HM Ambassador Sir William Patey KCMG

Welcome to the British Embassy in Riyadh. With a short brief on my role, this site aims to be an up to date resource for information on the UK, our local activities and services we can provide. We hope you will find it useful.

We are one of Britain's larger overseas Embassies. Our over all objective is to protect and promote the interests of the United Kingdom in Saudi Arabia, and to develop our relations with this key member of the international community. We work closely with our Saudi counterparts on promoting links between the two governments, and sustaining inter-governmental co-operation  in a wide range of areas. Through public activities we aim to promote a positive image of the UK and encourage support for its policies.

More specifically, we aim to develop strong political, cultural and defence ties; promote trade and investment between Britain and Saudi Arabia; maintain a fast, fair and robust visa service give effective consular protection to British nationals and, co-operating closely with the Saudi government, to support British pilgrims visiting the Holy Places,including through the official Hajj delegation.

Our operations are expanding as Saudi Arabia’s opening up creates new opportunities in politics and business. Our local network includes a combined Consulate & Trade Office in Jeddah and a dedicated Trade office in Al Khobar. A range of people from Britain, Saudi Arabia and other countries, now work in our posts. Of the British staff, most are attached to government departments,including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Department for Business,Enterprise & Regulatory Reform(previously the Department for Trade and Industry), the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence. The British Council also has a major presence in Riyadh, operating as the Embassy's cultural and educational section. We work closely with the Saudi-British Business Council, the local British Chamber of Commerce and other British organisations in Riyadh.