What you need to know about Saudi Arabia's new visa rules


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia has updated its entry rules to make the country more accessible to visitors.

A new decree signed by the country's Minister of Tourism allows GCC residents to apply for e-visas through the dedicated online portal, www.visitsaudi.com/visa, and makes it easier for travellers from the UK, the US and the EU to enter the kingdom.

“Tourism bridges cultures and connects communities, it provides opportunities and uplifts neighbourhoods, and I am proud to lead the ministry as we build this future together,” said Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism.

New entry rules for GCC travellers

In order to be eligible for an e-visa, visitors must have a residence visa issued by a GCC country with validity of at least three months, and a passport that is valid for more than six months. Applicants must also be employed in specific occupations, which are listed on the portal.

Single-entry visas are valid for three months and multiple-entry visas last for one year. The single-entry option allows travellers to stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of one month, while there is a 90-day length of stay for multiple-entry visas. Applicants cannot specify which option they want — this will be decided on a case by case basis by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This e-visa allows holders to perform Umrah outside of Hajj season, as declared by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Pilgrims hoping to perform Hajj will still need to apply for special visas through their nearest Saudi embassy or consulate.

For children under the age of 18, parents are required to apply for their e-visa first and then reapply for minors. The cost per application is 300 Saudi riyals ($80), plus the cost of valid health insurance.

Other countries eligible for eVisas

Australia

Brunei

Canada

China

Japan

Kazakhstan

Malaysia

New Zealand

Singapore

South Korea

Rules for US, UK and EU travellers

As part of Saudi Arabia’s new entry rules, residents of the US, the UK and the EU can apply for a visa on arrival. Applicants must hold a permanent residence permit from the US, the UK or an EU country, and a passport that is valid for more than six months. Visas will be granted on arrival at all of Saudi Arabia’s air, sea and land ports.

The cost per application is 300 Saudi riyals, plus the cost of valid health insurance. Again, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will decide on a case by case basis whether to grant single or multiple-entry visas. Validity and duration of stay is the same as for GCC visitors.

Holders of US, UK or Schengen visas, whether for business or tourist purposes, can also enter Saudi Arabia without needing to apply in advance, as long as the visa has already been used at least once and has an entry stamp from the issuing country.

As with GCC visitors, this visa allows holders to perform Umrah outside of Hajj season.

Visas issued by embassies

All other nationalities must acquire their visa through their nearest Saudi embassy. In order to apply, potential visitors must supply proof of accommodation, a return ticket, proof of employment, a flight itinerary, complete personal information, including a home address and a bank statement as proof of financial solvency.

Scroll through the gallery below to see seven remarkable hotels due to open in Saudi Arabia soon

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Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Tips on buying property during a pandemic

Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.

While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.

While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar. 

Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.

Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities. 

Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong. 

Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info

Arsenal 0

Manchester City 2
Sterling (14'), Bernardo Silva (64')

Specs

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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Coming soon

Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura

When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Akira Back Dubai

Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as,  “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems. 

Updated: September 02, 2022, 2:21 PM`