Driving Permit for Saudi Arabia
Driving in Saudi Arabia with a foreign licence? Saudi Arabia recognises the 1968-convention IDP. See IDP rules, 3-month validity, rental car requirements, Saher cameras and key road laws.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1968 Vienna
- IDP validity
- 3 months
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and traffic drives on the right. Short-term visitors can drive on a valid home-country licence — UK government advice notes a foreign photocard licence can be used for the first 3 months after arrival, after which residents must obtain a Saudi licence. Carrying an IDP alongside your licence is strongly recommended: Canada's official travel advice tells drivers they must carry one, and it acts as a certified translation wherever your licence isn't in Arabic or English.
At the rental desk, expect to show your original licence, your passport and often the IDP — hire companies frequently require it, and minimum ages are set by each firm above the national driving age of 18. Compulsory third-party insurance is included with rentals. Enforcement on the road is highly automated: the Saher camera network flags speeding and other offences, fines arrive by SMS, and unpaid fines must be cleared before you leave the country. If you have an accident, call the police and the Najm accident service, leave the vehicle where it is, and never settle privately with the other driver.
A few local realities stand out. Alcohol is illegal in the Kingdom, so drink-driving tolerance is effectively zero, and penalties are severe. Women have been permitted to drive since June 2018, and female visitors can rent cars normally. Seatbelts are mandatory and handheld phone use is banned. Highway limits are typically 120 km/h, with 140 km/h on a few designated routes, and there are no toll roads or vignettes. For desert routes, official UK advice is to stick to major roads and travel in convoy in daylight — and note that central Makkah is open to Muslims only, with signposted highway exits for non-Muslim traffic.
Saudi Arabia recognises the IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Saudi Arabia, plan on 3 months.
What you need to drive in Saudi Arabia
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Original, valid home-country driving licence (carry it at all times)
International Driving Permit (1968 convention) — advised by official travel guidance and often requested by rental companies, especially if your licence is not in Arabic or English
Minimum driving age is 18; rental companies set their own, usually higher, minimum ages
Third-party motor insurance is compulsory and is included with rental cars
Traffic drives on the right in Saudi Arabia, and overtaking is done on the left.
Women have been allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia since June 2018, and female tourists can rent and drive cars.
Highway speed limits are typically 120 km/h, raised to 140 km/h on a few designated major highways.
There are no toll roads or vignette stickers in Saudi Arabia, and fuel is inexpensive by international standards.
Accidents must be reported to the police and the Najm accident-management service; do not move your vehicle or agree private settlements before they arrive.
Foreign licences are for visitors only — after about 3 months in the country you must convert to a Saudi driving licence.
What to know before you turn the key
Saudi Arabia drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Rental desks in Riyadh and Jeddah commonly ask for an IDP alongside your home licence, particularly when the licence is not printed in Arabic or English.
Traffic enforcement is largely automated: the Saher camera network detects offences and fines arrive by SMS — all outstanding fines must be paid before you can leave the country.
Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia, so there is effectively zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
Traffic offences are detected by the automated Saher camera system and fines are issued by SMS; UK and Canadian government advice both note that outstanding fines must be settled before leaving the country. Driving without a valid licence or required permit can invalidate insurance and lead to fines or vehicle impoundment, and any alcohol-related offence carries severe penalties, including detention. After an injury accident, drivers may be held while responsibility is determined.
Local rules to watch in Saudi Arabia
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Riyadh: a car-centred capital with wide multi-lane highways and dense Saher camera coverage — keep strictly to posted limits, and allow extra time for rush-hour congestion.
Jeddah: the main gateway for Umrah and Hajj traffic; remember that central Makkah is accessible to Muslims only, and motorway exits are clearly signposted for non-Muslim drivers.
Dammam/Khobar: the King Fahd Causeway links the Eastern Province to Bahrain — carry your licence, IDP and insurance paperwork if you plan to drive across.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Saudi Arabia keeps.
Common questions about driving in Saudi Arabia
Drive Saudi Arabia, confidently.
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