Culture

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies approximately 868,730 square miles (2,250,000 square kilometers)—about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula—and is bordered on the west by the Red Sea and on the east by the Arabian Gulf. Neighboring states are Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait on the north; Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the east; Yemen and the sultanate of Oman on the south.

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by a king chosen from and by members of the Al-Saud family. The king rules through royal decrees issued in conjunction with the Council of Ministers, and with advice from the Consultative Council. Members of both councils are appointed by the king. Islamic law (sharia) is the basis of the authority of the monarchy and provides the foundation of the country's customs and social practices.

Islam
Over one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe—from the southern Philippines to Nigeria—are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18 percent of Muslims live in the Arab world.

The Five Pillars of Islam
These core beliefs and practices are the framework for Muslim life.

Faith: Muslims believe that there is no God but God and that Muhammad is his messenger.
Prayer: Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca five times a day, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall.
Zakat or alms-giving: Muslims are required to give a portion of their wealth to the needy.
Fasting: During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk in order to subjugate the passions and purify one’s being to come closer to God.
Hajj or Pilgrimage: The annual pilgrimage or hajj to the holy city of Mecca is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it.

Climate
Weather conditions in Saudi Arabia vary almost as much as the terrain, but overall, the climate of the Arabian peninsula is largely characterized by aridity and heat.

Rainfall
The average national rainfall in Saudi Arabia is 2.76 inches annually, but extremes are possible. The Empty Quarter may record no rainfall at all for several consecutive years and snow has been recorded in the north of the Kingdom. The rainy season extends from November through May, with the mountainous ‘Asir region being an exception, where summer monsoon rains result in an annual rainfall of 12 to 14 inches.

Sandstorms
Shamal is the common Arabic term for sandstorms which can reach high velocities and reduce visibility to zero, closing airports and harbors. There are two shamal seasons: the first season extends from late spring to early summer, and the second, from late fall to early winter. The highest velocities generally occur in early afternoon and usually drop in the late evening.

Temperature and humidity
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia experiences disparate extremes of these two measures. In the interior, the air is dry while on the coasts, summer humidity is excessive, particularly at night. In summer, temperatures in some areas may reach 122° F (50° C) in the shade, but in the spring, the days are balmy and the nights are clear. In winter, temperatures drop below freezing in the central and northern regions and snow sometimes falls in the mountains, the northern plateau, and even in the capital, Riyadh.

Finance
Currency: the basic monetary unit is the Saudi Riyal (SR) and is printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. The coins are called halalah and are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 100. One riyal consists of 100 halalah.

Major credit cards are widely accepted in Saudi Arabia.

Dress Guidelines
Visitors are expected to abide by the customs and traditions of the Kingdom. One of the most important customs is dressing modestly. Work attire for men usually consists of casual slacks and sport shirts in pullover and button styles. Work attire for women ranges from business-like (dresses/suits, dress blouses with skirts or slacks) to more casual (cotton blouses with skirts or slacks). In general, however, the emphasis is on conservative casual wear.

Shorts and tight-fitting or transparent articles of clothing are unsuitable. It is not advisable to openly wear religious jewelry outside shirts or on open necks.

Women should take care to appear modestly dressed at all times when in local Saudi Arabian towns. Long, loose-fitting dresses with conservative necklines and fully covered arms are acceptable, as are loose-fitting slacks with long tunics or jackets worn over blouses that cover the hips.

Time
Saudi Arabia is on GMT+3, or Greenwich Mean Time plus three hours.

Photography
Discretion should be used at all times when taking photographs or using a video camcorder. Scenic photography is generally accepted, but taking pictures of individuals, especially of Saudi Arab women, without requesting their permission can lead to problems. Taking pictures of government installations, mosques, company installations, less modern structures and at the airport is prohibited.

Work Schedules
The regular work week is from Saturday to Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are the weekend, with Friday as the traditional Muslim day of rest.

 Travel

Visas
Every foreigner, prior to arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is required to have an entry visa stamped in his/her passport by an embassy or consulate of Saudi Arabia.

Assistance is provided to Consultants and Vendor Representatives traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by AL-SANEA.org, requests must be initiated through their proponent.

Help is provided to complete the proper forms and to guide the person through the visa application process, but applicants must bear in mind that AL-SANEA.org does not issue visas: it can only help people with the process.

• Each visa applicant must fill out a visa application form.
• Each visa application must be accompanied by a passport which must be valid for at least six months from the date of submitting the visa application to the consulate.
• Each visa applicant must provide two passport sized photos (color or black & white). A visa application will not be processed without these photos.
• Consultants and Vendor Business Visas : The consultant or vendor representative's employer should also supply the employee with a letter certifying that the employee is going to Saudi Arabia to perform services for the desired company and that the company will be financially responsible during his/her stay in Saudi Arabia.
• Applications must be submitted to the Saudi Arabian Consulates in worldwide or based on the individual place of residence.