Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE73660
2008-07-09 19:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
TRAVEL WARNING - SAUDI ARABIA
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 073660
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - SAUDI ARABIA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 073660
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - SAUDI ARABIA
1. This Travel Warning updates information on the
security situation in Saudi Arabia and reminds U.S
. citizens of recommended security precautions. It
supersedes the Travel Warning issued December 19,
2007.
2. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to
consider carefully the risks of traveling to Saudi
Arabia. There is an ongoing security threat due to
the continued presence of terrorist groups, some
affiliated with al Qaida, who may target Western
interests, housing compounds, and other facilities
where Westerners congregate. These terrorist groups
may also target Saudi Government facilities and
economic/commercial targets within the Kingdom.
3. In February 2007, four French tourists were
killed in a terrorist incident on a desert track
north of Medina. A gunman fired shots at the U.S.
Consulate General in Jeddah in May 2006. In
February 2006, an attack was attempted on Saudi
oil facilities in Abqaiq in the Eastern Province.
An armed attack on the U.S. Consulate General in
Jeddah on December 6, 2004, resulted in five deaths
and eleven serious injuries among non-U.S. staff members.
4. Although terrorists have not conducted a successful
attack against Westerners since February 2007, the
United States Mission in Saudi Arabia remains an
unaccompanied post as a result of continued security
concerns. The Department of State has approved a
family visitation program, in part because of the
significant progress Saudi security forces have made
in counteracting the terrorist threat within Saudi
Arabia as they continue to arrest and break up
terrorist cells.
5. From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates
in Saudi Arabia may restrict 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.
6. American citizens who choose to visit Saudi Arabia
are strongly urged to avoid staying in hotels or housing
compounds that do not apply stringent security measures
and are also advised to maintain good situational
awareness when visiting commercial establishments
frequented by Westerners. American citizens also are
advised to keep a low profile; vary times and routes
of travel; exercise caution while driving, entering or
exiting vehicles; and ensure that travel documents and
visas are current and valid.
7. The Department of State advises that under Saudi
law, married women need the permission of their husbands
to leave Saudi Arabia and their children will require
their father's permission to exit the country. This is
true regardless of nationality. The U.S. Embassy has
very limited ability to facilitate exit permission.
8. On February 20, 2008, a new regulation took effect.
It requires Saudi men seeking the mandatory permission
from their government to marry a foreign woman to sign a
binding document granting irrevocable permission for
their foreign-born spouse, and children born to them
and that spouse, to travel freely and unhindered in
STATE 00073660 002 OF 002
and out of Saudi Arabia. However, this regulation is
not retroactive. Under Saudi law, women married to Saudi
males prior to the effective date of these new
regulations still need the permission of their husbands
to leave Saudi Arabia, and their children require the
permission of their fathers to leave the country.
9. Updated information on travel and security in Saudi
Arabia may be obtained from the Department of State by
calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. or Canada
or, from outside the U.S. or Canada on a regular toll
line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available
from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday (except U.S. federal holidays.) For additional
information, consult the Department of State's Country
Specific Information for Saudi Arabia, and the Worldwide
Caution at http://travel.state.gov.
10. U.S. citizens who require emergency services may
telephone the Embassy in Riyadh at (966) (1) 488-3800,
the Consulate in Jeddah at (966) (2) 667-0080, or the
Consulate in Dhahran at (966) (3) 330-3200.
11. Minimize considered.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - SAUDI ARABIA
1. This Travel Warning updates information on the
security situation in Saudi Arabia and reminds U.S
. citizens of recommended security precautions. It
supersedes the Travel Warning issued December 19,
2007.
2. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to
consider carefully the risks of traveling to Saudi
Arabia. There is an ongoing security threat due to
the continued presence of terrorist groups, some
affiliated with al Qaida, who may target Western
interests, housing compounds, and other facilities
where Westerners congregate. These terrorist groups
may also target Saudi Government facilities and
economic/commercial targets within the Kingdom.
3. In February 2007, four French tourists were
killed in a terrorist incident on a desert track
north of Medina. A gunman fired shots at the U.S.
Consulate General in Jeddah in May 2006. In
February 2006, an attack was attempted on Saudi
oil facilities in Abqaiq in the Eastern Province.
An armed attack on the U.S. Consulate General in
Jeddah on December 6, 2004, resulted in five deaths
and eleven serious injuries among non-U.S. staff members.
4. Although terrorists have not conducted a successful
attack against Westerners since February 2007, the
United States Mission in Saudi Arabia remains an
unaccompanied post as a result of continued security
concerns. The Department of State has approved a
family visitation program, in part because of the
significant progress Saudi security forces have made
in counteracting the terrorist threat within Saudi
Arabia as they continue to arrest and break up
terrorist cells.
5. From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates
in Saudi Arabia may restrict 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.
6. American citizens who choose to visit Saudi Arabia
are strongly urged to avoid staying in hotels or housing
compounds that do not apply stringent security measures
and are also advised to maintain good situational
awareness when visiting commercial establishments
frequented by Westerners. American citizens also are
advised to keep a low profile; vary times and routes
of travel; exercise caution while driving, entering or
exiting vehicles; and ensure that travel documents and
visas are current and valid.
7. The Department of State advises that under Saudi
law, married women need the permission of their husbands
to leave Saudi Arabia and their children will require
their father's permission to exit the country. This is
true regardless of nationality. The U.S. Embassy has
very limited ability to facilitate exit permission.
8. On February 20, 2008, a new regulation took effect.
It requires Saudi men seeking the mandatory permission
from their government to marry a foreign woman to sign a
binding document granting irrevocable permission for
their foreign-born spouse, and children born to them
and that spouse, to travel freely and unhindered in
STATE 00073660 002 OF 002
and out of Saudi Arabia. However, this regulation is
not retroactive. Under Saudi law, women married to Saudi
males prior to the effective date of these new
regulations still need the permission of their husbands
to leave Saudi Arabia, and their children require the
permission of their fathers to leave the country.
9. Updated information on travel and security in Saudi
Arabia may be obtained from the Department of State by
calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. or Canada
or, from outside the U.S. or Canada on a regular toll
line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available
from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday (except U.S. federal holidays.) For additional
information, consult the Department of State's Country
Specific Information for Saudi Arabia, and the Worldwide
Caution at http://travel.state.gov.
10. U.S. citizens who require emergency services may
telephone the Embassy in Riyadh at (966) (1) 488-3800,
the Consulate in Jeddah at (966) (2) 667-0080, or the
Consulate in Dhahran at (966) (3) 330-3200.
11. Minimize considered.
RICE