Expat Community > Saudi Arabia

nega9000
Joined 2007
Posts: 1

Newbie advice

17 years ago

Hi folks,
In a couple of weeks I'm heading to Saudi to do some consulting work. I've been reading various posts/blogs etc about what you can and can't bring with you and am really confused. Apologies in advance, I know this question gets asked a lot, but I want the most up to date advice. So...

*I would like to take my laptop - should I delete anything that could be considered immoral on it before I go - will it be impounded and examined?

*Faced with the prospect of sitting in a hotel room with only Saudi tv for company, I'm thinking about taking my keyboard.. (I make electonic music in my spare time). Would an instrument be considered a seditious item?

*Ditto DVDs - some have said they have no probs at immigration, others say they're taken off you. If I were to take, say, a box set, unopened - would they watch it - what if there was the least bit of romance in it - eg a kiss? Would it be confiscated?

*Also, will Skype work over there? How about basic msn with a webcam?

Again, I know this has been asked before but I'm dreading the prospect of arriving in a strange city with my only outlets for entertainment confiscated or worse, getting banged up for trying to subvert the country!

Cheers,
N

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