Visa to Saudi Arabia in 2021 for Russians, is it necessary?

Visa-free entry and its conditions

There are various types of entry documents for Russians, but tourist visas in the classical sense are not available to single travelers. To visit the country for tourism purposes, group visas are issued through travel agencies accredited by Saudi Arabia.

A visa to Saudi Arabia for Russian citizens is a mandatory condition for visiting the country , but there is a case when it is not needed. This is a short-term transit (less than 18 hours). The border guard is presented with a foreign passport (valid for at least six months from the moment of crossing the border with Saudi Arabia), tickets and a visa (if necessary) for the country of destination.

Important ! If the waiting time for a connecting flight is more than six hours, then foreign citizens are allowed to leave the airport. In this case, the citizen’s passport remains with the immigration control service, and in return a receipt is issued (guarantee of the citizen’s return).

Required documents

Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia at the border control, you should have the following documents with you:

• international passport;
• visa;
• reservation/payment of accommodation;
• return ticket;
• proof of solvency (cash, bank cards).

Conditions for crossing the state border

Despite the fact that the official website of the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Moscow states that the reasons for the refusal are not disclosed or communicated to applicants, there are a number of factors influencing a negative decision in issuing visas and permission to cross the state border:

1. Women traveling unaccompanied by a husband, brother or father.
2. Israeli nationals and citizens who have notes in their foreign passports about visiting Israel (previous entry documents are also checked).
3. Citizens who violated the laws of the Islamic kingdom.
4. Citizens with non-standard appearance (piercings, tattoos, informal hairstyles).
5. Lack of indication of religion in the corresponding column in the application form. According to the laws of a theocratic state, citizens are required to indicate their affiliation with a particular religion. The label “Christianity” will not serve as a reason for refusal.

Customs regulations

The import and export of foreign currency in Saudi Arabia is not limited. Amounts over $16,000 and their equivalents in other currencies are subject to mandatory declaration. The import and export of national currency, as well as Israeli shekels, is strictly prohibited.

The following are allowed duty-free import into Saudi Arabia:

• cigarettes (up to 600 pieces), cigars (up to 100 pieces), tobacco (up to 500 g);
• perfume 50 ml perfume, 250 ml eau de toilette;
• jewelry for personal use;
• equipment and electronics for personal use (cameras, phones are subject to detailed inspection, a refundable deposit is charged).

Import is strictly prohibited:

• alcohol;
• firearms and bladed weapons;
• ammunition;
• narcotic and narcotic substances;
• medications (without a doctor's prescription);
• pornographic materials;
• books of religious content (except the Koran);
• books in Hebrew/labeled Israel;
• perishable food products (milk, meat, fruits, vegetables, etc.);
• all types of palm trees and their fruits;
• baby food;
• sparkling water;
• wild and domestic animals and birds (except for hunting dogs and guide dogs, for which an international vaccination certificate certified by the Saudi Arabian consulate is issued).

The following items are allowed to be exported from Saudi Arabia:

• foreign currency (over $16,000 - declaration);
• antique items (if there is a purchase receipt).

Types of permission

Russian citizens have the opportunity to obtain the following types of permits:

1. Transit.
2. Working.
3. Commercial.
4. Tourist.
5. Family.
6. Educational.
7. Right of entry for children.

Visa sample

Right to transit

The right to transit is required for citizens who will stay in Saudi Arabia for 1-3 days. It is usually received by travelers heading to the UAE.

In addition to the standard set of papers, applicants provide:

1. Visa to the country of destination.
2. All tickets according to the travel route.
3. Papers for the car (in case of traveling by personal transport).

Work permit

To obtain this type of visa, contact the KSA employment office or department that has the necessary powers.

In addition to the standard list of certificates, the following must be attached to the application:

Example of a certificate of no criminal record

1. Invitation and its copy.
2. An employment contract that was certified by the Saudi Arabian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
3. Original diploma. The diploma is translated into English or Arabic and certified by the KSA embassy of the country that issued the diploma. The profession indicated in the invitation must match that indicated in the diploma.
4. A certificate stating that the applicant has no criminal record. It is translated into Arabic and certified by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
5. A medical certificate, translated into Arabic and signed by the head physician of the medical institution, which states that the applicant does not suffer from meningitis, tick-borne encephalitis, hepatitis A, B, C, or is not infected with HIV infection.

Commercial permit

Sample of a border stamp in a passport

In the case of an application for this type of visa, the following is added to the main documents:

1. Invitation and its copy. The validity period of the document should not be more than 1 month from the date of issue.
2. A photocopy of the registration card of the company that issued the invitation.
3. Original paper from the place of work, which is written in English and certified by a seal. Certificates are certified by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

For tourists

Tourists are issued a visa only as part of a group. Before submitting an application, you must contact KSA travel agencies and agree on the provision of a tour, accommodation and guide.

It is very difficult to obtain such a visa. The Embassy has the right to refuse entry to any applicant from the group.

At the moment, the issuance of tourist visas is suspended.

For families

To obtain a family visa, you must, in addition to standard papers, present:

1. Invitation, copy of invitation.
2. A copy of the main page of the passport of the person who issued the invitation.
3. A paper that confirms the relationship between the applicant and the inviter.

Study permit

When applying for the right to enter, students prepare additional papers:

An example of translating a birth certificate into English

1. Invitation and its copy.
2. A letter from the university stating that the applicant is enrolled to study at a university in the KSA.
3. Original certificate and its attachment. These papers are translated into Arabic and legalized at the Saudi Arabian embassy.
4. A birth certificate that is translated into English or Arabic and legalized by the KSA embassy of the country that issued it.
5. A certificate stating that the applicant has not been convicted.
6. A medical certificate translated into Arabic, which confirms that the applicant is free from HIV infection, hepatitis A, B, C, meningitis, and tick-borne encephalitis. The head signs the paper. a doctor at a medical institution and certified by a notary.

For children

There is no need to collect special certificates for children. A birth certificate and permission to travel abroad are added to the main list if the child is traveling without parents. If he is accompanied by one of his parents, permission is required only if there is an express ban on leaving the country.

Types of visas

According to Saudi Arabia visa regulations, the following categories of permits are issued:

1. Transit. Issued for travel to third countries with transfers at Saudi Arabian airports. The visa is valid for 20 days. The stay period is three days.
2. Family/guest. Issued to citizens who have blood relatives who live in Saudi Arabia and can provide documentary evidence of relationship (birth/marriage certificate).
3. Educational. Issued to citizens enrolled in educational institutions of the country.
4. Commercial. Issued to citizens traveling to Saudi Arabia on business trips, business meetings or to conduct business.
5. To visit organizations in Saudi Arabia for business purposes, negotiations or cooperation.
6. Working. Issued on the basis of a work permit and employment contract, as well as documents confirming education and professional specialization, a medical certificate and (if necessary) a driver’s license.
7. For religious pilgrims. Issued to perform the “Holy Hajj”, organized by special religious associations to visit Muslim shrines located in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia visa sample

Procedure and features of visa processing

How much a visa to Saudi Arabia costs depends on the methods of obtaining a visa permit. There are two of them:

• through the Visa Application Center (additional fee of $65);
• through a travel agency that accompanies and advises you at every step of the registration process, takes a percentage for its activities depending on the complexity of the situation.

The cost of a visa to Saudi Arabia depends on the type of document being opened:

• transit visa - $56;
• single-entry commercial visa - $180, multiple-entry - $300;
• for visiting organizations - $55 (single), $140 (multiple);
• family/visitor visa - $180;
• work visa - $15;
• study visa - free.

Reference . The average processing time for applications is five working days, but embassy employees have the right to request additional documents. In this case, the period will increase.

Additional documents for different types of visas

student visa

To obtain this type of permit, the candidate must have a certificate from a Saudi university confirming the fact of his enrollment. The passport must be valid for one year from the date of filling out the application. Additionally required:

• certificate of secondary education;
• birth certificate or passport;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• a certificate from a medical institution confirming the absence of diseases such as HIV, hepatitis A, B and C, meningitis, encephalitis, etc.

All documents must be translated into Arabic and certified by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Work Visa

To obtain a work visa, you need the following documents:

• an employment contract indicating the position, date of official employment, salary, type of activity of the inviting organization. The TD must be certified by the Saudi Arabian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• a copy of the education diploma corresponding to the position held;
• medical certificate;
• certificate of no criminal record.

Commercial visa

This visa requires a letter of invitation from an organization registered in Saudi Arabia and a certificate from the place of current work.

Transit visa

If the time between flights is less than 18 hours, a visa is not required to visit Saudi Arabia. If the time spent in the country is less than 6 hours, the passenger cannot leave the airport. When this period is more than 6 hours, the transit zone can be left provided that the identification document remains with the airport staff and a receipt is issued instead. Upon returning to the transit zone, this receipt must be exchanged for a passport.

A transit visa is issued if your stay in the country is more than 24 hours.

Pilgrimage visa

For believers who want to perform the holy Hajj or Umrah, travel agencies issue a special group visa for pilgrims. Agencies recognized by the KSA have the right to issue such a visa - our agency UMMA TOUR is one of them. This visa is the easiest to obtain.

Family visa

To obtain a guest visa, you must provide the following documents from the host party:

• identification document;
• registration with the CA;
• documents confirming kinship.

Child visa

To enter SA, a child also needs a visa. To do this, submit to the embassy:

• a child’s international passport (children under 14 years of age can be included in the parent’s passport if it was issued before March 1, 2010), which contains two blank pages for stamps. The passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of application;
• copies of a Russian identity document (passport or birth certificate);
• questionnaire;
• 2 photos;
• receipt of payment of the consular fee;
• parental permission if the child is traveling with a third party.

Applying for an e-tourist visa

You can apply for an electronic tourist visa yourself on the website https://visa.visitsaudi.com. To do this, you need to go to the “Apply For eVisa” section and fill out the form. You can fill out the application at any time of the day and, thanks to the “save” option, return to filling it out at a convenient time.

Electronic visa is issued for 1 year. It gives the right to enter the country several times. You can stay in SA for no more than 180 days per year, and one trip should last no more than 90 days.

The validity of a foreign passport must be at least six months.

The form must be filled out in English and include the following information:

• FULL NAME;
• Date and place of birth;
• registration address;
• Family status;
• floor;
• nationality;
• profession;
• photograph (up to 1 kb, 200x200 px);
• location address in Saudi Arabia;
• purpose of visit to the country;
• air tickets;
• foreign passport information.

Next, you need to take out medical insurance by choosing one of the proposed insurers. The cost of a medical policy is the same regardless of the insurance company, but it is customary to choose Arabian Shield. A visa will not be issued without an insurance policy.

After this, you must accept the conditions of stay in the country. When agreeing, special attention should be paid to the following points:

• comply with the rules and ethical standards of the country;
• use a tourist visa only for tourism purposes;
• Do not take alcohol, drugs and certain types of medicines with you.

A permit will be sent to the specified email address, which must be printed. Based on this visa, a stamp is placed in your passport upon arrival at the airport.

Visa for a child

In case of traveling with children, the following additional documents are provided to the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Russia:

• child's foreign passport;
• questionnaire;
• photo;
• birth certificate/internal passport of the child;
• permission of both parents if the child travels accompanied by third parties;
• consent of the parent for the child to travel abroad if the trip is made with one of the parents, and the other is prohibited from leaving the country of residence;
• receipt of payment of the consular fee.

Important ! Children under 14 years of age can be included in a parent's passport, but will only be allowed to cross the Saudi Arabian border if the adult's passport was issued after 2010. In other cases, the child must have his own travel document.

Cost of visa application

A consular fee is charged for obtaining a visa to Saudi Arabia, which also includes a fee for medical insurance. The Arab state has also introduced a tax for leaving the country. It is payable at the airport in the amount of 200 Saudi reals or 53 dollars.

The fee depends on the type of visa. In 2021, the fee for opening an electronic tourist visa costs $177. To obtain a commercial visa, which gives the right to enter the country once, you will have to pay 180 dollars, multiple times - 300. A visa for a single visit to an Arabian enterprise will cost 55 dollars, for a multiple visit - 140. The amount of a family permit is 180 US dollars.

For opening a work visa and for permanent residence, $15 is charged each. Applying for a study visa is free.

Required documents

To obtain a visa to Saudi Arabia, Russian citizens are provided with a single package of documents, which includes:

• a foreign passport valid for at least six months from the date of crossing the border with Saudi Arabia;
• copies of all marked pages of the internal passport;
• visa application form (download sample);
• two photos;
• receipt of payment of the consular fee;
• Documentary confirmation of reservation/payment for accommodation and air tickets in both directions.

Visas to Saudi Arabia and conditions for their registration

To enter the kingdom you need to obtain the following types of visas:

• pilgrimage;
• tourist;
• transit;
• educational;
• working;
• commercial;
• guest (if it is confirmed that there are relatives in the country).

To obtain a visa to Saudi Arabia you need to go through several stages:

Collection of documents

A standard package of documents should be provided to the KSA diplomatic mission:

• original passport and a copy of all its completed pages;
• application;
• two photographs 40 x 60 mm;
• letter from the inviting party.

Filing an application

Documents are submitted to the KSA Embassy in Russia at the address: 119121, Moscow, per. 3rd Neopalimovsky, no. 3.

Interviewing

At the interview stage, diplomatic mission staff ask various questions about the purpose of the trip. You need to be prepared for the fact that the embassy may reject your application without giving a reason. The specialist may also request additional documents, the composition of which depends on the type of permission requested.

Photo requirements

The Saudi Arabia visa photo has some differences from the standard Schengen requirements:

1. Frontal photo.
2. Size – 40 by 60 mm.
3. Color image.
4. Photo taken no later than six months from the date of application.
5. 70% of the frame is taken up by the face.
6. High photo quality (no red-eye, grain or blur).
7. Plain white background.
8. No hats, glasses or other massive accessories. It is allowed to be photographed wearing a headdress only for religious reasons.
9. Neutral facial expression.

Types of visas

There are the following types of visa to Saudi Arabia:

1. State.
2. A commercial.
3. To visit local organizations.
4. Family.
5. Educational.
6. Working.
7. For accommodation. Issued to visitors: Those accompanying on a trip foreign citizens who come to the kingdom to study or work.
8. Those who have close family relationships with these foreigners.

This is what a visa permit for tourists looks like

Visa application form

To be filled out in English, Arabic or Russian. All items of the questionnaire must be filled out without omissions, corrections or erasures in printed and legible letters.

The questionnaire consists of the following sections:

1. Personal data (full name, gender, citizenship, nationality, date and place of birth, religion).
2. Information about the travel document (type, number, date of issue and validity period of the foreign passport).
3. Education and position.
4. Information about the accompanying person.
5. Visa information (purpose of travel and number of entries).
6. Applicant's contact information (telephone number, email address, residential address).
7. List of persons included in a foreign passport.
8. Details of the trip (route, date of entry and exit from the kingdom, type of transport, information about previous trips to the country).
9. Signature.
10. Date of completion (actual day of submission of documents to the consulate).

Saudi Arabia

Despite its long coastline, Saudi Arabia has only four islands, two of which are worth visiting: Tarout and Farasan. On the first island there is an ancient port built by the Portuguese and the ruins of the old city. Farazan is worthy of your attention because of its wildlife: the rare Arabian gazelle lives on the island and migratory birds spend the winter. Most of the archipelago of the same name is a protected area, so it also has a rich underwater world.

Tarut

This small island is located on the northeastern side of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. It is located near the mainland, near the city of Al Qatif in the suburbs of Hammam.

How to get there

You don't need a ferry to get to this island; you can simply drive or take a taxi along one of three roads from Al Qatif.

Plan your return trip in advance as there are no hotels on the island. You will have to leave for the city before dark.

Things to do

It’s definitely not worth going to Tarut for a good beach, there simply aren’t any there, but there is an old fort. The Portuguese built it not on the shore, but on a hill in the very center of the island.

On the southern side of Tarut you can see the ruins of a palace that was built in the 6th century, but has now almost completely collapsed. There are no museums in either the fort or the palace, but you can simply walk around the surviving towers and buildings, feel the atmosphere of the old city and imagine the former grandeur of the building.

If you decide to swim in the sea at the same time, keep in mind that in winter the water here can be really cold (~15 °C). The best time for swimming is from May to November: during these months the water temperature rises above +25 °C and almost reaches +35 °C.

Farazan

It is an archipelago of coral islands in the Red Sea with the same name being the largest island in the group.

It also includes two smaller islands, Sajid and Zufaf, and many unnamed small islands.

How to get there

You can get to Farazan from the city of Jazan by ferry. Also from Jazan you can easily reach the smaller unnamed islands of this archipelago, located closer to the coast, about an hour away by boat. Boats and yachts are rented right on the shore in boat stations. On small islands you can have a good rest, swim and sunbathe without unnecessary attention, and see underwater beauty. You will have to return home before dark: most of the islands are too small for habitation, there are no people there, and there will be nowhere to spend the night.

The ferry to the main island of Farazan runs four times a day and also returns four times. If you plan a trip for one day, then you need to start from Jazan at 6:00, then you can return from the island by the last ferry at 16:00. But one day is actually not enough to explore the island; it is better to go with an overnight stay for two or three days.

Travel and transportation of the car on the ferry are free, but it is better to buy tickets a day or two in advance. You can book a ticket on this website. All government websites in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic, so you can use the “translate page” option. The number of places for cars is limited, so tickets of this type sell out faster. It is better to order them a week in advance and pick them up at the port. It is also better to arrive at the pier in advance: from the very morning there is a queue of locals who regularly use this crossing.

After we stood in line, we were allowed to drive our car to the port building and drop off the passengers. Both passengers and drivers go through passport control before boarding the ferry. The driver does not go out with everyone, he remains in the car and, in addition to his documents, shows the documents for the car. After inspection, the car is allowed to be driven to the lower floor of the ferry, and people go to the upper floor.

On the second floor you can meet your fellow travelers and choose the desired section. There are only three of them: for women and children, for men and for families. There you can find a comfortable seat, enjoy a cold drink from the bar, which is located right there on the second floor, and relax. The trip will take about 1.5 hours depending on weather and waves.

Getting around the island

You won’t be able to rent a car directly on the island, so you will either have to make the crossing with an already rented car, or you will have to negotiate with the locals (for a fee) or by taxi.

We had a car from the university, so we traveled with it.

Things to do

You won’t find any special beaches for swimming on these islands. There is only one city beach on Farazan. It is almost always empty during the day and fills with people in the evening.

Locals don’t swim on this beach, which I don’t recommend you do either. At first glance, the place seems very pleasant: the shore is strewn with fine sand, which continues as you enter the water. This impression will quickly change when you wade into knee-deep water. There are numerous stones there that are easy to trip on and can cause injury. Even deeper, from approximately hip level, where the shine of crystal clear water does not allow you to see the bottom in detail, you can read... sea urchins. Their number and variety will not leave you indifferent, as will the fear of stepping on one of them.

What then to do on this island, you ask. Mostly people go there for diving and snorkeling. Right near the shore, without going into the water, stingrays can already be seen.

A little deeper you can observe a variety of colored fish of bizarre shapes and sizes, sea urchins and stars.

If you see a shark, don't be scared! Most likely, you made a mistake: the waters near Farazan are too warm and shallow for real sharks, and what you mistakenly took for a shark is most likely either a stingray (angelfish) or a roe. Their head and front part of the body are flat, like a stingray, and the tail has vertical fins, like real sharks. One day we were lucky to spot them! Having climbed ashore, my husband shouted that he saw a real shark, and I argued that there and at the same time I saw a stingray. The truth was somewhere in the middle.

While we were on the island, we made an agreement with the locals, and they took us to the islands where large sea turtles swim. You could leisurely swim and play with them, but it was better not to touch them with your hands. Local divers said: “We look with our eyes, but don’t touch with our hands.” Completely different microflora live on human hands and on turtle shells. Nothing will happen to a person if touched, but turtles may be harmed.

In addition to the city beach, Farazan has many wild beaches. In fact, any place where you can drive and where you find access to the sea is a beach. The diversity of the underwater world on such unequipped beaches is richer, but getting to them is also more difficult.

Right there on the island, you can try night diving with an instructor and see huge lobsters and other crustaceans that are usually active at night.

Diving in general (not just night diving) must be agreed upon in advance in Jazan. We used the services of the Dream Divers diving center, their office is located at: Al Murjan Rd, As Suways, Jazan 82611, Saudi Arabia. There you can rent a boat (if necessary, they offer training and obtain a license), rent any equipment or simply buy it, and receive diving instruction. By the way, if you immediately agree on diving or snorkeling, they will take you to a good place, show you the beauty of the underwater world and return you back to the city.

Hotels

If you suddenly decide to stay in Farazan for several days, then think about where you will stay in advance. If you are traveling on your own and you don’t have any friends there, you will have to spend the night in a hotel. They say that there are several hotels on the island, but having traveled all over it and studied it far and wide, we could only find two!

One hotel is located right next to the city beach and is called “Coral”. A double room costs approximately 130 USD (~500 SAR per night). In addition to you, mosquitoes, insects and lizards may live in your room - be prepared for this. The hotel has Internet and a restaurant. Part of the beach near the hotel is fenced off and there is a sign called Private Beach. In fact, this doesn’t mean anything: people easily get through the fence and relax on this part of the beach with the guests. The disadvantage of the hotel is its relative isolation from the city center, and, accordingly, civilization, shops and restaurants. This is not a problem if you have a car, but if you don't, it will be difficult.

The second hotel “Farazan” is simpler and cheaper (~55 USD (200 SAR) per night for two). There is no Internet or restaurant, but if you don't plan to sit in your room all day long, you won't really need the Internet. We stayed here, and if we needed to check our mail or write a couple of letters, we went to the city beach and connected to the Internet from Coral. There were plenty of restaurants and small fast food places in the area, so the availability of food at the hotel was not an important factor for us. Moreover, you can always go to Coral for lunch.

You most likely will not be able to book a room in any of these hotels in advance. You can try writing to Coral; the second hotel does not have a website. In this case, the fact that there are no tourists in the country played into our hands: no matter what time we came to the island, the hotel always had free rooms.

Representative offices of Russia in Saudi Arabia

Embassy of the Russian Federation in Riyadh

Address: 11693, Riyadh, Rahmaniya, al-Wasiti street, building 13

Phone: +966 11 481 18 75, +966 11 481 14 32, +966 11 549 114 640 (for emergency calls)

Fax: +966 11 481 18 90

Email

Official website: https://riyadh.mid.ru/ru

Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Sun 10.00-13.00

Consular Section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Riyadh

Address: 11693, Riyadh, Rahmaniya, al-Wasiti street, building 13

Phone: +966 11 481 18 44

Fax: +966 11 481 18 44, +966 11 481 18 90

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Jeddah

Address: 15786, Jeddah, Al-Hamra'a dist-2, Al-Andalus str. 14,

Phone: +966 12 665 92 12, +966 12 665 92 55

Fax: +966 12 665 92 32

Email

Official website: www.jeddah.mid.ru

Opening hours: Sat, Mon, Tue 09.00-13.00

Alcohol

Of course, alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. The ban on drinking alcohol is generally one of the main laws of Islam. This ban applies in almost all Islamic countries, but only in Saudi Arabia is it truly cruel.

In most Muslim countries, only Muslims are not allowed to drink, but foreigners are allowed to drink. Dubai airport is simply littered with alcohol. Manama is full of hotels and bars where you can drink.

In Saudi Arabia, alcohol is prohibited completely and unconditionally. Neither Saudis nor foreigners are allowed to drink. You cannot sell or bring alcohol into the country in any form, including sweets with liqueur filling. Even before flying from your home country, it is highly recommended not to drink alcohol - the slightest smell of alcohol on your breath is enough to cause deportation from Saudi Arabia.

Of course, all this does not mean that you cannot get alcohol in the country.

Firstly, it is carried by the diplomats themselves. Surprise! A large flow of alcohol to Saudi Arabia is organized by numerous ambassadors of the United States, Russia and other countries. At private parties in embassies, everyone gets drunk. Expats' homes always have a bottle or two hidden away. Of course, Saudi ambassadors also drink, but rarely. Rumor has it that Black Label whiskey is the favorite.

Secondly, there is a country nearby called Bahrain where alcohol is allowed for non-Muslims. So, having finished Friday prayers, crowds of Saudis head to this very Bahrain to get drunk on the weekend and return back on Sunday. You can get here from Riyadh in a few hours by car, and from Dammam it’s just a stone’s throw away - just drive over the bridge. Well, those who are richer fly to Dubai or London.

Thirdly, alcohol can be obtained through acquaintances, much like marijuana in Russia. It seems to be strictly prohibited - but everyone is blowing around. It’s the same with alcohol in Saudi Arabia. They only say that a liter of the most ordinary wine will cost about $500.

But with premarital relationships everything is much more complicated. The taxi driver said that couples somehow manage to meet on the sly, and there are even services from prostitutes, mostly from poor migrant families. But this is very difficult and fraught with serious consequences - at least public caning.