Weather
Average national rainfall in Saudi Arabia is 2.76 inches, and weather varies across the country. The Empty Quarter (one of the largest sand deserts in the world) may record no rainfall for several years, while snow has been recorded in the north. The rainy season runs from November through May. The mountainous 'Asir region is the wettest, with annual rainfall of 1214 inches thanks to monsoons.
Saudi Arabia experiences extremes in both temperature and humidity. In the country’s interior, the air is dry. On the coasts, summer humidity is high, particularly at night. In summer, temperatures in some areas may reach 122°F (50°C), but in the spring, days are balmy, and the nights are clear. In winter, temperatures can drop below freezing in the central and northern regions, and snow sometimes falls in the mountains, the northern plateau, and even in the capital of Riyadh.
Currency
The basic monetary unit is the Saudi Riyal (SR). It has been fixed since 1986 at SR 3.7500 per USD. Riyals are printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500. Coins are called halalat and are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 100. One riyal equals 100 halalat. Major credit cards are widely accepted in Saudi Arabia.
Work schedules
The regular work week is from Sunday to Thursday. The weekend days are Friday and Saturday.
