Important conditions to be aware of before visitors plan to drive or rent a car in Saudi Arabia

Visitors to Saudi Arabia should be aware of a few crucial restrictions before renting a car if they intend to drive here. 

According to the regulations issued by Saudi Arabia's General Department of Traffic (Muroor), tourists must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a foreign driving license to drive in the country.

The law stipulates that they must fulfill five main conditions. Officials said that strict action will be taken against those who do not follow the law. These are the conditions proposed by the General Department of Traffic.

1. License Compatibility – Your driving license should match the type of vehicle you intend to drive.

2. Translation of International Driving Permit - Visitors on a tourist visa must have their International Driving Permit legally translated into Arabic by an authorized authority. 2. Its purpose is to enable law enforcement to interpret your license correctly.

3.Validity Period - According to Article 42 of Saudi Arabia's Traffic Law, the validity of an International Driving License and Foreign Driving License is for one year from the date of arrival in the country or until the license expires. Consider whichever occurs first.

4. GCC Driving License – Residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can use their GCC-issued driving licence, provided it is valid.

5. IDPs are not for GCC residents - GCC residents cannot use an International Driving Permit in Saudi Arabia. They should only rely on their valid GCC issued driving license to drive.

Although the legal driving age in Saudi Arabia is 18, you must be at least 21 to rent a car. Following are the criteria for renting a car in Saudi Arabia.

- You must be at least 21 years of age.

- Your passport must be valid for at least six months.

- If you are a GCC citizen or resident, your original GCC-issued driver's license is required.

- A copy of your visit visa is mandatory. If you are an expatriate from a GCC country, provide your residence permit and ID (for example, Emirates ID for UAE residents). 

- For visitors using an International Driving Permit, it must be valid for at least three months.