{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/saudi-arabia/riyadh","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T09:41:55.401Z","place":{"city":"Riyadh","country":"Saudi Arabia","countryCode":"SA","lat":24.68773,"lon":46.72185},"safety":{"score":44,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":32,"confidence":0.66,"caps":[{"max":44,"reason":"Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel"}],"databaseScore":44,"travellerSentiment":{"score":90,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Visitors report feeling very safe walking alone after dark, with 92.6% expressing confidence in personal security, reflecting low street crime and strong police presence in tourist zones.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":93,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":82,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":90,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":70,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":59,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":3,"label":"Reconsider Travel","updated":"Fri, 13 Mar 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/saudi-arabia-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-09-20T19:23:47Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":3,"label":"Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-24T08:53:35.2257064-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":0.935259944754359,"display":"0.9 / 100k","year":"2019","score":95,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":18.5,"display":"18.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":45,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":65.0715555,"display":"65/100","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":60.5850662,"display":"61/100","year":"2024","score":61,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":63.0932113,"display":"63/100","year":"2024","score":63,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":66.5710105,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":66.0645617,"display":"66/100","year":"2024","score":66,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":29.7683225,"display":"30/100","year":"2024","score":30,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":4205961,"display":"4.2M residents","year":null,"score":51,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":23.2,"display":"23.2 / 100","year":null,"score":85,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":92.6,"display":"92.6%","year":"2023","score":98,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.14,"display":"0.14 / 100k","year":"2023","score":90,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":1031,"display":"US AQI 1031 · Hazardous","year":null,"score":2,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":40,"display":"September: highs ~40°C · extreme heat","year":null,"score":62,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":3,"display":"Level 3 — Reconsider Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":25,"source":"CA / US"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"No — Riyadh is not safe for travel at this time due to active Houthi missile and drone threats targeting the capital, despite low street crime and high personal security perceptions.","summary":"Riyadh scores 44/100 on safety, capped by the U.S. State Department's Level 3 'Reconsider Travel' advisory. While violent crime is extremely low and visitors report feeling safe walking alone after dark, the city faces ongoing regional security tensions from Houthi attacks, including missile and drone strikes near the airport and capital in September 2026. Tourist-targeted scams in markets and taxis remain a concern, but road safety and extreme heat pose greater day-to-day risks.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery and mugging of visitors is rare; incidents are mostly confined to poorly lit, non-tourist areas on the city outskirts."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded traditional markets like Souk Al Zal and during peak tourist hours at historic sites."},"safeAreas":["Al Olaya","Diplomatic Quarter","King Abdullah Financial District"],"avoidAreas":["Al Nakheel - reports of scam activity and disturbances; avoid at night","Al Sahafa - higher incidence of theft and fraud per expat reports"],"scams":["Taxi overcharging and fake police scams targeting tourists","Fake Hajj and Umrah operators","Souk overpricing and counterfeit goods in traditional markets"],"zones":[{"name":"Al Olaya","level":"safe","note":"Modern business district with upscale malls, hotels, and strong security presence; low crime and well-patrolled."},{"name":"Diplomatic Quarter","level":"safe","note":"Heavily secured area housing embassies and diplomatic residences; excellent security infrastructure."},{"name":"King Abdullah Financial District","level":"safe","note":"New financial center with modern architecture and strong security during business hours; cautious after dark."},{"name":"Al Masif","level":"caution","note":"Historic UNESCO site (Diriyah); generally safe but crowded during peak times and prone to petty scams."},{"name":"Al Batha","level":"caution","note":"Commercial district with traditional markets (Souq Al Zal); higher risk of pickpocketing and tourist-targeted scams."},{"name":"Al Murabba","level":"caution","note":"Working-class neighborhood with higher crime rates; exercise extra caution, especially after dark."},{"name":"Al Nakheel","level":"avoid","note":"Reports of increased scam activity and occasional disturbances; avoid at night and remain vigilant."},{"name":"Al Sahafa","level":"avoid","note":"Noted in expat reports for higher incidence of theft and fraud; avoid isolated areas after dark."}]}}