Opening the door
The electronic tourist visa launched on 27 September 2019, initially for citizens of 49 countries. Eight more were added on 6 August 2023 and six more on 17 October 2023, bringing the total at that point to 63.
Eligible visitors can apply online, on arrival at designated ports of entry, or through Saudi embassies and consulates. The multiple-entry visa is valid for a year and allows stays of up to three months, and it covers tourism and Umrah outside the Hajj season.
The numbers
The National Tourism Development Strategy, launched in 2019, set a target of 100 million visits a year by 2030. In 2023 the Kingdom recorded 109.34 million, 81.92 million domestic and 27.42 million international, reaching the goal seven years early.
In 2024 domestic tourists rose to 86.2 million and international tourists to 29.7 million. The 2030 target now stands at 150 million visits, including 70 million international tourists, and the strategy aims to raise tourism's direct share of GDP to 10%.