Foreigners who wish to live in the country of Saudi Arabia used to find it difficult to do so. The country has very strict requirements and they don’t allow foreigners to visit easily unless it is for work or if they are Muslim. However, they are now shifting their policies to become more open as seen in their latest program.

Permanent Residency Program

On Wednesday, November 13, the Saudi government issued 73 “premium” residency to foreigners under its new program. The program aims to bring in overseas investment by allowing foreigners to buy property in the country and do business without a Saudi sponsor.

The announcement of the program led to the application of thousands of foreigners who wish to get in the country. Permanent residency can be acquired for 800,000 riyals or a one-year renewable permit for 100,000 riyals. The lucky foreigners who got the program came from 19 countries. They come from various professions as well according to the Premium Residency Center’s statement on Monday, November 11. However, it is visible it did not include how many got the permanent residency status.

The new program was introduced in May and shows Saudi’s changing perspective on how the economy can stay afloat. So far, the country has been heavily reliant on oil, but the prices have caused some importers to move to cheaper suppliers.

The program or the “priviledge iqama” system will provide eligible residents the chance to build their business, own property, and go in and out of the country without sponsorship. They will also get family status and use the processing services for Saudi nationals in the airport.

Interested foreigners must have their valid passport, financial requirements and be at least 21 years old and older.

In an interview in 2016 with Bloomberg, Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman said that the government has been considering a special Green Card system for expats. This can generate billions of dollars for the national economy should the program be successful.

Saudi Arabia Tips

For those interested to travel to Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of guides available to help. You can visit the official tourism website of the Kingdom through this link. The site also has details about how international tourists can get visa to visit the country. You may also check with your local Saudi Embassy for more details about traveling to the country.

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In recent months, Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are introducing new programs to bring in tourists. Visa-free policies and new visa types are now available for some countries, and a new visa is in the works: a joint visa.

Joint Visa Details

On Friday, a report from the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh said that both countries are working a joint visa. The new visa will allow foreigners to travel to both countries without filing for a separate visa.

The announcement was made by UAE’s Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori. He mentioned the new project during the latest FII meeting, which happened on October 31. Around 6,000 attendees worldwide were in the session and 300 of them are decision-makers for 30 countries.

In a statement quoted by Al Eqtisadiah newspaper, Al Mansoori said “This initiative aims at taking advantage of the enormous potential and great measures taken by Saudi Arabia to facilitate the entry of tourists to the Kingdom.”

Once the negotiations are complete, the visa will be active next year. Full details about the joint visa project are not yet available.

Around 24,000 tourists came to Saudi Arabia since the beginning of its newest visa system on September 27. According to Saudi media, most of these visitors came from China with 7,391 tourists. They are followed by British and American citizens respectively with 6,159 and 2,132 tourists respectively. Saudi’s Foreign Ministry says the country aims to target 100 million visitors yearly by 2030.

Currently, 41 million visitors visit Saudi every year.

Saudi and UAE Tips

For those interested to travel to Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of guides available to help. You can visit the official tourism website of the Kingdom through this link. The site also has details about how international tourists can get visa to visit the country. You may also check with your local Saudi Embassy for more details about traveling to the country.

Meanwhile, if you are planning to visit the UAE, there are a lot of articles online to help you out. You can check out the Dubai Tourism Board or the Abu Dhabi Tourism Board to find out more about the two cities. You can also check out our article about the Best Places to Stay in Dubai for some extra ideas.

The post Saudi and UAE Teaming Up for New Joint Visa appeared first on Check in Price.

Saudi Arabia has a very strict policy when it comes to those who can visit the country. Foreigners have to get a work, business and pilgrimage visa to get into the country. However, things are changing as Saudi is now opening its doors to more foreigners with the help of its Saudi eVisa scheme.

Saudi eVisa for US, UK and Schengen Visa Holders

On Monday, the Saudi government announced that tourists with US, British and Schengen visa will be able to apply for an eVisa to the country. This expands the number of countries who can apply for an eVisa, which was originally 49 countries.

Last month, the government launched its new visa regime to allow citizens from Europe, North America and Asia to apply for a tourist eVisa. This aims to help Saudi to boost its foreign tourism and diversify its economy and not rely on oil. The government also aims to open more jobs for Saudi Arabian citizens.

The new regulations were published online this past weekend. It says that people from other countries who either have a tourist or commercial visa from the United States, Britain or the European Union can get an eVisa. They will not be required to apply at their nearest Saudi embassy to get a different visa.

The new visa will be valid for one year and cost about $120. It will include a health insurance fee and tourists can get multiple entry-visas and long stays up to three months.

Aside from the new visa, the government also listed down a new public decency code. It includes barring immodest dress and public displays of affections. However, they will now allow foreign men and women to rent hotel rooms together without needing to prove they are related. The ban on alcohol remains.

Since the new eVisa program began, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry reported that 24,000 people flew to the country since then.

Saudi Travel Tips

For those interested to travel to Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of guides available to help.

You can visit the official tourism website of the Kingdom through this link. The site also has details about how international tourists can get visa to visit the country. You may also check with your local Saudi Embassy for more details about traveling to the country.

The post US, Schengen Visa Holders Now Able to Apply for Saudi eVisa appeared first on Check in Price.