Saudi Arabia has launched a unified platform for visa applications as it continues to expand its hospitality, tourism and travel industries to diversify its economy from oil.
The new portal, ksavisa.sa, involves more than 30 ministries, authorities and private sector organisations handling and processing visa applications for Hajj, Umrah, education, tourism, employment and business, among other categories.
Its launch was announced at the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The new platform provides information on each type of visa and uses a smart search engine to help users submit their applications.
Users can create a personal profile to save time when applying for visas again.
Previously, the Nusuk app was the only digital platform for issuing visas to Saudi Arabia but only to people seeking to perform the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages.
People seeking tourist visas had to apply through local agencies, which obtained the entry permits through relevant government agencies.
The new portal also caters to foreign residents, who make up about 13 million of the kingdom's 32 million population, by accepting applications for re-entry in case they have stayed out of the country beyond the permitted time period, or for their family members to come and live them.
Other categories available include e-visas, which Saudi Arabia introduced in May for citizens of seven countries – the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Transit visas are offered in three categories: land, for people travelling through the kingdom to neighbouring country by road; sea, for travellers on board a ship seeking to disembark for a short time; and air, for flight passengers who want to make a brief visit during layovers.
According to the platform, 18.6 million visas have been issued throughout the year so far.
Saudi Arabia achieved significant growth in the tourist arrivals this year. The number of tourists increased by 58 per cent during the first seven months compared to 2019, the year before the Covid pandemic halted global travel, according to data released by the UN World Travel Organisation in September.
Saudi Arabia plans to add 315,000 new hotel rooms at an estimated development cost of $37.8 billion by 2030.
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No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
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LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
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