UAE residents of any nationality can apply online for a Saudi eVisa, a multiple-entry visa valid for one year that allows stays of up to 90 days per visit. You apply on Saudi Arabia’s unified visa platform with your passport, a photo and your UAE residence permit, and the approved visa arrives by email.
Two checks decide whether you can apply today. Your residence permit needs at least three months left, and your passport needs at least six months of validity on the day you enter Saudi Arabia. If either falls short, renew the document first.
Saudi eVisa requirements for UAE residents
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | UAE residents of any nationality |
| Residence permit | Valid for at least 3 months when you apply |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months on your entry date |
| Minimum age | 18 (a parent or guardian applies for a child) |
| Visa type | Multiple entry, valid 1 year from issue; a single-entry option is valid 90 days |
| Stay | Up to 90 days per visit, no extension |
| Cost | USD 80 visa fee, two USD 10.50 service fees and health insurance |
| Issuance | Instant to 3 working days, sent by email |
| Allowed | Tourism, events, visiting family & friends, Umrah |
| Not allowed | Paid work, Hajj |
| Where to apply | KSA Visa platform |
Who qualifies
The resident route depends on your UAE residence permit, not on your passport. A UAE resident holding any nationality can apply. Emirati citizens don’t need a Saudi visa at all, because GCC nationals enter visa-free.
To apply, you need:
- A UAE residence permit with at least three months of validity left on the application date
- A passport with at least six months of validity on the day you enter Saudi Arabia
- To be 18 or older, since a parent or guardian applies on behalf of a traveller under 18
- A working email address, because the visa is delivered there
The visa is tied to the passport you apply with, and you must arrive in Saudi Arabia on that same passport. If your passport expires within six months of your trip, renew it before applying, not after.
Documents & photo rules
Gather these before you open the application, since the form asks for uploads at three points:
- A passport scan showing the photo page
- A copy of your UAE residence visa, plus its number, expiry date and the emirate you live in
- A recent colour passport photo
The photo is the item that gets applications bounced, so match the specification exactly: 35 x 45 mm, plain white background, face straight to the camera with a neutral expression and closed mouth, evenly lit with no shadows. Upload it as a PNG or JPEG under 5 MB.
Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport. A mismatch between the form and the passport is the most common cause of trouble at the border later.
Fees & insurance
The visa fee is USD 80, which is SAR 300 or about AED 294. Two digital service charges and a mandatory health insurance premium sit on top.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | USD 80 (SAR 300) |
| Visa digital services fee | USD 10.50 |
| Insurance digital services fee | USD 10.50 |
| Health insurance premium | Set by the provider you pick |
The USD 80 visa fee plus both service charges comes to USD 101, about AED 371, before insurance. You choose an insurance provider during the application, and each provider’s price shows on screen before you pay by credit or debit card, so the final total is visible before you commit.
How to apply on the KSA Visa platform
The application is entirely online and takes one sitting if your documents are ready.
- Open the KSA Visa platform, select Tourism as the purpose, enter your nationality and pick the option for valid residence in the GCC countries (no less than three months). Click Show Eligible Visas, then Apply Now under the eVisa option.
- Enter your travel details: expected arrival date, country of residence, the nearest Saudi embassy (Abu Dhabi or Dubai) and whether you want single or multiple entry.
- Fill in your personal details and upload your photo. The occupation field is optional, and you can state that you don’t work at the moment.
- Enter your passport details and upload the passport scan.
- Enter your UAE residence details: upload the residence visa, then add its number, expiry date, emirate and address.
- Accept the terms, review everything and pick a medical insurance provider.
- Pay by card. You receive a transaction number straight away.
Use Track Application with the transaction number or your passport number to see the status. GCC residents’ visas are usually issued instantly, and the longest wait is three working days. Once approved, the eVisa arrives as an email attachment, so print a copy and keep a digital one on your phone.
Rules at the Saudi border
An approved eVisa is the entry ticket, not a guarantee. Immigration officers make the final call on arrival.
- Carry a copy of the eVisa on your first arrival
- Arrive on the same passport you applied with
- Expect fingerprints and a photo at the immigration counter
- If the visa expires before you enter, you need a new application and a new fee
- The visa can’t be extended, and the 90-day limit applies to each visit
What the visa allows
The eVisa covers tourism, events, visiting family and friends, and Umrah. It does not cover paid work, and you can’t take a job during the visit.
Hajj needs its own Hajj visa. Visit-visa holders can’t enter or stay in Makkah while the Hajj season restrictions are in force, and Umrah permits are paused for several weeks around Hajj each year.
For Umrah on the rest of the calendar, you also book an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before you travel. The eVisa only gets you into the country. Non-Muslims can’t enter the Holy Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Visa on arrival & application centers
Most UAE residents use the eVisa, but a visa on arrival exists for two groups: holders of Schengen, US or UK visit visas, and permanent residents of the US, the EU or the UK. If you’re in neither group, apply online before you fly, because airlines can refuse boarding without a visa.
The online eVisa replaces any center visit for tourism, family visits and Umrah. Work, residence and other non-tourist visas go through a Saudi visa application center such as VFS Tasheer or through the embassy, which is a separate process with its own documents.
FAQ
Do UAE residents need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, unless they hold a GCC passport. Expat residents apply for the eVisa on the KSA Visa platform with their UAE residence permit. Emirati citizens enter visa-free.
How long does the Saudi eVisa take for UAE residents?
The visa is usually issued instantly, and the longest wait is three working days. It arrives by email once approved.
Can I apply if my residence permit expires soon?
Only if it has at least three months left on the application date. If it has less, renew the permit first and apply afterwards.
Can I work in Saudi Arabia on the eVisa?
No. The eVisa covers tourism, events, family visits and Umrah. Paid work needs a work visa, which is arranged through a visa application center or the embassy.
Can my child get a Saudi eVisa?
Yes, but applicants must be 18 or older, so a parent or guardian submits the application for a traveller under 18.
Can I extend my stay beyond 90 days?
No. The eVisa can’t be extended, and the 90-day limit applies to each visit within the one-year validity.
Can UAE residents get a Saudi visa on arrival?
Only holders of Schengen, US or UK visit visas and permanent residents of the US, the EU or the UK qualify. Everyone else applies for the eVisa before travelling.
What to do next
- Check that your residence permit has three months left and your passport has six months beyond your entry date
- Scan your passport and residence visa and prepare a 35 x 45 mm white-background photo
- Apply on the KSA Visa platform and pick an insurance provider
- Print the eVisa when it arrives and carry it on your first entry
