http://www.ttnworldwide.com/articles.aspx?ID=1024&artID=7551

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer figures indicate that for 2007 the Middle East clocked up 46 million international tourist arrivals, with Saudi Arabia being one of the leading destinations of this growth

So the decision by Saudi Arabia eight years ago to promote its own tourism industry by removing obstacles, providing facilities and incentives to investors, preserving historic sites, and coordinating efforts amongst concerned authorities, was timely. It set up the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) by Royal Decree, giving it the task of building and organising the tourism sector across the Kingdom.


Until very recently, the overriding numbers of tourists within Saudi Arabia were the Saudis themselves, closely followed by pilgrims coming to the birthplace of Islam to perform their religious duties at the two most important Islamic sites on earth – Makkah and Medina al Munawarrat. Foreign tourism was virtually unknown, except for the expatriate workers who came to live in Saudi Arabia. Yet it’s only in the past few years that foreigners have been allowed to travel more than about 50 kms from their workplace without special written permission. Saudi Arabia has for some time been keen to move away from its reliance on oil as its main income earner. So as well as exploiting its natural abundance of minerals, it was felt that by developing tourism, a new channel for national income could be created with the support of private sector investment in various projects and programmes.


The SCT is taking its job seriously, having prepared, sponsored and supported a myriad of tourism events. In the first three months of this year, for example, there is the Jazan Winter Festival, the Hail international motor cross rally, Aviation Club events at Thumamah Airport and spring festivals in Baha and Al-Jouf.


And in a further move aimed at strengthening the tourism sector, the SCT started in the middle of last year to issue group visas through tour operators for foreigners wishing to visit the Kingdom. The visas can be obtained for a maximum period of 60 days, but still special conditions apply, not least that tourists must come in groups of no fewer than five members, whilst the minimum age for women if they are not travelling with close relatives is 30.


At present, there are 18 licensed tour operators bringing foreigners to the country and when the first tourist ship, carrying 121 Germans, visited the Kingdom a few months ago, representatives from the SCT, foreign ministry, passport department, border guards and the Saudi Ports Authority turned out to receive them on their arrival in Jeddah.


Interest has come from all quarters, even from as far away as Australia, where the likes of Intrepid Travel organised 15 day tours right across the country. But as sales manager Caroline Pearce says, numbers have been disappointing. “Not many operators go to Saudi Arabia so we were hoping that there would be more interest from travellers,” she says. “We get a lot of interest in the tour, but not many bookings. But with UAE so close and becoming more and more popular as a stop-over and holiday destination, in addition to the large expat community - we are sure that Saudi Arabia will have more interest in the future.”

I don't think this is a good idea ^^ it will ruin Saudi Arabia's rich heritage because with tourism comes more polution and more people.

^^ :?

I don't think this is a good idea ^^ it will ruin Saudi Arabia's rich heritage because with tourism comes more polution and more people.


:nuts:

Saudi Arabia's rich heritage is already ruined :(:(

Just look at the dirt of Jeddahs corniche, the south corniche used to be awesome, now its just a garbage tip. Why cant they educate people that if your car is big enough to carry things to the beach, then its big enough to carry them back!

As for tourism, forget it! The whole attitude of the country is wrong.

DS

Yeah it is already strengthening it's tourism sector as u can see frm the construction of Mile Tower and other structures

tourists won't come to Saudi, I mean the country is too strict with everything so why would one waste his time over there? Its scary to go to Saudi, I mean one wrong move and you're dead!

^^
May I ask how did you come to this conclusion? :?

tourists won't come to Saudi, I mean the country is too strict with everything so why would one waste his time over there? Its scary to go to Saudi, I mean

what a pessimistic point of view!dear ZIG most of people here don't have a problem with westerners visitors,furthermore Saudis have a good impression of the westerners cus what they have seen of the great behaviors at least in the front of public.

what you are talking about is the 0,01% washed brain religious (aka terrorists) that the government and citizens trying to defeat them.

last thing you have said "one wrong move and you're dead!" can you give me one example of the "wrong move"?

what a pessimistic point of view!dear ZIG most of people here don't have a problem with westerners visitors,furthermore Saudis have a good impression of the westerners cus what they have seen of the great behaviors at least in the front of public.

what you are talking about is the 0,01% washed brain religious (aka terrorists) that the government and citizens trying to defeat them.

last thing you have said "one wrong move and you're dead!" can you give me one example of the "wrong move"?

yeah,absolutely u r wright:)

tourists won't come to Saudi, I mean the country is too strict with everything so why would one waste his time over there? Its scary to go to Saudi, I mean one wrong move and you're dead!

i think u will understand the strictness u r talking about whn u gotta visit OBHUR,DURRAT AL ARUS in jeddah.:lol::lol:

^well one example... I heard that an unmarried woman is not allowed to walk together with a man??? Cmon, that's so backwards. I've heard other things as well but won't mention in anymore.

And Saudis like Westerners? Yeah you can say that, but how about Asians? Other races aside from "Westerners"?...anyway.

Why doesn't Saudi Arabia issue tourist visas? It would be nice if they started doing that in the next few months. I am willing to provide the Saudi Arabian economy money in order to enjoy a week or two inside their wonderful country.

How does a non-religious tourist go about visiting?

tourists won't come to Saudi, I mean the country is too strict with everything so why would one waste his time over there? Its scary to go to Saudi, I mean one wrong move and you're dead!


I would go but you're right about that "one wrong move." I don't want to get killed for something I'm so used to doing here at home. I want to go because I think it will be an adventure and there will be a lot of beautiful sights to see.

Saudis order 40 lashes for elderly woman for mingling

By Mohammed Jamjoom and Saad Abedine
CNN

CNN -- A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the kingdom for having two unrelated men in her house, according to local media reports.

According to the Saudi daily newspaper Al-Watan, troubles for the woman, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, began last year when a member of the religious police entered her house in the city of Al-Chamli and found her with two unrelated men, "Fahd" and "Hadian."

Fahd told the policeman that he had the right to be there, because Sawadi had breast-fed him as a baby and was therefore considered to be a son to her in Islam, according to Al-Watan. Fahd, 24, added that his friend Hadian was escorting him as he delivered bread for the elderly woman. The policeman then arrested both men.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam called Wahhabism and punishes unrelated men and women who are caught mingling.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, feared by many Saudis, is made up of several thousand religious policemen charged with duties such as enforcing dress codes, prayer times and segregation of the sexes. Under Saudi law, women face many restrictions, including a strict dress code and a ban on driving. Women also need to have a man's permission to travel.

Don't Miss
Men arrested for seeking female's autograph
Woman arrested in Saudi Arabia for driving
CNN Arabic
Al Watan obtained the court's verdict and reported that it was partly based on the testimony of the religious police. In his ruling, the judge said it had been proved that Fahd is not the Sawadi's son through breastfeeding.

The court also doled out punishment to the two men. Fahd was sentenced to four months in prison and 40 lashes; Hadian was sentenced to six months in prison and 60 lashes. In a phone call with Al Watan, the judge declined to comment and suggested the newspaper review the case with the Ministry of Justice.

Sawadi told the newspaper that she will appeal, adding that Fahd is indeed her son through breastfeeding.

The case has sparked anger in Saudi Arabia.

"It's made everybody angry because this is like a grandmother," Saudi women's rights activist Wajeha Al-Huwaider told CNN. "Forty lashes -- how can she handle that pain? You cannot justify it."

This is not the first Saudi court case to cause controversy.

In 2007, a 19-year-old gang-rape victim in the Saudi city of Qatif was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for meeting with an unrelated male. The seven rapists, who had abducted the woman and man, received sentences ranging from 10 months to five years in prison. The case sparked international outrage and Saudi King Abdullah subsequently pardoned the "Qatif Girl" and the unrelated male.

Many Saudis are hopeful that the Ministry of Justice will be reformed. Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz announced in February a major Cabinet reshuffling in which many hard-line conservatives, including the head of the commission, were dismissed and replaced with younger, more moderate members.

The new appointments represented the largest shakeup since King Abdullah took power in 2005 and were welcomed in Saudi Arabia as progressive moves on the part of the king, whom many see as a reformer. Among ministers who've been replaced is the minister of justice.

The actions of the religious police have come under increased scrutiny in Saudi Arabia recently, as more and more Saudis urge that the commission's powers be limited. Last week, the religious police detained two male novelists for questioning after they tried to get the autograph of a female writer, Halima Muzfar, at a book fair in Riyadh, the capital of the kingdom.

"This is the problem with the religious police," added Al-Huwaider, "watching people and thinking they're bad all the time. It has nothing to do with religion. It's all about control. And the more you spread fear among people, the more you control them. It's giving a bad reputation to the country."

^^So, will Saudis cry out "Islamophobia!" again when the sane world reports such news?

Some people these days say Islam is the product of a misogynist and pedophile warchief (Muhammad), I guess they must be right given how his faithful followers treat a person who could be every one of our grandmothers.

yeah we are badass/backward people. dont come to our country! we don't want you and we don't want your money. specially the guy zig (which means in Arabic "shit")

^^
Actually, it's spelled and pronounced "ZAG" and not "ZIG". Zig, in this pronunciation has a different meaning which I don't know but will look into.

wyqotr, are you talking about the same "sane" world that initiated a war against a whole country for acquiring a "Non-Existing" biological weapons? The same "sane" world that supported that war with the absence of proof? The same "sane" world that generated genocides just for the conflict of religions? The same "sane" world that celebrates the death of a Saint for that he loved before dying instead of the God and religion he died for (in case you didn't figure it out, it's Valentine's)? The same "sane" world that marks a whole religion as terrorism just because radicals of its followers are/were? The same "sane" world that stereotypes ethnicities and discriminates them accordingly?

I'm not saying we, Saudis and/or Muslims are a bunch of saints. We have our own dumbf***s, too! Don't get me wrong! We have dumba**es who believe that if they kill innocent people dying in the process, they will be immortalized in Heaven.

BUT, Islam is a religion and you should respect that. And so you should respect its followers. Not because they're right or wrong but because they're people and people, according to last time I checked, have the freedom to follow whichever religion they believe is correct. Just because we, Saudis, follow our religion throughout our daily conducts doesn't make us "backwards". It just proves our devotion towards our own religion.

One more thing, would you really judge a person just because of his followers' deviated actions? If so, then I'm sorry to say this but you're as dumb as those twisted stupid followers.

P.S. This is JUST and ONLY and SOLELY my opinion and statement. It DOES NOT, necessarily, portrays any other Saudi's or Muslim's beliefs. Got any objections? Debate ME AND ONLY ME!

p.s. (2) SG, please feel free to delete these posts if you find them, even remotely, offensive, wrong and/or misplaced! After all, you ARE our dear ol' Mod! :D

Nicely put pharoah.
Sure its an outrage, but we've seen worse and just because this particular incident happened in KSA everyone is giving the story more than its worth.
More old ladies have been innocently killed in Palestine yet no one bothers to report about them.
We live in an era controlled by biased media.

Although, it really saddens me to read about this. Just when you think the kingdom has made some progress, something like this happens and ruins it all.

Thank you zig for your participation in the saudi forum, but to be honest it just shows how close minded you really are for posting these stories in a joyful thread like this one (or used to be:P)

So how in the hell do you meet a woman in Saudi Arabia? I wish I could spend a few months with the fine ladies of the Saudi Arabian Royal harem. The princes and king are having sex with the most beautiful women in Saudi Arabia in their palaces.

I would come and visit. Even with my girlfriend. We would learn the rules and we would follow them. Even it it means that i have to take an own hotel room. What`s the big deal? Has the world run out of respect and understanding?

If i see a sign in Asia with "no pic"s, i respect that ( but that`s the most difficult rule to follow for me :D)

Let`s see how the tourist thing developes in Saudi Arabia.

@FM: The princes are probably having sex with their own wives. What's so wrong with that? And the king is probably a bit too old for that sort of activity... They're normal people that belong to a certain family. If you think just because they're from the royal family, it gives them the right to pick any Saudi Arabian women they want and make them their own, then you are greatly mistaken. Tons of ladies have rejected royal suitors, because they simply didn't want that particular guy.

If you want to meet Saudi Arabian girls then hit durrat alarus or any other corniche resorts... It is possible even in saudi arabia. You make it sound like its a totally different planet >.>

@Zig: Im sorry to say this, but you're just down right dumb... I just noticed that you asked how saudi arabians treat asians. I mean that's probably the dumbest question on earth for 2 very obvious reasons.
1) Saudi Arabia IS an asian country and believe it or not we do have saudi arabian citizens with slanted eyes (which Im guessing is your definition of "asian").
2) Saudi Arabia has hundreds of thousands of asian residents. If they do treat them as bad as you think, don't you think that number would have decreased just a bit?

There's stupid and then there's just go-kill-yourself-before-you-make-a-bigger-idiot-out-of-yourself. Yea, that's directed at you zig...


This thread is about developing Saudi tourism not about proving how big of an asshole you can be... I know some of you don't like saudi arabia. There's a simple fix... Just stay away. As for those of you who actually have half a brain, you're welcome to my home anytime ^_^

Saudi Arabia IS an asian country and believe it or not we do have saudi arabian citizens with slanted eyes (which Im guessing is your definition of "asian").

I guess I'm the proof of this particular reason, being an Indonesian descendant.

As for FM, I don't know what exactly are your concepts about the Royal Family but you need rectification, my friend. The Royal Family ARE as a matter of fact, humans, which means that all (and I mean ALL) Islamic rules and boundaries are applied even for them for that, in Islam, all people are equal. They can marry women, have sex with them and nobody can even grin about it. As for meeting women, you can still do that. I know plenty of women, Saudi women. Not sexually but I'm friends with them and we go out A LOT. One can tell when we're hanging out that we're definitely not related. But, the religious police don't take a single step towards us because we're not doing anything indecent. It's just how you act and react.

Tom_Green: You and any tourist of the same agenda as yours are MOST welcome. I'm even willing to invite you to my home. People like you are the ones who make the definition of Tourism even better. But I have to warn you, though! We have some areas where photography is prohibited. Some are even shoot-photographers-at-will kind of areas. Just a heads-up! Otherwise, it's Saudi Arabia's pleasure to welcome you to the country!

@Kotton....yeah, Abdullah is probably too old for that stuff, then again look at Hefner but I'm just being silly here. It was interesting to see how many wives these princes, current king and former kings have had. Very nice. :)


@The Pharaoh: For some reason the perception of Saudi Arabian customs and laws make it seem as it is forbidden to have any interaction between a man and a woman unless they're married or related. It looks like that is not the case and that is good to know. My main purpose for visiting Saudi Arabia would not be for meeting women though since I can do there here locally. :)


With that said it seems hard to find good information on Saudi Arabia. I would like to go, try the food, try Saudi Arabian airlines domestic, meet people and enjoy what Saudi Arabia has to offer. When you read the news over here in the U.S. about Saudi Arabia or read the consular information it makes it look like one false move that would be considered OK over here would mean death or lashes over in Saudi Arabia.

If I could actually get a visa that would allow me to travel freely (except for Mecca) that would be great. I have no hate for Saudi Arabia. I have a feeling it will be a great country to explore. Thinking about the food over there makes me drool.

Are there any books that could be recommended reading for visiting Saudi Arabia?

You can check out the Saudi embassy in your country. They'll have all the information you'll need.

Also, they do offer tourist visas to Saudi Arabia. They cost around $150 for 90 days. Well, that's how much they cost when I looked them up. I'm sure any local travel agent will help you more than I can.
Saudi Arabia is also tax free and a lot cheaper than the states, so you don't really have to worry about saving up THAT much money.

I really hate what the media is doing in the US though. Believe me, Saudi Arabia will be a really fun and exciting adventure =)

You can check out the Saudi embassy in your country. They'll have all the information you'll need.

Also, they do offer tourist visas to Saudi Arabia. They cost around $150 for 90 days. Well, that's how much they cost when I looked them up. I'm sure any local travel agent will help you more than I can.
Saudi Arabia is also tax free and a lot cheaper than the states, so you don't really have to worry about saving up THAT much money.

I really hate what the media is doing in the US though. Believe me, Saudi Arabia will be a really fun and exciting adventure =)

Do you have a link to information on a Saudi Arabian tourist visa? I've been to their embassy website and did not see information for one. I've also digged through Google without much luck either. So maybe I'm bad at looking for information or it's just hard to find. $150 for 90 days doesn't sound bad at all.

Speaking of the U.S. media I was talking to my best friend who is Pakistani and I was telling him about the research I was doing on Saudi Arabia. I told him that the more research I do on Saudi Arabia I realize how much Saudi Arabia is a true friend to the U.S. Most of the people here think Saudi Arabia is an enemy full of terrorists ready to attack the U.S. Not true at all.

As for the Saudi Arabian embassy http://www.saudiembassy.net/ ,I requested some information to be mailed to me from their website so I hope to get it soon. Can't wait to see what they send. :cheers:

A few months ago my cousins (Americans) wanted to come and visit so I sent them the tourist visa link, but I can't find it now. This is so weird....

EDIT: You can go to http://www.scta.gov.sa/sites/English/Pages/default.aspx

They have a tourism visa service on the site =)

"This is the problem with the religious police," added Al-Huwaider, "watching people and thinking they're bad all the time. It has nothing to do with religion. It's all about control. And the more you spread fear among people, the more you control them. It's giving a bad reputation to the country." to the country.. And the religion..

Okay, I know that CNN, Fox, and all of those SHIT channels are culturally insensitive and usually love to exaggerate.. But don't you guys think that the Hay2e are just taking this TOO far????
Plus, this is RARELY true Islam. True Islam NEVER says spy on someone's house and raid on it.. Especially if that person is 75-years-old!!!!!
I'm Saudi too (إلى النخاع) :D and very proud and I would defend Saudi Arabia whenever I find the chance to, I also agree with a lot of what you guys have said, though not all.
But I'm f***in' tired of their bad news [Hay2a news] distributed everywhere locally and internationally

A few months ago my cousins (Americans) wanted to come and visit so I sent them the tourist visa link, but I can't find it now. This is so weird....

EDIT: You can go to http://www.scta.gov.sa/sites/English/Pages/default.aspx

They have a tourism visa service on the site =)

Thank you Kotton. I still can't find anything on obtaining a visa but I've only been looking through the site briefly since I'm at work.

I'm so glad you posted this. :cheers:


edit: I found it http://scta.gov.sa/sites/english/licensing/Pages/Tourist_Visa.aspx

edit 2: All the information is in Arabic.....:( :( :(


1. أن تقتصر رعاية إصدار أذونات التأشيرات السياحية على الجهات المرخص لها من قبل الهيئة العليا للسياحة للقيام بنشاط خدمة واستقبال ونقل السائحين القادمين من خارج المملكة والإشراف على إقامتهم ومغادرتهم، على أن يتم قدوم السائحين ضمن مجموعات بحيث لا تقل كل مجموعة عن أربعة أشخاص.
2. أن يكون منح تأشيرات الدخول لأغراض السياحة على جوازات سفر قانونية تخول حاملها الرجوع إلى بلاده والانتقال بموجبها إلى بلدان أخرى وأن تحدد الإقامة بموجب التأشيرات لمدة لا تزيد عن ستين يوماً.
3. أن يكون قدوم وإقامة السائحين بالمملكة وفق عقود مبرمة بين وكيل السفر الخارجي والجهة المرخص لها من الهيئة العليا للسياحة، مشتملة على برامج سياحة هادفة مبنية على قواعد إعلامية وإجرائية في بلد القدوم، على أن يتضمن العقد أن تكون المسئولية بينهما بالتضامن.
4. أن تلزم الجهات المرخص لها بتأمين مرشدين سياحيين مرخصين من الهيئة العليا للسياحة في المملكة.
5. يخضع إصدار التأشيرات السياحية للضوابط الأمنية المعمول بها في التأشيرات الأخرى.
6. أن لا يقل عمر المرأة المطلوب منحها التأشيرة السياحية عن ثلاثين عاماً وما دون ذلك يكون قدومها مع محرم.
7. قوائم التأشير لهم للزيارة بغرض السياحة تطبق على الدول التالية ( الأوربية-الأمريكيتين- اليابان – الصين الشعبية – الصين الوطنية – سنغافورة – ماليزيا – بروناي – استراليا – كوريا الجنوبية – جنوب أفريقيا)، على أن يتم بعث البيانات مستوفية (اسم الشخص المطلوب بالأحرف اللاتينية – الجنسية – العمر – المهنة).
8. يتم التنسيق المباشر بين الهيئة العليا للسياحة والجهات ذات العلاقة لتبادل المعلومات بخصوص المطلوب التأشير لهم لغرض السياحة.
9. أن يتم إدخال كافة المعلومات عن القادمين بتأشيرات سياحية بالحاسب الآلي التابع لوزارة الداخلية (مركز المعلومات الوطني) بالتنسيق مع الهيئة العليا للسياحة.
10. أن تعامل طلبات السائحين من الدول المشار إليها أعلاه المتواجدين في غير بلدانهم، وفق ما يعامل به غيرهم، بان يكون قدومهم ضمن مجموعات، وان تتولى تقديم التأشيرات لهم جهات مختصة مرخص لها من الهيئة العليا للسياحة، على أن يتم تقديم التأشيرات لهم عبر الهيئة العليا للسياحة.
11. أهمية عدم ربط الحج والعمرة بالسياحة من حيث التسويق للسياحة الوطنية والبرامج المرتبطة بها، على أن يتم التنسيق بين نشاطي العمرة والسياحة للقادمين من خارج المملكة بشكل تكاملي من خلال آلية وضوابط متفق عليها بين كل من شركة العمرة ومنظم الرحلات السياحية.
12. ألا تشتمل البرامج السياحية والزيارات المناطق المحظورة على غير المسلمين ( مكة المكرمة - المدينة المنورة).
13. على القادمين لأغراض السياحة كغيرهم من الوافدين التقيد بالقواعد المقررة بنظام الإقامة والتعليمات المكملة له وخاصة التخلف عن المغادرة وكذلك من يقدم المساعدة أو الإيواء والنقل للمخالف إضافة إلي ممارسة العمل لذاته أو غيره وان يتم تطبيق العقوبات المقررة على المخالفين بموجب نظام الإقامة.

:(

Your welcome FM.
I'm glad you found what you're looking for =)

^^

haha....well I almost got the information. I think I need to learn Arabic now. :)

lol, I don't have much time so I'll sum it up for you.

Basically, all it says is you have to have a valid passport and you have to register through a certified travel agency. It also states that the agency must provide tourist guides to show you around.
The interesting thing is you must come with a group. Im guessing the travel agency will assign you to a group. It'll be a good chance to meet other people with the same interest of visiting saudi arabia ^_^

I'm sorry I didn't translate the whole thing, but everything else really doesn't matter that much. ^_^

^^

Thanks Kotton. I tour guide will be a big help but traveling on my own would be nice too.

No problemo ;)

And you could always break free from the group if you really wanted too i guess.

To FM 2258 and all non-Arabic speakers in this thread ( Like Me :)), this is the translation I got from Google Translate. I know it's not a perfect translation from Arabic to English but I hope native Arabic speakers in this thread can translate it more clearly.

1. To care for the issuance of permits for limited tourist visas to those licensed by the Supreme Commission for Tourism for active service and the reception and the transfer of tourists from outside the Kingdom and to supervise the residence and departure, to be the arrival of tourists in groups of not less so each group of four persons.
2nd That the granting of entry visas for tourism passport gives the bearer the legal reference to his country and move to other countries in which to determine the residence under the visa for a period not exceeding sixty days.
3rd Be the arrival of tourists and the establishment of the Kingdom in accordance with contracts concluded between the travel agent and the outside of the licensee of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, including the tourism programs based on targeted information and procedural rules in the country to come, that the contract includes the responsibility to be their solidarity.
4th Require the licensees to ensure the tour guides licensed by the Supreme Commission for Tourism in the Kingdom.
5th Under the issuance of tourist visas for the security controls in place in other visas.
6th Must be at least age of women to be granted tourist visa for thirty years and below is coming with a mahram.
7th Mark lists them for the visit for tourism and applied to the following States (the European - American - Japan - China - China National - Singapore - Malaysia - Brunei - Australia - Korea South - South Africa), to be sent to meet the data (the name of the person required romanization - Nationality - Age - Occupation).
8th Is direct coordination between the Supreme Commission for Tourism and its related entities for the exchange of information about them to be marked for the purpose of tourism.
9th That all information is entered on tourist visas for the next computer in the Ministry of the Interior (National Information Center) in coordination with the Supreme Commission for Tourism.
10th To treat applications for the tourists from the States referred to above present in other than their own, as treated by others, that have come in groups, and providing them with visas competent licensed by the Supreme Commission for Tourism, to be the provision of visas to them through the Supreme Commission for Tourism .
11th The importance of not linking the Hajj and Umrah in terms of tourism marketing and tourism programs associated with it, that is coordination between my pilgrimage and tourism from outside the UK is through an integrated mechanism agreed upon between the company and organizer of Umrah tours.
12th Tourism programs do not include restricted areas and visits to non-Muslims (Makkah - Madinah).
13th To the next for tourism arrivals like adherence to the rules established a system of residence and supplementary instructions, especially the failure to leave as well as provide assistance or accommodation, transport to the contrary in addition to the practice of working for the same or other application must be penalties for offenders under the system of residence

^^

Thanks for the translation.

It's sad to see that I won't be able to visit Saudi Arabia the way I want to. Fly into Jeddah, rent a car and drive around unsupervised. Fly to Riyadh via Saudi Arabian Airlines...unsupervised. Rent a car in Riyadh and drive to Dammam and explore....again unsupervised. Drive back, explore Riyadh, shop eat and all that other good stuff....unsupervised. Lastly end my trip by flying out of Riyadh back to Austin....which will definitely be unsupervised and I don't have to be with four other people.

I never realized it would be so hard to visit Saudi Arabia as a free roaming non-Muslim tourist.

It just takes a group to apply for a visa. I don't see a problem if you asked to break free...
It's no different than making a run to the supermarket alone.

It just takes a group to apply for a visa. I don't see a problem if you asked to break free...
It's no different than making a run to the supermarket alone.

I see. I'll start doing my research on tour groups. I shouldn't give up on Saudi Arabia yet.

You SHOULD NOT give up. If there's a will, there's a way...