Saudi visa for UAE residents allow easy access to Saudi Arabia, simplifying travel for business, tourism, and religious purposes. This type of visa connects the people living in the UAE to the neighboring Saudi Arabia.
This special visa encourages people to visit each other, learn about new cultures, strengthen connections and more so improve tourism industries of the both countries.
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Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown
18 September, 2024 | 15 min read
If you are a citizen of the UAE you do not need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. If you are a UAE resident with a citizenship in a different country you will need to apply for a visa inorder to enter Saudi Arabia. You can apply for an e-visa if you belong to one of the listed countries. This will provide you with a stay up to 90 days in Saudi Arabia if you are an expat with a resident visa in the UAE.
A Saudi visa for UAE residents is an official document offered by the Saudi Arabia government to UAE residents who want to enter Saudi Arabia. The visa is a multiple entry electronic type of visa and is only offered to GCC residents who include people living in the UAE and other GCC countries.
When you apply for this visa, it is provided in PDF format and is given to those travelling to Saudi for tourism purposes and those going for Umrah when it is not the Hajj season. The UAE resident visa from Saudi is valid for one year and allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days.
To apply for the Saudi e-visa if you are a UAE resident, send the Arabiers team soft copies of the documents required to complete visa application. The documents required to apply for this visa are :
A UAE resident applying for a Saudi e-visa will spend about 549 AED for the whole process. This amount includes the consultation fee, collection of documents, typing the application, payment of the visa fees to the Saudi embassy and a travel insurance.
If you are 75 years old and above, and applying for this visa, you will have to pay additional money for insurance because the regular insurance does not cover people aged 75 years and above.
The price of this visa may also change depending on the specific type of visa you are applying for and the period you plan to stay in Saudi.
The Saudi Arabia visa for UAE residents is a multiple entry type of visa and is valid for one year after the date you enter Saudi. You can enter and exit Saudi multiple times in that one year when using this visa. The total number of days you stay in Saudi should however not exceed 90 days.
A Saudi Arabia visa for UAE residents is only applied online and not at the embassy. Contact an authorized visa agency like Arabiers, who will easily apply for the visa on your behalf.
Below is the process to apply for a Saudi visa in the UAE :
According to the Saudi e-Visa official website , if you belong to one of the below countries you are eligible for an e-visa. This will make your visa process to Saudi Arabia easy and hassle free.
| South Africa | Albania | Germany | Andorra |
| Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Belgium |
| Brunei | Bulgaria | Canada | China |
| Cyprus | Croatia | South Korea | Denmark |
| Spain | Estonia | Finland | France |
| Greece | Georgia | Hungary | Ireland |
| Iceland | Italy | Japan | Kazakhstan |
| Kyrgyzstan | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Maldives | Malta | Malaysia |
| Maurice | Monaco | Montenegro | Norway |
| New Zealand | Uzbekistan | Panama | Netherlands |
| Poland | Portugal | Czech Republic | Romania |
| United Kingdom | Russia | Saint Kitts and Nevis | San Marino |
| Seychelles | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Sweden | Switzerland | Tajikistan | Thailand |
| Turkey | Ukraine | USA | |
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ( MOFA ), Saudi E-visas are generally non extendable. The E - visa is valid for one year. Also it allows multiple entries with a maximum stay of 90 days per entry. If the E – visa expires before using it or if you stay in Saudi Arabia exceeding the visa expiry date you will have to apply for a new visa. In such cases you cannot request for extensions of the current visa.
Every visitor entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including UAE residents must have a valid travel insurance to be allowed into the country.
When you apply for a Saudi visa, your insurance policy is activated on the date you are expected to travel to Saudi, that is the date registered on MOFAA’s Visa Issuance System (Enjaz).
Immediately the insurance policy gets activated, we will email you with an electronic copy of the insurance and an electronic medial card.
If you want to cancel the insurance, you will also have to cancel your Saudi visit visa from the Saudi Embassy or the consulate office.
Moreover, if the Saudi visit visa is issued after the date you expected to arrive in Saudi, we will activate your travel insurance on the date your visa is issued to you.
| Type of insurance | |
| The benefits and limit of coverage under this policy: The maximum benefits limit for each person for the duration of the policy and that includes lower limits specified in this policy | 100000 SAR |
| The expenses of examination and treatment of emergency cases | Up to the policy limit |
| Hospitalization expenses | |
| Excess percentage (contribution in payment) | No |
| Hospitalization | Up to the policy limit |
| Accommodation and daily subsistence limit for the patient which include bed wage, nursing services, visitations, medical supervision and life support services, but it does not include the cost of medicines and medical supplies, as prescribed by the physician | Shared room and up to a limit of SAR 600 /day |
| Accommodation limit for patient’s escort | Shared room and up to a limit of SAR 150/day |
| Treatment of emergency maternity and delivery cases | Up to SAR 5000 for the duration of the Policy |
| Cost of travel and accompanying of one direct family member | Up to SAR 5000 for the duration of the policy |
| Emergency dental treatment | Up to SAR 500 for the duration of the policy |
| The expenses of the birth and treatment of premature babies | Up to the policy limit |
| Treatment to injuries resulting from road traffic accidents | Up to the policy limit |
| The expenses of emergency kidney Dialysis | Up to the policy limit |
| Emergency Medical Evacuation inside and outside the Kingdom | Up to the policy limit |
| Repatriation of mortal remains to the country of origin | Up to SAR 10000 for the duration of the policy |
| Hospitalization expenses | |
| Cases insurance coverage COVID-19 | Minimum coverage |
| Medical emergencies | 650,000 riyals |
| Costs of medical isolation | 450 riyals per day, with a maximum of 14 days |
| Return the remains of the deceased to his original home | Actual costs |
| Medical evacuation | Actual costs |
Presently, Saudi Arabia offers 4 visa categories for UAE citizens--Multiple entry visa for 90 days, business visa, umrah visa, tansit visa. Most UAE residents, in general, opt for the 90-days multiple entry visa. On the other hand, some travellers opt to get the visa relevant to their purpose of travel ( Business visa for business purposes, umrah visa when travelling to Mecca )
Travellers visiting Saudi Arabia for leisure, family visits can apply for a Saudi tourist visa. It is a multiple entry visa with 90-days validity period. Also pilgrims traveling to perform Umrah can obtain a Saudi tourist visa as well. However, this visa type is not issued during the Hajj season.
| Purpose | Eligibility | Duration | Cost |
| For leisure Family visits Umrah ( excluding the Hajj season ) | Available for nationalities of 66 countries ( including UAE nationalities ) | Validity period – 1 year ( allowing stays of up to 90-days per entry ) | 500 – 600 AED |
Travellers who wish to enter to Saudi Arabia for business purposes can apply for a Saudi business visa. Business purposes may include business meetings, conferences, exploring business opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
You are usually required to have an invitation from a Saudi company or government entity in order to apply for a Saudi business visa
| Purpose | Eligibility | Duration | Cost |
| Meetings, Conferences, Exploring business opportunities | UAE residents with an invitation from a Saudi company or government entity | Typically 30 – 90 days( depends on the type) | 700 – 800 AED |
Pilgrims planning to visit Mecca to perform Umrah can apply for an Umrah visa and pre-plan their religious pilgrimage. This type of visa is not available during the Hajj season
| Purpose | Eligibility | Duration | Cost |
| Pilgrims who wish to perform Umrah, excluding the Hajj season | Available for nationalities of 66 countries ( including UAE nationalities ) | Available for nationalities of 66 countries ( including UAE nationalities ) | 500 – 600 AED |
Travellers passing across Saudi Arabia can apply for a transit visa ( Also known as stopover visa ). This visa type allows its holder to stay in the country for up to 96-hours. Transit visa is the best choice for travellers who wish to explore Saudi Arabia during their layover. You can apply for a transit visa, if you are booking your flights with carriers like Saudia or Flynas
| Purpose | Eligibility | Duration | Cost |
| Allows a short stay in Saudi Arabia during travel layovers | For travellers passing through Saudi via Saudia or Flynas flights | For travellers passing through Saudi via Saudia or Flynas flights | Free of charge for those booking through Saudia/Flynas flights |
Similar to all the other UAE residents, both Indian and Pakistani UAE residents can apply for a tourist E – visa or business visa. However, the applicant must fulfil the general requirements.
This tourist visa allows both Indian and Pakistani UAE residents to enter to Saudi Arabia for leisure, events, family visits, and Umrah ( excluding Hajj season ). All you got to have is UAE residency and a passport with at least six months of validity. If you are holding a US, UK or Schengen visa, you become eligible to obtain an on arrival visa.
SIn case you want to apply for a Saudi Visa all by yourself here are the official platforms you can use :
Saudi eVisa Portal is a primary platform from which tourists from eligible countries can apply for an electronic visa ( eVisa ). The process is simple with only three steps. All you got to do is fill out the application, pay the fee and download the eVisa electronically to your smart device.
This is a multiple entry visa. You can use this eVisa for tourism, family visits and Umrah ( excluding Hajj season ).
MOFA platform is basically used to obtain business visas, family visit visas, resident visas, work visas. Applications for these visa types are processed either through sponsors or directly by applicants via the MOFA website.
Nusuk platform is the official getaway for those intending to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. This is a platform specifically tailored for religious tourism.
Not everyone living in the UAE qualifies for the GCC resident visa. only certain professionals qualify to apply for the GCC resident visa so you should check if you occupation is eligible.
Saudi Arabia just like many other countries loosened the Covid-19 requirements and tourist no longer have to take a test to enter the country. You also don’t need to quarantine when you enter the country as it was in the past.
When you visit Saudi Arabia, do not be in a hurry to leave without visiting the popular places in the country. Below are some of the places that you can visit when you travel to Saudi Arabia :
The Eve’s tomb is an iconic place, is the burial place of Eve who is known to be the first woman on earth and the grandmother of humanity. The tomb is located in the old town of Jeddah, which is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah is the Arabi name for Eve, meaning that the tomb is so iconic that the whole city is named after it. The burial place has been documented sine the 12th century when Ibn Jubayr wrote about it and it was partly destroyed by Prine Faisal, the viceroy of Hejaz in 1928.
Just like in the UAE, dune bashing is also a popular activity in the Saudi Arabia deserts. Board a dune buggy and explore the Arabian deserts in this challenging yet exciting activity.
Some of the popular dune bashing locations in Saudi Arabia include the deserts of Jeddah and Riyadh.
The ancient Ain village is found in the Bidah Valley in western Saudi Arabia. The village looks like a paradise with mountains n all three sides surrounding the houses that are made of polished stones.
The houses still look the same since it was constructed in the 8th century C.E. Zee Ain village has seen many tribal battles before King Abdul Aziz united it and now it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Al Wahbah crater is one of the most famous places in Saudi Arabia largely because of its resemblance to the moon. If you have seen the Silent Sea movie in Netflix, then you probably have an ideal of how it looks like to go for a space adventure.
The Al Wahbah crater is located 250 kilometers away when walking around from Taif. The crater has a diameter of 6.9 kilometers and was formed as a result of a volcanic activity underground. It is also covered with white sodium phosphate crystals at the bottom.
The Edge of the World in Jebel Fihrayn is a unique geological wonder in the rocky desert of Riyadh Saudi Arabia. They are actually cliffs that rise high from the desert and stretch towards the sky, making them appear like a natural skyscraper.
Climb the trails around the cliffs and get on the top, from where if you look at the horizon you get an ethereal view of the sky meeting the earth. When hiking here, ensure you look out for the fossils, the sharp rocks and be careful as the gravel here is loose.
The Tuwaiq Palace in Riyadh was in the past known as the diplomatic club, and is a beautiful structure that looks like a giant tent built with stained glass.
When you enter the palace, it feels like you are entering an oasis which offers you magical views of Riyadh. Many events are usually hosted here, including events for foreigners that are typically considered as taboo in Saudi Arabia like men and women smoking shisha in the same area.
The event area is decorated with Arab-styled finishings, with a comfortable outdoor environments and seating arrangements.
Walking through the narrow corridors of Al ‘Ula in northwest Saudi feels like you are passing through a maze with a historical twist every time you turn. Al ‘Ula was in the past a town with over 800 closely built mud, brick and stone houses which have now become abandoned ruins.
The structures are more than 2000 years old and the city was founded in the 6th century B.C.
There are many tombs in Hegra, Mada’in Saleh, around the Al -Ula region which were built by the Nabateans in the first century. After some archaeological excavations were done, it was discovered that there was an even older civilization in Dadan, also called Lihyan.
The city of Judah found between Riyadh and Dammam in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. In the Judah desert, there is a towering rock formation that looks like a thumb and is often referred to as the ‘Devils Thing’.
Ar Rass, the Arabic name for Old Well is one of the largest urban centers in Al -Qassim province and the 3rd most populated city in Saudia.
The city is known for being a water source and is a famous trade center with pilgrimage routes that run through it.
The Al Shinanah historical tower is also located in Ar Rass, a distance of 350 kilometers northwest of Riyadh. The tower is conical shaped, 88.5 feet tall and a diameter of 20 feet at the base at 5 feet at the top.
The interior of the tower has 8 floors and each floor has 3 different windows where you an enjoy views of the surrounding areas.
Yes, a UAE resident can enter Saudi Arabia by applying a visa..
People with a UAE residence visa can apply for a Saudia visa online through the e-visa program.
A Saudi Arabia visa usually takes 2 to 3 working days to be ready.
The Saudi Arabia immigration does not ask you to do a medical checkup when applying for a Saudi visa from the UAE.
You need to contact the nearest Saudi immigration or the relevant authority to avoid have issues with the authorities.
A person with a UAE residence visa can still apply for a Saudi Arabia visa even if they are citizens of another country.
If you apply for a Saudi visa and it gets denied, the Saudi immigration will tell you the reasons why they rejected the visa, and with that you can decide the action to take.
You will not be refunded the fees you paid when applying for visa even if the application gets rejected.
Yes, Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country so the dress code is influenced by the religion’s conservative customs and laws. Both residents and visitors, and Moreso women are expected to adhere to the strict dress code especially when in public places.
When you obtain a valid Saudi Arabia visa, you can then use it to freely travel to all the cities in Saudi.
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