1. Country Info

Capital	Riyadh
Climate	Saudi Arabia has a desert climate. Day temperatures can reach 45°C while at night you can feel the dessert cold .In Jeddah it is warm for most of the year. Riyadh, which is inland, is hotter in summer and colder in winter, when occasional heavy rainstorms occur. The Rub al Khali (‘empty Quarter’) seldom receives rain, making Saudi Arabia one of the driest countries in the world.
Geographic Location	Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula and is the largest country in area in the Middle East—but 95 percent of the land is desert. It is bordered to the northwest by Jordan, to the north by Iraq and Kuwait, to the east by the Gulf of Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and to the south by Yemen. To the west lies the Red Sea.
Time Zone	GMT +3
Population	24.573.000
Language	Arabic
Other Languages	English
Currency	Saudi Riyal
Telephone	The international dialling code (to):+996, The international dialling code (from) 00 + the related country code
Mobile Phone	GSM 900/1800
Important Phone Nos.	Ambulance 997, Police 999, Fire Brigade 998
Internet	.sa
Opening Hours	Banks: 8:30a.m. - 12:00p.m. and 17:00p.m. - 20:00p.m. (Sat-Wed), 8.30a.m. – 12:00p.m. (Thur) Shops: 9:00a.m. - 12:00p.m. and 16:00p.m. – 22:00p.m. (Mon-Sun Public Offices: 8:00 a.m. – 14:00p.m. (Sat-Thurs)
Electric	127V-220V 60Hz

2. General Info
Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab country of the Middle East. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. The Persian Gulf lies to the northeast and the Red Sea to the west. The Kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam.
Saudi Arabia's geography is varied. From the humid western coastal region (Tihamah) on the Red Sea, the land rises from sea level to a peninsula-long mountain range (Jabal al-Hejaz) beyond which lies the plateau of Nejd in the center. The southwestern 'Asir region has mountains as high as 3,000 m (9,843 ft) and is known for having the greenest and freshest climate in all of the country. The east is primarily rocky or sandy lowland continuing to the shores of the Persian Gulf. The geographically hostile Rub' al Khali ("Empty Quarter") desert along the country's imprecisely defined southern borders contains almost no life. Mostly uninhabited, much of the nation's landmass consists of desert and semi-arid regions, with a dwindling traditional Bedouin population.

3. City Guide

What to do, what to see?
Jeddah's top sight is its old town, al-Balad. The city wall has long since been torn down, but the old gates still mark where it once stood. Inside you'll find a warren of ancient buildings and traditional souqs, and the teetering, multistory coral houses that Jeddah is famous for.

If you seek the visually spectacular, Jeddah will definitely no disappoint, and there is probably nowhere more spectacular than Jeddah's floodlit Corniche where over 400 open-air sculptures provide a feast for the eye. Their diversity is extraordinary, from the solid curves of Henry Moore to the poetic beauty of Mustafa Sunbal's seagulls in flight. Close to the Corniche is The King Fahd Fountain which is not only the biggest fountain in Jeddah, but also the world!


Where to eat?
After the sunset prayer, the Corniche comes to life, with Saudi families dining al fresco. Picnicking is a favourite local hobby, and is regarded as an ideal opportunity to get together so if you wish to live the Jeddah life for a moment, go share a meal there.

For a taste of traditional flavours try the Filipino Souk near Saudia City or the Pakistani area Kababish where you will delight your palate with the many specialties such as falafels and shawarma.

For fine dinning try luxury hotel restaurants which offer gourmet cuisine in sophisticated atmospheres for everybody’s taste.

Where to shop?
Jeddah’s main shopping street is Tahliya, head there for interesting wares, and if you're looking for good quality gold, try the Gold Souq where you can bargain for 18k and 24k gold by weight.

In the heart of the old city, Souq al-Alawi is a busy market street flanked by traditional coral houses.

The Corniche area bursts with high-end shops and malls for a more sophisticated shopping experience.