Saudi Arabia’s Free Stopover Visa for Umrah During Layovers: A Game-Changer for Global Travellers!

Saudi Arabia had recently introduced a new free stopover visa for international travellers, including residents of the UAE and other Gulf countries. This visa was part of an initiative designed to make it easier for individuals to perform Umrah during their flight layovers. The new policy made it more convenient for people to visit Saudi Arabia for religious purposes or tourism during the stopovers on their flights. However, the visa was specifically available to passengers flying with Saudia Airlines or Flynas, the country’s prominent national carriers. The move was widely viewed as a part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to increase tourism, especially for those visiting the Kingdom for religious or cultural purposes, and to support the nation’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify its economy by boosting the tourism sector.

As reported by Gulf News, the stopover visa allowed travellers to stay for up to 96 hours, equivalent to four days, in Saudi Arabia. The visa, once issued, remained valid for 90 days from its issuance date. It was specifically designed to offer an easy solution for passengers, enabling them to perform Umrah or visit religious sites like Makkah and Madinah, which are significant to Muslims, during a brief layover between flights. This initiative removed the need for travellers to apply for a separate Umrah visa, thus simplifying the process and making it more accessible to those who were already passing through Saudi Arabia.

Despite the visa being free of charge, there were some associated costs. Travellers were required to pay a small processing fee of SAR 39.50, which was approximately AED 38.68. Additionally, they needed to purchase mandatory medical insurance, with the cost of this insurance starting at SAR 13, or around AED 12.73. The costs of these supplementary services were seen as minimal but necessary for ensuring that the stopover visa programme functioned effectively. The visa was automatically generated during the flight booking process, specifically when passengers booked their flights through the Saudia or Flynas websites. This meant that the process of obtaining the stopover visa was straightforward and integrated into the regular booking procedures, making it much more convenient for travellers.

One of the requirements for applying for the stopover visa was that only transit passengers with confirmed onward travel were eligible. This meant that travellers needed to have a flight that would continue from Saudi Arabia to another destination. Without confirmed onward travel, passengers could not apply for the stopover visa. Furthermore, in order to visit the holy cities of Makkah or Madinah for Umrah or religious purposes, passengers were instructed to register and schedule their Umrah or Ziyarah (pilgrimage) appointments in advance. The registration for these appointments had to be done through the official Nusuk.sa platform, which is the designated platform for managing religious visits in Saudi Arabia. This step ensured that the traveller’s visit would be properly coordinated, and their pilgrimage would be compliant with Saudi regulations.

For travellers to be eligible for the stopover visa, certain criteria needed to be met. These included the requirement to book flights through Saudia Airlines or Flynas, as mentioned earlier. The traveller’s passport needed to be valid for at least six months, ensuring that the traveller could legally enter Saudi Arabia and meet the visa conditions. Additionally, travellers were required to hold a valid visa or residency for their final destination, providing assurance that they would not be stranded in Saudi Arabia after their layover. This measure ensured that the stopover visa was only available to those with confirmed travel plans beyond Saudi Arabia. In line with Saudi visa regulations, travellers were also required to upload a passport-sized photo, which needed to meet the specifications outlined by Saudi visa guidelines. This step was necessary for identity verification purposes and was part of the documentation that the traveller needed to provide.

The stopover visa provided only a single-entry permit, meaning that it could only be used once. It was also made clear that the visa could not be extended under any circumstances. This was intended to prevent misuse of the visa and ensure that it was only used for short-term visits related to the layover. As per the terms of the visa, it was not available to travellers flying with any other airline other than Saudia or Flynas. This restriction was in place to ensure that the programme was exclusive to passengers flying with Saudi Arabia’s national carriers, supporting those airlines while promoting the broader tourism goals of the country.

To apply for the stopover visa, travellers needed to follow a simple, step-by-step process, which was designed to be as user-friendly as possible. First, they were instructed to visit either the Saudia or Flynas website. Once on the website, travellers were required to choose a flight with a stopover in Saudi Arabia. They would then enter their travel and personal details, which were necessary for processing the application. After that, they were to select the stopover visa option from the available services, indicating that they were interested in taking advantage of this special offer. The next step was to upload the required documents, including a copy of the passport and a passport-sized photo, along with any other necessary paperwork.

Once the documents were uploaded, travellers needed to complete the payment process, which involved paying for the processing fee and the medical insurance. After completing these steps, travellers would receive the stopover visa and the associated insurance documents via email. This process allowed travellers to have all the required documentation before they even left for their trip, ensuring that they were fully prepared for their short stay in Saudi Arabia.

This new policy supported Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of encouraging short-term visits for both religious and tourism purposes. The government had made it clear that it wanted to increase the number of people visiting the Kingdom for religious purposes, particularly Umrah, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. By simplifying the process of obtaining a visa for those on a layover, Saudi Arabia hoped to attract more Muslims who were already in transit and provide them with the opportunity to visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah without needing to go through the extra steps involved in applying for a separate Umrah visa. In addition to religious tourism, Saudi Arabia was also keen on boosting general tourism, encouraging non-religious visitors to come to the Kingdom for leisure purposes. This move was part of the Vision 2030 plan, which aimed to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil exports.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reported to be the body responsible for managing the stopover visa policy, ensuring that it aligned with the country’s broader foreign relations and tourism objectives. However, it was noted that the terms of the policy were subject to change. This meant that while the stopover visa programme was being implemented as a free and relatively simple process, there could be future revisions depending on the success of the programme and the evolving needs of the country’s tourism and immigration strategies. The flexibility built into the policy suggested that Saudi Arabia would continue to assess the programme and make adjustments as necessary to improve its effectiveness.

In conclusion, the introduction of Saudi Arabia’s free stopover visa was a significant step forward in making it easier for international travellers to visit the Kingdom during their layovers, particularly for religious purposes like Umrah. With the support of Saudia Airlines and Flynas, the process of obtaining a stopover visa was made simple and accessible, providing a seamless experience for those travelling through Saudi Arabia. By targeting passengers with confirmed onward travel, Saudi Arabia aimed to encourage more short-term visits to the Kingdom, supporting both religious tourism and broader leisure tourism goals. The policy’s flexibility, combined with a straightforward application process, was expected to contribute to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector and the success of its Vision 2030 initiatives. While the programme was currently available only to those flying with the two national carriers, the potential for expansion or adjustments to the policy remained open, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s willingness to adapt to changing needs and enhance its tourism offerings for international travellers.

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