Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula and the 12th largest country in the world. It occupies most of the peninsula and borders Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Yemen. REGIONS & CITIES • Riyadh (Capital): Financial and government hub, inland desert climate • Jeddah: Commercial port city, more liberal, Red Sea location • Dammam/Al Khobar: Eastern Province, oil industry center • Makkah & Madinah: Holy cities (non-Muslims cannot enter) • NEOM: Futuristic megaproject under construction VISION 2030 Saudi Arabia is undergoing a massive transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030. Key changes affecting expatriates: • Women now allowed to drive (2018) • Entertainment venues, cinemas, concerts now permitted • Tourism visas introduced • More relaxed social environment • Massive infrastructure projects creating thousands of jobs WHY SRI LANKANS CHOOSE SAUDI • Highest number of Sri Lankans in any Gulf country (~2 million) • High-paying jobs in oil sector • Strong demand for healthcare workers, teachers, engineers • Generous end-of-service benefits • Direct flights Colombo–Riyadh / Colombo–Jeddah CLIMATE Extremely hot desert climate. Summers in Riyadh reach 45–50°C. Jeddah is hot and humid year-round. Winters (Nov–Feb) are pleasant in Riyadh (10–25°C).