Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Saudi Arabia?We have not yet checked Saudi Arabia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Saudi Arabia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
We have not yet checked Saudi Arabia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Saudi Arabia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Saudi Arabia
We have not yet checked Saudi Arabia’s own rules for foreign licences.
If you need an IDP in Saudi Arabia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Which IDP version Saudi Arabia accepts
Saudi Arabia is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, not the 1949 Geneva Convention, so it recognises the 1968 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 12 May 2016) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Saudi Arabia
Ask for the 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1968 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK licence. Canadian licence holders need an IDP. The US advice does not say.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 October 2026
US licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: US Department of State, updated 22 October 2026
Canadian licence holdersIDP required.Source: Government of Canada, updated 29 October 2026
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence for the first 3 months after you arrive in Saudi Arabia.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia, updated 27 October 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
Temporary visitors may drive using their valid U.S. or international driver's license for up to 90 days. … Foreigners resident in Saudi Arabia who wish to drive must obtain a local driver's license from the Department of Traffic Police.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Saudi Arabia, updated 22 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You must carry an International Driving Permit.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Saudi Arabia, updated 29 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Saudi Arabia with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Saudi Arabia’s own rules for foreign licences. If you need an IDP in Saudi Arabia, it must be the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP is not valid here.
Can I drive in Saudi Arabia with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Saudi Arabia is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 12 May 2016), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Saudi Arabia with a 1949 IDP?
No. Saudi Arabia is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so a 1949 IDP is not valid here. Saudi Arabia recognises the 1968 IDP.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Saudi Arabia?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Saudi Arabia. Source: UK FCDO, updated 27 October 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Saudi Arabia?
The US Department of State advice does not say. Source: US Department of State, updated 22 October 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Source: Government of Canada, updated 29 October 2026.
How long can I drive in Saudi Arabia with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 27 October 2026): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence for the first 3 months after you arrive in Saudi Arabia.” US Department of State (updated 22 October 2026): “Temporary visitors may drive using their valid U.S. or international driver's license for up to 90 days.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Afghanistan?
- Do I need an IDP in Armenia?
- Do I need an IDP in Azerbaijan?
- How to get citizenship of Saudi Arabia
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Saudi Arabia. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Saudi Arabia. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Saudi Arabia. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above are derived automatically from the government text quoted on this page. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.