Saudis can invite Muslim friends from other countries to come to Saudi Arabia and do Umrah (religious pilgrimage) on a “personal visit visa.”
These visas are available online and can be requested for single or many entries. Depending on the category, they are good for 90 days or one year.
Visitors can explore numerous tourist spots in the country in addition to conducting Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. People can apply for a personal visit visa using the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa portal.
To avoid overcrowding in the holy places and airports, the Umrah season begins a few weeks after Hajj. Saudi Arabia is also expanding its tourist business as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategy plan, which intends to diversify the economy and lessen reliance on oil exports.
Tourism is an important component of this strategy, with the government aiming to attract 100 million visitors by 2030.
Tourism is predicted to produce over 1 million employment and generate income for the economy. In addition, there are plans to increase spiritual tourism in Makkah and Madinah, with pilgrim numbers estimated to reach 30 million by 2030.
