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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)
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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.

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Gulf

Hajj Conference Marks Major Leap, More Than Fivefold Growth

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah meets with journalists on the sidelines of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah meets with journalists on the sidelines of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hajj Conference Marks Major Leap, More Than Fivefold Growth

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah meets with journalists on the sidelines of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah meets with journalists on the sidelines of the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition wrapped up in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Wednesday, drawing more than 200,000 attendees and participants from over 150 countries, a sharp rise from around 14,000 at its 2022 debut.

The four-day gathering brought together officials, experts and service providers for talks and agreements aimed at improving pilgrim services and accelerating preparations for future Hajj seasons.

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah hailed the event as a "major qualitative leap," citing soaring attendance, wider international participation and a growing number of contracts to improve services for pilgrims.

Speaking to reporters at the close of the conference, Al-Rabiah said the event had expanded significantly since its launch in 2022 with just 84 participating companies.

The minister said the gathering attracted representatives from more than 150 countries, including ministers, religious leaders, muftis and government officials, reflecting its growing role in shaping pilgrim services.

He said the conference had grown more than fivefold, praising the organizers and expressing hope for further improvements in services.

Held under the theme "From Makkah to the World" at Jeddah Superdome, the conference was organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program.

It brought together government planning and operations agencies, Hajj affairs offices, service providers and technology companies to tackle challenges facing pilgrims and finalize preparations for the 1448 AH Hajj season.

The program focused on three areas: infrastructure and operational services; empowerment and integration; and development and sustainability.

Discussions covered transportation, accommodation, catering, crowd management, healthcare, security and safety, digital transformation and workforce training.

A key focus was the shift toward all-inclusive service packages for pilgrims, alongside tighter contracting procedures, stronger oversight and better ways to measure service quality.

Artificial intelligence and data analytics also featured prominently in discussions on streamlining operations and improving the pilgrimage experience.

Conference sessions revealed that the Nusuk app had surpassed 65 million users worldwide and offered more than 100 services.

The electronic Hajj platform, meanwhile, connects more than 70 entities inside and outside Saudi Arabia, helping coordinate pilgrim reception, transportation, accommodation, group movements and departures.

Participants also examined advances in housing, transportation and healthcare, including the growing use of smart technologies, sensors and communications systems.

Discussions highlighted stronger governance and oversight, and a shift from measuring operational readiness to assessing how services actually affect pilgrims.

On the final day, attention turned to preparations for the next Hajj season, with sessions exploring artificial intelligence, the future of digital services, smart infrastructure, medical readiness and the role of regulations in improving hospitality standards.

The contributions of Saudi Scouts to pilgrim services were also highlighted.

Specialized workshops on the fourth day addressed emergency response coordination, the shift from prevention to healthcare, food safety, catering and services linked to the Nusuk Card.

Other sessions focused on crowd management at the holy sites, early warning systems and improving the skills of Hajj sector workers.

Beyond the formal conference sessions, the program featured the Hajj Council, showcasing personal and professional experiences in serving pilgrims, alongside the Innovation Council, the Awareness and Training Diwaniya and the Hajj Affairs Offices Forum.

Dedicated spaces also allowed participating organizations to exchange expertise and explore cooperation.

The accompanying exhibition showcased technological and operational solutions for the pilgrimage journey, with specialized areas covering healthcare, aviation, technology, innovation and media.

A business center and partner platform provided opportunities for meetings, contract negotiations and partnerships ahead of future Hajj seasons.

The conference's previous five editions generated more than 1,850 agreements related to pilgrim services and hosted over 310 discussion sessions, underscoring the event's expansion over the years.

With the sixth edition concluded, the focus now shifts from discussions and agreements to implementation, as Saudi Arabia seeks to turn new partnerships and technological solutions into practical improvements for the 1448 AH Hajj season.

The effort reflects a broader push to strengthen coordination among service providers, improve efficiency and deliver a better experience for pilgrims at every stage of their journey.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Kenya Sign Technical Annex to Regulate Domestic Worker Recruitment

Saudi Arabia, Kenya Sign Technical Annex to Regulate Domestic Worker Recruitment
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Saudi Arabia, Kenya Sign Technical Annex to Regulate Domestic Worker Recruitment

Saudi Arabia, Kenya Sign Technical Annex to Regulate Domestic Worker Recruitment

Saudi Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor Abdullah Nasser Abuthnain met with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Labor and Social Protection Alfred Nganga Mutua on Thursday at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh, in the presence of the accompanying Kenyan delegation and several senior ministry officials.

The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Kenya in areas of mutual interest in the labor sector, particularly by developing cooperation mechanisms for the recruitment of domestic workers, improving the effectiveness of pre-departure training and qualification programs, and raising awareness of contractual rights and obligations, SPA reported.

These efforts aim to enhance the readiness of domestic workers, improve the quality of recruitment services, promote stability in contractual relations, and protect the rights of all parties.

The two sides also discussed mechanisms for strengthening technical coordination, exchanging expertise and best practices in training and qualification, and improving procedures related to the recruitment of domestic workers. These measures aim to enhance the efficiency of recruitment processes, improve their outcomes, and serve the mutual interests of both countries.

According to SPA, following the meeting, the Saudi vice minister and Kenya’s cabinet secretary signed a technical annex to the agreement on the recruitment of domestic workers between Saudi Arabia and Kenya, signed on July 5, 2026.

The annex is part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and develop the technical and regulatory mechanisms governing the recruitment of domestic workers.

The technical annex aims to streamline procedures and reduce the costs of recruiting domestic workers from Kenya to Saudi Arabia. It also seeks to improve the efficiency of recruitment mechanisms, ensure compliance with approved regulations, protect the rights of employers and domestic workers, and regulate the contractual relationship between the two parties.

The signing of the annex builds on the longstanding relations and ongoing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Kenya, reflecting both sides’ commitment to developing their partnership in labor-related fields, improving the efficiency of the recruitment system, and promoting sustainable cooperation that serves the mutual interests of both countries.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Support Efforts to De-escalate Regional Tensions

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Support Efforts to De-escalate Regional Tensions

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to address them during a phone call on Wednesday with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait stressed the importance of maintaining coordination and consultations between the two countries and supporting joint diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and strengthen regional security and stability.