NZ licence 
Saudi ArabiaCan you drive in Saudi Arabia with an NZ license?
Short answer: to drive in Saudi Arabia with an NZ license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your NZ license.
Yes — to drive in Saudi Arabia on an NZ licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your NZ licence. Saudi Arabia expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
New Zealand drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Saudi Arabia is like
The mountain road up to Abha and the Soudah escarpment in the Asir highlands offers dramatic switchbacks and cool, green scenery unlike the rest of the kingdom. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 140 km/h on signed highways. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your NZ licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Saudi Arabia can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to NZ licence holders in Saudi Arabia
| NZ licence in Saudi Arabia | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your NZ licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| New Zealand is party to | 1949 Geneva |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 140 km/h on signed highways |
| Currency | SAR |
Driving rules in Saudi Arabia you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero alcohol — it is prohibited nationwide.
- Saher speed cameras are extensive.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
Local driving facts in Saudi Arabia
Emergency number: 911 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 140 km/h on signed highways. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is rolling out electronic RFID toll tags on some expressways, but most intercity roads remain free; a tourist generally pays no tolls, and any charge is handled through the rental's tag.
Parking in Saudi Arabia
Park only in designated and marked bays; major cities use paid parking apps and meters, and illegal parking brings fines and towing, with rental firms adding an admin fee.
Penalties & enforcement in Saudi Arabia
Saher cameras automatically fine speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, with penalties commonly running into hundreds to thousands of riyals; rental firms forward camera fines plus a handling fee, and you must clear them via Absher before leaving.
If you have an accident in Saudi Arabia
Call traffic police on 993 (or 911 in major cities) and the Najm insurance service; do not move the vehicles until documented, as a Najm/police report is mandatory and rental firms levy a ~SAR 150 admin fee plus fines if not reported within 24 hours via Absher.
City driving in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh's wide, fast ring roads and frequent speed cameras (Saher system) catch tourists off guard, and lane discipline at major interchanges is loose; watch following distance.
Winter driving in Saudi Arabia
No mandatory winter-tyre law; mountains around Abha and Taif and the northern desert can drop near freezing with rare ice, so drive to conditions but chains are not required.
Fuel in Saudi Arabia
Stations are attended and sell Petrol 91, Petrol 95 and diesel; prices are government-regulated and low, around SAR 2.18 per litre for 91, with cards accepted at most branded stations.
Sources: finalrentals.com, houseofsaud.com, giraffy.com, houseofsaud.com