Saudi Arabia
ุงูุณุนูุฏูุฉ
Riyadh and Jeddah are heavily app-driven. Careem and Uber cover rides, HungerStation and Jahez handle food.
๐Rideshare & Taxi
All apps โ
Middle East rideshare super-app. Rides arm owned by Uber; the app is majority-owned by e&.
Dominant rideshare across Saudi Arabia.
The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Strong alternative to Careem.
๐บ๏ธNavigation & Maps
All apps โ
Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Solid for major cities.
๐ฑMessaging
All apps โ
The dominant messenger in Europe, Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa.
Universal.
๐ฑFood Delivery
All apps โ
Saudi Arabia's most-used food delivery app.
Most-used food delivery.
Strong second food delivery option in Saudi Arabia.
Strong second food option.
Is Saudi Arabia one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- G
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 60Hz
- Type G: Three rectangular pins. The British plug, used in UK, Ireland, HK, Singapore, Malta, much of Africa and Middle East.
Type G (the British three-pin plug) is the standard. Supply is 230V; some older buildings may still have 127V outlets and American-style sockets โ check before plugging in.
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.
CurrencySAR
Arabic you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
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; shops are no longer required to close, though some still pause briefly 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
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us โ here's how we check.