Today, Christians are permitted to bring bibles into Saudi Arabia without fearing confiscation as long as they are for personal use and not for distribution. However, public worship, preaching Christianity, and evangelistic activities promoting any other religion other than Islam are strictly prohibited.
The Saudi Arabian Mutaween (Arabic: مطوعين), or Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (i.e., the religious police) prohibits the practice of any religion other than Islam.
Although Christian women can marry Muslim men freely, marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men is forbidden. The importation and sale of religious material is allowed; however, attempts to spread Christianity among Muslims are not permitted.
Restrictions on religious freedom
Individuals and religious institutions are allowed to import Bibles and other religious items for personal or congregational use. Christian religious literature, with the exception of Bibles, is readily available in English in local bookstores.
Catholicism in Saudi Arabia is officially barred from being practised, though Catholics are allowed into the country for temporary work.
Non-Muslims are not allowed to worship in public in Saudi Arabia, and there are not many (if any) non-Muslim places of worship in major cities throughout the country. This law also includes promotion or display of personal religious items, like religious books and symbols (i.e. the crucifix).
Churches are also allowed in Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain but in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia, they are banned. Some Catholics in Riyadh attend mass in private homes and embassies, where they say their presence is monitored but largely ignored by authorities.
When packing your carry-on bag, we suggest packing religious items in a container that can be separated from other belongings and placed by itself in a bin for X-ray screening. We recommend using a clear plastic bag or other clear plastic container that can be easily opened to remove religious items for screening.
The Christian community in Qatar is a diverse mix of European, North and South American, Asian, Middle Eastern and African expatriates. In 2023, they form around 13.7% of the total population. Many of them are from the Philippines, Europe, and India. Most Christians in Qatar are not Arab Christians.
Between 85 and 90 percent of the approximately 21 million Saudi citizens are Sunni Muslims. Shia Muslims constitute 10 to 12 percent of the citizen population and an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the Eastern Province's population.
In Dubai you will have no problem if you are wearing a Crucifix around your neck ect. No problems with the crucifix at all.
Is Viagra legal in Dubai? Viagra is a brand name of sildenafil citrate. This drug is not featured on the MoH's list of controlled drugs, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.
Mary's Catholic Church is also one of the most-visited Catholic churches in Dubai. It was established by the Late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the-then UAE Prime Minister and Vice President. He donated land in 1966 to this church.
Most Christians in Saudi Arabia are migrants. There are a few Muslim-born Christians, and conversion from Islam is punishable by death. Church buildings are forbidden and so Christians meet in house churches, which are frequently raided. Christians may be arrested, imprisoned, tortured and deported for their faith.
Alcohol of any kind is banned in Saudi Arabia. Those who break the law are subject to hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment. As a general rule of law, you cannot drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia and if someone is caught, the punishment is very strict.
There are 20 churches in Dubai catering to different branches of Christianity such as Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox. Is Christianity legal in UAE? Christians and other religions are allowed to have their places of worship in Dubai.
Muslims form 65.5% of the Qatari population, followed by Hindus at 15.4%, Christians at 14.2%, Buddhists at 3.3% and the rest 1.9% of the population follow other religions or are unaffiliated.
Qatar forms part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. In 2023, there are about 350,000 Catholics in Qatar (including 9 priests), most of whom are expatriate workers from the Philippines, Europe and India.
Accordingly, Muslim scholars reject the Christian canonical Gospels, which they say are not the original teachings of Jesus and which they say have been corrupted over time.
Is Taking a Bible from a Hotel Considered “Stealing?” If you were to take The Bible with you or remove it from the hotel room, The Gideons would not accuse you of stealing it.
Under Chinese law, it is illegal to bring printed religious material into the country if it exceeds the amount for personal use.
In Mecca, only Muslims are allowed, while non-Muslims may not enter or pass through. Attempting to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in penalties such as a fine; being in Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in deportation.
Status of religious freedom
Saudi Arabia is an Islamic theocracy and the government has declared the Qur'an and the Sunnah (tradition) of Muhammad to be the country's Constitution. Freedom of religion is not illegal, but spreading the religion is illegal. Islam is the official religion.
The official religion is Islam, with the majority of Saudi citizens being Sunni Muslims (roughly 90%), typically following the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence. It is estimated a further 10% of Saudi citizens are Shi'a Muslims.