Saudi Arabia Expands Visitor e-Visa to Eight More Countries for Leisure, Business, and Religious Travel
In a move to boost tourism and enhance travel opportunities, Saudi Arabia has extended its visitor e-visa to travelers from eight additional countries. The newly eligible nations include Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Travelers from these countries can now apply for a Saudi visitor visa through the official e-visa portal at visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations, as announced by the Saudi Press News agency.
The e-visa, which has a validity of one year, allows for multiple entries and permits a stay of up to 90 days. To facilitate travel planning, Visit Saudi offers an online trip planner that enables visitors to create personalized itineraries effortlessly.
Since the launch of the e-visa program in 2019, Saudi Arabia has seen a remarkable increase in tourism. In 2022 alone, the country welcomed an impressive 93.5 million visits, marking a staggering 93% growth compared to the previous year. This surge in tourism has resulted in a substantial tourism spend of SAR 185 billion (USD 49 billion).
The success of the e-visa initiative can be attributed to its continuous expansion. Initially launched with 49 countries, the program now encompasses 57 nations and two special administrative regions.
In a bid to further facilitate travel, Saudi Arabia introduced new regulations in 2022, allowing holders of valid Schengen, United Kingdom, and United States of America visas, as well as permanent residents of EU, GCC countries, the UK, and the US, to apply for a visitor e-visa. This has opened up more opportunities for travelers to explore the rich cultural heritage and attractions of Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia introduced the free 96-hour Stopover Visa, enabling passengers to make the most of their layovers in the country. Travelers using this visa are entitled to a complimentary one-night hotel stay when booking through SAUDIA.
