Business Travel to Riyadh: Advice and Top Tips for First Timers
As the gateway to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 transformation, Riyadh is quickly flourishing into one of the most exciting business travel destinations in the Middle East. Recently, Synergy’s Supply Chain Director, LauraJane Igoe, spent a week in the capital, experiencing the city as a first timer, visiting partners, touring apartments and soaking up the very best of the city.
As she landed back on British soil full of passion and excitement for the city’s future, LauraJane came back eager to share her experience as a business traveller in Riyadh. In this blog, she shares her personal take on what to expect, including tips, tricks and reflections that go beyond your average travel guidebook. Whether you’re visiting for work, travelling for leisure or relocating to Riyadh, these insights will help you navigate your first visit to Saudi Arabia.
Q: What were your first impressions of Riyadh?
Flying into Riyadh for the first time felt surreal. All I could see was this dessert and then Riyadh came into view almost out of nowhere. It was striking.
Customs was straight forward and well managed, but it felt slightly overwhelming once I came through arrivals as there were many persistent taxi drivers encouraging me to use their services to get to my apartment. While I’m certain it was safe, I definitely found that situation stressful and opted to make my way via Uber, but you can also take the metro into the city too.
It really surprised me how much of Riyadh was a work in progress — there were cranes everywhere and new buildings going up at pace. You can feel the ambition and investment that’s going into Riyadh; there’s this real sense of momentum and transformation happening. It's exciting to be a part of it.
Q: How did you get about?
Riyadh has invested significantly in infrastructure upgrades as part of its Vision 2030 initiative and getting around is very accessible. Ride hailing apps like Uber and Careem are widely used in Riyadh and are very affordable. Another viable option is the Riyadh metro, which has recently opened and includes 85 stations across 6 lines. Trains offer mixed gender travel as well as segregation into family, single male and women-only carriages to ensure comfort and cultural alignment.
It’s important to note that due to its ongoing infrastructure upgrades and harsh climate, Riyadh is not a walking city.
Q: Which cultural differences did you observe?
Embracing, learning and living Saudi Arabia’s rich culture has to be one of the biggest highlights of my trip. The country has deep cultural roots shaped by Islamic values which promote honesty, equality kindness, charity and patience. I felt incredibly safe and respected by everyone while I was there, even as a solo female business traveller.
Friday is the most important day of the week in Saudi Arabia due to its significance in Islam. It is the equivalent to Sunday in Christian countries and business weeks therefore run from Sunday to Thursday. Individuals who practice Islam typically pray 4-5 times a day and you will likely hear the call to prayer or “adhan” sang across the city during these times. You are expected to remain quiet and respectful during these periods. I found this beautiful, and I really admired Saudi Arabia’s peaceful culture.
Relationships and trust are key when communicating both personally and professionally in Saudi Arabia. Due to the country’s emphasis on respect, indirectness can be a popular way to communicate in Saudi Arabia and is seen as a sign of politeness. You may hear phrases like “inshallah” (God willing) or “we’ll see” instead of a hard no.
Top Tip: learn key greetings like “as-salamu alaykum” which means “peace be upon you” as a sign of respect.
Q: You mentioned you felt safe as a solo female traveller, tell us more!
I can’t stress enough how safe Riyadh was. The city was one of the only countries in the world where I would feel safe walking around on my own late at night and I think that speaks volumes.
It’s important to be aware that gender specific amenities are the norm across nearly all public spaces. Recent years have brought notable shifts however, especially in hospitality, entertainment, dining and retail spaces.
It is not uncommon to find women-only sections in places like gyms, government buildings and schools, and it is the norm to have separate entrances for men and women in certain establishments. Recently, gender restrictions have relaxed and areas such as restaurants, entertainment venues and offices no longer require segregated areas for men and women, especially in cities like Riyadh.
Q: What are some things a first-time traveller should know about expectations in a professional environment?
There were a few elements I observed in Riyadh in relation to customs and norms. First, you should always expect small talk before business and ensure you are aware of non-verbal communication signals like always using your right hand for greetings, eating and giving/receiving items.
Saudi Arabia also encourages dressing modestly for both men and women. As a woman, the general rule of thumb is to ensure your shoulders, legs and chest are covered and to cover your head and hair, especially at work and when visiting religious buildings.
Q: What other advice would you give to someone new to Riyadh?
Here are some of the must-knows:
Money: The Saudi Riyal (SAR) is the standard currency used in Saudi Arabia. You will be able to pay in both cash and credit/debit cards, as well as with popular contactless options like Apple Pay.
Weather and climate: Due to its desert location, Riyadh has very hot summers, mild winters and very little rainfall. Averages temperatures in the summer can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius (122F).
Food and groceries: Popular chains include Panda, Tamimi Markets, Carrefour and Danube. If delivering food to your home, popular fast-food delivery apps include HungerStation and Jahez which are especially efficient in cities like Riyadh. Most apps support English and cashless payments.
Entertainment: Due to Riyadh’s high temperatures, the locals do not typically “come alive” until around 9-10pm. Riyadh is bursting with entertainment facilities from theme parks to gaming events to sporting spectacles and concerts all thanks to the country’s Vision 2030.
Q: What should a first timer expect from their accommodation in Riyadh?
Saudi Arabia’s plan to add approximately 315,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 marks an unprecedented acceleration in its hospitality development, with new accommodations being introduced at lightning speed. This massive expansion spans the full spectrum of lodging—from opulent luxury hotels to practical mid-range properties and flexible serviced apartments.
The most popular type of apartment in Riyadh is an aparthotel which blends the features of both an apartment and a hotel. They typically offer a selection of standardised apartments within a modern and purpose-built property. Central locations, brand signage and access lighting make aparthotels very easy to find and service staff will be on site to provide a seamless arrival experience.
Key features include:
- Bedroom
- Living space and dining area
- Fully equipped kitchenette or kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Designated prayer rooms
- Laundry facilities (most commonly within the apartment)
- Hotel-like services including 24-hour reception, security, housekeeping, a 24-hour Synergy support line and leisure facilities including swimming pools, a sauna or spa.
Round the clock services and on-site maintenance teams will ensure maintenance requests are efficiently handled.
It’s common for aparthotels to have two separate gyms, spas and swimming pools for men and women. In aparthotels with a shared leisure space, the segregated gender times are eliminated, with both genders able to access at opening times.
How Synergy Can Help
At Synergy, we support your global workforce through expert corporate housing and serviced apartment solutions that align with your evolving business strategies—especially as you navigate business travel to Riyadh.
Whether your team is staying short- or long-term, relocating an office or opening a new plant, our global network of high-quality furnished apartments and temporary housing ensures your employees feel at home, wherever they go.
Synergy provides:
- Consultative, end-to-end programme management for international mobility and business travel goals
- A specialist team in reservations, guest services, supply chain and account management
- Access to an extensive portfolio of fully vetted, high-quality serviced apartments
- A high-touch service model prioritising traveller satisfaction and duty of care
- Innovative accommodation solutions tailored for modern business demands
