Tourist Rights in Saudi Arabia

Tourist Rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are the rights guaranteed and protected by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors to its territory. These rights are outlined in the Tourism Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/18) dated August 24, 2022. The law and its regulations govern tourism activities and define the rights related to the services provided to tourists.

The Tourism Law includes various regulations such as the Hospitality Accommodation Facilities Regulations, Travel and Tourism Services Regulations, Tourist Guidance Regulations, Hospitality Facility Management Regulation, Private Tourism Accommodation Facilities Regulations, Tourism Consultancy Regulations, Experimental Activities Regulation, Regulations of the Committee Responsible for Reviewing Violations of the Tourism Law and its Regulations, the Inspection of Tourism Activities Regulations, Destination Development Regulations, and the Tourist Visa for Visit Purposes Regulations.

The Ministry of Tourism is committed to increasing awareness of tourist rights and responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of tourism in all its aspects. It aims to protect and enhance the confidence of service beneficiaries by increasing their awareness of receiving services that match the financial compensation paid against those services.

Tourists are entitled to a range of general rights, including being treated with courtesy and hospitality. Tourism service providers may not refuse to provide their service without a valid legal reason, nor can they impose additional fees beyond the approved service and product prices set by the Ministry of Tourism. Additionally, service providers notify consumers of any deadlines for canceling or modifying bookings, and in high-risk activities or crowded areas, service providers must offer cooperative insurance against third-party risks. Additionally, service providers provide necessary services to individuals with special needs according to the ministry’s approved classification standards. Tourists may file a complaint with the Ministry of Tourism if any of these rights are violated electronically through the ministry’s channels, through the ministry’s branches, or the Saudi Travel and Tourism Association.

Tourist hospitality facilities provide tourists with information about the services offered, and make them available in Arabic and English within the unit. They must receive the guest and reserve a unit if the required guarantee is provided. Women are entitled to stay without a male guardian under the regulations of tourist hospitality facilities. There should be no minimum stay requirement, nor should consumers be required to book multiple services to obtain one. Additionally, facilities cannot charge for more than one night if a tourist is delayed beyond the scheduled arrival date.

Tourists have the right to check into the hospitality facility at 2:00 pm on the day of arrival and must check out by noon on the day of departure. In case of a delay in handing over the unit after 2:00 pm, the service provider takes responsibility for the guest’s luggage, provides a waiting area, and offers a meal. If the delay exceeds two hours, the service provider must secure an alternative unit of the same standard as the original reservation and offer a discount proportional to the waiting period.

Service providers must ensure that services match the facility’s classification standards, maintaining the safety and security of guests, their health, and their belongings through appropriate safety measures and cleanliness standards. In case of a confirmed reservation with no available unit, the provider secures an alternative unit of equal level without imposing additional fees. Tourists are entitled to refund fees if the facility closes due to a malfunction or fire and no equivalent alternative is provided. Guests may receive a booking document as a contract that includes the service details and pricing. In addition, tourists may cancel their booking up to twenty-four hours before arrival or transfer the booking to someone else under the provider’s consent. Hospitality booking offices inform tourists of the after-sale services and their associated costs, whether verbally or in writing.

The Ministry of Tourism is responsible for regulating tourism activities in the Kingdom. It oversees the development and enforcement of laws and regulations to enhance the growth, sustainability, and diversity of these activities, and to provide tourism services in a way that reflects in the Kingdom's visitor experience. Furthermore, the ministry supervises various activities such as hospitality services, travel and tourism services, tour guides, and tourism and hotel consultancy.

According to the Tourism Accommodation Facilities Regulations, tourists are informed of the rules for staying in hospitality facilities, which include keeping the facility's components maintained and saved, respecting the rights and freedoms of other tourists, and adhering to general regulations. Travel and tourism service providers verify the accuracy and validity of personal data when offering services like booking flights or accommodations. They also provide clear information about services, their prices and policies related thereto, payment mechanisms, and booking cancellation and modification policies. In this regard, they issue a receipt in Arabic and English for any payments against services, detailing the services and their fees.

When implementing a tourism program, travel and tourism companies register customer data and the provided services, adhering to safety, emergency, and evacuation regulations. Also, they ensure the provision of services like bookings of hospitality facilities, tourist guides, and ground services such as reception, luggage handling, car rentals, and event and exhibition bookings, all in line with agreed-upon provisions and time schedules.

For guided tours, travel companies must provide at least one guide for every twenty-five tourists and ensure that the guide's license matches the service type. Tourist guides are not permitted to drive vehicles while providing guiding services. Additionally, tourists are entitled to receive the necessary information and approved explanations from tourist information centers.