UAE residents of any nationality can apply online for a Saudi tourist eVisa, provided their UAE residence permit has at least three months left. Saudi Arabia’s official KSA Visa platform lists “valid residency in the GCC countries (no less than three months)” as a qualifying condition, and the visa is widely reported to cost SAR 300 plus mandatory medical insurance.
Your profession does not matter, and you do not need a Saudi sponsor. This guide covers who qualifies, the fee and insurance, how long you can stay, Umrah on a tourist visa, and the rules for family members. It also explains when your passport alone gets you a better route.
Key Takeaways
- Any UAE resident with a residence permit valid for at least three months can apply, whatever their nationality or job title.
- The widely reported fee is SAR 300, about AED 294, plus a medical insurance policy that you buy during the application. The fee is non-refundable.
- Under Saudi Arabia’s eVisa terms, the visa is valid for one year with multiple entries. You can stay up to 3 months, and the visa cannot be extended.
- You can perform Umrah on the tourist visa, but not during the Hajj season.
- Each family member needs their own visa, and dependents need their own GCC residence permit to use the resident route.
Three Ways a UAE Resident Can Qualify
A UAE resident can qualify for a Saudi tourist visa through their UAE residence, through their passport, or through a US, UK or Schengen visa they already hold. The KSA Visa platform screens applicants against three conditions, and you only need to meet one.
| Route | Condition on the KSA Visa platform | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| GCC residence | Valid residency in a GCC country, with no less than three months left | Most UAE residents, including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Egyptian nationals |
| US, UK or Schengen visa | Valid tourist or business visa from the US, UK or a Schengen country, used at least once | Residents whose UAE permit has less than three months left |
| US, UK or EU residence | Permanent residency in the US, UK or EU | Green card and EU long-term residence holders |
There is also a fourth route that has nothing to do with the UAE. Citizens of the countries on the Visit Saudi eVisa list, which includes the US, Canada, the UK and most of Europe, can apply on their passport alone.
Which route should I use?
If your passport is on the eligible-country list, the passport route avoids any question about how long your UAE permit has left. If it is not, the GCC-resident route is the one built for you.
The decision point is your residence expiry date. If your UAE visa expires in less than three months, renew it first or use a US, UK or Schengen visa you already hold. Our guide to renewing a UAE residence visa covers the renewal timeline.
Who Is Eligible Through UAE Residence
The resident route needs a UAE residence permit with at least three months of validity on the day you apply. The KSA Visa platform sets this as the GCC-residency condition.
Saudi Arabia’s eVisa terms add two general rules. You must be at least 18 to apply yourself, and your passport needs at least 6 months of validity from the date you enter Saudi Arabia.
Does my profession matter?
No. Press coverage of the Ministry of Tourism’s announcement reports that GCC residents can apply regardless of their profession.
The application form still asks for your job title. Enter it exactly as it appears on your UAE residence record.
Fee and Medical Insurance
Gulf News, in a guide last updated in March 2023, reported that the eVisa costs SAR 300 (AED 293.25) plus the health insurance fee. We could not find the current fee on an official Saudi page, because the KSA Visa platform shows the price only inside the application.
Medical insurance is a compulsory step in the application. The platform states that the cover applies only to emergency cases and comes from insurers approved in Saudi Arabia.
| Cost item | Amount | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | SAR 300 (about AED 294) | Press-reported; confirm at checkout |
| Medical insurance | Varies by plan chosen | Mandatory step on the platform |
| VAT | Charged at the Saudi rate on the fee | Saudi eVisa terms, clause 6.2 |
| Refund if refused | None | Saudi eVisa terms, clauses 5.3 and 5.4 |
Saudi Arabia’s terms say the fee may be amended at any time and is not refunded if the application fails. Check the total on the payment screen before you pay.
Validity, Length of Stay and Entries
The Saudi tourist eVisa is valid for one year from issue, allows multiple entries, and lets you stay up to 3 months. Those limits come from clauses 7.1 to 7.3 of the Saudi eVisa terms and conditions.
The visa cannot be extended. If it expires before you use it, you have to apply and pay again.
The same terms say you must enter on the passport you applied with, and that biometrics are taken on arrival. If you renew your passport during the year, apply for a new visa on the new passport.
What the visa does not allow
A tourist eVisa is not a work visa, and you must not take paid employment during the visit. It also does not cover study.
If your employer is sending you to Saudi Arabia for paid work, you need a business or work visa arranged through your employer. A tourist visa used for work puts both you and the employer at risk.
Umrah on a Tourist Visa
A valid Saudi tourist visa lets you perform Umrah without a separate Umrah visa. The KSA Visa platform says that if you hold an active visa “you can perform Umrah, and there is no need for you to apply for a new visa”.
The same platform notes that Umrah is not permitted during the Hajj season, and its Umrah pledge refers pilgrims to the Ministry of Health’s meningococcal vaccine requirement. Book Umrah slots through the Nusuk platform, which the KSA Visa site points to for planning.
Visit visa holders are barred from Makkah for several weeks around Hajj. For 2025, the terms set the window as 29 April to 11 June 2025, and the dates move each year with the Hijri calendar.
Family Members and Domestic Workers
Each traveler needs their own visa. Press coverage reports that the resident route also covers first-degree relatives and domestic workers traveling with their sponsor, as long as each holds a valid GCC residence visa.
Children under 18 cannot apply for themselves, but an adult with authority can apply on their behalf. Saudi Arabia’s terms cover this in clause 3.1.
A relative visiting you in the UAE on a UAE visit visa does not qualify through the resident route. They need their own passport-based route or a visa from a Saudi mission.
How to Apply, Step by Step
The application is fully online. Allow time for the insurance and payment steps, which the platform runs before it issues the visa.
- Check your dates. Confirm your UAE residence has at least three months left and your passport has at least six months from your planned entry date.
- Open the KSA Visa platform. Start a tourism visa application at ksavisa.sa and choose GCC residency as your qualifying condition.
- Enter your details. Fill in your passport, UAE residence and job title exactly as they appear on your documents.
- Buy the medical insurance. Choose a policy from the approved Saudi insurers offered on the platform.
- Pay. Pay the visa fee, insurance and VAT by card, knowing the fee is not refundable.
- Receive the eVisa. Download it from your account and carry a copy on your first arrival, as clause 8.5 of the eVisa terms requires.
What actually happens at the border
On arrival, the immigration officer scans your passport, which is linked to the eVisa, and takes your fingerprints and photo. Saudi Arabia’s terms say biometric capture is mandatory and that entry is still at the officer’s discretion.
The general eVisa terms list entry through airports and seaports. Gulf News reports that the application form also offers land as a mode of travel, but we found no official Saudi page setting out land-border rules, so confirm before you drive.
Driving to Saudi Arabia From the UAE
Many residents drive across at the Ghuwaifat crossing in Al Dhafra. You need the visa, your UAE driving license, and car insurance that extends to Saudi Arabia. The same road continues to Kuwait, whose visa rules for UAE residents are covered in our guide to the Kuwait visa for UAE residents.
Saudi Arabia appears on the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE’s list of countries that expect an International Driving Permit. Our guide to the international driving permit in the UAE covers how to get one.
Before You Leave the UAE
A short trip to Saudi Arabia does not affect your UAE residence, as long as your permit stays valid. Long absences are a different matter, and our guide to the UAE 180-day rule explains when time abroad starts to count.
If you have an unpaid debt or a pending case, check for a travel ban before you book. Our guide shows how to check UAE travel ban status online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can UAE residents get a Saudi visa online?
Yes. Any UAE resident with a residence permit valid for at least three months can apply for a Saudi tourist eVisa on the KSA Visa platform, regardless of nationality or profession.
How much is the Saudi visa for UAE residents?
The widely reported fee is SAR 300, about AED 294, plus mandatory medical insurance and VAT. The official platform shows the final price at checkout, and the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long can I stay in Saudi Arabia on the tourist eVisa?
Up to 3 months. The visa is valid for one year with multiple entries, but it cannot be extended.
Do I need a minimum salary or a specific profession?
No. The GCC-resident route has no profession requirement, and the official condition is a GCC residence permit with at least three months of validity.
Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
Yes, outside the Hajj season. The KSA Visa platform confirms that an active visa covers Umrah, and Makkah is closed to visit visa holders for several weeks around Hajj.
Can my wife and children get the Saudi eVisa with me?
Yes, if each of them holds a valid GCC residence permit. Each traveler needs a separate visa, and an adult applies on behalf of children under 18.
My UAE visa expires in two months. Can I still apply?
Not through the resident route, which needs at least three months left. Renew your UAE residence first, or use a valid US, UK or Schengen visa you have already used, if you hold one.
Can I work in Saudi Arabia on the tourist eVisa?
No. The eVisa terms say it is not a work visa and prohibit paid employment, so business trips that involve paid work need a different visa.
Is medical insurance mandatory for the Saudi eVisa?
Yes. Insurance is a compulsory step on the KSA Visa platform, and the policy covers emergency treatment only.
Do I need a new visa if I renew my passport?
Yes. The eVisa is tied to the passport you applied with, and the terms require you to arrive on that same passport.
Official Sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia: KSA Visa platform
- Saudi Ministry of Tourism: eVisa terms and conditions
- Saudi Ministry of Tourism: Saudi eVisa portal and eligible countries
- Visit Saudi: Visa regulations
Eligibility, validity and insurance rules checked on the KSA Visa platform and the Saudi eVisa terms in October 2026. The SAR 300 fee is press-reported (Gulf News, updated March 2023), because the official platform shows prices only during the application.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Visa rules and fees are set by the Saudi authorities and are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
