Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and traditions have been shaped by its position as a historic trade hub and the birthplace of Islam. In recent years, the Kingdom has undergone a significant cultural transformation, adapting centuries-old customs to fit the contemporary world.
Opening Saudi to tourism is a key milestone in the implementation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil. Saudi Arabia expects to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million per year by 2030, attracting significant foreign and domestic investment, and creating one million jobs.
Geography
• Population : 32. 94 Million
• Currency : Saudi Riyal
• Climate : Subtropical – October to April Temperature : from 25 – 35 degrees centigrade
• Language : Arabic
• 14th largest country on Earth (2,149,690 sq. km)
• Largest sand desert on Earth (Rub-Al-Khali)
‘• Mada’in Saleh’ is one of the ancient cities in the world.
• Largest country in the world without any rivers.
Saudi Arabia contains the world’s largest continuous sand desert, al-Rub al-Khali (the Empty Quarter). Saudi Arabia has four other major regions. The largest is the Najd, a central plateau, which rises from about 600 metres in the east to about 1,500 metres in the west. The capital, Riyadh, is located in the Najd. The Hijaz stretches along the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aqaba south to Asir and is the location of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Asir, extending south to the Yemen border, includes a fertile coastal plain. Inland mountains in the Asir region rise to more than 2,700 metres. The Eastern Province extends along the Persian Gulf and is the primary oil-producing region of the country. The oasis region of al-Ahsa occupies much of the Eastern Province.
Culture & People
The culture of Saudi Arabia is defined by its Islamic heritage, its historical role as an ancient trade centre, and its Bedouin traditions. The Saudi society has evolved over the years, their values and traditions from customs, hospitality to their style of dressing, are adapting with modernization.
Saudi Arabia was a conclusion of a deep-rooted cultural heritage, as well as an inherent of a series of civilizations that were crowned by Islam religion. The Saudi government gives emphasis to the importance of preservation and care of the national archeological and heritage treasures, highlighting them and being proud of them.
Connectivity
Saudi Arabia also operates 15 domestic airports, for short hops between regions.
With 13 international airports, served by a wealth of global carriers, getting to and around the Kingdom couldn’t be easier but main tourism gateway remains Riyadh – RUH & Jeddah -JED
Saudia – the national carrier, operates to 132 destination with 159 aircrafts fleet size from 3 hubs across the Kingdom.
Visa & Entry Information
Applying for a tourist visa to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is easy. If you are from one of the 49 eligible countries, you can apply through the e-Visa website. Other countries need to apply through their nearest Saudi embassy or consulate.
The fee for the visa is SAR 440 (USD 117). This includes the base fee (SAR 300) and health insurance (SAR 140). However, additional charges apply for VAT and payment processing.
The validity of the visa depends on its type. A single entry visa allows you to stay for a total length of one month, while the multiple entry visa allows you to stay in Saudi Arabia for up to three months.
A multiple entry visa is valid for a maximum of three months, regardless of whether you leave and re-enter the country during that period of time.
