male 84.7%, female 70.8%).
Health: Infant mortality rate—12.4/1,000. Life expectancy--male 74 years,
female 78 years.
Work force: 6.49 million, about 35% foreign workers (2005 est.); industry--
25%; services (including government)--63%; agriculture--12%.

2.3 Geography

Area: 1,960,582 million sq. km. (1,176,349 mi.), about one-fourth the size of
the continental United States.
Cities (2001 est.): Capital--Riyadh (pop. 4.3 million). Other cities--Jeddah
(2.25 million), Makkah, (1.2 million), Dammam/Khobar/Dhahran, (1.6 million).
Terrain: Primarily desert with rugged mountains in the southwest.
Climate: Arid, with great extremes of temperature in the interior; humidity
and temperature are both high along the coast.

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2.4 History

• The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750

• The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abd Al-Aziz Al-
Saud (known internationally as Ibn Saud)
• In 1902, Abd Al-Aziz recaptured Riyadh, the Al-Saud dynasty's
ancestral capital, from the rival Al-Rashid family
• Continuing his conquests, Abd Al-Aziz subdued Al-Hasa, the rest of
Nejd, and the Hijaz between 1913 and 1926. In 1932, these regions
were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• King Fahd, who had been the reigning Monarch since June 1982
suffered a stroke in November 1995
• From 1997, Crown Prince Abdullah took on much of the day-to-day
responsibilities of running the government
• Upon King Fahd’s death on August 1, 2005, Abdullah assumed the
throne as King

2.5 Culture

• The cultural setting is Arab and Muslim

• To preserve the country's purist religious position, many proscriptions
of behaviour and dress are enforced
• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited, for example, and the theatre and
public cinema do not exist
• Educated Saudis are well informed on issues of the Arab world, the
Muslim world, and the world at large, but public expression of opinion
about domestic matters is not encouraged- there are no public forums
such as political parties or labour unions
• Some of the largest libraries of Saudi Arabia are situated in Riyadh; the
King Saud University libraries contain 1.1 million volumes
• Collections of religious materials are housed in libraries in Mecca and
Medina
• Music and dance have always been part of Saudi life

2.6 Economy

• Oil wealth has made possible rapid economic development, which

began in earnest in the 1960s and accelerated spectacularly in the
1970s, transforming the kingdom

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• Saudi oil reserves are the largest in the world, and Saudi Arabia is the
world's leading oil producer and exporter
• Oil accounts for more than 90% of the country's exports and nearly
75% of government revenues. Proven reserves are estimated to be 263
billion barrels, about one-quarter of world oil reserves.

GDP (2007 est.): $302.3 billion.

Annual growth rate (2007 est.): 4.7%.
Per capita GDP (PPP 2007 est.): $20,700.
Natural resources: Hydrocarbons, gold, uranium, bauxite, coal, iron,
phosphate, tungsten, zinc, silver, copper.
Agriculture: Products--dates, grains, livestock, vegetables. Arable land--
1.76%.
Industry: Types--petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, fertilizer, light industry.
Trade (2007 est.): Exports--$215 billion: petroleum and petroleum products.
Imports--$82.8 billion: manufactured goods, transportation equipment,
clothing and textiles, processed food products. Major trading partners—China,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, U.K., U.S.
(2006).

2.7 Government

• The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the monarchy

• The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a
monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of King Abd Al Aziz Al Saud,
and that the Holy Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is
governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a)
• There are no political parties or national elections; however, the
country held its first municipal elections in 2005
• The king's powers are limited because he must observe the Shari'a and
other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi
royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements in
Saudi society
• In the past the leading members of the royal family chose the king
from among themselves with the subsequent approval of the ulema. In
November 2006, King Abdullah established an Allegiance Commission
that will select future crown princes, a step designed to help formalize
the selection process
• Saudi kings gradually have developed a central government
• Since 1953, the Council of Ministers, appointed by and responsible to
the king, has advised on the formulation of general policy and directed
the activities of the growing bureaucracy
• This council consists of a prime minister, the first and second deputy
prime ministers, 20 ministers (of whom the minister of defense also is

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the second deputy prime minister), two ministers of state, and a small
number of advisers and heads of major autonomous organizations
• Legislation is by resolution of the Council of Ministers, ratified by royal
decree, and must be compatible with the Shari'a. Justice is
administered according to the Shari'a by a system of religious courts
whose judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the
Supreme Judicial Council, composed of 12 senior jurists
• The independence of the judiciary is protected by law. The king acts as
the highest court of appeal and has the power to pardon. Access to
high officials (usually at a majlis, or public audience) and the right to
petition them directly are well-established traditions
• The kingdom is divided into 13 provinces governed by princes or close
relatives of the royal family. All governors are appointed by the King
• In November 2006, King Abdullah announced the formation of an
Allegiance Committee which, in the future, will select the Crown Prince
• The Committee will be charged to select a crown prince to replace
Prince Sultan
• A December 2007 royal decree named the initial members for the
Committee, all of whom are sons of grandsons of the Kingdoms’
founder, King Abdul Aziz
• Only the direct male descendants of Abdul Aziz are eligible to become
the monarch.

Principal Government Officials

King, Prime Minister, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques--King Fahd bin Abdul
Aziz Al Saud
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Prince Saud Al Faysal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Ambassador to the U.S--Adel al-Jubeir

Type: Monarchy with Council of Ministers and Consultative Council.

Unification: September 23, 1932.
Constitution: The Holy Qur'an (Governed according to Islamic Law)
Branches: Executive--King (chief of state and head of government).
Legislative--none; a Consultative Council with advisory powers was formed
September 1993. Judicial--Supreme Council of Justice, Islamic Courts of First
Instance and Appeals.
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces.
Political parties: None.

2.8 Travel Tips

Customs: Saudi Arabia forbids the importation, sale, or use of alcohol or

illicit drugs. The government has and will continue to apply the death penalty
to anyone convicted of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. In this
conservative Muslim society, visitors must not import into Saudi Arabia any

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non-Muslim religious materials, pork products, or any material that may be

construed as pornographic by Saudi censors. Cholera shots are required for
entry for travelers arriving from areas where cholera is epidemic. All visa
applicants must have a letter of invitation from an employer or Saudi sponsor.

Climate and clothing: Lightweight clothing is essential for the hot (38øC-
54øC) climate. However, during the winter months in the interior regions
(such as in Riyadh), the weather can be quite cool, so warmer clothing is
recommended. Riyadh is dry, while Jeddah and Dhahran are humid most of
the year. Western men and women should dress very conservatively. For
women, skirts should be mid-calf length, sleeves elbow length, and necklines
very modest; pants and pantsuits may attract unwanted attention.

Health: First-class hotels are available in all the major cities. Eat and drink
cautiously outside major hotels and restaurants. Hospital and emergency
care and services in major cities approach U.S. standards.

Telecommunications: Telephone and telegraph service is expanding rapidly,

and direct domestic and overseas dialing is available at most locations within
the country. Riyadh is eight time zones ahead of eastern standard time. There
are several daily English-language newspapers, as well as an English-
language television station.

Transportation: Many domestic and international flights are scheduled

daily; taxis and rental cars are available in all major cities. Saudi Arabia has
an impressive and rapidly expanding network of paved roads, including
super-highways, connecting the country's regions and major cities. Women
are forbidden to drive, and women traveling alone normally are unable to rent
a hotel room.

SECTION III: PERSONAL GUIDE

3.1 Behaviour Tips

a. Do not show your bare shoulders, stomach, calves or thighs

b. Most of the body should always be covered
c. Always have a look of baggy concealment
d. Alcohol and pork are illegal; do not make any mention or reference
e. Friday is the day of rest
f. Remove shoes and socks when entering a building
g. Best is to wait for your counterpart to initiate the greeting
h. Men shake hands with other men
i. Ladies should wait for the male to offer his hand
j. A traditional greeting between men involves the grasping of each
other’s right hand, placing the left hand on the other’s right shoulder
and exchanging kisses on each cheek
k. Left hand is considered unclean; thus do not use it to eat or gesture

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l. The thumbs-up sign is offensive; do not use it at all

m. Men walking hand in hand is a sign of friendship
n. Do not cross your leg ever; and never show the bottom of your foot
o. When given a gift, accept it graciously; it is rude to decline
p. Women are not mentioned much in the society; refrain from speaking
about ladies
q. Sports is the best topic to talk about, because it has a tinge of
neutrality
r. Do not talk about Israel
s. Names are often confusing; thus be careful to pronounce them
correctly
t. Communications are much slower as compared to Singapore; do not
feel obliged to speak during periods of silence
u. “Yes” usually means “Possibly”; hence it is perhaps more appropriate
not to use it too often
v. Prayers are conducted 5 times a day; do not show alarm or display
ignorance when your host leaves you for around 15 minutes
w. The person who ask the most questions at a meeting is the least
important; and vice-versa
x. A customary greeting is salaam alaykum. Shaking hands and saying
kaif hal ak comes next
y. Lunch is heavier than dinner; thus do not be afraid to eat more
z. Dinner is always later than 8 pm; hence do not be alarmed

aa.You will probably witness the slaughter of animals like camels etc; do
not be alarmed or disgusted for it is an honour for you to witness that
pilgrimage
bb.Male guests and older men eat first, followed by younger men
cc. Women eat at a separate place/ corner
dd.Use your right hand to eat
ee.Do not interact with the opposite sex
ff. Men have more rights than women; ladies do not feel insulted at times
gg.A guest, upon arrival, should greet individually the host, and all others
present by shaking hands, or if well known to them, kissing the cheeks
three or more times
hh.When you are greeted, stand straight up
ii. Avoid direct eye contact with the opposite sex

3.2 Safety & Security

In the most recent Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia, the Department of State
continues to warn American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Saudi
Arabia due largely to targeted attacks against American citizens that have
resulted in deaths and injuries. There have been a number of anti-Western
attacks in Saudi Arabia since May 2003. Terrorists have targeted housing
compounds, businesses, and Saudi government facilities with vehicle-borne

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explosives and automatic weapons, causing significant civilian deaths and

serious injuries; and in separate incidents have held hostages and killed
individual Westerners, including American citizens. On December 6, 2004,
terrorists carried out an armed attack against the U.S. Consulate General in
Jeddah, which resulted in casualties among the Consulate staff and damage
to consulate facilities. In February 2007, four French residents of Saudi
Arabia returning from Madain Saleh were killed in a shooting incident while
resting on the side of the highway.

All American citizens in Saudi Arabia should maintain a high level of vigilance
and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness and reduce
their vulnerability. Terrorist groups continue to target housing compounds,
hotels, methods of transportation, and commercial establishments where
Westerners can be found. Americans should maintain a low profile, vary
routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from
unfamiliar sources with suspicion. In addition, American citizens are urged to
avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the
presence of such objects to local authorities. Vehicles should not be left
unattended, if at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times.
American citizens are urged to park their motor vehicles in protected areas
with restricted access and to inspect the vehicles before using them, looking
underneath, inside the engine compartment, and inside the trunk. The use of
a flashlight for vehicle inspections at night is recommended. Suspicious
activities, individuals, or vehicles should be reported to the U.S. Embassy or
nearest Consulate General. License numbers of vehicles and descriptions of
individuals can be extremely helpful.

Street crime is generally not a problem for travelers in Saudi Arabia .

However, private Saudi citizens who perceive that a foreigner is not
observing conservative standards of conduct may harass, pursue, or assault
that person. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh cautions American citizens that
Saudi Arabian police authorities have detained potential witnesses to crimes
without charges or access to legal counsel, and with limited or delayed
consular access, during the investigative stage of criminal cases, which can
take months. On occasion, Saudi authorities have temporarily confiscated
the personal effects of detained potential witnesses. Even when released
from detention, witnesses to criminal incidents may be prohibited from
leaving the country until investigation of the incident is complete.

3.3 Traffic Safety & Security Conditions

• Women are not allowed to drive or ride bicycles on public roads

• Traffic accidents are a significant hazard in Saudi Arabia

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• Driving habits are generally poor, and accidents involving vehicles

driven by minors are not uncommon

• In the event of a traffic accident resulting in personal injury, all persons

involved (if not in the hospital) 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 are
held in custody regardless of fault.

3.4 Special Circumstances

Saudi customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning importation

into Saudi Arabia of such banned items as alcohol products, weapons and any
item that is held to be contrary to the tenets of Islam, such as pork products
and pornography. Imported and domestic audiovisual media and reading
matter are censored.

Saudi customs and postal officials broadly define what is contrary to Islam,
and therefore prohibited. Christmas decorations, fashion magazines, and
"suggestive" videos may be confiscated and the owner subject to penalties
and fines.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND RELIGIOUS POLICE:

Islam is the official religion of the country and pervades all aspects of life in
Saudi Arabia. Public display of non-Islamic religious articles such as crosses
and Bibles is not permitted. Travel to Makkah (Mecca) and Medina, the cities
where the two holiest mosques of Islam are located, is forbidden to non-
Muslims.

The norms for public behavior in Saudi Arabia are extremely conservative,
and religious police, known as Mutawwa, are charged with enforcing these
standards. Mutawwa are required to carry special identification and usually
are accompanied by uniformed police; however, in some cases they have
detained persons even without police presence. To ensure that conservative
standards of conduct are observed, the Saudi religious police have accosted
or arrested foreigners, including U.S. citizens, for improper dress or other
alleged infractions, such as consumption of alcohol or association by a female
with a male to whom she is not related. While most incidents have resulted
only in inconvenience or embarrassment, the potential exists for an individual
to be physically harmed or deported.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington advises women traveling to Saudi Arabia

to dress in a conservative fashion, wearing ankle-length dresses with long
sleeves, and not to wear trousers in public. In many areas of Saudi Arabia,

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particularly Riyadh and the central part of the Kingdom, Mutawwa pressure
women to wear a full-length black covering known as an Abaya, and to cover
their heads. Most women in these areas therefore wear an Abaya and carry a
headscarf to avoid being accosted. Women who appear to be of Arab or Asian
origin, especially those presumed to be Muslims, face a greater risk of being
confronted.

Some Mutawwa try to enforce the rule that men and women who are beyond
childhood years may not mingle in public unless they are family or close
relatives. Mutawwa may ask to see proof that a couple is married or
related. Women who are arrested for socializing with a man who is not a
relative may be charged with prostitution. Some restaurants, particularly fast-
food outlets, have refused to serve women who are not accompanied by a
close male relative. In addition, many restaurants no longer have a "family
section" in which women are permitted to eat. These restrictions are not
always posted, and in some cases women violating this policy have been
arrested. This is more common in Riyadh and the more conservative central
Nejd region.

In public, dancing, playing music and showing movies are forbidden.

3.5 Criminal Penalties

Persons violating Saudi Arabian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled,

arrested, imprisoned or even executed. Suspects may be detained without
charges or legal counsel, and with limited consular access, for months during
the investigative stage of criminal cases.

Penalties for the import, manufacture, possession, and consumption of

alcohol or illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail
sentences, fines, public flogging, and/or deportation. The penalty for drug
trafficking in Saudi Arabia is death. Saudi officials make no exceptions.
Customs inspections at ports of entry are thorough. The U.S. Embassy and
Consulates General have no standing in Saudi courts to obtain leniency for an
American convicted of alcohol or drug offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct
with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country
is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Saudi authorities do not permit criticism of Islam or the royal family. The
government prohibits the public practice of religions other than Islam. Non-
Muslims suspected of violating these restrictions have been jailed.
Homosexual activity is considered to be a criminal offence and those
convicted may be sentenced to lashing, prison, or death.

SECTION IV: Personal Notes

4.1 Reflection Tool

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 Youth Exchange Programme
Saudi Arabia – Singapore
Travel Booklet

Record your daily reflections using this three-prong approach. “Mirror” is a

reflection of yourself, your actions and your personal feelings. “Microscope”
is used to examine and scrutinize selected events in the day. “Binoculars” is
how you can use what you’ve learnt in the future.

Da Mirror Microscope Binoculars

y
1

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 Youth Exchange Programme
Saudi Arabia – Singapore
Travel Booklet

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 Youth Exchange Programme
Saudi Arabia – Singapore
Travel Booklet

10

11

12

13

14

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 Youth Exchange Programme
Saudi Arabia – Singapore
Travel Booklet

4.2 Notepad

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Youth Exchange Programme
Saudi Arabia – Singapore
Travel Booklet

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