Saudi Visa for UAE Residents: eVisa, Cost and Umrah Rules (2026)

The short answer: if you live in the UAE on a valid residence visa, you can usually get a Saudi tourist eVisa online in your own right, whatever your nationality and whatever your job, as long as your residence has at least three months left. It is a one-year, multiple-entry visa, it covers Umrah, and it does not cover Hajj. Emiratis need no visa at all.

Saudi Arabia is now one of the easiest weekend trips from Dubai: Riyadh is about two hours away by air, Jeddah about three, and AlUla, the Red Sea coast and Umrah are all open to visitors. The visa is rarely the hard part, provided you use the right route for your situation.

Saudi visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Who qualifies through UAE residence	Expatriates with a GCC residence permit valid for at least 3 more months, of any profession
Type of visa	Tourist eVisa: one year, multiple entry
Time in Saudi Arabia	Up to 90 days in the country
Fee	About SAR 300, plus compulsory medical insurance and a service fee shown before you pay
Umrah	Allowed (book your Umrah permit separately through Nusuk)
Hajj, work, study	Not allowed on a tourist visa
Emirati citizens	No visa needed

Two routes: by passport or by residence

Saudi Arabia gives tourist eVisas on two separate grounds, and it helps to know which one you are using.

By passport. Citizens of 68 countries can apply for the tourist eVisa with their passport alone. The list on the official Visit Saudi visa portal includes the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, most of the European Union, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. If your passport is on that list, your UAE residence does not matter.

By GCC residence. Several of the largest communities in the UAE are not on the passport list: India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Egypt among them. For residents of those nationalities, the route is the eVisa for GCC residents. Since March 2023 it has been open to expatriates in any profession; before that it was limited to a list of approved jobs, which is why older guides still talk about occupation checks.

Who can apply on a UAE residence visa

• A UAE residence permit valid for at least three months from the date you apply
• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival in Saudi Arabia
• Age 18 or over to apply yourself; children are added by a parent or guardian, and each traveller needs their own eVisa

Family members on your sponsorship can apply on the same basis, as long as they hold their own UAE residence. A visitor on a UAE tourist visa cannot use the residence route.

How to apply

1. Open the official portal at visa.visitsaudi.com (or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' KSA Visa platform) and choose the option for GCC residents.
2. Upload a scan of your passport, your UAE residence visa or Emirates ID, and a recent passport photo on a white background.
3. Enter your travel dates and accommodation, then pay the visa fee and the compulsory medical insurance by card.
4. The eVisa arrives by email, often within minutes and usually within a few days. Print it or keep it on your phone; it is linked to your passport.

Use the official portal or an agency you trust. Copycat sites charge several times the real fee for the same form.

What it costs

The visa fee itself is about SAR 300. Medical insurance is compulsory and is priced separately by age, and the portal adds a small service fee, so the total varies from person to person. You see the full amount before you pay. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused or you do not travel.

Using your eVisa for Umrah

The tourist eVisa allows Umrah, which is why it has become the usual route for residents of the UAE doing a short Umrah trip. The visa alone is not enough, though: you also book your Umrah slot and the Rawdah visit through the Nusuk app before you go. Hajj is always excluded from tourist visas and needs its own Hajj visa and permit during the Hajj season.

Flying, stopping over or driving

Flying is the simplest: Emirates, flydubai, Saudia and flynas connect Dubai with Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah, and Air Arabia flies from Sharjah.

Stopover visa. If you are flying with Saudia or flynas to a third country via Saudi Arabia, you can add a free stopover visa of up to 96 hours when you book the ticket (insurance and a small fee may apply). It does not work for a simple Dubai–Riyadh return.

Driving. You can drive in through the Al Ghuwaifat border, west of Abu Dhabi, on your eVisa. Your UAE car insurance does not cover Saudi Arabia, so buy Saudi third-party insurance before you reach the border, and carry your car registration. Riyadh is about ten hours' drive from Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Can UAE residents get a Saudi visa online?

Yes. Expatriates with a UAE residence permit valid for at least three months can apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa online, whatever their nationality or profession. Citizens of 68 countries can also apply on their passport alone.

How much is the Saudi visa for UAE residents?

About SAR 300 for the visa, plus compulsory medical insurance and a small service fee. The portal shows the total before you pay, and it is not refundable.

How long can I stay in Saudi Arabia on the eVisa?

The eVisa is valid for one year with multiple entries and allows up to 90 days in the country. It is for tourism, family visits, events and Umrah, not for work or study.

Can Indian residents of Dubai get a Saudi eVisa?

Yes, through the GCC residents route. India is not on the passport list, but an Indian national with a UAE residence permit valid for at least three months can apply online like any other UAE resident.

Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?

Yes. The tourist eVisa allows Umrah; book your Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before you travel. Hajj is not allowed on a tourist visa.

Is my profession still checked?

No. Saudi Arabia removed the occupation list for GCC residents in March 2023. Older guides that mention approved professions are out of date.

Planning a trip to Saudi Arabia

Most UAE residents can sort the visa themselves in an evening. Where we help is when something does not fit: a residence permit close to expiry, a family with mixed nationalities, an Umrah trip that needs flights, hotels near the Haram and Nusuk bookings to line up. See Saudi Arabia visa services, or talk to us and we will check which route applies to you before anything is paid for.

Related guides

• What your UAE residence unlocks
• Qatar visa for UAE residents
• Oman visa for UAE residents
• UAE public holidays 2027 and the long weekends

Last checked 8 October 2026 against the Visit Saudi eVisa portal and recent UAE reporting. Saudi visa rules and fees change from time to time; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current position on the official portal before you apply.