What's Illegal inSaudi Arabia?

The single thing worth knowing first: Death penalty for drugs. No alcohol. Strict Islamic law. Women must follow dress codes. It is the kind of rule that looks minor at home and becomes a serious problem at the border or in public, which is exactly why it tops this page.

Within recreational substances, Saudi Arabia treats Cannabis, Alcohol, and Vaping as off-limits. Carrying or doing any of these can mean confiscation, fines, or detention depending on the case — and a foreign prescription, habit, or "I didn't know" rarely helps once you are stopped. Each entry below links to the official source it is checked against, with the verified ones marked.

Two things travelers regularly get wrong about Saudi Arabia: Possession of any alcohol is a criminal offence — the small expat quotas and embassy-only permits do not extend to tourists; and Public displays of affection between any couple, including married, can lead to questioning and fines. Assumptions like these are how otherwise careful visitors end up in trouble, so it is worth checking the specifics rather than guessing.

One important caveat: Tourist visa reforms have eased dress codes in major cities, but Mecca and Medina remain closed to non-Muslims under federal law. Laws and their enforcement can shift between regions and over time, so treat this page as a sourced starting point and confirm anything borderline against the official links before you rely on it.