How Long Can You Stay in Saudi Arabia on a Tourist Visa?

You can stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days on the multiple-entry tourist eVisa, which stays valid for one year from the date it is issued. Visit Saudi words the limit as no more than 90 consecutive days, and the Ministry of Tourism regulation caps total stay at 3 months during the visa's validity period. Plan on 90 days in total across the year and you will stay on the right side of both.

Is the 90 days per visit or per year?

The safe answer is 90 days in total across the year, because that is what the regulation says. Article 3 of the Tourist Visa Regulations states that the multiple-entry visa is valid for one year "provided that the duration of the stay does not exceed 3 months during its validity period".

The live Visit Saudi visa page phrases it differently: the multiple-entry visa "allows a stay of no more than (90) consecutive days". Read on its own, that sounds like a cap on each visit rather than a yearly total.

When two official sources are worded differently, plan around the stricter one. Treat 90 days as your budget for the whole visa year, and do not assume the counter resets every time you cross back into the UAE.

Can I leave and come back to reset the clock?

No, and this is the mistake that catches long-stay visitors. Leaving Saudi Arabia and re-entering is allowed on a multiple-entry visa, but the regulation counts your stay across the whole validity period, so a short exit does not hand you a fresh 90 days.

Article 10 of the same regulation requires every tourist to respect "the validity of the Visa granted to them, and the permitted duration of stay", and Article 11 says penalties apply to anyone who breaks it. Overstaying is not a paperwork issue you fix at the airport.

If you know you will need more than 90 days in a year, for example to look after family, the tourist eVisa is the wrong tool. Speak to VisaWadi before you travel and we will tell you honestly whether the Saudi tourist eVisa fits your plans.

Who qualifies for the one-year multiple-entry eVisa from the UAE?

Expatriates holding a UAE residence permit qualify, with two validity checks. Visit Saudi requires a GCC residency visa valid for at least three months beyond your date of entry and a passport valid for at least six months beyond that date.

UAE citizens and other GCC nationals do not need a visa at all. Visit Saudi says GCC nationals can travel using their ID or passport, so if you hold a GCC passport, stop reading and book your flight. Our post on whether GCC residents need a Saudi visa covers the citizen versus resident split in detail.

Travellers under 18 cannot apply alone: Visit Saudi states that the parent must apply for an eVisa first. Families should file the parents' applications, then the children's, in that order.

What can I do during my stay, and what is off limits?

Tourism, visiting family and attending events are all fine, and Visit Saudi confirms that any type of visa allows travellers to perform Umrah, with the Umrah appointment booked through the Nusuk platform. Article 10 of the regulation rules out Hajj without a Hajj visa, Umrah during the Hajj season, and any paid or unpaid work.

Everything else about the application is simple. It is an eVisa filed online, so there is no embassy, no appointment and no biometrics session in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and the full requirements list is in our guide to the Saudi tourist eVisa for UAE residents.

VisaWadi files the application for GCC residents at AED 700 all inclusive, covering the Saudi government fee and the mandatory medical insurance, with the full amount refunded if the visa is refused. Get help with your Saudi Arabia application and we will check your residence permit and passport dates before anything is submitted.

Sources

• Saudi Arabia Visa and Tourist Visa Requirements, Visit Saudi (Saudi Tourism Authority)
• Tourist Visa Regulations, Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia