Saudi Arabia has launched a new free electronic transit visa for travellers transiting the country. The free e-transit visa will allow travellers to spend up to 4 days (96 hours) in Saudi Arabia before continuing their journey.
This is excellent news for travellers who often have long connections at airports in the region. Saudi Arabia is developing its tourism sector and this new free transit visa could encourage travellers to discover the country.
Travellers can book on the websites of the national airlines Saudia and Flynas their flight ticket with a maximum stopover time of 96 hours in Saudi Arabia, and then immediately apply for their visa online. The Saudi authorities state that the Transit e-Visa is issued free of charge and immediately with the flight ticket and travel insurance. The e-Transit Visa is valid for three months from the date of issue and allows a stay of four days in Saudi Arabia, without the possibility of extending the visa on the spot, whether for a short tourist, cultural or business stay, or to make the small Umrah pilgrimage.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to tourism. In September 2019, the country launched a new tourist visa for travellers from 49 countries, including France, the US, Canada, Australia and most European countries.
Since then, many tourists have begun to explore Saudi Arabia's historic sites and natural wonders. The country is full of hidden treasures, such as the tombs of the prophets, mountain fortresses, lush oases and white sandy beaches.
Saudi Arabia is also a centre of pilgrimage for Muslims from all over the world. The holy city of Mecca welcomes millions of pilgrims every year for the hajj, the obligatory annual pilgrimage for Muslims, or the umra.
In addition to its religious sites, Saudi Arabia has many modern tourist attractions, such as the Al Hokair Land theme park and Riyadh's Kingdom Centre tower, which offers stunning views of the city.
The Saudi government has invested billions of dollars in developing its tourism sector and has launched several initiatives to encourage tourists to visit the country, including the creation of new tourist zones, the restoration of historic sites and the construction of new hotels and tourist complexes.
An agency service 