Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders for international tourists from August 1, 2021.

Tourism visa holders who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to enter the country without the need to quarantine. Citizens from 49 countries are eligible for a tourism e-visa

Travellers will need to show proof of a full course of one of the four vaccines currently recognised — two doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson.

Those who have completed two doses of the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines will be accepted if they have received an additional dose of one of the four vaccines approved in the Kingdom.

Visitors can register their vaccination status here. The site is available in Arabic and English.

Travellers arriving in Saudi Arabia are also required to provide a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure and an approved paper vaccination certificate, approved by the official health authorities in the issuing country.

The kingdom has also upgraded Tawakkalna, its track and trace app that allows temporary visitors to register with their passport details. Tawwakalna is required for entry to many public places in Saudi, including shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants and entertainment venues.

The announcement comes almost 18 months after international tourism into Saudi Arabia was suspended due to the pandemic. Saudi Arabia launched the tourism e-visa program in September 2019.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) said:

“Saudi is looking forward to reopening its doors and its hearts to international visitors.

“During the shutdown we have working in close collaboration with our partners in the public and private sector to ensure that visitors to Saudi can enjoy a memorable, authentic and, above all, safe experience for themselves and their loved ones.

“Visitors seeking unexplored heritage sites, an authentic cultural experience and breath-taking natural beauty will be surprised and delighted to discover Saudi’s warm welcome.”

sta.gov.sa