Saudi Arabia has launched an e-visa service catering specifically to cruise tourists. This new initiative allows international visitors to easily enter the country by sea, further promoting tourism and diversifying the Saudi economy.

Introduction of E-Visa for Cruise Tourists

• Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has launched a new e-visa system for tourists arriving in the country by cruise ship.
  
  
• The e-visa allows international visitors to easily enter Saudi Arabia by sea, provided they are traveling on an organized cruise.
  
  
• The visa application can be completed when purchasing a cruise ticket, and it will be processed automatically through the MOFA online platform.
  
  
• This initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's long-term strategy to diversify its economy through tourism.

Diversifying the Economy through Tourism

• Saudi Arabia aims to revitalize its economy by investing up to $200 billion in the tourism sector.
  
  
• The goal is for tourism to contribute 10% to Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product by 2030.
  
  
• The introduction of the e-visa service for cruise tourists aligns with the country's vision of promoting marine activities and attracting more tourists.

Training Programs and Job Creation 

• To support the growth of the tourism sector, Saudi Arabia is focusing on creating employment opportunities for its citizens.
  
  
• Cruise Saudi has partnered with the University of Prince Mugrin in Madinah to provide professional tourism programs to Saudi students, aiming to generate 50,000 jobs by 2035.

Obtaining the Maritime E-Visa

• Tourists can easily obtain the new maritime e-visa for cruise travel by applying during the booking process for their cruise holiday.
  
  
• The visa application, known as the "Nautical Transit Visa," is automatically processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  
  
• Alternatively, tourists can complete their cruise booking first and then apply for the e-visa through the MOFA website, although this process takes longer.

Applicable Only to Cruise Tourists

• The new Nautical Transit Visa is specifically designed for passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia by cruise ship.
  
  
• Other visa policies remain unchanged for passengers arriving by other modes of transportation, such as by air or land.
  
  
• Travelers arriving by air or land can still utilize the standard visa services, including the tourist eVisa for Saudi Arabia, which can be obtained online.

Other Travel Options and  Saudi Visa Services

• The Nautical Transit Visa is specifically for cruise passengers; other visa policies remain in place for other modes of transport.
  
  
• Travelers arriving by air or land can still use the standard visa services, such as the tourist eVisa for Saudi Arabia, which can be obtained online.