Medina to Laghouat (MED–LOO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Saudi passport holders need a visa to enter Algeria. Apply at the Algerian Embassy in Riyadh. A tourist visa costs about SAR 250, requires a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry, two passport photos, a completed application form, hotel reservation, return ticket, and bank statements. Processing takes 7 to 15 business days. Algeria does not offer e-visas or visas on arrival for Saudi nationals.

The visa is typically issued as a single-entry, valid for 30 to 90 days depending on the purpose of travel. Arabic is the official language, and Saudi visitors will communicate easily across the country. French is the secondary language used in business and signage. Algeria is the largest country in Africa by land area, with the Sahara covering its southern two-thirds and a Mediterranean coastline stretching 1,200 km along the north.

Direct flights from Jeddah to Algiers run about 5 hours on Saudia and Air Algerie, with service increasing during Hajj and Umrah seasons. Riyadh to Algiers connects through Cairo, Istanbul, or a Gulf hub. Algeria uses the Algerian dinar (DZD), a closed currency that cannot be purchased outside the country. Exchange at the airport or banks on arrival. The rate sits around 35.80 DZD per SAR 1. Card payments are limited outside major hotels in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, so carry cash. No mandatory vaccinations. The Casbah of Algiers, Roman ruins at Djemila and Timgad, and the M'zab Valley are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.