The Middle East Travel Information category offers necessary information on travel formalities for the many countries of the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran and other popular destinations in the region. Articles published in this category provide up-to-date information on visas, passports, mandatory vaccinations, travel restrictions and customs regulations for travelers visiting Middle Eastern destinations. They also contain practical tips for travelers, useful information on precautions to take, the latest changes in regulations and legislation, and recent events that could influence travel safety in the Middle East region.
Israel officially launched its electronic travel authorization system, known as ETA-IL, on June 1, 2024. The move aims to modernize and secure entry procedures into the country for visa-exempt travelers, aligning with similar practices adopted by countries such as the United States, Canada, and … Read the article
July 1, 2024, will mark a major turning point for travelers wishing to visit Israel. Starting on that date, citizens of many countries that were previously visa-exempt will now be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA-IL, before entering the country. The change is intended not only to improve security … Read the article
Saudi Arabia continues to expand its e-visa program by making its services more accessible to citizens around the world. Recently, the country announced that nationals of the Bahamas, Barbados, and Grenada can now apply for an e-Visa to visit the Kingdom. This initiative aims to promote global inclusiveness and … Read the article
Saudi citizens wishing to travel to France have benefited from a facilitation of administrative procedures since May 7. A recent initiative allows interested parties to service their visa application without requiring a prior appointment, directly in certain VFS centers located in Riyadh and Dammam. This development aims not only to simplify the process but … Read the article
Saudi Arabia, known as a crossroads of the Muslim faith with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, has recently revised its visa requirements to improve the experience of pilgrims. The changes, which directly impact the planning and execution of Umrah (minor pilgrimage), come at a time when the country … Read the article
Faced with the current challenges of its tourism sector, Syria is adopting a new approach by launching an electronic visa from May 1, 2024. This system aims to facilitate procedures for foreign visitors and stimulate the tourism industry in the country. A look back at this major initiative.
Hari Raya Idul Fitri, also known as Eid-el-Fitr, is one of the most important and eagerly-awaited celebrations for Muslim communities around the world. This celebration marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Israeli government has officially announced the launch of its e-Visa and ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to facilitate the entry of foreign tourists into its territory. This long-awaited measure will be implemented in the coming weeks.
Designated host city last November, Riyadh and Saudi Arabia are preparing to welcome the World Expo 2030 with great fanfare, an event expected to attract millions of visitors. To facilitate their arrival, the Saudi government wants to introduce a dedicated visa, similar to the one offered during the World Cup in ... Read the article
From February 1, 2024, the United Arab Emirates will no longer require entry visas for nationals of the Republic of Armenia. The two delegations met in mid-January in Armenia, as both are major economic partners.
Following on from the separatist Kurdistan region last February, Irak🇮🇶 recently announced the introduction of an electronic visa system, simplifying the visa application process for its visitors. Here's a roundup of the essential information you need to know about this new initiative.
Qatar's Ministry of the Interior has announced an extension of the validity of Hayya visas until February 24, 2024. The deadline for entering Qatar with this visa has also been extended to February 10, 2024.
After announcing its intention to exempt 68 countries from visa requirements 2 months ago, Iran has now specified a first salvo in visa-free travel for visitors from 33 countries.
Polish airline LOT Polish Airlines continues to expand its network, announcing the addition of Saudi Arabia to its destinations from June 2024. This strategic decision aims to strengthen the company's position in the tourism market, particularly in Central Europe.
The Saudi government has announced the introduction of an electronic visa for ticket holders to the FIFA Club World Cup 2023, to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The initiative aims to simplify administrative procedures for international fans wishing to attend the matches, and to offer a ... Read the article
The UAE Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, has announced that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will implement a unified tourist visa over the next two years, allowing visa holders to travel across the six Gulf countries.
Saudi Arabia has announced 2 options for travelers to extend their Saudi visa while in the country. In this article, we present the different steps to follow and the advantages of this new procedure.
Saudi Arabia recently lowered the price of electronic visas for visitors, and also added 6 new nationalities to the list of eligible countries. The move is aimed at making the kingdom more accessible to international tourists and boosting the tourism sector.
Due to ongoing hostilities between Israel and the militant organization Hamas, the current situation in Israel and neighboring Palestinian areas is causing travel disruptions, delays in visa processing and temporary consulate closures.
We finally have details of the next batch of visa-exempt nationalities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Not 50, but precisely 68 nationalities will be announced shortly.
Many Lebanese dream of traveling and settling abroad, whether for professional or academic reasons. However, the financial crisis that hit the country in 2019 has made these plans even more difficult to realize. Among the main barriers are obtaining a visa and the restrictions imposed by ... Read the article
An electronic transit visa can be issued free of charge by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, when booking an airline ticket with Saudia and Flynas airlines.
Since 2022, there has been a significant rapprochement between Morocco and Israel, notably due to Israel's recognition of Moroccan ownership of Western Sahara. This trend is reflected in a significant increase in the number of Moroccan tourists visiting the Hebrew state. More than 2,000 Moroccan citizens visited Israel during the ... Read the article
This project had been announced in 2020, before the Covid-19 health crisis, with the aim of launching the new product in the spring of 2022. In the end, the Israeli e-visa should be launched by the end of 2023. Following several working meetings, the Israeli authorities have made progress on this implementation.
Saudi Arabia recently unveiled a major new visa procedure for the Umrah pilgrimage. From now on, the kingdom will offer a visa directly on arrival for citizens of several countries. It is no longer necessary to apply online.
Oman's tourism representative office in France, set up in 2002, will close its doors in September, its director Rania Khodr emotionally announced at a press conference. The decision, taken after two years of reflection by the Omani Ministry of Tourism, will be effective from September 20.
Saudi Arabia has announced the extension of its electronic visa program (e-visa) to citizens of 8 additional countries, bringing the total number of eligible countries to 57.
Jordan, via its embassy in Rabat, recently announced the availability of the e-Visa, designed to facilitate entry procedures for Moroccan nationals wishing to visit the country. This is a reciprocal measure to the recent opening of the Moroccan e-Visa for Jordanians.
The latest guidelines from the Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) specify the conditions for visa access to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.
Every year, millions of Muslims from all over the world travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. These religious ceremonies are a highlight for all the faithful who wish to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Mohammed. In this article, we'll look at the various aspects of the journey, including ... Read the article
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