What to wear in Riyadh: dress code and etiquette

A simple outfit works for most of the city

Pack loose trousers or a long skirt, an opaque top with longer sleeves and comfortable walking shoes. Add a light layer you can take on and off. That gives you a useful outfit for a museum morning, a souq visit and dinner without returning to your hotel to change.

Modest public dress is required under the Saudi Public Decorum Charter. For straightforward packing, we recommend sleeves that cover the elbows and hemlines below the knees, following the UK Foreign Office’s conservative visitor advice. Choose loose, opaque fabrics that stay comfortable as you move.

What to wear for the day you have planned

For a first day, pair the National Museum with a separate visit to Souq Al Zal. Use the individual guides to settle admission and transport, then choose one comfortable outfit for both.

Abayas, headscarves and shorts

Foreign women do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair for ordinary public outings, according to the Foreign Office guidance above. An abaya is an optional clothing choice. A scarf is useful when a mosque visit is part of your plans.

Visit Saudi’s Riyadh visitor guide recommends long trousers and sleeved shirts for men, and long sleeves with full-length trousers or skirts for women. Choose long trousers as your dependable sightseeing option. Avoid treating photos of someone else wearing shorts as proof of a particular venue’s entry policy.

Keep the packing list small

• Two or three interchangeable outfits: choose layers that work with the same walking shoes.
• A lightweight overshirt or cardigan: useful when you want more coverage or an extra indoor layer.
• Comfortable footwear: break it in before a long heritage walk.
• Outdoor additions: sunglasses, a hat and a warmer layer when your forecast calls for one.

Use Best Time to Visit Riyadh for seasonal planning and the desert safety guide for an outing beyond the city. Check the actual forecast before packing the final layer.

Ask before taking the photograph

Get a person’s permission before photographing or filming them. The official public-decency table includes unauthorised images of people and incidents such as traffic accidents. Give emergencies space instead of turning them into photographs.

Government buildings, diplomatic premises, military installations and palaces are subject to photography restrictions identified in the Foreign Office’s guidance. At a heritage attraction, museum or exhibition, use the venue’s published rules and staff instructions for the visitor areas. Check separately before using a tripod, flash or filming equipment.

In a souq, ask a stallholder before making them the subject of a shot. Frame an architectural detail or display when you do not have permission to photograph the people nearby. Permission to enter a place does not automatically give permission to film everything inside it.

Arrange a mosque visit with care

Ask whether the particular mosque welcomes sightseeing visitors, including non-Muslims, and arrange a suitable time. Visit Saudi advises women to bring a scarf for mosque visits. Follow staff instructions on dress, entrances and shoes; silence your phone and give worshippers space. Avoid setting up photographs or stopping for conversation where people are praying.

If visiting access cannot be confirmed, choose a published museum or heritage visit for that part of your day. The heritage hub gives you places to build into the plan.

Plan meals and timings around Ramadan

During Ramadan daylight hours, follow the Foreign Office advice to avoid eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public, including in a car. Ask your hotel about daytime dining arrangements.

Confirm the announced dates for your travel year. Before reserving a restaurant, ask when service begins and whether you need an iftar booking. Check each attraction’s Ramadan hours and plan a realistic journey between the visit and the meal. Our seasonal planning guide covers fitting the dates into your trip.

Prayer times also affect everyday planning: Visit Saudi notes that shops may pause service. Leave a little room in your schedule, especially when a specific stall is the reason for your visit. The official public-decency table lists playing music during prayer times as a violation; keep your own music off then.

Greetings, coffee and a shared table

Start with a friendly greeting and give the other person time to respond. “Salam alaykum” is a useful greeting. Let the other person take the lead on a handshake; a spoken greeting works well without physical contact.

With Saudi coffee, the customary way to receive the cup is with the right hand. A gentle shake of the cup signals that you have finished. These are hospitality customs described by Saudipedia and its account of coffee traditions, rather than legal requirements. If you do not drink coffee, a warm thank-you and a polite decline are enough.

At a shared meal, follow your host’s lead and use your right hand when eating by hand, as described in Saudipedia’s dining customs. Ask about ingredients and explain any dietary needs before food is served. The Najdi food guide helps you choose your first dishes.

Know which advice is a rule

Clothing examples and hospitality tips help you make comfortable choices. Public-decency rules also carry penalties: the official table covers matters including offensive clothing, queue-jumping, littering and misuse of priority seats. The penalty depends on the offence; there is no single “dress-code fine” that describes every case.

Avoid public displays of affection, swearing and intrusive behaviour. Visit Saudi’s visitor guide also lists alcohol and recreational drugs as prohibited. For prescription medicines containing controlled substances, use the Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s traveller clearance process before travelling; a prescription alone should not be treated as clearance.

For other legal questions specific to your circumstances, read your government’s current destination guidance and the relevant Saudi authority’s information. This page covers everyday visitor preparation, rather than every aspect of Saudi law.

Before you leave the hotel

1. Check the outfit against the places and activities you have booked.
2. Save entry instructions, opening hours and the restaurant reservation.
3. Carry the layer or scarf your plan calls for.
4. Ask before making another person part of a photograph.
5. Leave time for a break and follow staff instructions when you arrive.

Continue with the first-time visitor guide, choose where to stay, and use Getting Around Riyadh to connect your stops. The Travel Guides hub brings the practical planning together.