Saudi Arabia's Cabinet approved a unified national visa platform, creating a single digital gateway for all visa types. The system aims to simplify travel for tourists and business visitors as part of economic reforms.
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Saudi Arabia's Cabinet approved a unified national visa platform, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The platform will serve as the Kingdom's official visa portal, consolidating applications across government agencies. The meeting in Jeddah was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.\n\nThe move is part of broader efforts to streamline government services and boost tourism and business travel. Saudi Arabia has been working to simplify visa procedures since launching its tourist visa in 2019. The Cabinet said the platform aims to improve efficiency and transparency for visitors and residents.\n\nCurrently, visas for tourism, business, and work are processed through different agencies. A unified platform reduces the need for separate applications, cutting processing times. The Saudi Press Agency did not provide a launch date or cost estimate.\n\nThe platform will integrate with existing digital services such as Absher and Tawakkalna, according to officials familiar with the plan. The Crown Prince has pushed for digital transformation across government sectors as part of Vision 2030. The tourism ministry targets 150 million visits annually by 2030, up from 100 million in 2023.\n\nThe approval follows a series of visa reforms. Saudi Arabia introduced a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa in 2019 and expanded visa-on-arrival for several countries. The new platform is expected to cover all visa types, including pilgrimage visas for Hajj and Umrah.\n\nThe Cabinet meeting also approved other items, including updates to the civil service system and a new media law. The unified visa platform was the most prominent decision for the travel sector.\n\nThe Saudi Press Agency quoted the Cabinet as saying the platform will be the single official channel for visa applications. It will replace scattered processes that have long frustrated travelers. The platform's development will be overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Data and AI Authority.\n\nTourism is a key pillar of Vision 2030, the Crown Prince's plan to diversify the economy away from oil. The sector contributed 4.5% to GDP in 2023, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. A smoother visa process is seen as critical to hitting the 150 million visit target.
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