๐ธ๐ฆ
Essential apps for
Saudi Arabia
ุงูุณุนูุฏูุฉ
ArabicSAR6 apps
Riyadh and Jeddah are heavily app-driven. Careem and Uber cover rides, HungerStation and Jahez handle food.
๐
Power & Plug
TypeA / B / F / G
Voltage230V
Freq60Hz
Now standardized at 230V; some older buildings may still have 127V outlets โ check before plugging in.
๐ฌ
Basic phrases
Arabic
- Helloุงูุณูุงู ุนููููas-salamu alaykum
- Thank youุดูุฑุงูshukran
- Excuse me / Sorryุนููุงูafwan
- Yesูุนูna'am
- Noูุงla
+10 more below
๐
Tipping
Tipping, known as 'baksheesh', is appreciated but not obligatory. A 10-15% tip is common in restaurants if no service charge is included, and small tips for hotel staff, drivers, and porters are welcome.
๐Rideshare & Taxi
See all โ๐บ๏ธNavigation & Maps
See all โ๐ฑMessaging
See all โPhrases
All Arabic phrases
Hello
ุงูุณูุงู
ุนูููู
as-salamu alaykum
Thank you
ุดูุฑุงู
shukran
Excuse me / Sorry
ุนููุงู
afwan
Yes
ูุนู
na'am
No
ูุง
la
Please
ู
ู ูุถูู
min fadlak
Goodbye
ู
ุน ุงูุณูุงู
ุฉ
ma'a as-salama
How much?
ุจูู
ูุฐุงุ
bikam hadha?
Where is the bathroom?
ุฃูู ุงูุญู
ุงู
ุ
ayna al-hammam?
The check, please
ุงูุญุณุงุจ ู
ู ูุถูู
al-hisab min fadlak
I don't understand
ูุง ุฃููู
la afham
Do you speak English?
ูู ุชุชููู
ุงูุฅูุฌููุฒูุฉุ
hal tatakallam al-injliziyya?
Help!
ุงููุฌุฏุฉ!
an-najda!
Delicious
ูุฐูุฐ
ladheedh
Cheers
ูู ุตุญุชู
fi sahtak
Briefing
What to know before you go
โ Do
- Dress conservatively; men avoid shorts in public and women should wear loose, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees
- Use your right hand for eating, greeting, and handing over items, as the left is considered unclean
- Accept offers of Arabic coffee (gahwa) and dates when visiting, as hospitality is central to the culture
- Respect prayer times, when many shops and restaurants briefly close five times a day
- Greet with 'As-salamu alaykum' and let elders and hosts lead the interaction
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially women, and avoid photographing government or military sites
โDon't
- Do not bring, consume, or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which carry severe legal penalties
- Do not show public displays of affection or unmarried couples being overly familiar in public
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke in public during daylight hours in Ramadan
- Do not criticize Islam, the royal family, or the government, as this is taken very seriously
โ ๏ธ Common scams to know
- Unlicensed taxi drivers at airports overcharging or refusing meters; use Uber, Careem, or official airport taxis
- Fake Hajj and Umrah tour operators taking payment for pilgrimage packages that do not exist
- Vendors near religious sites inflating prices for water, souvenirs, and trinkets sold to tourists and pilgrims
- Online or street currency exchange offering poor rates or counterfeit notes; use licensed exchanges and banks
Going elsewhere?
More destination guides
๐ฏ๐ตJapan๐จ๐ณChina (mainland)๐ฐ๐ทSouth Korea๐น๐ผTaiwan๐ญ๐ฐHong Kong๐น๐ญThailand๐ป๐ณVietnam๐ธ๐ฌSingapore๐ฎ๐ฉIndonesia๐ต๐ญPhilippines๐ฎ๐ณIndia๐บ๐ธUnited States๐ฌ๐งUnited Kingdom๐ซ๐ทFrance๐ฉ๐ชGermany๐ฎ๐นItaly๐ช๐ธSpain๐ณ๐ฑNetherlands