Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Wellington, New Zealand; address 125 The Terrace st, 20 floor, 6011, Wellington; phone +6444723655. Head of mission: Mr. Muhanna…
Head of mission: Mr. Muhanna Aba Alkhail, Ambassador (as of 2023)
Head of mission: Mr Ahmed N. D. H. Al Johani, Consul General (as of 2010)
Head of mission: Mr. Abdulrahman Almazhoud, Acting Consul-General (confirmed in the diplomatic list of New Zealand, 20 Nov 2024)
Saudi Arabia is increasingly attractive to visitors from New Zealand due to its rich cultural heritage and important religious sites. The country is actively working to diversify its economy by investing in tourism infrastructure, making it a more appealing destination. With around 200,000 New Zealanders traveling abroad annually, there is potential interest among some of them in visiting Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has a mixed safety profile for tourists, particularly when compared to New Zealand. According to the Global Peace Index, Saudi Arabia ranks 100th out of 160 countries, while New Zealand ranks 4th, indicating a higher level of safety in New Zealand. In terms of crime statistics, the murder rate in Saudi Arabia is relatively low at 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to New Zealand's rate of 2.6. However, other crime indices reveal concerns: for example, Saudi Arabia scores significantly higher in categories like state crime (8.0) and human trafficking (8.5) compared to New Zealand (1.5 and 3.5, respectively). Overall, while Saudi Arabia may be safe in certain aspects, it is advisable for tourists from New Zealand to remain cautious and informed about local conditions and regulations when traveling there.