If you live in the UAE, you can get a Saudi tourist visa online in minutes, whatever your passport. Saudi Arabia’s GCC resident eVisa is open to residents of any nationality and any profession, with a valid UAE residence permit. It is valid for a year, allows multiple entries, and covers tourism, family visits and Umrah. This is one of the clearest examples of the rule behind this website: your passport decides, but your residence changes the route.
Checked on 5 October 2026 against the official Visit Saudi visa platform and Saudi government announcements. Sources at the end. Fees and insurance charges are shown at checkout, so confirm the total before paying.
On this page
- Which route applies to you
- Who qualifies for the GCC resident eVisa
- What the visa allows
- Cost
- How to apply
- Umrah on a tourist visa
- Driving to Saudi Arabia from the UAE
- The GCC unified visa
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
Which route applies to you
| You are | What you need |
|---|---|
| A UAE national, or a citizen of any GCC country | No visa. You can enter with your passport or national ID card |
| A UAE resident of any nationality | The GCC resident eVisa, applied for online |
| A citizen of a country on Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa list, such as the UK, US or EU countries | The standard tourist eVisa, with or without UAE residence |
| Travelling for work, business meetings with a Saudi company, or Hajj | A different visa. The tourist eVisa does not cover these |
For most Sifqa readers, including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nigerian residents, the GCC resident eVisa is the route. Your nationality does not stop you using it.
Who qualifies for the GCC resident eVisa
Since March 2023, the GCC resident eVisa has been open to residents of all professions. Before that, only certain job titles qualified, so you may still read older advice saying your profession matters. It no longer does. You need:
- A valid UAE residence permit with at least 3 months left when you apply
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
- Medical insurance for your stay, which you buy during the application
The route also covers people travelling with the resident:
- First-degree relatives: spouse, children and parents
- Domestic workers travelling with their GCC resident sponsor
Applicants under 18 are added by a parent or guardian.
What the visa allows
- Validity: one year from the date of issue
- Entries: multiple
- Stay: up to 90 days
- Allowed: tourism, visiting family and friends, events, and Umrah outside the Hajj season
- Not allowed: work, study, or Hajj
Cost
The eVisa fee is SAR 300, plus mandatory medical insurance and any VAT shown at checkout. The total is usually around SAR 480 to SAR 540 per person, depending on the insurance price and the channel you use. The platform shows the full amount before you pay. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
Many third-party websites charge much more for the same visa. Apply on the official Saudi platform. You do not need an agent.
How to apply
- Go to the official visa platform from visitsaudi.com and create an account.
- Choose the tourist eVisa and select that you are a GCC resident.
- Upload your passport photo page, a personal photo and your Emirates ID or UAE residence details.
- Add any relatives or domestic worker travelling with you.
- Choose the medical insurance offered and pay online by card.
- Download the eVisa from your account or email. Many are issued within minutes; some take a few days.
Enter your name and passport number exactly as shown in your passport. A mistake can mean being refused boarding, and the visa cannot usually be edited after it is issued.
Umrah on a tourist visa
Muslim UAE residents can perform Umrah on the GCC resident eVisa. Two separate things are needed:
- The eVisa, which lets you enter Saudi Arabia.
- An Umrah permit, booked free in the official Nusuk app, which gives you a time slot at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Book it before you travel, especially in Ramadan.
Umrah on tourist visas is paused during the Hajj season each year. Saudi Arabia announces the exact dates, so check before booking if you plan to travel in the weeks around Hajj.
Hajj is not allowed on a tourist visa. Saudi Arabia enforces the rule strictly: people found performing Hajj without a Hajj permit face heavy fines, deportation and a ban on re-entry. UAE residents who wish to perform Hajj must go through an officially licensed Hajj operator.
Driving to Saudi Arabia from the UAE
Many UAE residents drive to Saudi Arabia through the Ghuwaifat border crossing in the Al Dhafra region. The eVisa is valid for entry by land as well as by air. Before you drive:
- Check that your car insurance covers Saudi Arabia, or buy Saudi cover at the border.
- If the car is financed or owned by your company, carry a letter of permission from the bank or company allowing you to take it out of the UAE.
- Carry your Emirates ID, passport, eVisa and car registration.
The GCC unified visa
The six GCC states have approved a single tourist visa, known as the GCC Grand Tours Visa, covering all six countries. Officials announced it for 2026, but at the time of checking it was not yet open for applications. It is designed mainly for visitors from outside the Gulf. For UAE residents, the GCC resident eVisa already offers a simple route into Saudi Arabia, and the other Gulf states have their own resident routes. We will update this page when the unified visa launches.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying with less than 3 months on your residence. Renew your UAE residence first.
- Using an unofficial website. You may pay double, or receive nothing.
- Going for Umrah without a Nusuk permit. The visa alone does not give you access to perform Umrah.
- Travelling for work on a tourist visa. Business activity and work need a different visa.
- Attempting Hajj without a permit. The penalties are severe.
- Forgetting the car permission letter when driving a financed or company car.
Questions people ask
Can Indians and Pakistanis living in Dubai get a Saudi eVisa?
Yes. The GCC resident eVisa is open to UAE residents of any nationality, including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nigerian residents, as long as the residence permit has at least 3 months left.
Does my job title matter for the Saudi visa?
No. Since March 2023, GCC residents of all professions are eligible.
Can I do Umrah on the GCC resident eVisa?
Yes, outside the Hajj season, with an Umrah permit booked in the Nusuk app.
Can my housemaid come with us to Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Domestic workers travelling with their GCC resident sponsor can be included under the same eVisa route.
How much is the Saudi visa for UAE residents?
SAR 300 plus mandatory medical insurance, usually about SAR 480 to SAR 540 in total. The official platform shows the full price before payment.
Do UAE nationals need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
No. GCC citizens can enter Saudi Arabia without a visa, using a passport or national ID card.
Related guides
- Oman visa for UAE residents
- Georgia entry rules for UAE residents
- Turkey visa from Dubai: e-Visa or sticker visa?
- Schengen visa from the UAE by nationality
Sources
- Saudi Tourism Authority — Visit Saudi visa information: visitsaudi.com
- Saudi Ministry of Tourism — announcement extending the eVisa to GCC residents of all professions, March 2023
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — Nusuk platform: nusuk.sa
- Saudi Minister of Tourism — statements on the GCC Grand Tours Visa timeline, reported by Gulf News
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and when Saudi visa rules change. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.