In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Saudi Arabia
Ha'il
حائل
Spend 1–2 days in Ha'il for rock‑art sites and the A'arif Fort; arrive by plane or train and stay near the airport.
Ha'il sits on the edge of the Nejd plateau, about 1,000 m elevation, giving milder summer temps. Its main draws are UNESCO‑listed rock art at Jubbah and Shuwaymis and historic forts. A short stay (1‑2 days) covers the key sights; longer trips suit hikers heading into the surrounding mountains.
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Local name
- حائل
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (hot, dusty)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- SAR
- Money
- SAR (riyal) is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.75.
- Daily spend
- Budget SAR 150–250 excl. bed · Mid SAR 250–400 excl. bed · High SAR 400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- STC, Mobily and Zain sell tourist SIMs at arrivals; passport and fingerprint registration are required.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Ambulance 997 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types G, C, F · 230 V · 60 Hz · UK-style three-pin (G) is the standard; older buildings may have European sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% if no service charge; small change at cafés.; Ride-hailing / taxi: Round up or tip in the app.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: SAR 5–10.; Guide / driver day: SAR 50–100 guide; SAR 30–50 driver.; Fuel station attendant: SAR 2–5 if they clean the windows.
- Water
- Tap water is desalinated and treated; most people drink bottled water, sold everywhere for SAR 1–2.
- Toilets
- Western toilets with a hand shower in malls, hotels and mosques; squat toilets at older fuel stations. Malls and mosques are the free public options.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | SAR 5–8 |
| Meal (local restaurant) | SAR 20–45 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | SAR 30–45 |
| Domestic flight (Riyadh‑Ha'il) | SAR 300–400 |
| Rail ticket (Riyadh‑Ha'il) | SAR 250–300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HAS · Ha'il Regional Airport
- 10 km (6.2 mi) south of city centre; domestic flights from Riyadh/Jeddah, limited intl to Dubai/Kuwait/Cairo.6.2 mi (10 km) south of city centre; domestic flights from Riyadh/Jeddah, limited intl to Dubai/Kuwait/Cairo.
Typical fares
- HAS → city centre (taxi)
- ≈ SAR 80, 10 min (check)
- Riyadh → Ha'il (train)
- ≈ SAR 250, 4 h 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxi apps (Uber, Careem) dominate; car rentals at the airport. The North‑South Railway station 15 km (9.3 mi) north links to Riyadh (≈4 h 30 min, six days/week).Taxi apps (Uber, Careem) dominate; car rentals at the airport. The North‑South Railway station 9.3 mi (15 km) north links to Riyadh (≈4 h 30 min, six days/week).
See and do
Known for
- Jubbah rock art (UNESCO)
- A'arif Fort
- Barzan Palace
- Qishlah Fortress
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jubbah Rock Art | Hire a car or join a tour; 90 km (56 mi) NW, about 1 h 30 min driveHire a car or join a tour; 56 mi (90 km) NW, about 1 h 30 min drive | ≈2 h round‑trip |
| A'arif Fort | Walk or short taxi from city centre (≈10 min) | ≈30 min total |
| Barzan Palace | Taxi 15 min north of centre | ≈45 min total |
Sleep
- Al Afaq Suites
- Apartment‑style rooms, near airport; SAR 375 per night (2026 estimate).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | عفواًʿafwan |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much is it? | بكم هذا؟bikam hatha? |
| Where is the toilet? | أين الحمام؟ayna al‑ḥammām? |
| Can I pay by card? | هل يمكن الدفع بالبطاقة؟hal yumkin al‑dafʿ bil‑bṭāqa? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say as-salamu alaykum; wait for a woman to offer her hand first; avoid: Hugging or touching the opposite sex
- Hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; eat with the right hand; avoid: Refusing all offers or showing the soles of your feet
- Prayer times: Wait quietly when shops close; step aside for people praying; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; loud music near mosques
- Dress: Loose, covering clothes in public; headscarf in mosques; avoid: Shorts, sleeveless tops and swimwear in town
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; avoid: Photographing women, families or official buildings
- Conversation: Talk about family, food, football, travel; avoid: Criticising religion, the royal family or the government
- Queues and sections: Follow signs for family and women's sections where they exist; avoid: Entering women-only areas
Scams and watch-outs
- Train service runs only six times per week; check schedule before planning.
- Desert roads can be windy; keep water and fuel for out‑back trips.
- Dress modestly in public spaces; women should cover shoulders and knees.
Ha'il is generally safe for tourists; main risks are road safety on desert highways and respecting local dress codes.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ha'il yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jubbah rock art (UNESCO)
- A'arif Fort
- Barzan Palace
- Qishlah Fortress
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ha'il, revision 5218475 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5218475
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hail). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.