Al Madinah Province in western Saudi Arabia combines Madinah, the city of the Prophet's Mosque, with AlUla's UNESCO-listed Hegra, the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and early Islamic sites at Badr, Khaybar and Uhud. This guide covers sights, hotels, food, access rules for non-Muslims and getting around.
Violent crime against visitors is rare in Madinah, AlUla and Yanbu, and policing around Masjid an-Nabawi is heavy. The practical risks are heat, dehydration, dense crowds, desert driving, flash floods in winter and unlicensed Umrah or taxi operators. Non-Muslims cannot enter Masjid an-Nabawi or the Haram precinct.
Current safety advisory
Low-To-Moderate (Crowd And Heat Risk)
Everyday crime is low, but Madinah is crowded in peak seasons, hot, and its mosque is closed to non-Muslims. Rawdah and Umrah permits are booked through the Nusuk platform (nusuk.sa and the Nusuk app).
Last updated: 2026-10-21
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Travel advisory
Travel advisory
Travel advisory
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Drink water often; Zamzam and cold-water stations are throughout Masjid an-Nabawi.
Carry the Nusuk permit and ID; checkpoints on roads near the mosque check permits and religion.
Avoid midday outdoor visits from May to September; heat stroke is the largest everyday health risk, including at AlUla and Hegra.
Choose a landmark and a meeting gate number before entering crowds and agree it with family.
Keep valuables in a hotel safe and use a zipped bag in the plazas and malls.
Use licensed taxis or Uber/Careem rather than unmarked cars near the mosque.
Drive carefully on desert roads to AlUla, Badr and Khaybar: carry water, fuel up in towns and watch for camels and flash floods.
Follow the instructions of mosque guards and volunteers; one-way crowd flows are enforced at peak times.
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Unlicensed Umrah or ziyarah packages
Sellers offering permits or visas outside official channels, sometimes via social media.
How to avoid: Book permits only through the Nusuk app or a licensed provider listed there; never pay a stranger for a Rawdah slot.
Unmarked taxis near the mosque
Drivers quote inflated flat fares to pilgrims, especially after prayers.
How to avoid: Book with Uber or Careem, which show the fare first, or agree the price before getting in.
Street charity collectors
Informal collectors approach pilgrims for donations.
How to avoid: Give only through recognised charities or official donation points.
Pickpocketing in crowds
Phones and wallets are taken in the plazas, gate areas and malls at peak times.
How to avoid: Carry a zipped cross-body bag and keep a phone lanyard.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- Saudi Arabia requires proof of quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccination for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims, and polio or yellow fever certificates for travellers from some countries. Routine vaccines and seasonal flu are advised; check the Saudi Ministry of Health and Nusuk for the current list.
- Water
- Tap water is treated, but bottled water and Zamzam water are the usual choices.
- Food
- Hygiene is generally good in hotels and malls; eat freshly cooked food during hot months.
- Facilities
- King Salman Medical City (Madinah) and Ohud Hospital provide emergency care in Madinah; the Prophet's Mosque has Saudi Red Crescent first-aid posts. AlUla has the AlUla General Hospital and Yanbu has King Fahad Hospital Yanbu and Yanbu General Hospital. Call 997 for an ambulance.
- Heat
- Wear light clothing, use an umbrella for shade, and rest at the first sign of dizziness, headache or nausea.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Share the hotel address and Nusuk booking with someone at home., Keep a note of the hotel name in Arabic for taxi drivers., Charge your phone and carry a power bank., On desert trips to AlUla, Badr and Khaybar, share your route and carry water and a spare tyre.
Female travellers
Dress modestly; an abaya or loose long clothing is standard in Madinah, and a headscarf is expected in the mosque., Use the women's prayer sections and Rawdah windows; stay with a group or family at peak times., Use Uber or Careem at night rather than street taxis., Report harassment to security or call 911.
Families
Write the hotel name, room number and a phone number on a card or wristband for each child., Agree a meeting gate near Masjid an-Nabawi and photograph the gate sign., Keep strollers and wheelchairs to the lanes marked for them., Take shade and water breaks every 30 minutes in warm months.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Same-sex sexual relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia and public displays of affection are discouraged for everyone; discretion is essential.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 999
- Medical
- 997
- Fire
- 998
- General Emergency
- 911
- Health Hotline
- 937 (Ministry of Health)
- Traffic
- 993 (Traffic police)
- Main Hospital
- King Salman Medical City, Madinah; emergency first-aid posts also operate at Masjid an-Nabawi