Does Saudi Arabia allow holiday makers to visit from the west?

Question

If so which are the best resorts there?

Answer 1

Saudi Arabia has started slowly to open up to tourism and I do think that it does have many tourist attractions. Landscape, varied traditions, architectures, antiquities and  findings from even the prehestoric era.

You can get a visa from agencies that organise such tours, but not as an individual. Thus you would have to look which these agencies are. They are rare, but exist.

Also diving clubs, especially in Jeddah can issue tourist visas (because they are businesses) for groups as the diving there is very popular. But...they will do it either for men or women accompanied by their husbands.

So welcome! Maybe Saudi Arabia has been 'closed' for sometime, but that does not reflect the true spirit of the people that is kind hospitable and generous to the guest more than many countries all over the world!

Answer 2

As long as I remember, there were no tourist’s visas. But the government is now trying to develop the tourism in the country.

You may ask the Saudi Embassy in your country if they issue a tourist visa.

In Saudi, you may find many places to visit; especially the Red Sea, Mada’an Saleh (the 1000 year old tow), the Sahara (desert) and many other places.

These are some links about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

A Virtual Tour of Saudi Arabia hosted by an American woman http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/index.htm...

Saudi Arabia, Overview: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/s...

Alleth, The Unknown Island http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp...

Saudi Arabia Tourist Site http://www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/to...

Answer 3

Saudi Arabia does not issue tourist visas nor is it possible for a hotel to sponsor a visitor.

Take care and visit one of the neighboring countries.

Answer 4

Probably, I'm not entirely sure, though if you were looking for a Middle-Eastern experience you could also try United Arab Emirates. The capital city, Dubai, has a roaring tourism market tight now, with resorts such as the Burj-Al Arab, the Emirate's Palace, etc. The ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, is encouraging this because he is a philanthropist concentrating his efforts educating young Arabs, so you shouldn't have an trouble getting in.

Answer 5

actually saudi arabia started offering tourist visas...

but i have to state that my country (saudi) is not for the tourist expecting everything to be facilitated for his comfort...tourism is raw here....personally i think that's the main attraction...it's still virgin, not spoiled by hundreds and thousands of tourists every year forcing the government and business men to "commercialize" every thing or even worse: give them what they expect "arabia" to be...if you know what i mean.

if you truely want to visit saudi arabia...if you honestly are interested in learning and understanding us...(as genuine as sir Richard Burton was) i strongly encourage you to come...tour every region cause they are so diverse and each has it's magic...don't be afraid of the raw untaimed and rough nature of our lands....however, if you're looking for souvineer shops, resorts and "organized" tours....the pampered cliche tourism...you maybe better off somewhere else...

note: if you do decide to come to saudi and want at least a few days of pampering i strongly suggest and recomend "Qasr Al-Sharq" next to Hilton in Jeddah (true luxury) and the "Four seasons" at the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh

Answer 6

though the saudi government is starting to to develop tourism here, but still they dont issue tourist visa. the only way you can come here is thru company sponsor business visa. or if u have a close relative with residence visa that allows visit visa. or if your a muslim who are travelling for a pilgrim. saudi is not for tourist coz theres no tourist attractions here aside from being a close country were majoiry feels its a big prison specially in riyadh. go to dubai or other gulf countries but not saudi your just gonna waste your time here.