“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets”
~ Oscar Wilde.
Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to the world through its new tourist visa. Saudi Arabia’s new e-Visa portal invites foreign nationals to apply for an eVisa and discover the warm hospitality of Saudi people from their heritage and culture, to diverse wonderful landscapes, from the beaches of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to the mountains of Abha and plains of Medina and hills of Taif to the shifting sands of the Empty Quarter.
The eVisa will be a one-year, multiple entry visa, allowing tourists from a select group of countries to spend up to 90 days in the country.
The number of places to visit and explore are numerous just in the Eastern Province alone. To start off by arriving in King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Foreign nationals women, both tourists and residents can come in modest appropriately attired clothing without abaya restrictions.
Upon arrival to KFIA, international passengers will need to pass through Immigration / Passport Control. Passengers are asked to separate into lines for “first time arrivals” and “arrivals for return visitors with multi-entry visas”. There are also “fast lanes” available for expedited service.
Documentation
— Make sure all your travel documents are prepared before landing or before arrival, are in order, and are valid.
— Make sure you bring your National Identity Card when traveling on domestic flights within the Kingdom.
— All nationalities (except citizens of GCC countries and holders of a Saudi Iqama) require obtaining a visa prior to landing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, visitors from a select number of countries may now obtain visas upon arrival.
Once you’ve arrived and settled into your hotel or accommodation its time for the best part: to sight see the cities. Dammam, Al-khobar and Dhahran are known as triplet cities in the Eastern Province. Also must see places are Al-Ahsa, Al Jubail, and Al-Qatif.
Important Note: Couple of things to always remember now that the COVID-19 travel bans are in place.
Wash your hands frequently
Maintain social distancing of 3 feet at least between anyone who coughs or sneezes and yourself.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Practice respiratory hygiene
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
As at times that is impossible in airports, do get yourself a mask or hand sanitizer to clean your hands after.
When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Saudi Arabia has an exit ban in place on its citizens and permanent residents for traveling to China and an entry ban imposed on travelers returning to Saudi Arabia, including Saudi nationals, effective February 6 (AP). Saudi Arabia’s state-owned airline, Saudia, suspended all flights to China, effective February 2 (Saudia).