Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

From expatwoman.com:

Before you pack for your journey to Saudi Arabia it is a good idea to check the list of items that are prohibited in Saudi. Your suitcase may be searched and the officer will be checking for alcohol (be careful not to pack any alcoholic beverages including chocolates that may containing a small amount of liqueur). They will also be looking for pornographic material, be aware that due to the strictly conservative nature of the country seemingly innocent pictures in women’s magazines could be considered pornographic. Pork products are strictly prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as are games of chance, anything that may resemble gambling at all, this includes chess and backgammon.

If you take any medication, even if it is over the counter in your country, have a doctor’s prescription for it. It might be banned in Saudi Arabia and you could get into a lot of trouble for bringing in medication without a proper doctor’s prescription. Source: http://www.expatwoman.com/saudiarabia/monthly_saudiarabia_guide__Arriving_to_Saudi_Arabia_for_the_first_time_11694.aspx

One bible is allowed for personal use. However, bringing larger quantities is prohibited because it conveys the intent to proselytize others. Non-Islamic religious items and symbols like a crucifix, icons/statues, a small fake Christmas tree, etc., are also not allowed.

CDs and DVDs will get confiscated if their covers and/or content are deemed pornographic (again, by Saudi standards).

By the way, I suspect expat men have their possessions searched by Saudi Customs way more than expat women do.

[Heaton]

Saudi customs is just as lazy as any other Saudi bureaucracy. Searching your bag is way too much work. You can bring in stacks of books and CDs and large jugs of suspicious liquids as long as none of them are gun shaped and you're not from Pakistan. Even their drug sniffing dog is lazy.

[nomad soul]

I doubt they're "lazy"; they likely do random searches just like other airports worldwide. Anyway, those planning to travel to KSA with questionable items can decide if it's worth the risk or not.

[coder]

delete

[sicklyman]

if you're using a mouthwash with alcohol in it, you're doing yourself no favours due to the way that the alcohol prevents the production of saliva. It's only used as a carrier for other chemicals anyway and has no medical benefit.

In Saudi, all mouthwashes are, of course, alcohol free and by insisting on this, they're insisting on the healthiest option.

[trapezius]

I have seen mouthwashes with alcohol in pharmacies. At least I did, a few years ago.

Been using Listerine Zero for a while now. It is an American thing to use harsh chemicals in the house and in/on the body. Seriously, you don't need to use a mouthwash with alcohol to strip your insides, neither do you need that anti-bacterial handwash or bodywash or toothpaste.

All they do is promote the growth of resistant bacteria (been shown in studies), plus they also kill the good bacteria that live in/on our bodies, which are essential for good health.

As for mouthwash with alcohol, no, it doesn't lead to resistant bacteria, but a study did show a few years ago that it leads to the over-drying of the mouth, which in turn leads to further growth of bacteria.

Just practice good hygiene, and don't worry so much about the bacteria living in/on you, MOST of them are good bacteria.

Did you know that there are more bacteria inside your intestines than there are cells in your whole body?

[scot47]

You don't need to bring anything with you. What you need is available in KSA.

[alanportland]

Hi all,
Do they search computers and USB's (flash memory sticks?
I have nothing on them just to delete the family photos when we were sunbathing.

[sicklyman]

no... but I use that negative in reference to your use of present simple for habitual actions.

IOW, they might.

[TheEasyLife]

Hi all,
Do they search computers and USB's (flash memory sticks?
I have nothing on them just to delete the family photos when we were sunbathing.

They don't search anything or care. I believed the same old rumours before I arrived and cleaned my laptop thoroughly of anything that I thought could get a part of my body chopped off. The customs officials let me (and the hundreds of other ex-pats) through with no searches after a half hour wait in Riyadh airport as they let the Saudis in first.

I discussed this with countless other teachers and nobody, or anybody they knew, was searched at all.

[SheikMilkShake]

I was never searched ( including cavity search) nor my luggage nor my laptop at Saudi airports, even on vacation trips and on arrival/departure. Unfortunately, I was searched when I arrived back to my country at the airport customs. I was almost fined because there was a packet of cheese, a boiled egg, and a half-empty packet of beef jerkies. Actually, the dogs sniffed me and my back pack. I almost forgot these food supplies in my backpack, and had declared on customs forms that I had no food items. Those tough female custom officers showed me their power and I was obliged to open anything they wanted to search.. Thanks to the dogs for warm welcome!

if you have any indecent pics or VDOs, according to Saudi standards, you can save anything you want on face book, or on emails/ google or any SNSs that allows you to save the pics as " Only me" activity.

Like scot said, you could buy anything in KSA, so why not buy a new laptop or a phone once you get there?
If they found anything they don't like, they would probably not let you enter the country and definitely call your sponsor, so you would be allowed in to the country eventually.
They would more likely search your bags and laptops on departure ( at your employer's request ) than on arrival, but I was never searched.
Have a great day!
Good luck!

[plumpy nut]

They're not going to search your computer unless of course you ask "Is it OK for me to bring my porn in ?". Your bags are checked by the x-ray machine, they aren't going to do anything else unless you bring something in that's really stupid.

[Listerine]

[MuscatGary]

What to bring? Yourself and lots of documents.

What not to bring? Your sense of disbelief. Your professionalism.

[sicklyman]

the only border where you are likely to be searched with some rigour is the Causeway between Bahrain and Saudi. On the way back only two weeks ago flying in late at night from the UK, my wife and I were forced to open up every single bag. Never happened before.

Good thing they didn't spot the porcine carcase strapped to the roof