Saudi Arabia launches ‘Visa by Profile’ initiative

Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 nations in international tourist arrivals in 2024 and led globally in tourism revenue growth from inbound visitors. Shutterstock
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Updated 13 November 2025
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Saudi Arabia launches ‘Visa by Profile’ initiative

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched a pioneering initiative, “Visa by Profile,” allowing eligible Visa cardholders to instantly obtain an electronic tourist visa within minutes, the minister of tourism announced.

In a post on his X account, Ahmed Al-Khateeb said: “Launched at TOURISE25, we proudly introduce ‘Visa by Profile’ – the world’s first initiative allowing eligible Visa cardholders to instantly secure their electronic tourist visa in minutes, just by using their card and passport details.”

Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, the global financial services company Visa, the Saudi Tourism Authority, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the initiative underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to seamless, technology-driven travel experiences.

The minister added: “This is how we build the future of tourism: simple, seamless, and globally connected.”

Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 nations in international tourist arrivals in 2024 and led globally in tourism revenue growth from inbound visitors.

Having surpassed its initial goal of 100 million visitors six years ahead of schedule in 2023, the Kingdom has set a new target of welcoming 150 million tourists annually by 2030 — including 70 million international and 80 million domestic travelers.

On the final day of the three-day summit at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, Al-Khateeb also announced three additional initiatives: Agentic Tourism, TOURISE Destination, and Beyond Tourism.

In another post, he said: “At TOURISE25, we took concrete steps to elevate the Kingdom’s tourism and hospitality sector by announcing strategic partnerships with leading global institutions, including top schools in hospitality around the world.”

He emphasized the ministry’s focus on advancing training and skills development, fostering a new generation of professionals equipped to lead the tourism sector’s growth, noting: “Our people are the core of the future of tourism.”

Organized by the Ministry of Tourism under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the TOURISE 2025 Summit ran from Nov. 11 to 13 and aimed to shape the future of global tourism by driving innovation, sustainability, and collaboration.

The next edition of TOURISE is scheduled to take place in March 2027.


Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within two years 

Updated 10 sec ago
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Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within two years 

RIYADH: Two Saudi cybersecurity companies, Cyber and Infratech, plan to list a portion of their shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, between 2026 and 2027, according to the companies’ chairmen, who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah. 

Abdulrahman Al-Kenani, founder and CEO of Cyber, said: “The company is currently planning to acquire certain entities, which will be disclosed in the coming period, in addition to preparing for a public offering through the Tumooh program on the stock market within the next two years at the latest.” 

Al-Kenani explained that the financial, healthcare and services sectors are witnessing continuous cyberattacks as Saudi Arabia expands its digital transformation, accompanied by a rise in the frequency of such incidents. He added that this phenomenon is not limited to the Kingdom but is a global issue. 

The CEO added: “The company is working with several Saudi airports and vital sectors, in addition to collaborating with major international companies to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.” 

Infratech plans 4 R&D centers abroad 

Ayman Al-Suhaim, CEO of Infratech, stated: “The size of the information technology and cybersecurity market in Saudi Arabia has reached approximately SR87 billion ($23.2 billion), of which SR15.7 billion are allocated to the cybersecurity sector. This includes consulting, managed services, governance, risk management, and cybersecurity within the industrial sector.” 

He said the company has a strategic plan covering the period from 2026 to 2028, which includes establishing a firm in the first quarter of next year to finance cybersecurity and artificial intelligence products, as well as launching four research and development centers in the US, Russia, China and Eastern Europe. 

The plan also includes investment in cloud storage, overseas ventures, and the expansion of operations and investments in data centers. 

Al-Suhaim said the company intends to go public in 2027, noting that it operates across multiple cybersecurity domains serving sectors including energy, defense, aviation and government services. 

The Tumooh program for small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia is one of the support initiatives offered by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, or Monsha’at. It aims to drive SME growth by strengthening capabilities, improving performance and accelerating expansion. 

The initiative seeks to help fast-growing SMEs prepare for initial public offerings in the financial markets. To date, the program has facilitated the listing of 24 companies on the Nomu Parallel Market out of more than 2,500 firms registered under the scheme.