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Travel - Internal
AIR: There are many domestic airports and air travel is by far the most convenient way of travelling around the country. Saudia (SV) connects all main centres. ‘Arabian Express’ economy class connects Jeddah with Riyadh in just over an hour and Riyadh with Dhahran in just under an hour (no advance reservations). A boarding pass should be obtained the evening before departure. There are special flights for pilgrims arriving at or departing from Jeddah during the Hajj.
SEA: Dhows may be chartered for outings on both coasts.
RAIL: Children under four travel free. Children aged four to 11 pay half fare. The main railway line is the 570km-long Riyadh–Dammam line, which links Dhahran, Abqaiq, Hofuf, Harad and Al Kharj. There is a daily service in air-conditioned trains with dining car. An additional line links Riyadh with Hofuf. The railway on the west coast made famous by Lawrence of Arabia’s raid has long since been abandoned to the desert.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There are approximately 150,000km (93,000 miles) of roads linking the main towns and rural areas, of which 22,000km (13,600 miles) are paved. The network is constantly being upgraded and expanded (most recently, an expressway has been built from Jeddah to Medina and the trans-peninsula road from Jeddah to Dammam has been upgraded) and on the main routes, much of it is of the highest standard. The corniche that winds down the escarpment between Taif and Mecca is as spectacular a feat of engineering as may be seen anywhere, as is the King Fahed Gateway that links Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. However, standards of driving are erratic, particularly in the Eastern Province, where it is not unknown for lorry drivers to equip their vehicles with hub-knives similar to those seen in the film Ben Hur. Criteria for apportioning blame after traffic accidents are also erratic and many driving offences carry an automatic prison sentence. As foreigners are tolerated rather than welcomed in Saudi Arabia, it is best to drive with extreme caution at all times. Women are not allowed to drive vehicles or ride bicycles on public roads. Non-Muslims may not enter Mecca or the immediate area; police are stationed to ensure that they turn off onto a specially built ring road, known amongst expatriates as the ‘Christian Bypass’. Bus: Services have recently been developed by SAPTCO to serve inter-urban and local needs. Modern vehicles have been acquired, including air-conditioned double-deckers. All buses must have a screened-off section for the exclusive use of female passengers. Taxi: Available in all cities, but often very expensive. Some have meters, and fares should be negotiated in advance. Car hire: The major international car hire agencies have offices in Saudi Arabia. The minimum age is 25. Documentation: A national driving licence is valid for up to three months if accompanied by an officially sanctioned translation into Arabic. An International Driving Permit (with translation) is recommended, but not required by law. Women are not allowed to drive. There are also restrictions on women travelling by car with men who are not related by blood or marriage.
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