Business travel to Riyadh

[Siliconslave]

I've been invited to do a days presentation in person in Riyadh, ignoring the stupidity of traveling for 3 days to do a 2hr demo/presentation, i'm wondering how safe/sensible it is?

My last experience with the region was about 15 years ago when a friend went out with their company and was basically escorted around by their company's security services but it sounds like thats changed quite a lot now.

Does anyone have any recent first hand experience?

Thanks

 

[jon86]

I've been invited to do a days presentation in person in Riyadh, ignoring the stupidity of traveling for 3 days to do a 2hr demo/presentation, i'm wondering how safe/sensible it is?

My last experience with the region was about 15 years ago when a friend went out with their company and was basically escorted around by their company's security services but it sounds like thats changed quite a lot now.

Does anyone have any recent first hand experience?

Thanks

I have no experience with travelling to the Middle East for work, but if you don't actually want to go, can you potentially convince your superiors to allow you to just present via a web teleconference meeting instead? Travelling to the Middle East for a 2 hour presentation does seem to be a bit... unnecessary. Greta would be most unimpressed.

 

[Siliconslave]

I probably can but trying to work out if I should and totally agree its a bit silly but sometimes needed.

 

[dlockers]

I went to China via Tokyo for 2 days which is about on par for madness, but there is no replacement for in person.

As far as I know it's all above board now. But surely your company has a people mobility team that will advise?

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Very safe. Safer than London, although that’s not difficult.

 

[Throrik]

Very safe. Safer than London, although that’s not difficult.

As long as you're not daft enough to break one of the local laws, as if so you're coming home missing a hand, or cut up into pieces.

 

[Freefaller]

It's changed a lot - it's far more progressive than it was. It's one of the reasons I'm tempted by roles over there, it's really ploughing a lot of money and time to create a more balanced society. It's got a long way to go and will never be "western" in its values, but I personally think it's a far better place than people give it credit for.

Of course it's still Sharia law and there's things to be respected, but I've been there a couple of times and I find the Saudis (and the middle east in general) to be a very warm and welcoming place teeming with culture. It's also a very safe place IMO.

Since the late 2010s it's really a different place to where it was. Don't write it off without going there to see what it's like.

On another level it does seem daft to travel for 2hrs... but hey, it might open your eyes a little to how different it is now?

 

[Siliconslave]

Since the late 2010s it's really a different place to where it was. Don't write it off without going there to see what it's like.

On another level it does seem daft to travel for 2hrs... but hey, it might open your eyes a little to how different it is now?

That matches what i've read today so good to have confirmation I did expect it to have changed but always hard to read between the lines of tourism marketing.

I've not been to Saudi before but theres definatly a preference to in person meetings in the Middle East in my experience - so while its crazy to do it could well be worthwhile.

 

[Freefaller]

Well a friend of mine who is female is a director in a business there (she's a westerner) and other than having to wear modest clothing, she's loving her time there. She has no reason to lie.

 

[DRZ]

I've been to Riyadh for an extended period of time. Getting a visa to travel there can be quite challenging as there's a lot of paperwork and hoops to jump through but presumably you've already got that in hand.

The place feels mostly safe - driving on the highways there is a little eye-opening to say the least. The police are armed to the teeth and their weapon discipline leaves much to be desired. I was there with an armed escort and they were extremely unhappy when around the police there but it was fine in the end. Do some reading on the local customs etc - Riyadh is much more conservative than other parts of the Kingdom so it will be worth your while to understand things like men-only vs family entrances/restaurants etc so you don't make a mistake or make people around you uncomfortable.

Finally, try and stay in the Ritz-Carlton if you can, it is truly magnificent and amongst the best hotels I've stayed in anywhere in the world.

 

[EvilRob]

I've been invited to do a days presentation in person in Riyadh, ignoring the stupidity of traveling for 3 days to do a 2hr demo/presentation, i'm wondering how safe/sensible it is?

My last experience with the region was about 15 years ago when a friend went out with their company and was basically escorted around by their company's security services but it sounds like thats changed quite a lot now.

Does anyone have any recent first hand experience?

Thanks

I did pretty much this a couple of years before Covid. The hotel was a nice resort away from the city centre and I presented at a conference there. Then we did a couple of customer meetings in the city centre.

I was apprehensive but it was fine. The local team took really good care of me and everyone including our customers and partners were super friendly. Everywhere felt extremely safe. No alcohol is a bit annoying.

I did have a hairy moment a couple of days before and almost cancelled the trip - there were some missiles fired at Riyadh airport. When I phoned our local team, the guy told me "No, don't worry, it's totally safe! We shot down all the missiles! I'd tell you if there was a problem, trust me!"

Per above the visa application is a PITA and I don't think you can easily do it yourself. IIRC it has to be done in local language and there is some very specific process that has to be adhered to - I think it was getting your invitation letter stamped by some other organisation and a bunch of forms to be filled in. My company just paid a third party to take care of it and that made it a non factor.

 

[NickK]

As long as you're not daft enough to break one of the local laws, as if so you're coming home missing a hand, or cut up into pieces.

Just don’t take any medicines. Some are prohibited and will class you as a drug dealer and that could be fatal.

Always have the company arrange the transportation and ensure you have the details of the car and driver to confirm.

You can always check with the company travel firm how safe it is, visa, recommended travel or times when travel is not recommended.

I did Heathrow>Dubai>Quatar>Manilla>Hong Kong>Heathrow in 7 days. Landed in manilla during thwir military coup, just follow the guidance and you should be fine.

I remeber once having tickets to go to Australia for an hour presentation, the deal was I got 5 days of personal time if I travelled back via Singapore todo some presales training.

 

[Siliconslave]

I did have a hairy moment a couple of days before and almost cancelled the trip - there were some missiles fired at Riyadh airport. When I phoned our local team, the guy told me "No, don't worry, it's totally safe! We shot down all the missiles! I'd tell you if there was a problem, trust me!"

This and this:

I was there with an armed escort and they were extremely unhappy when around the police there but it was fine in the end.

aren't helping

Trips all sorted, will be on the ground for around 25hrs so got a hotel for the night, will do the meetings then head back to the airport.

Luckily I don't have to do these sort of trips too often but its part of the job and i'm compensated enough to put up with it once in a while

Just don’t take any medicines. Some are prohibited and will class you as a drug dealer and that could be fatal.

Oh, I know - the strongest stuff i'll take is some gaviscon!

 

[Throrik]

I did Heathrow>Dubai>Quatar>Manilla>Hong Kong>Heathrow in 7 days. Landed in manilla during thwir military coup, just follow the guidance and you should be fine.

I did Manilla days after the bomb explosion, and was working very close to where it had gone off. Never seen so many shotguns in my life. Searched, Metal Detectors and Sniffer Dogs every single time I left multiple buildings, was a bit crazy but understandable.

 

[Lopéz]

I've just been asked if I would be happy to be assigned to a project in Saudi Arabia, with an expectation of travel there at least once a month for an as-yet unspecified project duration - so I would be very interested to hear your feedback after your visit.

I don't honestly know how I feel about it on moral grounds overall, which is not something I've ever had to consider before.

 

[NickK]

I did Manilla days after the bomb explosion, and was working very close to where it had gone off. Never seen so many shotguns in my life. Searched, Metal Detectors and Sniffer Dogs every single time I left multiple buildings, was a bit crazy but understandable.

Yup and the first i knew was the taxi driver saying i may notice a few tanks and military etc but that they were overdue a coup.. almost like it’s an election. Sat in the hotel for the weekend - like every hotel in manilla it had a multi floor shopping arcade attached and seven restaurants! You could see the tanks and protestors outside and every exit had armed guard, baggage scanner etc. The taxi driver said nothing to worry during the day it’s too hot as everyone sits around with bottles of water.. crunch time is dawn/dusk.
Business as usual although people at work had been told I disappeared lol (had a 24h stopover delayed flight hence the qatar leg) so i got an extra couple of days.. all the visa/passport stuff was handled by the travel firm (Carlson wagonwhatsiysface).

 

[NickK]

I've just been asked if I would be happy to be assigned to a project in Saudi Arabia, with an expectation of travel there at least once a month for an as-yet unspecified project duration - so I would be very interested to hear your feedback after your visit.

I don't honestly know how I feel about it on moral grounds overall, which is not something I've ever had to consider before.

if you stick to the rules, the expat areas and not be too frustrated with being treated as hired help (depends on the relationship you have and how useful you are) then people can be very friendly.
I’d just be concerned with the current ukraine mess.

 

[Siliconslave]

I've just been asked if I would be happy to be assigned to a project in Saudi Arabia, with an expectation of travel there at least once a month for an as-yet unspecified project duration - so I would be very interested to hear your feedback after your visit.

I don't honestly know how I feel about it on moral grounds overall, which is not something I've ever had to consider before.

will do - trying to ignore the second part for the most part...

 

[Freefaller]

I didn't have armed escorts or anything like that. But it was after they opened up their borders so perhaps a different experience. I honestly just took a taxi and got around ok. My Arabic is quite rusty but I know enough to get by and break the ice.

I guess it depends on what you're doing. Other than the motorways and driving standards honestly didn't feel intimidating or weird.

 

[Orangeade]

I've just been asked if I would be happy to be assigned to a project in Saudi Arabia, with an expectation of travel there at least once a month for an as-yet unspecified project duration - so I would be very interested to hear your feedback after your visit.

I don't honestly know how I feel about it on moral grounds overall, which is not something I've ever had to consider before.

Had same issue regarding your second point. Had a potentially huge life changing chance of a role (I've been involved in Sharia finance before) but in the end I just couldn't reconcile it with my values.

It was a bit of a regret as it would have been life changing and wouldn't even have to have stayed that long.....but just didn't feel right.

(not saying others should feel the same, just giving my opinion)