“Uppermost to keep in mind, I think, is that the Muslim people are a very devout group and are extremely serious about practicing their religion,” Daniel Warnick, a Bombardier Global Express captain based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, noted. “It seems to drive all they do and, in many ways is to me a welcome change from the rest of the world. I respect them for that.
It is important to be aware of Islamic holidays in terms of preflight planning for a trip into Saudi Arabia. These include the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, falling Nov. 4-9 this year and in late October in 2012; Ramadan, which in 2011 was the full month of August and next year will occur between mid-July and mid-August; and Eid, which occurs twice a year. The dates of these religious holidays vary according to the Muslim lunar calendar. All this affects application for visas and permits, as government offices close during the religious periods.
