This page contains information on the following:

• Visas, Health, Safety and Diet
• Weather/Dress
• Flight Information
• Ground Transportation
• About Jeddah

For additional information, please contact events@eonetwork.org.

Visas, health, safety and diet

Visas

The EO Saudi Arabia College Committee will be securing visa approvals for all attendees, after which time it is the responsibility of the member to obtain the visa stamp in their passport from their local Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate. 

In order to obtain a visa, we ask that you send the following information to visa@EOsaudi.org. It is extremely important that you begin this process immediately to ensure the timely expedition of your visa approval.

1. The Saudi Arabia Visa Approval Information Sheet
2. Scanned copy of your passport
3. Digital 2"x2" photo of you with a white background

Once the committee has arranged for your visa approval, they will forward the pertinent information to you. It is then your responsibility to either mail or bring the visa approval forms along with the payment indicated to your local Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate so that they may issue the visa.

The 2010 EO Saudi Arabia College Committee can answer any questions you have regarding visas.

Health

Good, modern medical facilities are easily available in major Saudi Arabian cities. Travelers are advised to bring the following items: any regularly prescribed medicines in their original bottles and diarrhea medicine (over-the-counter products are fine). Jeddah is not considered an at-risk area for malaria, but if you plan to travel outside Jeddah, be sure to check that area’s risk level. If you have questions, it is recommended that you consult a travel medicine clinic before departure.

Safety

Every precaution is being taken to ensure your safety while in Saudi Arabia.

1. The College will be held at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel, a top property with vast experience hosting international business people and heads of state
2. The local authorities are aware of the College and will be providing special security for the event
3. If you have any concerns, the Saudi Arabia College committee invites you to contact them or any of the global EO members who have previously visited the country
4. Lastly, it is recommended that you check with your national Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travelling for up-to-date information

The 2010 EO Saudi Arabia College Committee can answer any questions you have regarding safety.

Diet

All kinds of cuisine is available in Saudi Arabia. Alcohol is forbidden by law, but non-alcoholic cocktails and beer are available. Arabic coffee and other fruit drinks are popular drinks.

EO wishes to accommodate your dietary needs while you're with us. If you have any special needs or requirements, please fill out and fax the dietary restriction form to +1.703.519.1864 or e-mail it to events@eonetwork.org. If you suffer from severe food allergies, we encourage you to visit this Web site and consider purchasing food and travel-translation cards to effectively communicate your needs while traveling.

Weather/Dress

Weather

In January, temperatures in Jeddah range from 65-81 degrees Fahrenheit (19-29 degrees Celsius). Rainfall is generally sparse; the average level of precipitation in January is 5 mm (0.2 in). We suggest that you dress in layers; though it will be warm outside during the day, some may find the hotel and outdoor evening events cool, specifically the mountain ranch on the final evening.

Dress

Clothing customs in Saudi Arabia reflect traditional values. Visiting men should wear long pants and avoid wearing shorts. Local men wear a traditional dress called a thobe, a long-sleeved, ankle-length garment. They are generally white and made of cotton, which is perfectly suited to the hot climate; however, in winter, thobes can be found in various colors and are made of wool. On their heads, men wear a tagiyah, a white knitted skull cap, covered by a ghutra, a square scarf, all kept in place by a thick black cord called the agal. 

Visiting women should wear loose-fitting pants or skirts that cover the legs and tops with modest necklines and sleeves that cover most of the arms. Local women wear a black cloak called an abaya, sometimes with a head scarf (hijab) and veil (boshiya). 

Male attendees are welcome to wear Western business casual (nice slacks and collared shirt) or a thobe. Female attendees are encouraged to wear an abaya in public. To help our members and their guests follow Saudi Arabian customs, we are providing custom designed thobes and abayas to our attendees. Please fill out and e-mail the men's and/or women's order form(s) to events@eonetwork.org, or fax them to +1.703.519.1864.

Dress Code Clarification (14 Dec 2009): We encourage attendees to wear their thobes and abayas while in Saudi Arabia. Thobes and abayas will be issued at the EO Registration Desk upon check in for the Saudi Arabia College. Please note that the dress code of this event is business casual.

Men are not required to wear thobes for the duration of the event. For men, business casual includes nice slacks and collared shirts. If you plan to be in Saudi Arabia before or after this event, you are welcome to wear jeans, t-shirts, suits, etc. Shorts are suitable for the beach or the pool, but usually not in public.

Women need to dress conservatively (long sleeves, long pants or skirts). Business casual attire for women includes nice slacks, skirts and blouses. Women will need to wear the abaya over the outfit when in public.

Flight Information

Travel Times

Registration opens on Monday, 18 January at 4 p.m. with the Welcome Reception starting at 7:30 p.m. Please plan your flights accordingly. Departures may be scheduled for anytime starting Friday, 22 January.

Airport

The King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), one of the busiest airports in the world, serves Jeddah. It has four terminals, including a special outdoor Hajj Terminal for more than two million pilgrims who pass through the airport during the Hajj season. The Southern Terminal is for domestic Saudi Airlines flights, while the Northern Terminal is for foreign and other national airlines.

A VIP airport transfer to and from King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) is included in your registration fee. This will include admittance into the VIP Terminal, meet and greet and luggage service, as well as transportation to and from the hotel. Please submit your flight information to EO at events@eonetwork.org.

Special Discount on Airfare

Continental Airlines is offering exclusive discounts of up to 18 percent on the lowest published fares for all members traveling to EO events anywhere in the world! For more information about this EO event discount, click here.

Ground Transportation

Airport Transportation