Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

Saudi Arabia to offer e-visas for GCC residents to promote tourism

By Pramod Kumar
Monastery, Building, Architecture Creative Commons
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the decision will make it quicker, easier and more accessible to visit Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has issued new regulations that enable GCC residents to apply for an e-visa and allows residents of the UK, US, and European Union (EU) to apply for a visa on arrival, the tourism ministry said in a statement.

Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the decision will make it quicker, easier and more accessible to visit Saudi Arabia.

Holders of a valid tourist or business visa from the UK, US, or one of the Schengen agreement countries can get a visa on arrival, provided that it has been used at least once to enter the country granting the visa.

The announcement means most visitors will no longer need to attend their country’s embassy before entering Saudi Arabia, increasing opportunities for potential travellers.

Over one million e-visas have been issued since their launch in 2019, the ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently introduced a new multi-entry visa for visitors holding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Hayya card.

Latest articles

The new technology can help with tracking projects as contractors often have no idea how many workers are on site at one time and workers are frequently unsupervised

Saudi startup’s smart helmets upping safety on building sites

When Hassan AlBalawi first proposed a smart helmet that would track all employee movements on building sites, construction companies could not see the point.  “We were focusing on this problem of how to get technology into the construction field, measuring the drowsiness of construction workers. But it turned out the construction companies didn’t know or care,” […]

Aircraft, Airliner, Airplane

Kuwait Airways 2023 revenue soars 16% to $1bn

Increased passenger volume and flight operations increased revenues at Kuwait Airways by 16 percent in 2023. The topline reached KD335 million ($1.1 billion) last year, as the number of flights soared 26 percent year on year to 32,839, the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported, citing chairman Abdulmohsen Alfagaan. No details were shared on profit or […]

A Mitsubishi H3 rocket on the launchpad in Japan. The UAE will use the model in its asteroid belt mission

UAE and Mitsubishi sign agreement for asteroid belt mission

The UAE has signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to provide services for its 2028 mission to the asteroid belt.  The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt – the first multiple-asteroid tour and landing mission to the main belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter – will launch the Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer spacecraft […]

Outdoors, Ground, Nature

IMF gives Jordan access to $131m as reforms continue

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will grant Jordan access to $131 million as the country’s economic reform programme remains strong despite it facing a challenging external environment. The release of the funds remains subject to approval by the IMF’s management and executive board. “Jordan continues to show resilience and maintain macro-economic stability, despite the headwinds […]