These are the tourist scams Trzly has documented across Saudiarabien, grouped by destination. Each one is real, with a clear way to stay safe. Read before you land.
Hur det fungerar: Drivers, especially near the airport or at mountain viewpoints where ride-hailing coverage is thinner than in Riyadh or Jeddah, sometimes quote a flat fare well above the going rate or claim the meter is broken.
Hur man undviker det: Use a ride-hailing app for a fixed, visible price wherever possible, and agree the fare clearly before setting off if you must use an unmetered taxi.
Hur det fungerar: Asir's mountain sidr honey is genuinely prized and expensive, which makes it a target for dilution with sugar syrup or cheaper honey, sold at a tempting discount to tourists who cannot tell the difference.
Hur man undviker det: Buy from a reputable, established honey shop rather than an informal roadside stall, and treat any price far below the going per-kilogram rate as a red flag.
Hur det fungerar: Fares for trips to and from mountain viewpoints can spike sharply during fog, rain or peak weekend traffic, catching visitors off guard if they only glance at the price once.
Hur man undviker det: Check the fare in the app before confirming a ride, and consider waiting a short while or arranging a fixed-price driver for popular routes during bad weather.
Hur det fungerar: With no public transport network and limited ride-hailing coverage compared to Riyadh or Jeddah, some drivers waiting near the airport or resorts quote an inflated flat fare to visitors who have no easy way to compare prices.
Hur man undviker det: Book through a ride-hailing app where possible, or agree your hotel's arranged transfer rate in advance. Confirm the fare before getting in if you must use an unmetered driver.
Hur det fungerar: Because Hegra, the desert safaris and other headline experiences are tightly managed through the Royal Commission for AlUla, informal operators or social media pages sometimes offer 'tours' that are not properly licensed or ticketed for restricted sites.
Hur man undviker det: Book activities directly through the official Experience AlUla website or app, or through operators listed there. Be wary of unusually cheap Hegra or Sharaan trips offered outside these channels.
Hur det fungerar: AlUla's oasis is famous for its dates and citrus, and some souvenir stalls near major sights price dates and gift items well above what you would pay at a local market or supermarket.
Hur man undviker det: Buy dates and local produce at a supermarket or a market stall away from the main tourist stops for a fairer price, and compare a couple of stalls before buying at a heritage site.
Hur det fungerar: Local reporting has documented cases in Dammam and Khobar markets of cheaper imported or lower-grade fish sold as premium local grouper (hamour) at several times the fair price, playing on buyers who cannot tell the varieties apart.
Hur man undviker det: Buy from an established fishmonger or restaurant with a visible menu and prices, ask what the fish actually is before ordering, and be wary of a 'premium local hamour' priced far above what other stalls are charging.
Hur det fungerar: Given how far King Fahd International Airport sits from the city, some unlicensed or unmetered drivers quote inflated flat fares to arriving visitors who have no easy way to judge a fair price for the distance.
Hur man undviker det: Book through Uber or Careem where possible, since the fare is fixed and shown before you ride, or agree the exact price with a licensed taxi driver before loading your bags.
Hur det fungerar: A small number of restaurants, particularly ones catering to visitors, skip a printed or displayed menu and quote prices verbally, then pad the final bill with extra items or higher-than-quoted prices.
Hur man undviker det: Ask to see a printed menu with prices before ordering, and if a restaurant will not show one, treat it as a reason to eat elsewhere.
Hur det fungerar: A street taxi without a working meter quotes a price several times the normal fare once you are already inside or near your destination, counting on you not knowing local rates.
Hur man undviker det: Use a ride-hailing app for an upfront fixed price whenever possible. If taking a street taxi, agree the full fare in words before the car moves, and know roughly what a short ride should cost.
Hur det fungerar: Vendors in Al-Balad's souqs, as in markets across the region, quote a first asking price with room built in for negotiation, especially for gold, textiles and souvenirs; visitors who do not know this can end up paying the full opening price.
Hur man undviker det: Treat the first price as a starting point rather than a scam by itself. Compare prices at two or three stalls before buying, and do not be afraid to walk away, which often brings a better offer.
Hur det fungerar: Individuals not affiliated with any licensed tour company approach visitors in Al-Balad offering an impromptu 'guided tour' or to arrange a boat or dive trip, then pressure for payment or add compulsory extra fees once you have already committed.
Hur man undviker det: Arrange guides, dive trips and tours through your hotel or an established company with clear online reviews rather than accepting an unsolicited offer on the street, and get the full all-inclusive price in writing before paying anything.
Hur det fungerar: Drivers cluster near the arrivals exit calling out 'taxi' or even 'Uber, Careem' while holding a phone, then charge far above the normal fare, especially late at night when official options are thin.
Hur man undviker det: Only take a taxi from the official rank or desk, or book through the Uber or Careem app and match the plate and driver. Never follow someone offering a ride inside the terminal, and agree or confirm the price before you get in.
Hur det fungerar: Some older street taxis have no working meter, or the driver quotes a high flat price once he realises you are a visitor, leaving you to pay several times the app fare for a short hop.
Hur man undviker det: Use Uber or Careem, which fix the price in advance, wherever you can. If you take a street taxi, agree the fare before setting off, keep small change ready, and have your destination written in Arabic or on a map.
Hur det fungerar: Around the King Fahd Causeway and its border, individuals may offer to speed up your crossing, handle paperwork or sell a faster lane for a fee, which is unnecessary and sometimes a simple overcharge.
Hur man undviker det: Complete the crossing yourself through the official lanes and booths; the process is signposted and straightforward. Decline offers of help for a fee, keep your own documents, and only pay official tolls and entry charges.
Hur det fungerar: At Half Moon Bay and other beaches, operators renting jet skis, quad bikes or buggies sometimes quote a vague price and then charge much more, or add extra minutes and 'damage' fees at the end.
Hur man undviker det: Agree the exact price, duration and what is included before you start, ideally in writing or on a phone screen. Inspect the equipment first, and be wary of anyone pressuring you into a quick deal without clear terms.
Hur det fungerar: Shops near malls and tourist spots may start prices very high for souvenirs, perfumes, oud and 'Bahraini pearls', presenting ordinary items as rare or premium to visitors who do not compare prices.
Hur man undviker det: Compare a few shops and expect to negotiate in the souks and smaller stores. Be sceptical of genuine-pearl or rare-oud claims, and buy higher-value items only from established, reputable shops with clear pricing.
Hur det fungerar: A street or airport taxi driver refuses to use the meter, quotes a high flat fare after you are seated, or claims not to have change for a large note.
Hur man undviker det: Use a ride-hailing app where the price is set in advance, or insist on the meter before getting in. Carry small notes and agree the fare clearly if you must use a street taxi.
Hur det fungerar: Unlicensed drivers touting rides at the airport or on the street quote a high flat fare once you are in the car, with no meter and no app to check the price against.
Hur man undviker det: Insist on booking through Careem or Uber, or agree the exact fare with a licensed driver before getting in. Avoid anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride.
Hur det fungerar: Some stallholders in Souq Al-Zal and the Dirah district open with a price several times the normal local rate when they spot a foreign visitor, expecting no pushback.
Hur man undviker det: Counter-offer at roughly 40-50% of the asking price and be ready to walk away. Check a couple of stalls first to get a feel for the real going rate.
Hur det fungerar: Shops sell diluted or synthetic oud oil and perfume as pure and premium at a high price, playing on a visitor's unfamiliarity with the real thing.
Hur man undviker det: Buy from reputable perfume houses, ask to smell and compare, and be sceptical of 'pure oud' at a bargain price. Get a receipt and avoid pressure to buy quickly.
Hur det fungerar: On the Jeddah and Mecca to Taif route and around town, some drivers quote inflated flat fares to tourists, refuse to use a meter, or claim it is broken, leaving you paying well above the fair price.
Hur man undviker det: Use Uber or Careem, which fix the price in the app, or the cheap SAPTCO bus for the mountain road. If you must take a street taxi, agree the fare clearly before getting in and have a rough idea of the going rate.
Hur det fungerar: Taif rose oil (attar) is famously expensive, so diluted, synthetic or foreign rose products are sometimes sold as pure local attar or rose water at a premium, especially to visitors.
Hur man undviker det: Buy rose water and oil from an established rose farm or a reputable perfume shop, ideally where you can see the distillation. Be wary of street prices that seem too good for 'pure' Taif rose, and keep receipts for costly attar.
Hur det fungerar: Genuine Taif mountain and sidr honey commands high prices, and some sellers pass off cheaper, blended or sugar-adulterated honey as premium local product.
Hur man undviker det: Buy from known farms, cooperatives or established shops rather than roadside stalls making big claims, and treat unusually cheap 'pure mountain honey' with suspicion.
Hur det fungerar: At places like Shubra Palace or the rose farms, someone may attach themselves as an informal 'guide' or offer special access, then ask for a steep tip afterwards.
Hur man undviker det: Decide up front whether you want a guide and agree any fee before starting. A polite, firm no is enough, and most sites are easy to enjoy on your own.
Hur det fungerar: Shops near tourist spots may start prices high on perfumes, rose products and trinkets, or present ordinary goods as rare, especially to visitors who do not haggle.
Hur man undviker det: Haggling is normal in the souk, so compare a few stalls and expect to pay below the first price. Buy costlier items like attar and honey from established sellers.