What is illegal in Saudi Arabia?

Photographing government buildings, military installations, and palaces is not allowed. You should avoid photographing local people. Binoculars should not be brought into Saudi Arabia and may be confiscated at the port of entry. It's illegal to hold 2 passports in Saudi Arabia.

What are some strict laws in Saudi Arabia?

Can you legally drink in Saudi Arabia?

Alcohol use in Saudi Arabia

As with drugs, there is a prohibition on the manufacture, sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol in Saudi Arabia. Drinking is punishable by public flogging, fines, or lengthy imprisonment, accompanied by deportation in certain cases.

Do and don'ts in Saudi Arabia?

Is dancing illegal in Saudi Arabia?

It happened after the Saudi TV host and actor Abdallah al-Shahani was filmed dabbing at a music festival in Taif and later arrested. Dancing at concerts — a new entertainment experience for Saudis in itself — is also prohibited.

10 Surprising Laws in Saudi Arabia

Is music illegal in Saudi Arabia?

However, music is considered "sinful" or "haram" by Wahhabi Muslims, including Salah Al Budair who is the Imam of the Grand mosque in Medina. This is based in part on certain Ahadith which speak negatively of non-percussion musical instruments and the idea that music and art are distractions from God.

Is there a pig in Saudi Arabia?

There are no pigs or wild bores in the Arabian Peninsula. Pigs exists in Egypt and raised by garbage collectors, so they sift through edible waste. Only garbage collectors from christian background raises them. However, pork meat are sold in some groceries, in Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.

Is it OK to wear shorts in Saudi Arabia?

Sleeveless shirts, short dresses, loose tops, short bottoms, crop tops and miniskirts are strictly not allowed. Night clothes, under garments or anything that is inappropriate to be worn in public must be avoided.

Can a woman go out alone in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia will allow women to live alone without permission from a male “guardian”, bringing an end to a rule that attracted condemnation from human rights campaigners internationally.

Can a woman divorce her husband in Saudi Arabia?

During the COVID-19 crisis, observers noted a 30 per cent increase in requests for divorce and Khula', a procedure through which a woman can divorce her husband in Islam, by returning the dowry (mahr) or something else that she received from her husband, as agreed by the spouses or court decree.

Can you smoke in Saudi Arabia?

The law prohibits smoking in some indoor workplaces and public places including government, education, health, and cultural facilities and prohibits smoking in all means of public transport. Smoking is allowed in designated smoking rooms in bars, nightclubs, stadiums, casinos, and shops.

Are there drugs in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has become a lucrative market for drug traffickers and emerged as the capital of drug consumption in the region. Captagon is the new rage in the wealthiest Arab nation. It is a mood enhancer that keeps you awake and euphoric but causes lasting health hazards.

Can you buy pork in Saudi Arabia?

1. Imports of pork or pork products are not allowed by Saudi Arabia. However, pork or pork products may be allowed for entry for U.S. diplomatic or military use. 2.

Do they cut your hands off in Saudi Arabia?

Although repeated theft can be punishable by amputation of the right hand and aggravated theft by the cross-amputation of a hand and a foot, only one instance of judicial amputation was reported between 2007 and 2010. Homosexual acts are punishable by flogging, imprisonment or death.

Is Tattoo allowed in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia – tattoos are illegal due to Sharia Law (foreigners with tattoos must cover them and they should remain covered until the person leaves the country) Afghanistan – tattoos are illegal and banned due to Sharia Law.

How many wives do Saudis have?

Polygamy is legal in Saudi Arabia, whereby a man may have up to four wives. However, a man is only allowed to take multiple wives if he can meet certain conditions under shari'a law. For example, he must have the financial capacity to afford another marriage and provide for another wife and her family.

Can you watch Netflix in Saudi Arabia?

They live in a country with roughly 95% internet penetration and widespread fast Wi-Fi. And Netflix, available in the kingdom since 2016, looms large in their wired world.

Is Saudi Arabia rich or poor?

The Saudi family is the richest royal family in the world, with a net worth of around $1.4 trillion due to plentiful oil reserves, yet the country itself can be considered poor, with an estimated 20 percent of its people living in poverty.

Can I take my Bible to Saudi Arabia?

The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal; as is an intention to convert others. However, the Saudi authorities accept the private practice of religions other than Islam, and you can bring a religious text into the country as long as it is for your personal use.

Do you have to cover your hair in Saudi Arabia?

This law also changed recently but before the Abaya law. Covering your hair in Saudi Arabia and wearing a Hijab in Saudi Arabia is not needed unless you go inside a Mosque and unlike the Abaya culture and law, you will feel fine with you hair out in public as a tourist and non-Muslim in Saudi Arabia.

Can non Muslims go to Mecca?

Can non-Muslims do the hajj? No. Although Christians and Jews believe in the God of Abraham, they are not allowed to perform the hajj. Indeed, the government of Saudi Arabia forbids all non-Muslims from entering the holy city of Mecca at all.

What do Muslims not eat?

Muslims are prohibited from consuming flowing blood. Meats that are considered haram, such as pork, dog, cat, monkey, or any other haram animals, can only be considered lawful in emergencies when a person is facing starvation and his life has to be saved through the consumption of this meat.

What is the punishment for eating pork in Islam?

Similarly, the avoidance of pork in Islam is a primary food rule (Qur'an 5:3; 6:145) and thus a way of maintaining Muslim identity. The prohibition is important enough that in the Islamic Republic of Iran, bringing pork into the country is punishable by a three-month jail sentence.

Is music allowed in Islam?

Prohibited, no exceptions except maybe call to prayer

Those who believe the Quran and hadith "strictly" prohibits music include the Salafi and Deobandi. The Quran does not specifically refer to music itself.

Can you get bacon in Saudi Arabia?

When traveling to Saudi Arabia, leave the bacon behind. In Islam, adherents are prohibited from consuming pork products and, because Islam is the dominant religion in Saudi, it's a banned meat. Possession of pork can lead to legal problems, making it not worth the risk or trouble to take it into the country.