Entering and staying in Saudi Arabia has become much easier thanks to
the launch of a digital integration system that links transit visas
with flight tickets from SAUDIA, the national flag carrier.
The first-of-a-kind Stopover Visa covers all international airports
in the kingdom, allowing guests to stay for up to 96 hours, during which
they can travel around the kingdom and perform Umrah.
Transit visa links to the flight ticket can be achieved within three
minutes. The "Your Ticket Your Visa" service is part of the digital
services provided by SAUDIA via its website and smart applications,
Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, said the launch of the Stopover
Visa was testament to SAUDIA’s commitment to supporting the kingdom’s
strategic goal of reaching 100 million visitors by 2030.
It has been developed to encourage passengers to perform Umrah, visit key destinations and attend events and Saudi seasons.
In further moves to encourage tourism, Saudi Arabia is eyeing an
international east-west transit hub at King Abdulaziz International
Airport in Jeddah while the Saudi Tourism Authority is ready to provide
incentive packages for those wishing to benefit from the “Your Ticket
Your Visa” service.