The travel advisory aims to help them have safe and comfortable trips and not get involved in any legal problems during their travels.
The ministry expressed its keenness that citizens represent the Kingdom in a dignified and civilized manner, highly appropriate of people coming from the land of the two holy mosques as well as the cradle of Islamic and Arab values.
The advisory underscores the duty of the ministry to facilitate a comfortable journey and stay abroad for citizens as well as to protect them and their families from any troubles and difficulties that they may face.
“The citizens should ensure that their passports are valid at least for six months. In the case of family members who do not have separate passports, their journey should be in the company of passport holders,” the advisory said.
The ministry urged citizens to keep their passports, flight tickets and all personal belongings in a safe place.
They should ask for safes at their accommodation when abroad. They should also register their passports at the nearest Saudi diplomatic missions immediately after their arrival, the advisory adds.
The ministry asked the citizens to book their travel tickets, accommodation and transportation only through licensed travel and tourism offices.
It is to be noted that some countries do not allow certain foodstuffs, especially tinned foods. The citizens should be careful not to carry banned food items while traveling to those countries, the advisory said.
They should also be aware of the rules and regulations in their destination countries with regard to taking currencies, jewels and all other precious goods. It is ideal not to carry a huge amount of money but instead use credit cards.
The ministry advised businessmen to first consult with chambers of commerce and industry in the Kingdom before traveling abroad to conduct deals with either companies or individual businessmen.
“They should seek the support of the Saudi diplomatic missions in their destination countries to ensure the legitimacy of those companies in order to avoid being scammed. Consultancy with a lawyer is a must before concluding any contracts,” the ministry warned.
Citizens have also been asked to respect the laws and regulations in their destination countries.
“They should be careful while answering queries from passport officials. Their answers should be to the point. They should not allow any security agencies to conduct raids on their places of residence unless officers have permission to do so from the concerned authorities or courts,” the ministry said.
“The citizens should be vigilant not to answer questions as part of an interrogation or investigation unless there is a lawyer present. They should not fail to appear in front of courts together with their lawyers if they are summoned to do so.”
The citizens have also been asked not to carry or keep the identification documents of any other people including their wives. This is essential to avoid accusations or charges of identity theft.
Family members should keep their passports with them unless they are children. As for housemaids and drivers accompanying them, they should also abide by the rules and regulations prevailing in the destination countries. Their salaries and allowances should strictly adhere to the laws of those countries to avoid any legal problems.
The ministry also urged citizens to be wary of the differences in the cultures of Saudi Arabia and the countries where they wish to travel. They should avoid practices allowed in Saudi culture such as kissing or embracing foreign kids, as they may not be permissible in some cultures.
Legal consultant Ibrahim Al-Bahri said the advisory demonstrates the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ willingness to serve the interests of Saudi citizens as well as ensure their safety and security while they are abroad.
“Every country has its rules and regulations. Those who visit another country should abide by its laws. Respecting these regulations is in a way showing the flexibility of our culture in front of people of other cultures,” he said while emphasizing that each Saudi man and woman traveling abroad should act as an ambassador of the Kingdom in every sense of the word.
Hussein Al-Sinan, another legal consultant and lawyer, said Saudi citizens who plan to spend their forthcoming summer vacation in a foreign country should make necessary preparations in advance.
He said that they should first ensure their passports are valid for at least six months before traveling.
“This is essential to avoid any legal complications after reaching their destination. The citizens should also be fully aware of the laws, especially the do’s and don’ts of their destination countries,” he said.
“Ignorance is not a good enough excuse to avoid facing penal action for any violations. For instance, those traveling to France should be aware of the ban on wearing the veil (niqab) that came into effect from April 11 this year.”
He advised citizens to avoid traveling to those countries that are in a state of unrest.
