Saudi Arabia will issue tourist visas for the first time to visitors from 49 countries around the world.
South Africa is included on the list of eligible countries, as well as the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and France.
According to the country’s visa application website, the eVisa application will take a few minutes to complete online and will be sent to the traveller via email once approved.
The visas will cost SR300 (R1 205), and will be valid for 360 days from the date of issue for stays of 90 days or less, and for a total of no more than 180 days in a single year, according to Arab News.
The country will also ease its strict dress code for foreign women, allowing them to go without the abaya robe that is still mandatory public wear for Saudi women, according to the media report. Women will still be expected to wear ‘modest clothing’.
Applications for the visas are not yet available to South Africans and will go live 'soon', according to the embassy.
