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🛂 WHAT YOU NEED UPON ENTRY INTO KSA
1. Passport (minimum of 6 full months of validity)
2. Your E-Visa for KSA (does not need to be printed, but would be useful to have in case of problems with connectivity upon arrival in KSA). Please note, you must have a MDLB issued Visa.
3. Travel insurance with Covid coverage (does not need to be printed, but would be useful to in case of problems with connectivity upon arrival in KSA)
🧳WHAT TO BRING
- Light & Breathable Long Sleeves (it can get windy at times and cool at night)
- Lightweight Hair Coverage for Women
- Hair coverage will not be a requirement onsite or in public but some team members feel more comfortable covering their hair in public to align with local customs
- Lightweight Long Pants
- Shorts are generally not worn in public but some team members feel comfortable wearing them onsite
- If working within a construction or ‘live/active’ zone appropriate workwear is required, along with PPE including long pants, boots, protective eyewear, hard hats
- Sun protection - suncreen, hat and sunglasses
- Tampons - they're not readily available in KSA!
- Lightweight Winter Gloves
- Warm Ear Coverage (especially late nights in December)
- Layers!
- The more lightweight layers you have, the easier to transition between seasons and weather on site. It can even rain in the desert!
- Hat with brim or visor, sunglasses and even UV sleeves for arms and legs. Dust mask or neck buffer/gaiter
- Steel capped boots
- MDLB will NOT have a supply of steel capped boots onsite, and is the responsibility of the crew member and supplier to ensure appropriate footwear.
- High-Visibility Vest
- MDLBEAST will have a supply of generic hi-vis options on site for purchase at the Crew Bodega; however, if you would like a nicer or more fitted version, you can buy them ahead of your travels
🚫 WHAT NOT TO BRING (i.e. NOT ALLOWED IN KSA)
MDLBEAST is not responsible for an exhaustive list of rules and regulations, please see the official KSA guidelines.
Significant items of note:
- Alcohol of any kind
- Drugs or Illegal substances of any kind
- Pork Products
- Pornography or Sex Toys (someone had to say it!)
✈️ARRIVING TO KSA - TIPS!
- Both Uber & Bolt operate in KSA, both are safe and convenient ways to travel to and from the airport if needed.
- Update your mobile plan before you arrive in KSA. The airports often do not have accessible wifi and your phone will not work if you haven’t arranged an international plan
- See the SIM cards note below if you prefer to get a local phone/number for your stay
- Snap screenshots of any travel info the travel team has sent you to have on your phone (accommodations address, driver information, etc) just in case
- Dress modestly for your flight - the local customs are likely different than in your home country and while it’s not required for Westerners to follow any strict dress code, it’s nice to be respectful of the local expectations. Females are not required to wear Abayas in KSA. Blue Abaya has some good info on this as well
- Prepare for a bit of jet lag and transition time
- You should bring proof of vaccination & card (just to be safe)
💡GENERAL INFORMATION
- The temperature is all over the place from day to night, bring layers! It’s a desert!
- Any small comforts you might feel are missing from your housing can be fixed with a quick trip to IKEA or SACO (like Home Depot). You can also order online from Amazon.sa or Noon.com
- Standard paper sizes in KSA are standard A4 and A3
- Time is 24 hour clock and dates are written Day, Month, Year. 14:30h, 21 August, 2024
- Electric outlets all have switches to power on. In general, having the depress in the down position means power on.
- Red switches are often for high power or hot water. Make sure those are ‘ON’ and the light is engaged to ensure power is running.
- Ablution (the washing of one's body or part of it, often as a religious rite) is a common practice in Muslim countries, you will see many rooms, especially restrooms, with drains and covers for the use of washing and water to be drained in the floor.
- Tattoos are ok, but be conscious of designs and how they could be interpreted (religion, words, graphic imagery, other languages/phrases, sexual nature, etc). While in traditional places, it is appropriate to cover them up modestly, but they are generally acceptable.
- Some non-western restroom facilities will not have a seated flushing toilet, rather a floor level receptacle and aftabeh, lota, bodna or shataf for cleaning
- Add Digital Wallets on your cell phone. Load a few credit cards as most places accept payment by tapping phone or contactless payment on your credit card through wireless card readers
- Visa, then Mastercard, then American Express in terms of what is accepted most broadly. Beware if all you have is AMEX. Local credit card is MADA, but you can only get this if you are registered with an Iqama number and bank (citizen or work permit)
🚕 GETTING AROUND
- Driving and traffic is different in Saudi. You drive on the right, but you can pass mid-lane and often drivers ahead will drive in the median to make way for passers. In fact, if turning left with traffic, drivers will often pull to the right median to slow and stop to let traffic pass by and wait for an opening to turn left.
- Use of emergency blinkers to show you are coming to a stop ahead is common
- Use of flashing ‘brights’ indicates another driver is coming on your tail to pass you or passing an on-coming vehicle and warning they are in your lane.
- Speeding or gently obeying road signs is not uncommon
- Uber is available, just be prepared to wait a little longer for the driver to accept. Other local options include:
- Careem, Jeeny or Leena (a female-only app)
🛒WHERE TO SHOP
There are no shortage of grocery stores in Jeddah!
See below for a list, and check out this helpful guide HERE with handy tips. For example, when you purchase fresh produce you need to get it weighed and have a sticker put on your bag before you take it to the checkout.
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- Free home delivery on orders over 199 SAR!
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- Free home delivery on orders over 200SAR! Delivery fee of 7SAR for orders below 200SAR
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- Free home delivery on orders over 199SAR!
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- Free delivery over 40SAR! Lots of gluten free and vegetarian options
- Free delivery over 40SAR! Lots of gluten free and vegetarian options
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🍔DELIVERY APPS
There are plenty of food delivery app options available in KSA! Just remember, delivery to the Banban area can take around an hour, so make sure to plan ahead if you are hungry.
