Saudi Arabia Launches Second Phase of 'Visiting Investor' Visa to Include All World Countries

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Saudi Arabia Launches Second Phase of 'Visiting Investor' Visa to Include All World Countries

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat

The ministries of investment and of foreign affairs launched the second phase of issuing a "Visiting Investor" business visit e-visa, to include the rest of world countries.
This service is offered to foreign investors as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to boost investment, consistent with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to attract investors from all over the world, improve the investment environment, facilitate the launching of businesses, and draw substantial investments that could play a pivotal role in pushing the economy forward.
Ministry of Investment for Integrated Investor Services Undersecretary Mohammed Abahussain said that the "Visiting Investor" business visit visa is bound to attract foreign investors to apply for an e-visa through the platform affiliated with the Ministry of Investment “Invest Saudi,” through which the application will be processed and the visa will be digitally issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SPA reported.
"The process will take place without any need to consult with the Kingdom's representative offices abroad to obtain biometrics. The visa can be used for one year and allows multiple entries. Some people can obtain the visa immediately to visit the Kingdom and learn about investment opportunities," Abahussain added.
According to him, this service is the result of concerted efforts and cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Consular Affairs Ambassador Ali bin Abdulrahman Al Yousef said that this service works toward achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, including increasing the number of visitors by issuing e-visas for all purposes, including the business visit visa, which is granted to investors and businessmen from all over the world.
The Ministry of Investment, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has expanded the category of people who could benefit from the instant e-visa to include countries listed in the Ministry of Investment’s "Invest Saudi” platform, and individuals who have a valid tourist or commercial visa from US, UK or any Schengen country and who accessed at least once the countries where the visa is valid.
Also benefiting from the instant e-visa are individuals who have permanent residency in US, UK or EU countries, those who have valid residency for three months at least in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and those licensed by the Ministry of Investment, with 3 instant visas per year for each facility.



Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
TT

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.


MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
TT

MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the attack targeting police personnel in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, affirmed the League’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the face of all threats to its security and stability. He reiterated the MWL’s firm rejection and condemnation of violence and terrorism in all their forms and under any pretext.

He also extended his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani people.


Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
TT

Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik awarded on Wednesday the Military Order of Oman (Second Class) to Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz in recognition of his efforts and contributions to strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

The order was presented to the RSAF commander by Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, in the presence of Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Air Vice Marshal Khamis Al Ghafri, Saudi Ambassador to Oman Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, and the accompanying delegation.

During the visit, the RSAF commander also met with Minister of the Royal Office of Oman General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani for talks on issues of mutual interest.

Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz arrived in Oman on Tuesday on an official visit during which he met with the commander of RAFO. The discussions addressed issues of common interest, particularly in the field of joint training and exercises.

The visit included a tour of the Air Center for Specialized Training, where the delegation reviewed the advanced capabilities on display, reflecting the level of development achieved by the Royal Air Force of Oman.