Saudi interior ministry showcases e-visa kiosk at Dubai’s GITEX

The new technology comes as the Kingdom implements a host of other tourism-related changes. (AN/One Carlo Diaz)
Updated 10 October 2019
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Saudi interior ministry showcases e-visa kiosk at Dubai’s GITEX

  • The interior ministry rolled out the machines in all airports in the Kingdom
  • The new machines will allow tourists from eligible countries to obtain their visas upon arrival with a few simple clicks

DUBAI: Tourists travelling to Saudi Arabia can now get their visas on arrival in five minutes, the Ministry of Interior said on Wednesday, unveiling the new Saudi e-visa machine at Dubai’s electronics trade show GITEX.

The interior ministry rolled out the machines in all airports in the Kingdom, following the announcement of the new Saudi tourist visa scheme last month, which is available for 49 nationalities.

The new machines will allow tourists from eligible countries to obtain their visas upon arrival with a few simple clicks, Tourism Project Manager, Thear Sadi Al-Rogi, said at the trade show held at Dubai World Trade Center,

He said they tourists would need to scan their passports, input their fingerprints, and pay the fee of around $115 to get their 90-day visa before proceeding to immigration for entry.

The machine is currently in English but there are plans to include up to 40 languages in the system, Al-Rogi said.

The new technology comes as the Kingdom implements a host of other tourism-related changes, including easing dress restrictions for female tourists, allowing them to go without the body-shrouding abaya.

Locations such as AlUla, NEOM, and the Red Sea are expected to become potential tourist locations.

 


SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

Updated 20 February 2026
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SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi says that Saudi Arabia is moving steadily to establish artificial intelligence as a trusted national capability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, Al-Ghamdi said the goal is to use AI to help develop government services, enhance competitiveness, build human capacity and improve quality of life through a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars that unlock the potential of this technology and achieve sustainable developmental impact.

“The first pillar focuses on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies,” he said.

The second pillar is building an integrated national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation by developing advanced digital infrastructure that enables various sectors to adopt AI applications efficiently, consistently and with effective governance, Al-Ghamdi said.

The third pillar, he said, is governance that ensures responsible and measurable AI through a national framework aligned with international standards.

This came during Al-Ghamdi’s speech at a high-level ministerial session held on Thursday on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

He is heading the Saudi delegation, and the session saw broad participation from heads of state, decision-makers and technology leaders from around the world.

Al-Ghamdi also had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening, discussed AI cooperation and expressed his gratitude for hosting the summit and for the hospitality extended to the participants.