Ask before you photograph anyone, and skip government buildings entirely
Never photograph people, especially women and families, without clear consent, and don't photograph government buildings, military sites, police, or security personnel at all — treat both as firm rules, not just courtesy.
Ask before pointing a camera at anyone, a nod or a spoken “may I?” is enough, and don’t press the issue if someone declines. This matters more around women, families, and children than it does with, say, a market stall or a landscape.
Skip photographing government buildings, military areas, police, or security personnel altogether, even if a shot looks harmless from where you’re standing, these are treated as restricted subjects rather than judgment calls. Look for posted signage at mosques and heritage sites too, some restrict photography outright.
Posting a photo online carries its own risk — an image that violates someone’s privacy or embarrasses them can turn a small in-person lapse into a cybercrime complaint once it’s public.
Drones need a permit — flying one in a residential area or a heritage zone without authorization is heavily restricted, not a casual tourist option.
Why it matters
Saudi authorities treat unauthorized photography of people, and of government, military, and security sites, as a public-decency and security matter rather than a minor social lapse. Women, families, and children are flagged specifically as sensitive subjects because an unwanted photo can be read as a privacy violation, and posting such an image online can escalate the same lapse into a cybercrime issue. Government buildings, military areas, and certain mosques are frequently posted as no-photography zones outright, so the safest default is to assume a camera isn't welcome until a sign or a person tells you otherwise.