Updated 29 September 2026
Do I need a visa?
Yes, if your passport is not from a GCC country. UAE nationals enter visa free.
Source: visitsaudi.comDo UAE residents need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Your passport decides, not your Emirates ID. Citizens of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar enter Saudi Arabia without a visa. Everyone else living in the UAE on a residence visa needs a Saudi visa before travel, and the eVisa is the standard route.
Three groups are treated differently:
| You are | What you need | Where |
|---|---|---|
| A GCC citizen | No visa. Passport or national ID | Border or airport |
| A UAE resident on any passport | Tourist eVisa, GCC resident route | visa.visitsaudi.com |
| In the UAE on a visit visa only | eVisa if your nationality is on the eligible list, or visa on arrival with a valid US, UK or Schengen visa, otherwise a consulate visa | See section 12 |
Since 2022, Saudi Arabia has accepted GCC residence as an eligibility route for the eVisa regardless of nationality. Later expansions removed the profession restriction and added first-degree family members and domestic workers travelling with the sponsor.
Source: visitsaudi.com visa regulations; Saudi Ministry of Tourism announcementsThe Saudi multiple-entry visa for UAE residents explained
The tourist eVisa is a multiple-entry visa by default. There is no separate application for a multiple-entry version.
Practical point for UAE residents: if you cross by road for weekend trips to Riyadh or the Eastern Province, the one-year multiple-entry eVisa is the only sensible choice. Each crossing counts as an entry and the 90-day clock restarts on every visit.
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com eVisa termsHow much does a Saudi visa cost for UAE residents?
There are two prices: what the Saudi government charges on the portal, and what you pay a licensed agency to handle the application, insurance and follow-up for you.
Government fee on the KSA Visa portal
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| eVisa fee | SAR 300 | About AED 295. Non refundable |
| Mandatory medical insurance | From about SAR 30 to SAR 900 | Chosen inside the portal from approved Saudi insurers. Price depends on age and cover |
| VAT | 15% on fees | Added at checkout |
| Typical total | SAR 340 to SAR 480 | About AED 335 to AED 470 for most adults under 60 |
All-inclusive rate through a licensed UAE agency
All-inclusive rate
AED 700 to 900
One-year multiple-entry tourist eVisa, standard insurance, application typing, document check and delivery by email or WhatsApp.
Insurance top up
Age 60+
Applicants aged 60 and above pay a higher insurance premium set by the insurer. Confirm before paying.
Refund
AED 0
Saudi visa fees are not refundable once submitted, whether approved or refused.
The agency fee buys three things: someone checks your passport scan and photo before submission so the file is not rejected on a technicality, the insurance is matched to your age and travel dates, and you have a named person to call if the application stalls. If you are comfortable using the portal yourself, section 5 walks you through it.
Documents and eligibility rules
The eVisa application is short. What causes refusals is a document that fails one of these rules.
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months from your planned entry date. Machine readable, no hand-written pages |
| UAE residence visa | Valid for at least 3 months at the time of application. Renew first if it is close to expiry |
| Emirates ID | Front and back copy. Used to confirm the GCC resident route |
| Photograph | Recent, white background, full face, no glasses, no headwear except for religious reasons |
| Age | 18 or over to apply independently. Under 18s are added to a parent's application |
| Email and mobile | The eVisa PDF and any queries go to these |
| Medical insurance | Mandatory. Purchased inside the portal, not separately |
You do not need a flight booking, hotel reservation or bank statement to apply. Airlines may ask for a return or onward ticket at check-in.
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com requirementsHow to apply for a Saudi eVisa from the UAE in 6 steps
01 / Check
Confirm validity
Passport 6 months, residence visa 3 months. Both are checked automatically by the portal.
02 / Portal
Open visa.visitsaudi.com
Choose Tourism, enter nationality and select valid residence in GCC countries.
03 / Form
Complete application
Enter passport details, UAE address, entry date and upload photo.
04 / Insurance
Choose policy
Pick an insurer and plan from the available list.
05 / Pay
Pay by card
Pay SAR 300 plus insurance and VAT. Keep the receipt.
06 / Receive
Download PDF
Approval arrives by email. Save it with your passport.
Common errors that cause refusal or delay: a name spelt differently from the passport, a photo with a coloured background, a residence visa with under three months left, and applying for a child before the parent's visa is approved.
How long does a Saudi visa take for UAE residents?
The portal states that eVisa applications are processed within minutes to three working days. For GCC residents most approvals arrive within the hour, and delays usually mean a manual review of the passport or a nationality-based security check.
| Stage | Typical time | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Portal approval, Sunday to Thursday | Minutes to a few hours | Saudi Ministry of Tourism |
| Portal approval, Friday and Saturday | Often next working day | Saudi Ministry of Tourism |
| Manual review or security check | Up to 3 working days | Saudi Ministry of Tourism |
| Document check and typing via agency | Under 1 hour on working days | The agency |
Saudi Arabia works Sunday to Thursday. Applications submitted on Thursday afternoon UAE time may not clear until Sunday. If your trip is on a weekend, apply by Wednesday.
Source: KSA Visa portal published processing window; Arabiers processing experienceIs the Saudi visit visa open now for UAE residents?
Status on 22 September 2026 the tourist eVisa is open for GCC residents of all professions. Umrah on the tourist eVisa is available outside the Hajj season.
What closes each year: Saudi Arabia suspends entry to Makkah on visit visas for several weeks around Hajj (Dhul Qadah to mid Dhul Hijjah). Tourist eVisas continue to be issued for the rest of the Kingdom, and Umrah permits reopen after Hajj. If you search "Saudi visit visa delayed" in April or May, this seasonal suspension is usually the reason.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah annual circularsSaudi visa for Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and other UAE residents
The GCC resident route does not depend on your nationality. An Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Filipino, Egyptian or Sri Lankan passport holder with a valid UAE residence visa applies exactly as described in section 5 and pays the same fee.
What differs in practice:
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com; Arabiers processing experienceBusiness, family visit, transit and Umrah: which visa and which portal
| Purpose | Visa | Portal | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism, leisure, visiting friends | Tourist eVisa | visa.visitsaudi.com | GCC resident route, 1 year multiple entry |
| Umrah | Tourist eVisa plus Nusuk permit, or Umrah visa via licensed operator | nusuk.sa | Not during Hajj season |
| Family visit to a Saudi resident | Family visit visa | visa.mofa.gov.sa | Host applies from inside Saudi Arabia |
| Business meetings and conferences | Business visit visa | visa.mofa.gov.sa | Invitation letter attested by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce |
| Work | Work visa | Employer via MOFA and Qiwa | Sponsor required |
| Layover of up to 96 hours | Stopover visa | Saudia or flynas booking flow | Free apart from insurance and admin fees. Valid 90 days from issue |
Driving from the UAE to Saudi Arabia
Yes, UAE residents can enter Saudi Arabia by car. The eVisa must be approved before you reach the border. There is no visa on arrival at the land border for residents.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Interior; Abu Dhabi Police border guidanceSaudi visa on arrival for UAE residents
A visa on arrival is available to travellers who hold a valid US, UK or Schengen visa that has been used at least once, or permanent residency in those countries, and to nationals on the eVisa eligible list. Living in the UAE does not by itself qualify you for a visa on arrival. Most residents will find the eVisa cheaper and more predictable than queueing at the airport.
Full rules, fees and the list of accepted visas: Saudi visa on arrival explained.
Can UAE visit visa holders go to Saudi Arabia?
Only if you qualify on your own passport. The GCC resident route needs a residence visa, not a visit visa. If your nationality is on the eVisa list you can apply online from Dubai; if you hold a valid US, UK or Schengen visa you can use the visa on arrival; otherwise you apply through the Saudi consulate with a sponsor.
Details by nationality: Saudi visa for visitors in the UAE.
Overstay, the 30-day grace period and fines
Full guide: Saudi Arabia overstay penalties.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Interior, June 2025GCC unified tourist visa
The six GCC states have approved a single tourist visa covering Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. As of September 2026 no launch date or fee has been published. Until it goes live, UAE residents continue to use the eVisa described here. This section will be updated when the Ministry of Tourism announces the rollout.
Official portals and how to verify a visa agency
Official Saudi portals
If you use an agency in the UAE
Frequently asked questions
Yes, unless you hold a GCC passport or qualify under another visa-exempt entry category. Expatriate UAE residents can check their eligibility for a Saudi tourist visa using the GCC residence route on the official Saudi visa platform.
The final cost includes the visa fee, medical insurance, VAT and any applicable service charges shown on the official Saudi visa platform. The total varies depending on the insurance premium and application route, so applicants should confirm the current amount at checkout.
Saudi tourist eVisas can be issued as multiple-entry visas. The standard tourist eVisa is generally valid for one year and permits stays of up to 90 days, unless the visa issued to the traveller states otherwise.
Processing time depends on the application route and whether additional review is required. Some electronic applications are processed quickly, while others may take longer. Apply before your planned travel date and rely on the processing estimate shown by the official visa platform.
No. Expatriate UAE residents must travel with the passport used for the Saudi visa application and the required Saudi entry permission. An Emirates ID can support proof of UAE residence but does not replace the passport or visa.
Eligible tourist visa holders can enter Saudi Arabia through permitted land borders, subject to the conditions of their visa and border-entry requirements. Travellers driving from the UAE should carry their passport, UAE residence documents, vehicle registration and insurance valid for Saudi Arabia.
Yes. A Saudi tourist eVisa can be used for Umrah but not Hajj. Travellers must follow the current Hajj and Umrah rules and obtain any required permit through Nusuk.
No specific profession restriction currently applies to the GCC resident tourist visa route. Saudi Arabia expanded eligibility to GCC residents across professions. First-degree relatives and eligible domestic workers travelling with the resident may also qualify subject to the current visa rules.
Saudi tourist visa rules provide for an overstay fee of SAR 100 for each day beyond the permitted stay. Travellers should leave before their authorised stay ends and follow any additional immigration requirements that apply to their individual case.
UAE residence by itself does not automatically guarantee a Saudi visa on arrival. Visa-on-arrival eligibility can apply to certain nationalities and to travellers who meet qualifying conditions such as holding an eligible US, UK or Schengen visa or qualifying permanent residence. Check the official Saudi visa platform before travelling.