Old city of Jeddah
The old city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Image Credit: Supplied

Riyadh: Indians, Pakistanis and citizens from the South Asian continent are eligible for a Saudi tourist visa through the Kingdom’s embassies and consulates.

In the UAE, the Saudi Arabian Embassy is located at Al Karama Street in the Embassies Area of Abu Dhabi while the Saudi Consulate in Dubai can be found in Bur Dubai on Hamriyah - Al Seef Road.

Saudi Arabia Embassy in Abu Dhabi

Al Karama Street, Embassies Area

Website: http://embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/uae/

Saudi Arabia Consulate in Dubai

Bur Dubai: Hamriyah - Al Seef Road

To apply for a tourist visa from the Saudi Embassy or Consulate, applicants should be at least 18 years old while underage applicants require a guardian.

According to the Saudi Tourism website, there is no need to mention your religion as it is not relevant and a letter from your sponsor is also not required for the visa application.

Before applying, make sure the passport is valid for at least six months at the time of entering Saudi Arabia. Refunds in the event of a rejection is not possible, and visa fees are also non-refundable.

It is also important to note that applicants will be charged 100 riyals (Dh98) for each day of overstaying the tourist visa.

Documents required include:

  • Proof of accommodation
  • Return ticket
  • Proof of employment
  • Bank statement

Supporting information include:

  • Details of Identification Documents
  • Home address
  • Travel itinerary

As of this week, citizens from 49 countries, incluidng US, Canada and UK, are now eligible to apply for a Saudi tourist e-visa by registering on the government website visa.visitsaudi.com.

The e-visa will be a one-year, multiple entry visa, allowing tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country.

The e-visa process can be carried out in two steps, and all that eligible applicants are required to do is fill out the application form, and then pay the 440 riyals (Dh430) visa fee.

Alternatively, applicants can also apply for an e-visa by download the Saudi Tourism app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

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