TRAVEL WARNING FOR SAUDI ARABIA
From the United States Department of State This
Travel Warning reminds U.S. citizens of recommended security
precautions and ongoing security concerns in Saudi Arabia. It
supersedes the Travel Warning issued June 23, 2006. Due
to concerns about the possibility of additional terrorist activity
directed against American citizens and interests, the Department of
State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to
Saudi Arabia. The United States Mission in Saudi Arabia remains an
unaccompanied post as a result of continued security concerns.
Non-emergency employees and all dependents of the U.S. Embassy Riyadh
and Consulates General Jeddah and Dhahran were ordered to leave the
country on April 15, 2004. An armed attack on the U.S. Consulate
General in Jeddah occurred on December 6, 2004, resulting in casualties
among the non-American staff and damage to consulate facilities. On
November 13, 2005, the Consulate General in Jeddah closed the visa
section for security reasons that require the assistance of the
Government of Saudi Arabia to resolve. On May 12, 2006 a lone gunman
fired shots at the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah. There were no injuries.
The consular section remains open for American citizen services. Terrorist
groups continue to target housing compounds and other establishments
where Westerners may be located. Saudi Government facilities are also
targets. In addition to car bombs and armed assaults involving
multiple gunmen against such facilities, terrorists have used ambush
attacks to kidnap and/or assassinate individual Westerners. On
February 24, 2006, there was a terrorist attack on Saudi oil facilities
in Abqaiq in the Eastern Province. There were no U.S. citizens or
Westerners injured in this attack however. American
citizens who choose to visit or remain in Saudi Arabia despite this
Travel Warning are strongly urged to avoid staying in hotels or housing
compounds that do not apply stringent security measures including, but
not limited to, the presence of an armed guard force, inspection of all
vehicles, and a hardened security perimeter to prevent unauthorized
vehicles from approaching the facility. American citizens are further
advised to exercise caution and maintain good situational awareness
when visiting commercial establishments frequented by Westerners or in
primarily Western environments. Keep a low profile, varying times and
routes for all required travel, and ensure that travel documents and
visas are valid. American citizens are also advised to exercise
caution while driving, entering or exiting vehicles. U.S.
citizens who travel to or remain in Saudi Arabia despite this travel
warning are strongly urged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh
or the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran through the State Department’s
travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, in
order to be included in the Mission’s warden network. Updated travel
and security information for Saudi Arabia is issued periodically via
the warden network. 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. Warden messages can be found on the U.S. Embassy Riyadh
website: http://riyadh.usembassy.gov. Updated
information on travel and security in Saudi Arabia may be obtained from
the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. or Canada
or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For additional
information, consult the Department of State's Consular Information
Sheet for Saudi Arabia, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and
Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov.
