Bringing medication to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia checks medication on entry. With the right paperwork and packaging this almost always goes smoothly. The important thing is to arrange it well before departure, because requesting a statement takes time.
Last updated: 2026-09-09
Short answer
Bring medication for the whole trip plus about a week in reserve, in the original packaging and with an English medication overview from your pharmacy. Sleeping pills, strong painkillers, ADHD medication and similar products may require an additional statement.
Planning your vaccination
- Meningococcal ACWY, required for Saudi Arabia
- International vaccination certificate straight away
- Evening and weekend appointments, every day 10:00 to 22:00
The basic rules
- Bring enough for the whole trip plus roughly a week in reserve
- Keep medicines in their original packaging with the pharmacy label
- Split your supply between hand luggage and checked luggage, so losing a bag does not leave you without
- Ask your pharmacy for an up-to-date medication overview in English, listing the active substance
- Store temperature-sensitive medicines such as insulin in a cool bag
Medicines subject to special rules
Medicines covered by the Dutch Opium Act, such as strong painkillers, certain sleeping pills and sedatives and ADHD medication, require an additional statement. In the Netherlands this runs through a Schengen certificate or, outside the Schengen area, an English medical statement. Request it at least a few weeks before departure through your GP or pharmacy.
Some products that are freely available in the Netherlands are subject to stricter rules in Saudi Arabia. When in doubt, check in advance with the Saudi embassy or representation.
Your Hajj travel kit
- Paracetamol or another painkiller you tolerate
- Oral rehydration salt sachets against dehydration
- Blister plasters and ordinary plasters
- Hand sanitiser
- High-factor sunscreen and a lip balm
- Something for diarrhoea and for heartburn
- A small wound kit and a thermometer
- Your own medication plus the accompanying paperwork
Information about registration and packages is based on the official Nusuk Hajj platform of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Registration and payment take place there only; DKliniek provides the medical preparation.
Official sources
- hajj.nusuk.sa — Official registration and packages
- haj.gov.sa — Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
- visa.mofa.gov.sa — Saudi visa information
- lcr.nl — Dutch national travel health centre
- who.int — World Health Organization
Discuss your situation with a practitioner
With pregnancy, a chronic condition or medication, we look at what is safe for you before vaccinating. Book an appointment or call us; we will go through it together.
- Meningococcal ACWY, required for Saudi Arabia
- International vaccination certificate straight away
- Evening and weekend appointments, every day 10:00 to 22:00
- Groups and families vaccinated in one session
Frequently asked questions
Continue reading
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