This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Updated February 2024
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attracts millions of tourists annually with its awe-inspiring desert landscapes, state-of-the-art modern attractions like the Red Sea Project and Amaala, and rich cultural tapestry. Saudi Arabia being a neighbour to the UAE makes it a great destination for Emiratis for quick weekend getaways, long vacations, as well as religious pilgrimages like Umrah.
If you’re looking to obtain a Saudi visa from the UAE, here’s everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
Saudi Arabia visit visa for UAE residents latest news
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made an important announcement regarding the process of obtaining visas from its missions located in seven countries, including the UAE. Recently, the Saudi government announced that it has decided to replace the traditional stickers placed on passports with QR codes for data reading purposes.
As per the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this new regulation has been implemented in the Saudi missions of the United Arab Emirates and other 6 countries since 1 May. This move is in line with the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to digitize consular services and streamline the process of obtaining various types of visas, including work, residence, and visit visas.
Do UAE residents need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia?
Whether UAE residents require a Saudi visa depends on their nationality. The Saudi government allows citizens of GCC countries, including the UAE, to enter without a visa and may use National ID cards to enter the Kingdom. However, UAE residents of other nationalities may need to obtain a Saudi visa to visit the country.
Types of Saudi visit visa for UAE residents
Foreign residents of the UAE can now apply for a Saudi visa to enter the Kingdom on the Visit Saudi online portal for Saudi e-visa for tourism and Umrah regardless of profession. The following are the types of available Saudi visas for UAE residents
Saudi Arabia offers different types of visit visas depending on the purpose of the visit.
Tourist visa
The Saudi Tourist Visa (Saudi e-Visa) is an entry authorization document allowing foreign nationals to enter Saudi Arabia for non-essential and non-religious purposes.
The Saudi Tourist Visa is a one-year, multiple-entry electronic visa that allows tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country. It covers tourism-related activities and Umrah (excluding the Hajj season) and excludes other activities such as studying.
Business visa
If you are visiting Saudi Arabia for business purposes, including attending meetings, conferences, or other events, you need a business visa. This can be a single or multiple-entry visa.
Umrah visa
GCC residents, including residents of the UAE, have seamless opportunities to visit Saudi Arabia, perform Umrah, and explore the Kingdom with various accessible visas and facilities. A notable option is the ease of obtaining permits for Umrah through the Nusuk platform.
Now Umrah is more accessible.
Residents of the #UAE can perform Umrah or visit #KSA and move there easily through several visas and facilities. The most prominent of which is the ease of obtaining the necessary permits to perform Umrah on the #Nusuk.#Umrah_in_one_step pic.twitter.com/9rl6AeBjXn
— nusuk – نسُك (@MyNusuk) February 14, 2024
UAE residents can embark on a journey to Saudi Arabia using different visit visas:
- residents in GCC Countries: apply for a tourist visa through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
- visit visa through package: purchase a program from Umrah e-platforms and apply via the NUSUK platform
- stop over visa (transit): obtain it when booking via Saudi Airlines or Flynas
- visit e-visa: available for residents of the United States, United Kingdom, and EU countries, as well as visa holders of the United States, United Kingdom, and Schengen. Obtain it at international airports in Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, and Dammam.
- visit visa from the embassy or consulate: apply through authorized visa offices affiliated with the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country or Tasheer offices.
- visiting relatives and friends visa: Saudi citizens or residents can invite relatives or friends living abroad. Apply through the Unified National Platform for Visas
To perform Umrah and pray in Rawdah Sharif, citizens, and residents must secure the necessary permits through the convenient NUSUK application.
Family visit visa
The Family Visit Visa is given to the immediate family members of the legal residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia who are living outside of KSA to visit their families in the Kingdom.
A Family Visit Visa can only be issued to immediate family members such as:
- parents
- children
- father-in-law and mother-in-law
- husband or wife
- brothers or sisters and their families (wives/husbands and their children)
It is worth noting that a person can now perform Umrah on a family visit visa. However, they need to make sure to book an appointment through the Nusuk platform.
Personal visit visa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced a new entry visa dubbed the Personal Visitor Visa. This visit visa allows foreign nationals to enter the country via an invitation from their Saudi friends or acquaintances.
With the Saudi Personal Visit Visa, holders may:
- freely visit the country
- travel across the Kingdom
- visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and other religious sites
- perform Umrah
- take part in cultural events
To apply for the Saudi Personal visit visa, Saudi citizens must:
- visit the eVisa platform of the ministry’s website at https://visa.mofa.gov.sa.
- go to the “Individual Service” section of the eVisa platform
- log in through the Nafadh unified national platform
- fill out the data of the invitees by requesting a personal visit
- approve the necessary undertakings
The request will then be processed, and a Personal visit visa will be issued. The data can be viewed through the “invitation request” query service.
For more information on the types of visit visas Saudi Arabia offers, check out our dedicated article.
Saudi visit visa validity for UAE residents
The single-entry visit visa is valid for three months from the date of issuance, and the permissible period of stay is 30 days.
The multiple-entry visit visa is valid for one year from the date of issuance, and the permissible period of stay is 90 days.
Saudi visit visa processing time for UAE residents
It takes 2-3 business days to get the Saudi e-visa processed from the UAE.
Saudi visit visa cost for UAE residents
The cost for the eVisa is SAR 300 (approximately AED 295) plus fees for full health insurance.
Please note that the visa application fee is non-refundable.
