U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia (USAinKSA)

What U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia (USAinKSA) does

The U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia (USAinKSA) is the official diplomatic mission of the United States to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, operating under the authority of the U.S. Department of State. Established in 1933, the mission comprises the Embassy in Riyadh plus two Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran, providing consular, commercial, and cultural engagement across the Kingdom's central, western, and eastern provinces. Its core service offering spans consular protection (passport services, emergency assistance, security alerts, notarial and authentication services), visa processing, educational exchange programs (Fulbright, Humphrey Fellowship, IVLP, BridgeUSA, YES, UGRAD, SUSI, SYLEP, GSMP), EducationUSA advising, American Spaces cultural centers, English language programs through the Regional English Language Office, and commercial affairs support via the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service and SelectUSA. The mission is led by Chargée d'Affaires ad interim Alison Dilworth, with senior officers including Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Bo Palmer, Consul General James Sindle (Dhahran), and Consul General Rafik Mansour (Jeddah).

The mission serves three primary customer segments: U.S. citizens residing in or traveling through Saudi Arabia (consular protection, passport renewal, emergency assistance, voter registration), Saudi citizens seeking U.S. education or exchange opportunities (advising, scholarships, English language learning), and U.S. companies seeking to export to or invest in the Saudi market (commercial diplomacy, market entry support). Its business model is fundamentally non-commercial: funding flows from U.S. federal appropriations through the Department of State, while a narrow cost-recovery fee stream — notarial and authentication services at $50.00 or SR 190.00 per seal — offsets a portion of consular operating costs rather than generating profit. Outreach channels include the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), the Share America platform, the embassy website (sa.usembassy.gov), EducationUSA advising centers, and the ERA Jobs portal for mission employment.

As of March 2026, the Embassy in Riyadh has implemented shelter-in-place measures for personnel and suspended routine consular services due to security concerns, and a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) is in effect citing risks including Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local social media laws. The mission is publicly funded, operates as a government state entity, and has no commercial ownership, funding rounds, or M&A history. It is a service-delivery and diplomatic institution, not a technology or commercial product company.

Name

U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia (USAinKSA)

Legal name

U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia

Website

https://sa.usembassy.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia (USAinKSA) is the official U.S. diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia, operating the Embassy in Riyadh and Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. It provides consular services, visa processing, and educational exchange programs to American citizens, Saudi nationals, and U.S. businesses, funded by U.S. federal appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Diplomatic and Consular Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (928120), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Diplomatic Missions & Embassies (Bilateral Relations) (BPAIAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consular Services & Citizen Assistance (BPAIAIAB), Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL), Economic & Trade Diplomacy (Commercial, Investment, Sanctions Policy) (BPAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Consular services
• Visa processing
• Diplomatic services
• Cultural exchange programs
• Passport services

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Consular Service Fees: The embassy generates revenue through consular service fees including notarial services at $50.00 or SR 190.00 per notary seal, and authentication services at $50.00 or SR 190.00. These fees support the cost of consular operations rather than generating profit.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia deliver official U.S. diplomatic and consular services in the Kingdom, including visa processing, passport issuance and renewal, notarial and authentication services, emergency assistance for U.S. citizens abroad, and security/travel advisories. The mission also administers cultural and educational exchange programs (Fulbright, Humphrey, IVLP, BridgeUSA, YES, UGRAD, GSMP) and provides commercial diplomacy support to U.S. businesses through the Foreign Commercial Service and SelectUSA.

Product overview

The U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia operates as a U.S. government diplomatic mission with a network of consular services and cultural exchange programs. The mission comprises the Embassy in Riyadh and Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran. Services include consular operations (visa processing, passport services, notarial services), the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and comprehensive education and exchange programs including Fulbright, Humphrey Fellowship, IVLP, BridgeUSA, and the Global Sports Mentoring Program. The mission also provides American Spaces cultural centers, EducationUSA advising services, commercial services through the Foreign Commercial Service, and procurement opportunities. This is not a technology product company but rather a government diplomatic service offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consular Services Comprehensive consular services including visa processing for U.S. travel, U.S. passport issuance and renewal, and emergency assistance for American citizens abroad.
• Notarial Services Notary services including affidavits, acknowledgements, authentications, certifications of true copies, and authentication of documents under the Hague Apostille Convention. Pricing: $50.00 or SR 190.00 per notary seal or authentication.
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) Enrollment system for U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad to receive security alerts and assistance from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
• Education & Exchanges Programs Cultural, educational, and professional exchange programs including Fulbright, Humphrey Fellowship, IVLP, SUSI, YES, and UGRAD programs for Saudi citizens.
• EducationUSA Official U.S. Department of State resource center providing guidance on U.S. higher education opportunities with local advising centers in Saudi Arabia.
• American Spaces Open-access cultural centers promoting interaction between local audiences and the United States, offering educational advising, workshops, English language learning, and technology programs.
• U.S. Foreign Commercial Service Commercial affairs support for U.S. companies seeking to do business with Saudi Arabia, including market entry assistance and trade facilitation.
• SelectUSA U.S. government program facilitating job-creating business investment into the United States from international investors.
• BridgeUSA Professional Exchanges Exchange programs for research or training in STEM fields and foreign physicians in U.S. graduate medical education and training programs.
• Local Student Intern Program Foreign National Student Internship Program providing local Saudi students with educational and international affairs experience at U.S. Missions abroad.
• English Language Programs (Regional English Language Office) Regional English Language Office providing resources and programs for English language learning in coordination with over 400 U.S. educational institutions.
• ERA Jobs Portal Electronic Recruitment Application system for viewing and applying to employment positions at the U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia.
• Procurement Solicitation Packages Commercial and contract opportunities for businesses seeking to provide goods and services to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia.
• Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) Five-week mentorship program connecting international sports professionals with senior leaders at major U.S. sports organizations for leadership development.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe U.S. Department of State's ECA implements cultural, educational, and professional exchange programs between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Programs include IVLP, Fulbright, Humphrey Fellowships, and various youth exchange initiatives supporting mutual understanding between nations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• U.S. Consulate General Dubai: Sub-post of the U.S. diplomatic network in the Gulf, providing consular services within a different GCC geography. Comparable in scope to the Jeddah and Dhahran consulate-general operations.
• U.S. Embassy Israel: Major U.S. diplomatic mission in the broader Middle East region. Comparable in service portfolio and operational complexity, though based in a different bilateral relationship within the same geographic theater.

Direct peers

• U.S. Embassy Qatar: U.S. diplomatic mission in another Gulf Cooperation Council state. Comparable in structure, including embassy plus consular services, and strategic importance for U.S. regional engagement.
• Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Washington, D.C.): Reciprocal diplomatic mission of Saudi Arabia in the United States. Fully comparable in mandate and operational scope, providing the host-government counterpart functions for U.S. citizens and bilateral engagement.
• U.S. Embassy Kuwait: U.S. diplomatic mission in a neighboring Gulf state with comparable service offerings in consular, educational, and commercial diplomacy.
• British Embassy Riyadh: Fellow Western diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia providing analogous consular, visa, commercial, and cultural services. Comparable as a competing diplomatic platform serving a similar resident and business population.
• U.S. Embassy United Arab Emirates: Other major U.S. diplomatic mission in the Gulf region. Directly comparable in role, mandate, and service portfolio as a U.S. State Department overseas post serving a strategic Gulf partner.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of State: Parent agency governing all U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide. Comparable as the institutional body setting strategy, providing funding, and overseeing embassy operations globally.
• U.S. Mission to the United Nations: Broader U.S. diplomatic mission operating under the State Department in a multilateral context. Comparable in parent organizational structure and mission delivery model, though focused on UN affairs rather than bilateral relations.

Emerging players

• Embassy of France in Riyadh: Major European diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia providing consular, cultural, and commercial services. Comparable as a peer foreign diplomatic mission active in the Kingdom.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@shareamerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/ExchangeProgramsatState
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usainksa
• Instagraminstagram.com/exchangeourworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia (USAinKSA)