{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/saudi-arabia/dammam","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:22:50.645Z","place":{"city":"Dammam","country":"Saudi Arabia","countryCode":"SA","lat":26.43442,"lon":50.10326},"safety":{"score":44,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":32,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[{"max":44,"reason":"Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel"}],"databaseScore":44,"travellerSentiment":{"score":82,"label":"Generally positive with strong caveats","summary":"Travelers report Dammam is safe for personal security and violent crime is rare. Concern centers on strict enforcement of cultural and legal codes, extreme environmental hazards (heat and air pollution), and the need to respect local customs. Women travelers note conditions have improved significantly post-2018 reforms.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":70,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":77,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":82,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":70,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":60,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-07-25T17:34:42Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":3,"label":"Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":0.935259944754359,"display":"0.9 / 100k","year":"2019","score":95,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":18.5,"display":"18.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":45,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":65.0715555,"display":"65/100","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":60.5850662,"display":"61/100","year":"2024","score":61,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":63.0932113,"display":"63/100","year":"2024","score":63,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":66.5710105,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":66.0645617,"display":"66/100","year":"2024","score":66,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":29.7683225,"display":"30/100","year":"2024","score":30,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1252523,"display":"1.3M residents","year":null,"score":72,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":92.6,"display":"92.6%","year":"2023","score":98,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.14,"display":"0.14 / 100k","year":"2023","score":90,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":189,"display":"US AQI 189 · Unhealthy","year":null,"score":28,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":24.071459213,"display":"24 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":46,"display":"July: highs ~46°C · dangerous heat","year":null,"score":45,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 5 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":3,"display":"Level 3 — Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":30,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":70,"display":"70 / 100 (Generally positive with strong caveats)","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Dammam itself is safe from violent crime, but the Level 3 government advisory reflects regional geopolitical tensions; summer heat (46°C) and poor air quality are the main practical risks.","summary":"Violent crime in Dammam is rare and homicide rates are extremely low (0.9/100k), with 92.6% reporting they feel safe walking alone after dark. However, the government advisory is driven by regional instability and a strict regulatory environment; visitors face enforcement of cultural laws, extreme summer heat, hazardous air quality, and petty crimes like taxi fraud and pickpocketing.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery and mugging of visitors are rare; street crime is predominantly petty theft, taxi fraud, or theft from transport rather than violent robbery"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur on crowded public buses and in souks; taxi fraud (broken meters, overcharging) is common but non-violent"},"safeAreas":["Al-Khaleej (waterfront corniche)"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Broken-meter taxis or unlicensed cabs; use Uber/Careem or official metered taxis only","Fake airport or police officials requesting documents or payments","Phone scams claiming your Iqama residency permit is expiring; never provide card details over the phone","Souk overpricing and aggressive sales tactics targeting foreign tourists","Pickpocketing and bag-snatching on crowded public buses"],"zones":[{"name":"Al-Khaleej","level":"safe","note":"Waterfront corniche with parks, promenades, and developed public spaces; best infrastructure and patrolled areas for visitors."},{"name":"Al-Marwa","level":"caution","note":"Central commercial district with shopping and dining; low crime but extreme July heat, poor air quality, and crowding increase discomfort; watch for pickpockets in malls."},{"name":"Al-Rowdah","level":"caution","note":"Central-residential area; safe from crime but dominated by summer hazards—dangerous heat and AQI 195 smog are the real concerns."},{"name":"Az-Zahrah","level":"caution","note":"Established residential neighborhood; stable but equally affected by July heat and air quality; pick for location, not safety differentiation."},{"name":"Ash-Shamlah","level":"caution","note":"Mixed residential-commercial area; low street crime but environmental factors (heat, smog, traffic) are primary visitor challenges."},{"name":"Al-Noor","level":"caution","note":"Northern residential district; calm and secure from crime but July conditions (46°C heat, hazardous air) are severe; heavy traffic on main roads."}]}}