Saudi Customs have ALWAYS had the option of checking computers, VHS, CD etc..... They used to confiscate these items for checking and you would get them back a couple of days later. This even applied to desktop computers brought into the country.

However, technology has moved since then and i personally havent seen them stress anyone out in years, especially since they installed x-ray machines.

So just accept that the rule is there, but do not expect long queues of people lining up for having electronic equipment inspected.

Mutt

They do the same in England and UK Customs has the right to search your computer. They have a particular interest, apparantly, in stopping child porn.

And Australia, one of our pilots was stopped in Melbourne and had his laptop, mobile and Ipod checked (nothing pirated or illegal was found) but they have the authority to do so if they wish.

went to Saudi around a month ago they found a portable hard drive on x ray and then took it to for inspection, took around an hour ,while there several others had the same thing happen to them , some were concerned about commercialy sensity material I was more concenned about a virus being introduced to my hard drive then my laptop then our company network.
Nothing found on the hard drive luckily they did not look at my laptop as the volume of funny emails from UK is high !

Parabellum
But what to do with the other 96 Gig prons ????
:ok:

Last time they checked me, I throw some sausages to them, made of p?rk. Was funny for me. :}