Saudi Arabia to announce tourist visa rules in two months

The SCTH (Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage) will announce tourist visa details by the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal, after the commission’s board of directors approves it, according to the SPA (Saudi Press Agency).

The SCTH stated this to inform that the news mentioned in media about details, nationality specifications and requirements were not entirely true and were, at times, based on considerations that were not approved yet.

The SCTH said that the ministries of interior and foreign affairs would continue to fully coordinate on the arrangements for launching the tourist visa.

These two ministries were collaborating with the SCTH to formulate the standards to arrive at the foundation on which will be based the granting of the tourist visa rules, as per a royal decree on 9/1/1438 H issuing the Tourism Law.

It was confirmed by the SCTH’s statement that the official gazette will publish the regulations, requirements and appropriate details for tourist visas at the end of the first-quarter of 2018 for execution. The SCTH’s official website will also make available all details, it was mentioned.

In early January, Mohammed Al-Omari, the director of the Tourism and Heritage Authority in the Makkah region, was quoted as telling Arab News that nationals of all the countries who have access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are eligible for tourist visas.

Al-Omari added that all Muslims from all over the globe can procure a post-Umrah tourist visa, allowing them to become a tourist after Umrah is finished. He said that this would be the extended Umrah visa for tourism after Umrah.

When Saudi Arabia implemented the tourist visa system’s trial period between 2008 and 2010, the country received over 32,000 tourists. Facilitating their visa procedures were several tour operators that the SCTH had authorized.

The objective behind the Tourism Visa Initiative revival of the earlier tourist visa regime was to let travellers explore new destinations in Saudi Arabia, encouragement of the tourism sector and development of tourism and heritage facilities and services in the country.

If you are looking to visit Saudi Arabia, talk to Y-Axis, the world’s no.1 immigration and visa consultant, to apply for a tourist visa.