Saudi Arabia is expanding its electronic visa services to seven more countries, including Jordan, the UAE, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. This move comes as the country aims to attract more tourists, not just for religious purposes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is implementing this initiative to improve the visa-issuing process using the latest technology. Eligible candidates can apply for the e-visa through Saudi Arabia’s official tourism website.
To apply for the e-visa, applicants need to complete the online application form, pay the visa fee, and wait for processing, which usually takes about 30 minutes. Once approved, the e-visa is valid for 90 days, and visitors can enter the country within that period.
Saudi Arabia initially introduced e-visas in late 2019 to accommodate increased tourism. The e-visa allows visitors to travel throughout the country, including the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The country has been actively promoting tourism and issued over four million visas for pilgrims from various countries in 2022. As part of efforts to boost the tourism sector’s recovery, Saudi Arabia also plans to add 315,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 with an estimated cost of $37.8 billion.
