Saudi Arabia will open its doors to international tourists under a new visa system that allows people from 49 countries to apply for e-visas and visas on arrival, an official said on Friday.

However, no black African nation, including Nigeria, is included in the offer.

The chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ahmad Al-Khateeb, said the move was part of the kingdom’s efforts to wean its economy off oil.

“Riyadh aims to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million a year by 2030. Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country,” said Al-Khateeb.

The tourist visa system will take effect from Saturday, Saudi newspaper, Okaz, reported. The new visa system will be available to citizens of 49 countries, the report said.

Citizens of Germany, the United States and China are among those who are eligible to use the new system.

Tourists will be allowed to stay for up to three months per entry but can only spend a maximum of 90 days a year using their one-year multiple-entry visa.

Saudi Arabia has long been one of the hardest countries for tourists to enter, with visas granted only for short-term business trips, religious pilgrimage, or for travellers with family in the country.

The ultra-conservative kingdom is on a push to attract holiday makers.

In 2016, Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, launched Vision 2030, a grand scheme aimed at diversifying the monarchy’s oil-reliant economy.

Mohammed has presented himself as a reformer who has been easing social restrictions, especially those targeting women.

He championed major decisions, including allowing women to drive for the first time in the kingdom as well as easing the guardianship rules by allowing women to get a passport and travel outside the kingdom without the approval of a male guardian.

The kingdom’s guidelines for tourists does not specify a dress code for women, saying that it is not mandatory for a woman to cover her hair or wear the long, loose garments known as abaya.

“Both men and women are asked to dress modestly in public,” and women “should cover shoulders and knees,” the kingdom said.

The kingdom hopes that by 2030, the tourism sector would contribute more than 10 per cent towards the kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP), compared to three percent now.

The tourism announcement comes less than two weeks after drone attacks targeted two facilities operated by Saudi state oil giant Aramco in the eastern province of Buqyaq, forcing the kingdom to halt about half its oil supplies afterwards.

Saudi Arabia and the US have blamed the attack on Iran, a regional rival of Riyadh. Tehran has denied involvement.

Source: https://tribuneonlineng.com/saudi-arabia-shuns-nigeria-okays-tourist-visas-for-49-countries/

Front page: Lalasticlala

However, no black African nation, including Nigeria, is included in the offer.

Tourists will be allowed to stay for up to three months per entry but can only spend a maximum of 90 days a year using their one-year multiple-entry visa.

Lol that's funny. The Saudi's know not to give Nigerians kind of freedom to enter the country. They dont want a migrant crisis on their hands. Just do your government sponsored pilgrimage then go home.

After all the oil money Nigerian government has spent sending Nigerian Muslims to Mecca?

We need our money back.

The kingdom’s guidelines for tourists does not specify a dress code for women, saying that it is not mandatory for a woman to cover her hair or wear the long, loose garments known as abaya.

Citizens of Germany, the United States and China are among those who are eligible to use the new system.

It's amazing how money talks. There always room to negotiate when securing the bag. Lol they might start selling beer and pork if the price is right. What does it take to import it.

It's the same reason muslim majority countries dont criticize China for declaring islsm mental illness. China is holding 1.1 million Uighur Muslims in concentration camps. They're having them eat pork, drink beer, shave their beards and sing communist party songs.

Hell no.!
They can't do that to us. What's our yoruba muslims who think that they are more religious than the saudis themselves going to do? MURIC will be out of job.

Great news!

Nigeria is not a country!

I posted about the Uygurs few weeks ago on how fulanis are probably using same tactics on Yoruba, though they are just about 8 millions against almost 2 billions. They even make them entertain tourists and moved 3 millions Chinese to Uygurs region in Xanjuan or whatever its called at the Turkey border.The world won't say anything about it because China is using money made from the US to shut people's mouths. The UN is not even saying anything about it because they are all about global agenda and how to reduce the world population to 500 million.

Blue3k2:


It's amazing how money talks. There always room to negotiate when securing the bag. Its the same reason muslim majority countries dont criticize China for declaring islsm mental illness. China is holding 1.1 million Uighur Muslims in concentration camps and having them eat pork, drink beer and sing community party songs.

wowcatty:
I posted about the Uygurs few weeks ago on how fulanis are probably using same tactics on Yoruba, though they are just about 8 millions against almost 2 billions. They even make them entertain tourists and moved 3 millions Chinese to Uygurs region in Xanjuan or whatever its called at the Turkey border.The world won't say anything about it because China is using money made from the US to shut people's mouths. The UN is not even saying anything about it because they are all about global agenda and how to reduce the world population to 500 million.

Yeah they moved Han Chinese into their homes to spy on them. The funny thing is it's Trump that calls them out on their actions at UN. The UN cant do much about it since China will veto and place pressure on them.

I dont know you mean about Fulani and Yoruba. Elaborate if you care to.

The Ruga plan and the way all kind of people are everywhere with soldiers at the ports and borders, occupied thing.

Blue3k2:


Yeah they moved Han Chinese into their homes to spy on them. The funny thing is it's Trump that calls them out on their actions at UN. The UN cant do much about it since China will veto and place pressure on them.

I dont know you mean about Fulani and Yoruba. Elaborate if you care to.

wowcatty:
The Ruga plan and the way all kind of people are everywhere with soldiers at the ports and borders, occupied thing.

Can you see you have a single digit IQ by bringing the Yorubas into the context of the Chinese Uyghurs population.

That guy asked you to elaborate and you foolishly said nothing sensible than just saying Ruga plan, how does that correlate with this or which state in yorubaland accepted Ruga?

eagleu:
Hell no.!
They can't do that to us. What's our yoruba muslims who think that they are more religious than the saudis themselves going to do? MURIC will be out of job.

But Israel started deporting blacks not too long ago even after your kinsmen claimed black Jews.

Mention me when Israel give any of you guys a visa to their country even after you keep famzing them day by day by claiming Jewish origin.

Do you get the correlation? Saudi or Israel do not give a bleep about Africa. The earlier we start understanding the fact, the better for all of us.

...because Mr president had failed to accomplish the assignments given to him, the last time he traveled there was immediately after the day of his second term inauguration to answer the query about failed assignments

YorubaHero12:


But Israel started deporting blacks not too long ago even after your kinsmen claimed black Jews.

Mention me when Israel give any of you guys a visa to their country even after you keep famzing them day by day by claiming Jewish origin.

Do you get the correlation? Saudi or Israel do not give a bleep about Africa. The earlier we start understanding the fact, the better for all of us.

Good point.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, you're not Yoruba Muslim. Otherwise, you will not be making good points.

eagleu:


Good for you. Good luck.

Gracias

Even though Nigeria is an Islamic country. I don't get it

Africans especially Nigerians invest too much in religion. With or without e-visa application on arrival, Nigerians are willing to do anything, no matter the cost, to get visas for religious purposes and the saudi govt knows this. Other countries keep exploiting our people's excessive love for religion for their countries' gain while Nigeria gets nothing because our govt even subsidises religion.

If these countries shun us, we suppose vex fix our own country so we can shun dem back

[s]

YorubaHero12:


Gracias

[/s]

Rhj

Who wan even go there sef.. If them like make them chop their visa die there.. Oh, i forgot, buhari n his blodas r blood suckers like them.. Let them settle themselves mbok..

Na abooki and mallams dem diz news go touch

Why dem no go Shun abi una think say dem no they read the headlines of the bad things wey Nigerians dey involve their hands into ni?


If you're to be the ruler of Saudi, be honest, will you even welcome Nigerians to your country??

From leaders down to the poorest man for street all na same same character.

Tuuuueeeehhh

See what people from that side have caused
Many of them are on death row in Indonesia and Philippines

Apply at the embassy na

The African continent is considered a nuisance by other continents