Does my Saudi iqama give me visa-free entry?
Not for most destinations. On the countries we cover, entry follows your passport. The exceptions are special visas for residents of GCC states, such as those the UAE and Qatar offer.
Visa and entry rules from Saudi Arabia
Quick answer: Saudi citizens need no visa for the UAE, Qatar, Türkiye (up to 90 days), Georgia, Azerbaijan (up to 30 days per visit), Thailand (tourism, up to 30 days) or the Philippines (30 days). Egypt needs an e-visa, Sri Lanka a free ETA, and the Maldives gives a visa on arrival. Residents on other passports follow their own nationality’s rules.
| Destination | Saudi passport | Residents on another passport | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | No visa (GCC citizens) | GCC-resident visa, approved professions only | UAE government portal: do you need a visa to enter the UAE |
| Türkiye | Visa-free, up to 90 days in any 180 | Depends on your passport | Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa information for foreigners |
| Qatar | No visa (GCC citizens) | GCC Resident Visa (A2) on Hayya | Visit Qatar: visas |
| Egypt | On the e-visa list: USD 30 single entry | Look up your passport on the e-visa portal | Egypt e-Visa portal: FAQ |
| Georgia | Visa-free (confirm the allowed stay) | Rules changed in 2025: check the e-visa portal | Georgia: list of countries whose citizens may enter without a visa |
| Azerbaijan | Visa-free: 3 entries of 30 days until 15 Feb 2027 | India and Pakistan are on the e-visa list | Azerbaijan e-visa portal: countries eligible for the e-visa |
| Thailand | Visa-free for 30 days from 15 Sep 2026 | Depends on your passport | Tourism Authority of Thailand: new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules |
| Maldives | Visa on arrival, up to 30 days | Same: all nationalities | Maldives Immigration: Imuga traveller declaration |
| Sri Lanka | Free 30-day ETA | Free for 40 listed countries, incl. India and Pakistan | Sri Lanka Department of Immigration: free tourist visas for 40 countries |
| Philippines | Visa-free for 30 days | Indian passports: 14 days, with a qualifying visa | Philippine DFA: countries with visa-free entry for 30 days (E.O. 408) |
How to read these pages
- Your passport decides, in most cases. For the destinations we cover, the rule follows your passport, not the fact that you live in Saudi Arabia. The exceptions are special visas for residents of GCC states, such as those the UAE and Qatar offer.
- Each page has a Saudi-citizen section and a residents section. If your passport is not covered, the page says so and points you to the official source instead of guessing.
- Check the date. Every page shows when we last read the official sources. Governments change rules at short notice.
- Airlines check too. They can refuse boarding if your documents do not match the rules, so confirm with the airline when anything is unclear.
Visa questions
How current is this information?
Each page shows the date we last read the official sources. Governments change rules at short notice, so confirm on the official page before you book flights.
Does Safrova arrange visas?
No. Safrova compares flights and hotels through partners. We link to each government’s own page, and you apply there.
What this section covers
10 destinations, read from each government’s own pages. We add a destination only after checking an official source, and a rule we could not confirm is left out and marked, so a missing detail means we have not verified it yet.
United Arab Emirates · Read the rulesTürkiye · Read the rulesQatar · Read the rulesEgypt · Read the rulesGeorgia · Read the rulesAzerbaijan · Read the rulesThailand · Read the rulesMaldives · Read the rulesSri Lanka · Read the rulesPhilippines · Read the rules
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