Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Helsinki, Finland; address Stenbäckinkatu 26, 00250, Helsinki; phone +3589477887. Head of mission: Mrs. Nisreen Hamad A Alshebel.
Head of mission: Mrs. Nisreen Hamad A Alshebel, Ambassador (as of 2023)
Saudi Arabia is becoming increasingly attractive to Finnish visitors due to its rich cultural heritage and important religious sites. The country is actively investing in tourism infrastructure as part of its strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil, making it a more appealing destination. With 1.8 million Finns traveling abroad annually, there is potential interest among some of them in visiting Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's safety for tourists from Finland can be summarized as follows: While Finland ranks 8th in safety among European countries for walking alone at night, there is no comparable data for Saudi Arabia. According to the Global Peace Index, Saudi Arabia is ranked 100th out of 160 countries, significantly lower than Finland's 13th position. In terms of murder rates, Finland has a rate of 1.6 per 100,000 people, while Saudi Arabia's rate is lower at 0.8. However, the indices from the Global Organized Crime Index indicate higher levels of organized crime and state crime in Saudi Arabia, with scores of 8.0 for state crime and 8.5 for human trafficking, compared to Finland's much lower scores (1.5 and 3.0, respectively). Overall, while Saudi Arabia has a lower murder rate, it faces challenges related to organized crime and safety, making it less safe compared to Finland. Tourists should exercise caution and stay informed about local conditions when traveling to Saudi Arabia.