India among 7 countries to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s new e-visa system

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Saudi Arabia has started a new e-visa system that replaces the traditional visa stickers in passports. This initiative, launched in May 2023, aims to digitize consular services and offer a new way to grant work, residency, and visit visas in seven countries, namely Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This is part of the Saudi government’s effort to automate consular services and develop a mechanism for granting various types of visas.

About Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia is a country located in the Middle East and is known for its oil reserves, Islamic holy sites, and rich cultural heritage.
• It is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula and covers a land area of approximately 2.15 million square kilometers.
• The country has a population of over 34 million people, with a majority of them being Muslims.
• The capital is Riyadh.
• The currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR).
• Saudi Arabia is ruled by a monarchy and its government follows a conservative Islamic ideology.
• The King is King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
• The Crown Prince is Mohammed bin Salman.
• The country’s economy is heavily dependent on its oil reserves, which are some of the largest in the world. In recent years, the government has made efforts to diversify the economy by investing in non-oil sectors such as tourism, technology, and renewable energy.
• The country is home to several important Islamic holy sites, including Mecca and Medina, which attract millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world every year. The country also has a rich cultural heritage, with many historical sites and landmarks, traditional souks (markets), and museums.

Tourism in Saudi Arabia

The country has been making efforts to boost its tourism industry to reduce its dependence on oil. The country has launched initiatives to promote tourism and make it easier for visitors to enter the country. Some of the popular tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia include:

• The Red Sea Project: A luxury tourism project on the west coast of Saudi Arabia with plans to create an archipelago of more than 90 pristine islands, offering exclusive resorts and attractions.
• AlUla: A historic site in the northwest of Saudi Arabia featuring ancient ruins, tombs, and stone carvings.
• Mada’in Saleh: An archaeological site located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, home to impressive rock-cut tombs and monuments.
• Riyadh: The capital city with modern architecture, museums, and cultural attractions.
• Jeddah: A port city on the Red Sea, known for its historic architecture and traditional souks (markets).
• Abha: A mountainous region in southwestern Saudi Arabia, offering natural beauty, traditional architecture, and cultural events.

The government is also investing heavily in the tourism infrastructure, including the development of new hotels, resorts, and entertainment venues.

Growing Tourism in Saudi Arabia

• In late 2019, Saudi Arabia introduced e-visas to cater to increasing tourism.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing a new e-visa mechanism for work permits, residence, and visit visas.
• Last year, the ministry announced the introduction of a “personal visit” e-visa that allows visitors to apply through its website to visit friends who are Saudi citizens.
• The e-visa is valid for 90 days, and visitors can travel throughout the kingdom, including offering prayers in the two holy cities and making Umrah.

7 Countries to Benefit from the New e-visa System

• Saudi Arabia has launched a new e-visa system that replaces traditional visa stickers on passports.
• The system began in May 2023 and will be used to issue work, residency, and visit visas in seven countries.
• The countries included are Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
• The initiative aims to digitize consular services and create a new way to issue visas.
• The Saudi missions in these seven countries will be able to issue electronic visas with QR codes to retrieve visitors’ data.
• The move is part of efforts to automate consular services and streamline the visa process.

Saudi Arabia’s Future Plans

• The Saudi Kingdom aims to diversify its economy away from oil and is investing heavily in its hospitality, tourism, and travel industries.
• The country plans to add 315,000 new hotel rooms by 2030, with a development cost of $37.8 billion.
• Projects like Neom, a futuristic city, are leading the way in this expansion.
• These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build its reputation as a major tourist destination.

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