When considering orthognathic surgery for adult Saudi Arabians, there are as yet no cephalometric norms available for use during treatment planning. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken for 48 Saudi adult patients (24 males, 24 females). All showed reasonably normal dental relationship, with no severe antero-posterior, vertical or transverse skeletal discrepancies. The age range was from 20 to 46 years. Angular and linear measurements were recorded and compared to a similar sample of North American caucasians. A set of cephalometric values for male and female Saudis were established and the differences between these and a North American sample are highlighted.