travel

Saudi Arabia visit visa guide 2025, explained

Saudi Arabia welcomed around 116 million domestic and international tourists in 2024, marking a six per cent increase compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s latest Annual Statistical Report. The growth highlights the Kingdom’s rising profile as a global travel destination, supported by its expanding hospitality sector, new attractions, and improved visa policies.

To accommodate this surge in visitors, Saudi Arabia offers several types of visit visas depending on nationality, residency, and purpose of travel.

Whether you are planning to perform Umrah, reunite with family, explore the country for tourism, or attend business meetings, here is a detailed guide to the visa options available.

Visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia

Travellers from eligible countries can obtain a visa on arrival at Saudi Arabia’s airports and land or sea entry points. On arrival, you can either use self-service kiosks or apply directly at the passport control counter.

You may qualify for a visa on arrival if you:

Hold a valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa.
Are a permanent resident in the US, EU, or UK.

Saudi Arabia eVisa

For most eligible nationalities, the Saudi eVisa is the most convenient option. Applications can be submitted online through the official eVisa platform.

Validity: The eVisa is a multiple-entry visa valid for one year.
Stay period: Up to 90 days per visit.
Purpose: Tourism, visiting family, or performing Umrah (outside the Hajj season).
Availability: Expats residing in GCC countries are also eligible. Both single-entry and multiple-entry options are offered.

The eVisa is issued electronically and delivered by email once approved.

Who can apply for a Saudi eVisa?

You may apply if you are:

A citizen of an eligible country listed on the Saudi visa platform.
A holder of a valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa.
A permanent resident in the US, EU, or UK.
A resident in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
How to check your visa eligibility
To confirm whether you qualify for a Saudi eVisa or visa on arrival, visit ksavisa.sa. By selecting “visit” as your purpose of travel, entering your nationality, and indicating your residency (if applicable), the system will show the visa options available to you.
Visit visa for non-eligible countries
If you are not eligible for an eVisa or visa on arrival, you can still apply for a Saudi visit visa through embassies or authorised service centres. This option caters to tourism, family visits, Umrah, and business purposes.
Family and Friends – For family visits, a Saudi resident or citizen must initiate the application by sending an invitation. The guest must have a family relationship with the inviter.
Tourism – Visitors from non-eligible countries can apply through visa service centres (if available in their country) or directly through Saudi embassies. Applications are submitted via the KSA Visa platform and finalised at the relevant embassy.
Umrah – Eligible travellers may perform Umrah using an eVisa, visa on arrival, or transit visa through Flynas and Saudia Airlines. If none of these options apply, an Umrah visa must be arranged through licensed Umrah agents, visa offices, or Saudi embassies.
Business – A business visit visa is issued for meetings, conferences, and commercial activities. Applicants require an invitation letter from a Saudi company, outlining the purpose of the visit. If no letter is available, details about the applicant’s business must be provided in the application.

· Saudi transit visas

Saudi Arabia also issues transit visas for travellers passing through the Kingdom by air, land, or sea.
The stopover visa is a special option for passengers flying with Saudia Airlines or Flynas. It allows travellers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours (four days) and can be used to perform Umrah or visit holy sites. The visa is free of charge, with only processing and mandatory medical insurance fees required.
Important note – This information is intended as a general guide. Travellers should always verify the latest requirements through Saudi Arabia’s official visa platform at ksavisa.sa or contact the support centre at inside Saudi Arabia – 920011114 and outside Saudi Arabia: +966920011114

Story by Gulf News

travel

Top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection

While thousands of UAE residents are currently scrambling to lock in travel plans ahead of the upcoming two-month school summer holiday, a smooth European getaway is far from a guarantee. In fact, choosing the wrong diplomatic mission right now could completely derail your vacation before it even begins.

The latest visa statistics from the European Commission reveal a stark reality for local holidaymakers: while some European nations welcome travellers with open arms, including giving them multiple-entry Schengen visas, a select group of consulates inside the UAE are proving to be major brick walls.

Surge in applications

Globally, the EU and Schengen-associated consulates received nearly 12 million applications for short-stay visas in 2025, a 1.8 percent increase from 2024 (11.7 million) and a 15.5 percent rise from 2023 (10.3 million). However, overall demand remained well below the 17 million applications recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

10 million visas

Over 10 million visas were issued globally in 2025, a 3 percent increase from 2024 (9.7 million). While the global refusal rate held steady at 14.8 percent, rejection rates inside the UAE tell a wildly different story for certain destinations, with several consulates turning away more than a third — and in some cases, over half — of all local applicants.

Highest rejection rates

Data reveals that Bulgaria is statistically the hardest Schengen visa to secure in the UAE. The country maintains a staggering official rejection rate of 58.2 percent, turning away 2,473 applicants out of 4,494 requests.

Luxembourg follows closely as the second-hardest destination, with a 48.5 percent rejection rate, meaning nearly one out of every two UAE applicants is denied. Estonia takes the third spot with a refusal rate of 46.4 percent across its 468 applications.

The high-volume traps

While smaller European states often see high percentages due to lower application volumes, several massive, mainstream holiday destinations in the UAE are operating as major rejection traps for unsuspecting holidaymakers.

Malta rejected 45.9 percent of its 7,079 applicants in the UAE, while Croatia denied 42.6 percent of the 2,092 people who applied. Meanwhile, Nordic favourite Sweden maintained a strict barrier, rejecting 40.7 percent of its 6,312 local applicants.

Popular Eastern European hub Hungary crossed the 10,000-application milestone in the UAE but proved to be highly exclusive, turning down 35.2 percent (3,636 applicants) of its total pool. Poland also sits high on the refusal leaderboard at 32.5 percent.

Rounding out the top 10 hardest states are Denmark and Slovakia. Denmark processed a massive 17,288 applications from the UAE but handed out rejections to 31.8 percent of them, while Slovakia refused 31.5 percent of its 1,110 applicants.

Smart travel strategy

The data indicates that instead of gambling on boutique destinations or strict Nordic states, smart UAE travellers should anchor their summer holiday itineraries with diplomatic heavyweights like Spain, France, or Germany, all of which boast significantly higher pure approval rates locally.

Gulf news

travel

Saudi Arabia bans in-flight power bank charging

operating at the Kingdom’s airports, updating regulations governing the carriage of portable chargers, commonly known as power banks, and other electronic devices onboard aircraft.

The authority announced the updated rules on social media, saying the measures are aimed at enhancing aviation safety and aligning with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Charging power banks onboard banned

Under the new regulations, passengers and cabin crew are prohibited from recharging portable power banks during flights.

The authority said the measures are intended to strengthen aviation safety and security across all flights operating in the Kingdom.

Power banks allowed only in cabin baggage

The updated rules also state that power banks must be carried only in hand luggage inside the aircraft cabin and are strictly prohibited in checked baggage.

Passengers will be allowed to carry a maximum of two portable chargers each onboard.

As an added precautionary measure, the authority further recommended avoiding the use of power banks to charge electronic devices during flights.

travel

UAE restores normal air traffic operations

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced that air traffic in the UAE’s airspace has returned to normal operations, with temporary precautionary measures lifted.

The authority said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, carried out in coordination with relevant entities. It stressed that real-time monitoring will continue to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety.

The GCAA also expressed its appreciation for the cooperation of passengers and airlines during the recent period, reaffirming the readiness of its technical and operational teams to respond to any potential developments.

It urged the public to rely on official sources for information.