Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Saudi Arabia or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
I was in Dammam last month and stayed in a quiet residential area near the corniche. I used ATMs in the evening a couple of times, once after dinner around 10 PM. The one I used was outside a SABB Bank branch, and it had great lighting and security cameras. I used my South African Visa debit card and had no problems. That said, I avoided any machines near petrol stations or local markets after dark. For peace of mind, I always went with a friend or made sure there were people around. I recommend choosing machines attached to banks or inside malls if you need to withdraw after hours.
I visited Madinah this year and avoided using ATMs late at night just to stay on the safe side. Even though it’s a peaceful city and I never felt threatened, the streets near my budget hotel got very quiet after 9 PM. I used an NCB ATM near Al Haram during the day when there were other people around. A friend I met at the hostel had her card swallowed by a machine late in the evening and couldn’t get help until the next morning. So yes it’s usually safe, but if you’re a woman traveling alone, it’s just less stressful to stick to daytime ATM use unless you’re inside a hotel or shopping center.
I was traveling in Jeddah in May and stayed near the Corniche. I used a Banque Saudi Fransi ATM just after 10 PM one evening and it was quiet but fine. The ATM was inside a small vestibule that required card access to enter. It felt secure and clean and there were street lights and cars passing by. That said, I wouldn’t recommend using any ATM late at night in unfamiliar or dimly lit areas. During the day I used the Al Bilad branch ATMs, which are always busy and feel much more comfortable. Saudi Arabia is generally safe, but I still preferred doing my withdrawals before dark when possible.
I was in Riyadh last month and did make a few ATM withdrawals in the evening, usually around 9 or 10 PM. I stayed near the Olaya area, which is well-lit and fairly busy even at night. I only used bank branch ATMs, like SNB or Al Rajhi, which had security guards outside and cameras visibly installed. I avoided stand-alone ATMs like the ones in gas stations or corner stores. I never really felt unsafe, but I still tried to plan my withdrawals during daylight hours when possible. I also preferred using indoor machines inside malls like Kingdom Centre where there’s more foot traffic