Riyadh, Travelers from eight newly eligible nations will be able to enter Saudi Arabia with a visitor e-visa for leisure, business, and religious (Umrah only) purposes. These nations are Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
In advance of their trip, nationals of these nations can apply for a Saudi visitor visa online at visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations.
The renowned warm and generous Saudi welcome, known as Hafawah, is at the center of Saudi Arabia's ambitions as it reinvents the travel experience. The tourist e-visa allows for multiple entries, a stay of up to 90 days, and is valid for a full year. Visitors can easily design unique itineraries using Visit Saudi's online tour planner.
There is something for everyone to do in Saudi Arabia, from touring the country's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites to snorkeling and diving in the Red Sea, one of the world's most spectacular undiscovered diving locations, exploring Taif's world-famous Rose Gardens, shopping like a local in Riyadh's Deira Souq, exploring the unknown on land in the lush, green Asir region, and sampling the country's diverse and delectable culinary scene, which ranges from
Since the e-visa scheme was introduced in 2019, Saudi Arabia has received 93.5 million visitors, a 93% increase from 2021, resulting in SAR 185 billion (USD 49 billion) in tourism expenditures. The growing visa programs, which currently encompass 57 countries and two special administrative regions compared to the initial 49 countries at the program's beginning, are to blame for this quick increase in tourism.
Holders of valid Schengen, United Kingdom, and United States of America visas that were used to enter those countries before arriving in Saudi Arabia, as well as permanent residents of EU and GCC countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, will be able to obtain a visitor e-visa beginning in 2022.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia introduced a free 96-hour stopover visa earlier this year, enabling travelers to stay for up to 96 hours. Holders of stopover visas are entitled to a complimentary one-night hotel stay when making reservations through SAUDIA. The stopover visa can be used by tourists to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Flynas and Sauda both offer flight booking services for pilgrims, while the Nusuk website also allows for Umrah registration.
