SAUDI ARABIA : PRACTICAL INFORMATION

COUNTRY USEFUL INFORMATION

❖ Official name : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

❖ Regime type : Monarchy (Saud dynasty)

❖ Administrative capital : Riyadh

❖ State religion : Sunni Islam

❖ Head of State and the government : His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Guardian of the Two Holy Places (Mecca and

Medina)

❖ Crown Prince : His Royal Higness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

❖ Chairman of the General Sports Authority : His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud

❖ President of the Saudi Arabian Motorsports Federation : His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal Al Saud

❖ Vice-President of the Saudi Arabian Motorsports Federation : Mr. Abdullah Salem Bakhashab

COUNTRY USEFUL INFORMATION

❖ Surface Area : 2 250 000 km2

❖ Population : 33 000 000 inhabitants

❖ Density : 15,5 inhab per km2

❖ Time zone : GMT +3

❖ Arid Climate

→ High temperatures during the day and

steep drop at night / little rainfall /

almost permanent sunshine

→ In January : Mild winter, temperatures

between 10 and 20°C

❖ Various geographies

→ In the West : Red Sea coast / Canyons

(up to an altitude of 2000m in the

North)

→ In the East : Rocky and sandy plains /

natural oil fields

→ In the South : Rub Al-Khali desert (650

000 km2) / almost exclusively sand

OMAN

UAE

JORDAN

EGYPT

KUWAÏT

BAHRAIN

QATAR

YEMEN

IRAQ

SOCIETY

❖ Society

- 57% of men and 43% of women

- 65% of the population are under 26

- Average salary : 5 600 US$

- Between 30 and 40% of the population in major cities speak english.

❖ Sport

- Club and gyms are widely available in big cities

- Increase from 13% to 23% of sport practice due to recent initiatives by GSA. 40% expected growth under 2030

Vision

- Sport mediatisation on TV, web, social networks…

- The most popular sport is the football and then Motorsports, basketball, boxing, tennis, wrestling...

❖ Communication

- All social networks are free access everywhere. Saudi is one of the highest countries in terms of number of

users in the world per capita for social media.

- Sometimes, phone calls via Whatsapp can be blocked. But Skype, Facetime or Hangout calls are working

perfectly

- Huge usage on mobile devices to stream video and TV

LOCAL LIFE

❖ Currency : Saudi Riyal (SAR)

→ 1 EUR = 4,2 SAR

→ 1 USD = 3,7 SAR

❖ Dollars and euros are not accepted as payment (many currency exchange offices)

❖ Credit cards are widely used

❖ Most banks (and most public spaces) are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

❖ Cost of living

→ Basic full meal : 10 to 12 EUR (43-50 SAR)

→ Water bottle (1,5L) : about 0,5 EUR (2-3 SAR)

→ Medium-range hotel : about 75 EUR per night (330 SAR)

→ 1L of gasoline(91) : about 0,35 EUR (1,45 SAR)

→ 1L of gasoline (95) : about 0.48 EUR (2.07 SAR)

→ 1L of Diesel : about 0.15 EUR (0.65 SAR)

❖ Sunni Islam is the State religion, which has an impact on local life

→ Islamic law (Shari’a) governs society in accordance with the principles of the Quran and the

tradition. The religious police is in charge of moral an religious propriety in public spaces and no

longer intervenes directly.

→ Fives pilars of Islam : The profession of faith / Prayer / The Alms / The Fast / The pilgrimage to Mecca

❖ Hijra calendar : Two weekend days are Friday and Saturday

LAW, CUSTOMS, AND LOCAL CULTURE

❖ The import and consumption of alcohol and pork are formally prohibited in Saudi Arabia and are subject to legal proceedings

❖ Drug consumption is heavily penalized and drug trafficking is punished with death penalty

❖ Imported cultural products (DvDs, books, magazines…) must be compatible with local and decency laws (no explicit content)

❖ Clothing :

→ Men : Mandatory long trousers and authorised T-Shirts

→ Women : Abbaya (traditional long black robe) is not mandatory in public areas, as long as the outfit is modest.

❖ In the cities :

→ Individuals (men and women) can travel freely in the cities

→ Dakar participants (press, pilots, …) will be able to visit safely the Saudi cities (Start in Jeddah / Finish near to Riyadh)

❖ Driving :

→ Speed limit : 140km on large highways / 120km on smaller highways / 100km on highways inside the cities

→ Cars drive on the right, seatbelts are mandatory, and the vehicle must be insured

→ Driving practice can sometimes be dangerous

→ Individuals (men and women) can drive freely in the country

❖ The usual greeting is a handshake

❖ Tips are not mandatory but recommended for restaurants and taxis (about 10%)

Saudi Arabia has its own culture, some of which differs fromWestern culture in some respects :

❖ UNESCO Heritage Sites

- Ad-Dirriyah ruins

- Hail region rock art

- Jeddah city

- Al Hijr (Al Ula) archaeological site

- Al-Ahsa oasis

❖ Typical food

- Dates

- Rice / Chickpeas / Cracked wheat

- Lamb / Chicken

- Pita bread

- Arabic coffee / tea

- Seafood in coaster cities

LAW, CUSTOMS, AND LOCAL CULTURE

An exceptional cultural and natural heritage :

Jeddah

Ad-DirriyahHail

Al-Ahsa

Al Ula

COUNTRY TRANSPORTATIONNETWORK

❖ Distances between the main cities

- Jeddah – Riyadh : 950km drive (about 9h10)

- Riyadh – Dammam : 410km drive (ab. 4h00)

- Riyadh – Neom : 1510km drive (ab. 14h30)

- Jeddah – Neom : 970 km drive (ab. 9h30)

❖ Road network

- The road network is in very good condition and

most large cities are well connected

- Public transportation in big cities but not reliable

- Taxis/Uber/Careem available in all cities

❖ Airport system

- Jeddah and Riyadh major airports

- From Paris and Frankfurt: About 6h flight

- National company : Saudia Airlines

- Domestic flights are especially secure

→ Taxis/Uber/Careem between Riyadh airport and

the centre of the city (40min) cost about 20 EUR (85 SAR)

COUNTRY LOGISTICS

❖ Electrical plug

- 127/220V and 60 Hz frequency (power outlets are type A, B, F and G

- Bringing an adapter is recommended

❖ Telephone & internet :

- Access to internet is free, but certain websites are blocked as they go against local customs (explicit content)

- National sim cards can be purchased locally

❖ Visas

- Electronic visas may be obtained for the Dakar, 2 months before the event

- Everyone is welcomed to come and visit Saudi Arabia (pilots, families, friends, spectators, tourists, press…)

- A platform will be shared to everyone interested to download e-visa and visit Saudi Arabia for the Dakar event

❖ Customs :

- Simplify customs process will be implemented for the vehicles arriving for the Dakar

- Heavy and electronic equipment must be declared in advance. A template will be provided by A.S.O.

CHAPTER 330th COUNTRY