Now get visa on arrival to Saudi Arabia

Muscat: Expats of all nationalities living in Oman can now obtain a visa on arrival while travelling to Saudi Arabia. This will only be applicable to those who have a valid US, UK or Schengen visa stamped on their passports and used at least once.
Talking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Anantha Krishnan N C, Senior Holiday Consultant at Marmul Travel & Tours confirmed that “this step has been taken by the Saudi government to issue visas on arrival to UK, USA and Schengen area visa holders, regardless of their citizenship. It is to be noted that people who have obtained a fresh visa to any of the above mentioned countries will not be eligible to get visa on arrival as it has to be stamped at least once by the issuing authorities.”
Anantha Krishnan also highlighted the latest steps taken by Saudi Arabia to simplify tourism and visa procedures for those looking to visit the kingdom. “Besides having to enter the UK, the US and Schengen area at least once before arriving in Saudi Arabia, travellers also need to make sure that the visa of the aforementioned countries is still valid. Secondly, this is only applicable to holders of tourist or business visas from the UK, the US or Schengen areas.”
“Saudi eVisa rules apply to this visa on arrival, and lastly, visitors need to arrive via air and have travelled on one of the Saudi national airlines,” Krishnan added.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage affirmed that those who have obtained an entry visa to the United States of America, the United Kingdom or a European (Schengen) visa can enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and obtain a visit through airports and other ports only.
A source in the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage said that this is a continuation of the work of launching the tourist visa, and the Kingdom’s opening of its doors to the world, in line with what was included in the tourism system and the visit regulations for the purpose of tourism. He added that this step is one of several steps the Kingdom has taken in order to attract tourists from different countries of the world.
The source said that those who obtain a tourist or commercial visa to these countries can now enter the Kingdom and obtain a tourist visa through the visa on arrival only, and they are not included in the electronic visa. The source also stipulated that the visitor to the Kingdom must have used their visa to visit America, Britain, or any of the Schengen countries, before entering the Kingdom.