Saudi Arabia Travel Warning
Issued by US Department of State
Dec 09, 2003
This Travel Warning is being updated to alert Americans to continuing security concerns in Saudi Arabia and restrictions on travel of U.S. Embassy personnel. This Travel Warning supersedes that of December 3, 2003.
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. Americans are reminded of the potential for further terrorist actions against U.S. citizens abroad, including in the Persian Gulf region.
The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests, including the targeting of transportation and civil aviation. American citizens in Saudi Arabia should remain vigilant, particularly in public places associated with the Western community.
Terrorists have attacked residential housing compounds in the Riyadh area in 2003. Credible information indicates that terrorists continue to target residential compounds in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Riyadh area, but also compounds throughout the country.
From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia may restrict the travel of official Americans or suspend public services for security reasons. In those instances, the Embassy and Consulates will keep the local American citizen community apprised through the Warden System and make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. In December 2003, travel by Embassy personnel and dependants outside the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh was restricted to essential business only, with similar restrictions in place at the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. Warden messages can be found on the US Embassy Riyadh website: http://usembassy.state.gov/riyadh/.
U.S. citizens who travel to, or remain in, Saudi Arabia despite this Travel Warning should register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or at the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran, and enroll in the warden system (emergency alert network) to obtain updated information on travel and security in Saudi Arabia.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security
threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information
through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the
Internet at
U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Consular
Information Sheet for Saudi Arabia
