Saudi Arabia
Phone Code
+966
Capital
Riyadh
Population
36 Million
Native Name
المملكة العربية السعودية
Region
Asia
Western Asia
Timezone
Arabia Standard Time
UTC+03:00
On This Page
Saudi Arabia opened to international tourism for the first time in modern history in September 2019, and is developing at a pace unlike anywhere else in the Middle East — from AlUla's Nabataean tombs at Hegra to the Red Sea's emerging dive resorts and the Vision 2030 mega-projects reshaping the country's economy. Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest cities, are reserved for Muslims only. Despite rapid social change since 2018 (women driving, cinemas, public entertainment), Saudi Arabia remains a conservative Islamic society with strict laws governing dress, behaviour and religious practice, and travellers should understand these before visiting. The tourism e-visa covers a broad list of eligible nationalities, plus anyone holding a valid Schengen, UK or US visa, valid for one year with multiple stays of up to 90 days; passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry.
Saudi Arabia Visa & E-Visa System
Saudi Arabia's tourism e-visa, launched in 2019, is open to citizens of a broad and expanding list of eligible countries — including the US, UK, EU nations, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore — plus anyone holding a valid Schengen, UK or US visa, or permanent residence in the US, EU or UK. The e-visa includes mandatory medical insurance, is valid for one year with multiple entries, and allows stays of up to 90 days per visit (180 days total per year) — check current pricing. Apply online at visa.visitsaudi.com, with processing typically taking minutes to hours; a visa on arrival is also available at major airports for the same eligible travellers. Passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry. Hajj and Umrah visas are separate categories managed through authorised travel agents and Saudi embassies rather than the tourism e-visa system, though Umrah itself can be performed year-round on the tourism e-visa with an online permit. Work visas require employer sponsorship. Citizens of GCC countries (UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar) enter visa-free. Travellers with Israeli passport stamps may face entry issues, though policy has been relaxed in some cases — check current guidance. Alcohol is completely prohibited — do not attempt to bring any into the country. Dress codes, gender-interaction norms and behavioural expectations are strictly enforced.
Common Visa Types
Tourism E-Visa
For tourism, leisure, visiting attractions, attending events and visiting friends/family. Available to citizens of the eligible-country list. Apply online at visa.visitsaudi.com — processing typically minutes to hours. Includes mandatory medical insurance. Also available as visa on arrival at major airports.
Hajj Visa
For the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca (mandatory once in a lifetime for able Muslims). Strictly managed through authorised Hajj travel agents and Saudi embassies. Available only during the Hajj season. Not available through the e-visa system. Proof of Muslim faith required.
Umrah Visa
For the minor Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, which can be performed at any time of year. Managed through authorised agents and embassies. Not available through the tourism e-visa system. Proof of Muslim faith required. Umrah can also be performed on a tourism e-visa for eligible nationals.
Work / Business Visa
For employment or business activities in Saudi Arabia. Requires employer sponsorship. Business visit visas available for short-term commercial activities. Work visas are tied to the sponsoring employer (kafala system, though reforms are underway).
Essential Information for Saudi Arabia Travellers
Saudi Arabia is one of the world's newest tourism destinations — and one of its most surprising. AlUla in the northwest is the headline: Hegra (UNESCO), the southern capital of the Nabatean kingdom that built Petra, features over 100 monumental tombs carved into sandstone outcrops in the desert — less visited and arguably better preserved than Jordan's Petra. The AlUla landscape itself — elephant rock formations, palm-filled canyons, ancient inscriptions from Dadanite and Lihyanite civilisations — is extraordinary. The Red Sea coast between Jeddah and NEOM has pristine coral reefs, sea turtle nesting grounds and developing resort infrastructure (the Red Sea Project aims to become a world-class diving and luxury destination). The Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) — the largest continuous sand desert on earth — offers dune landscapes of staggering scale. Jeddah's Al-Balad historic district (UNESCO) is a labyrinth of coral-stone merchant houses with intricately carved wooden balconies (rawasheen). The Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) near Riyadh is a dramatic escarpment overlooking an endless plateau. Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi state, is being transformed into a cultural quarter. And the Vision 2030 mega-projects are reshaping the country: NEOM (a planned city larger than Belgium), Qiddiya (entertainment and sports city near Riyadh), and The Line (a 170 km linear city in NEOM). Saudi cuisine — kabsa (spiced rice with meat), jareesh, mutabbaq, dates and Arabic coffee — is a discovery in itself.
Discover Saudi Arabia
Umrah is a set of rituals a pilgrim can complete in a matter of hours and isn't tied to a specific date on the Islamic calendar, which is why it can be scheduled any time of year, including on the standard tourism e-visa. Hajj, by contrast, follows a fixed sequence of rites tied to specific days of the Islamic lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is why it only happens once a year and requires its own dedicated permit system to manage the sheer scale of pilgrims arriving in that same narrow window. The Haramain High-Speed Railway exists specifically to move the volume of pilgrims and visitors between Jeddah's airport and the two holy cities quickly enough to handle that concentrated demand, cutting a multi-hour road journey down to roughly the length of the train ride itself.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Mecca and Medina — Islam's two holiest cities — draw millions of Muslim travellers a year. In Mecca stand the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram); in Medina, the Prophet's Mosque and the Rawdah. Umrah can be performed year-round, including on the tourism e-visa for eligible visitors, while Hajj falls in a fixed season and needs a separate Hajj permit. Umrah, Hajj and Rawdah-visit permits are applied for online, and the Haramain High-Speed Railway links Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, making the two cities easy to combine in one trip. Both cities are reserved for Muslims; non-Muslims cannot enter either.
Hegra (UNESCO, Nabatean tombs carved in sandstone — Saudi Arabia's Petra), elephant rock formations, Dadanite and Lihyanite inscriptions, palm-filled canyons, Maraya concert hall (world's largest mirrored building), and the AlUla arts and culture programme. One of the Middle East's most spectacular emerging destinations.
Pristine coral reefs between Jeddah and NEOM, sea turtle nesting, whale shark sightings, shipwreck diving, and the developing Red Sea Project (luxury resort islands). Yanbu and the Farasan Islands offer less-developed but excellent diving. The Saudi Red Sea coast is one of the last largely unexplored reef systems on earth.
The Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali, the world's largest sand desert), Edge of the World escarpment near Riyadh (Jebel Fihrayn), dune bashing and desert camping, camel trekking, and the dramatic landscapes of the Hejaz Mountains. Saudi Arabia's desert scale is unlike anything in the UAE or Oman.
Jeddah's Al-Balad historic district (UNESCO, coral-stone houses with carved wooden balconies), Diriyah (birthplace of the Saudi state, At-Turaif UNESCO district), Riyadh's Masmak Fort and National Museum, and the ancient oasis town of Al-Ahsa (UNESCO). Saudi heritage predates the oil era by millennia.
NEOM (planned city larger than Belgium), The Line (170 km linear city), Qiddiya (entertainment city near Riyadh), the Red Sea Project (luxury island resorts), and Riyadh's transformation with Formula E, concerts, and cultural festivals. Saudi Arabia is building the future at an unprecedented scale.
Money & Currency
Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Currency code: SAR
Practical Money Tips
Cards and Contactless Work Excellently in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has modern, well-developed payment infrastructure. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, petrol stations and most shops in cities. Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) work widely — adoption is high, particularly in Riyadh, Jeddah and the eastern province. The local mada debit card system is ubiquitous but for international cards, Visa and Mastercard contactless work seamlessly at most NFC terminals. Cash is mainly needed for souks, small local restaurants and rural areas.
The Riyal Is Pegged to the Dollar — Stable and Predictable
The Saudi Riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of 3.75 SAR per 1 USD. This makes exchange rates stable and predictable for dollar-based travellers. For visitors with Euros, GBP or other currencies, the SAR/EUR rate fluctuates with the EUR/USD rate. Exchange money at banks (Al Rajhi, NCB, Riyad Bank) or licensed exchange offices — rates at airports are acceptable but city-centre exchanges are slightly better. The fixed USD peg means there is no currency risk for dollar holders.
ATMs Are Everywhere
ATMs from Saudi banks (Al Rajhi, NCB, Riyad Bank, SABB, Banque Saudi Fransi) are found in every shopping mall, hotel lobby, supermarket and petrol station. Most accept Visa and Mastercard. Withdrawal limits are generous (typically SAR 5,000-10,000 per transaction). ATM fees for international cards vary — check with your home bank. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and withdraw in SAR.
No Alcohol Economy — Budget Accordingly
Alcohol is completely prohibited in Saudi Arabia. This means no bar tabs, no wine with dinner, no minibar charges. For travellers accustomed to budgeting for drinks, this significantly reduces daily spending. Instead, Saudi Arabia has a thriving café culture: Arabic coffee (qahwa) with dates, specialty coffee shops in Riyadh and Jeddah rivalling any in London or Melbourne, fresh juice stands, and traditional tea houses. Restaurants do not serve alcohol — pricing reflects this.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Saudi Arabia — Embassies worldwide
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Embassies in Saudi Arabia
These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.
Key origin countries
Citizens of the eligible-country list can apply online. In addition, anyone holding a valid Schengen, UK or US visa, or permanent residence in the US, EU or UK, qualifies for the e-visa and for a visa on arrival at major airports. GCC nationals enter visa-free.
Yes. Muslim visitors can perform Umrah year-round on the tourism e-visa; an Umrah permit, applied for online, is still required. Hajj is separate and needs its own permit.
Muslim visitors can perform Umrah on the tourism e-visa. The Umrah permit and, in Medina, a permit to visit the Rawdah inside the Prophet's Mosque are applied for online. Hajj needs a separate permit and only takes place during the Hajj season.
Planning a trip to Saudi Arabia? Whether you need a tourism e-visa, help understanding entry requirements, or guidance on cultural codes — get step-by-step support for your application.
Apply for your eVisaVisaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.