عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Saudi Arabia Expands Visitor e-Visa to Eight Additional Countries 

Saudi Arabia will grant visitor e-visa to travellers from eight newly-eligible countries. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia will grant visitor e-visa to travellers from eight newly-eligible countries. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Expands Visitor e-Visa to Eight Additional Countries 

Saudi Arabia will grant visitor e-visa to travellers from eight newly-eligible countries. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia will grant visitor e-visa to travellers from eight newly-eligible countries. (SPA)

In a bid to make it easier than ever before to experience the authentic home of Arabia, Saudi Arabia will grant visitor e-visa to travellers from eight newly-eligible countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, for leisure, business, and religious (Umrah only) travel.

Nationals of these countries can apply for a Saudi visitor visa ahead of their journey via the official e-visa portal.

The Kingdom is reimagining the tourism experience, with the famously warm and generous Saudi welcome, known as Hafawah, at the heart of its plans. The visitor e-visa is valid for an entire year, grants multiple entries, and permits a stay of up to 90 days. Visit Saudi offers an online trip planner for visitors to create custom itineraries with ease.

From visiting the Kingdom’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, snorkelling and diving in the Red Sea – one of the world's most spectacular undiscovered diving spots, wandering Taif's world-famous Rose Gardens, shopping like a local in Riyadh's Deira Souq, chartering the unknown on land in the lush, green Asir region and tasting Saudi Arabia’s diverse and delicious culinary scene, from fragrant Arabic dishes to internationally-renowned fine dining restaurants, there is something for everyone.

Since launching the e-visa program in 2019, Saudi Arabia has welcomed 93.5 million visits in 2022, a 93% increase compared to 2021, resulting in a tourism spend of SAR 185 billion (USD 49 billion). This rapid tourism growth is due to expanding visa initiatives, which now include 57 nations and two special administrative regions, compared to the initial 49 countries at the program's launch.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia extended regulations to provide a visitor e-visa to holders of valid Schengen, United Kingdom and United States of America visas that have been used to enter those countries before arriving in Saudi Arabia and to permanent residents of EU and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the UK and US.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia announced the launch of the free 96-hour Stopover Visa, allowing passengers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours. Stopover Visa holders will be eligible for a complimentary one-night hotel stay during the stopover when booking through SAUDIA.

Travellers can use the Stopover Visa to explore the Kingdom and perform Umrah. Religious travellers can book flights through SAUDIA and Flynas and register for Umrah through the Nusuk platform.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Talks with US Special Envoy for Syria

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack - SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Talks with US Special Envoy for Syria

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack - SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh on Sunday, SPA reported.

They discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways to support stability there, and included an exchange of views on issues of common interest.

Gulf

UAE: Fire at Power Generator Near Barakah Power Plant After Drone Attack

Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)
TT
TT

UAE: Fire at Power Generator Near Barakah Power Plant After Drone Attack

Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)
Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the capital Abu Dhabi (WAM)

The UAE announced that authorities had responded to a fire that broke out in an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi following a drone strike, confirming that no injuries were reported and that there was no impact on radiological safety levels.

Authorities said all necessary precautionary measures were taken immediately after the incident, adding that specialized emergency response teams succeeded in containing and extinguishing the fire while continuing to monitor developments and implement measures to ensure the safety of the site and surrounding areas.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) said the fire had not affected the safety of the plant or the readiness of its core systems, adding that all units at the facility were operating normally and in line with the highest approved standards of safety and security.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said Sunday that air defense systems had dealt with three drones that entered the country’s airspace from the western border area, noting that two of them were successfully intercepted while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra.

In a statement, the ministry said investigations were ongoing to determine the source of the attacks, adding that further details would be announced once inquiries were completed.

The ministry stressed that the armed forces remained fully prepared to confront any potential threats and would respond firmly to anything that could undermine the country’s security and stability, ensuring the protection of national sovereignty and the UAE’s strategic interests.

Gulf

GCC Sec-Gen Meets UK Deputy Prime Minister during Europe Gulf Forum

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
TT
TT

GCC Sec-Gen Meets UK Deputy Prime Minister during Europe Gulf Forum

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom David Lammy, on Saturday, to discuss several key topics, focusing primarily on bolstering the strategic partnership between the GCC and the UK.

During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the inaugural Europe Gulf Forum, currently being held in Costa Navarino in Greece, they addressed mechanisms to overcome existing obstacles and align their perspectives on all aspects of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), paving the way for its anticipated signing in the near future.

Both sides lauded the significant progress achieved thus far in the ongoing FTA negotiations, SPA reported.

While exchanging views on several regional issues, Albudaiwi commended the UK's efforts and supportive stance toward the GCC countries against the brutal Iranian aggressions faced by the council states.

Both sides underscored the significance of unifying and intensifying international efforts to promote security and stability in the region and the world.