Solo Female Travel in Saudi Arabia

Should you’re curious how solo feminine journey in Saudi Arabia is in 2025 is, let me simply begin by saying there are two drastically totally different views right here.

The primary perspective is from the non-Muslim international lady touring solo as a vacationer in Saudi Arabia. I fall into that class and I’ll begin this submit with that perception.

However let’s not overlook the opposite extra silent perspective; the Saudi girls! They’ve been underneath strict guidelines for many years, with out the chance to even go to the park solo, however modifications in the previous couple of years have loosened a few of these ridiculous guidelines, ever so barely.

You’ll be shocked to learn how privileged we’re with freedom as international guests in Saudi Arabia versus the native girls who dwell there!

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Did Solo Feminine Journey in Saudi Arabia Really feel Protected?

Let me first preface this reply by saying I’ve been touring solo for over 11 years now. It takes so much to scare me or make me really feel unsafe, except the legislation is concerned.

For essentially the most half, I all the time really feel protected within the Center East, as a result of the Muslim faith and tradition mainly forbids the day by day particular person from doing something dangerous to me. They’re for essentially the most half, very respectful and in addition very hospitable. Nonetheless, Muslim tradition additionally places much more energy within the palms of males over girls, so the primary factor I worry is doing one thing improper, or upsetting somebody, and getting detained or one thing for it.

Nonetheless, since I’m a conscious traveler, that is often by no means a fear or difficulty. Until after all, I really feel like I am in peril or disrespected.

I received’t lie, I used to be barely apprehensive about solo feminine journey in Saudi Arabia due to their previous guidelines of ladies needing male guardians, and needing to decorate a sure means. Really I by no means went there till now when these guidelines have been lifted as a result of I knew I’d seemingly get in hassle for not appropriately following them.

My latest expertise touring solo in Saudi Arabia although was very nice, and I felt very protected.

Even strolling round in public locations alone, taking vehicles with male drivers alone, and consuming in eating places alone felt very regular for me. I can’t say the identical for Saudi girls as I hardly noticed any of them solo.

The was one second after I felt like I used to be in potential hazard; I did get adopted by a automobile after I was strolling alone alongside the Corniche in Jeddah. They seemingly simply thought I used to be misplaced and have been going to assist, however since they pulled over and waited for me to stroll up, I felt scared. To keep away from the scenario, I known as a pal who I knew was on the identical time zone and requested her to remain on the cellphone with me till I obtained to my vacation spot.

All the time be ready for solo feminine journey in any nation with my top safety tips!

I later realized that it’s nonetheless not precisely regular for a lady to be strolling on the facet of the road alone. Which, to be honest, will be stated for a lot of locations. That being stated, I would counsel all the time taking a taxi or experience share for longer distances when you’re a solo feminine traveler in Saudi Arabia.

Apart from that incident, I felt very protected in Saudi Arabia!

My Solo Feminine Journey in Saudi Arabia Itinerary

I went to Saudi Arabia on a whim after a collaboration in Socotra Island, and I’m so glad I did! The nation could be very lovely from what I noticed, each naturally and culturally.

For my full itinerary with suggestions, take a look at my Easy AlUla Travel Guide weblog submit!

Briefly, I jumped on the most cost effective flight from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, which landed me in Jeddah for round $200! I used to be nervous as a result of Ramadan simply began and I heard it is likely to be tremendous crowded, nevertheless it was the opposite. Throughout the day at the very least, which is often the one time I’m going out and about solo.

I booked a resort “close to the airport”, which I remorse, as a result of it was logistically inconvenient, and I pre-arranged an airport switch since I nonetheless wasn’t 100% certain concerning the “girls want a male escort” factor.

Then I explored the Corniche solo, and later I employed a Saudi lady to offer me a tour of Al Balad, the “Previous City. The subsequent day I used to be alleged to go on a ship journey, however they canceled with out good cause…

Subsequent I flew to the more and more widespread metropolis of AlUla! I spent three great but costly days there, exploring the World Heritage Websites and having fun with the beautiful desert resorts! Be sure you examine that blog post for each luxurious and budget-ish journey choices there!

My time was restricted as a result of I needed to return to Italy (to get married), however I’ll be returning subsequent 12 months to host one in every of my group journeys, and we are going to add in Riyadh and Madinah!

Current Adjustments for Native Girls in Saudi Arabia

From what I’ve gathered (however be at liberty to reality examine me), in 2017, the ‘Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Vision 2030, “a wide-ranging plan for social and financial change” that included a return to “reasonable Islam” and a vow to “eradicate the remnants of extremism”, in accordance with the BBC.’

Right here’s an summary of those modifications up to now – Girls can now (allegedly):

• Drive. (This one shocks most individuals)

• Apply for a job or begin a enterprise with out male consent

• Exit in public with out male escorts

• Get a passport and depart the nation with out permission *over the age of 21

• Determine their very own healthcare and schooling preferences and not using a male *over the age of 21

• Put on what they’d like so long as it’s very modest

Do Foreigners Want an Invitation to Enter Saudi Arabia?

Nyope. Most individuals not want a a call for participation to go to Saudi Arabia from most international locations! However make sure you examine together with your authorities’s journey web page to ensure! There nonetheless could also be restrictions for some international locations.

The truth is, I deliberate my entire journey with none assist from a tour firm, together with reserving all of my lodges, and I did not must submit proof of my plans or something.

You possibly can merely get an eVisa on-line right here: Saudi Arabia eVisa

Right here’s what you want for the Saudi Arabia Visa:

• Picture of Passport information web page

• An precise passport photo-photo

Can Saudi Girls Depart to Go Journey Overseas?

The brand new post-2018 guidelines grant permission for ladies 21 and over to get a passport with out male permission, and to journey overseas and not using a male guardian. :Suppresses eye roll and feminist feedback:

Nonetheless understand that the entire “males are in cost” idea is closely rooted in Saudi tradition, so it’s potential many ladies are nonetheless denied the flexibility to go away the nation by a person of their life.

Do International Girls Want a Male Guardian to Journey Solo in Saudi Arabia?

To begin with, if any nation required me to have a male guardian to go there, I’d completely not go, so there’s my reply to that query.

There’s combined info on-line about whether or not a international non-Muslim lady wanted a guardian/escort to journey in Saudi Arabia, however in brief; I didn’t want one.

I used to be fully solo with out even a tour information for almost all of my journey there, and it appeared fully regular. Properly, apart from that one incident with the automobile that adopted me.

Do Saudi Girls Nonetheless Want a Male Guardian to Journey in-Nation?

Sadly, I can’t say the identical totally for Saudi girls. Previous to 2018, all Saudi Arabian girls wanted a male guardian always for actually every part. They have been handled like minors their total lives, all the time needing permission for every part by a father, husband, brother, and even son!

Publish 2018, the legal guidelines modified barely, and now girls are allowed to go to public locations alone, they usually can journey internationally alone, if they’re over the age of 21. They will additionally drive now, which hopefully opens the chance for extra home journey for them at the very least.

There may be one place although that no Saudi lady is allowed to go to alone; Mecca. Their faith’s most holy of holy locations, the place each Muslim is required to go to at the very least as soon as for “Hajj”. Whereas girls not are required to have a male guardian take them, they do need to at the very least go along with different girls.

Do International Feminine Vacationers Need to Put on a Hijab and Abaya?

The “hijab” is the top masking that Muslim girls put on, and an “abaya” is the gown that fully covers them from head to toe. Each have been created to preserve Muslim girls, nonetheless some international locations additionally require them to be worn by international girls, like Iran.

Saudi Arabia doesn’t require international girls to cowl their heads, or put on the robes. They simply count on you to decorate very modestly, with unfastened clothes that at the very least covers your elbows and most of your legs.

I selected to put on a hijab and abaya as a result of I favored the style, and in addition to be empathetic to the ladies who nonetheless need to put on them, and to point out respect to the ladies who put on them proudly for his or her tradition. Nonetheless…it was actually arduous to maintain the headband on, and I ended up simply not carrying it to keep away from carrying it incorrectly!

NOTE: International girls DO need to put on a head masking and be totally lined to enter any mosque or holy web site!

What I Wore for Solo Feminine Journey in Saudi Arabia

Though I spend most of my days in summery attire and swimwear, I do know very effectively to cowl up and costume modestly in Muslim cultures! Not solely do I not need to disrespect the native tradition, however I don’t need to trigger consideration to myself or offend anybody.

In my images you possibly can see examples of what I wore in Saudi Arabia, however to be totally clear, I often solely wore the embellished abayas for images and on the resorts the place costume code is extra relaxed, just like the one above. I wore modest Western clothes and a hat or headband the remainder of the time.

You could find my full information for What to Wear in Muslim Countries here!

Right here’s a brief packing listing of what I wore for solo feminine journey in Saudi Arabia:

• Unfastened, floor-length pants

• Lengthy sleeved tops as much as my neck

• Ground size lengthy sleeved attire

• Ground size maxi costume with open gown over it

• Knee excessive boots (in case my attire weren’t lengthy sufficient)

• Head scarf (tied like a turban or headband)

• Embellished abayas with hijabs!

• One piece swimsuit *solely at vacationer lodges

*Swimsuits are very a lot not allowed at public seashores, nevertheless it’s OK to an extent at sure lodges and sure seashores.

FUN FACT: Saudi Girls Are Allegedly No Longer REQUIRED to Put on the Niqab or Abaya!

I’m nonetheless not totally certain I imagine this since almost each Saudi lady I noticed was carrying a “niqab” (full face veil” and the abaya, however in accordance with the web, it’s true!

One of many post-2018 modifications was that Saudi Arabian girls are not required to put on the niqab or abaya, however “each sexes ought to all the time costume modestly” in accordance with the Prince. That features clothes that matches loosely and covers the elbows and ankles, and may embrace Western clothes lined by an open abaya!

Once more, I didn’t see this after I was there, however I’ll say {that a} feminine information I employed in Jeddah instructed me that ladies from Jeddah don’t put on the total face veil anymore, and simply identified who was from Jeddah due to it. She was additionally wearing a lightweight pink abaya and hijab, and the very first thing she stated to me is, “By the way in which you don’t need to cowl your head”. She additionally drove herself solo to return meet me within the Previous City!

For these questioning (like I do) why girls nonetheless put on head coverings and full face veils if the principles say they do not need to, this is what I’ve heard; Most girls choose to nonetheless put on the hijab as a result of it is symbolic of their faith and tradition which they deeply love and are dedicated to. So though they do not need to, they nonetheless do to point out their religion and devotion to Allah (their God). Some girls additionally want it for vogue causes, like I did, and a few even simply need to be that trustworthy to their husbands – masking their hair in order to not tempt another eyes.

From my viewpoint, I favored carrying it due to the way in which it appeared, and since I did not need to model my hair day by day! However with regard to not tempting eyes, I skilled the opposite; I obtained much more consideration and compliments from males after I wore a hijab.

What CAN’T International Non-Muslim Girls do in Saudi Arabia?

One thing crucial to know for solo feminine journey in Saudi Arabia, is the stuff you can’t do!

Right here’s a listing of what non-Muslim international girls can’t do in Saudi Arabia:

• You can not enter Mecca if you’re not Muslim

• You can not enter sure holy websites

• You possibly can’t enter a mosque and not using a head masking and full protection clothes

• You possibly can’t drink alcohol…however nobody can

• You can not put on common swimsuits at most seashores

What CAN’T Saudi Arabian Girls Do Nonetheless in 2025?

Whereas Saudi girls have been given extra freedom these days (as they very effectively deserve), there are nonetheless many issues they can not do, even in 2025!

Right here’s what most Saudi Arabian girls can’t do nonetheless:

• Marry or divorce with out male permission

• “Disobey” their husbands to an extent (a person can detain or institutionalize his spouse for disobeying him)

• Make any life choices earlier than the age of 21 with out male consent or a court docket’s

Though the federal government has made some optimistic modifications for Saudi girls, they clearly have a protracted solution to go. Particularly contemplating that many males won’t let girls even do these modifications!

How You Can Assist Drive Change for Saudi Girls

If you wish to assist drive change for the ladies who’ve been managed and oppressed for many years, right here’s some small issues you are able to do whenever you go to Saudi Arabia:

• Use feminine Saudi tour guides! I’ve listed a couple of on my weblog submit!

• Put on native Saudi vogue, together with the hijab and abaya, however with your individual (respectable) twist

• Speak to native girls and ask them about their every day lives

• Encourage girls to journey!

• Purchase from female-owned companies