Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

And if Saudi is like the rest of the Gulf... for significantly cheaper than in the US.

VS

[Citizenkane]

Agree with everything Mia says - first time visitors to KSA are often in a state of panic over the custom searches (I know I was!), only to find that they're waved through. At least most of the time - don't blame us if you're that one person in a hundred who gets the third degree at customs!

At least in Riyadh airport, you put your luggage through an xray machine while some bored guy casually glances at the screen. Now, you'll likely be in trouble if they stop a bottle of Johnny Walkers, but the chances of them opening your medicine bag to inspect your ibuprofen and panadol is practially zilch. In any case, as Mia says, just about everything other than tranquilisers/anti-depressants (which are very strictly controlled) is available over the counter at comparatively low prices. Even antibiotics can normally be had for the asking.

[eclectic]

wow, thanks.

[Mia Xanthi]

Even anti-depressants such as Prozac and Celexa and Zoloft are freely available over the counter. It's narcotic painkillers (containing opioids), tranquilizers, and amphetimines that are strictly controlled.

[Citizenkane]

[Mia Xanthi]

Available but very expensive. Members of the 500 Club would never shell out that much money!

[efemmera]

I have been reading the "what to bring" posts and most of them seem to suggest that it is fate/luck/randomness that necessitates a search. In a hypothetical situation, assuming I was being searched, would the following items be confiscated?

musical instruments
CDs/DVDs without offensive pictures
tarot cards
Traditional Chinese Medicine (for those not familiar, a bag that looks like small pellets)
herbal medicine or vitamins
massagers

If these items were to be confiscated, I would err on the side of caution and not bring them. Of the above list, can any of these items be purchased in KSA?

Thanks very much!