New visa regime announced

The Cabinet on Monday took a number of decisions based on a recommendation of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy and Planning on increasing non-oil revenue. 

The weekly Cabinet session was chaired by Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. 

As per the new decisions, a one-time entry visa fee will be SR2,000, but the state will bear this fee if a visitor is coming to the Kingdom for the first time to perform Haj or Umrah.

The multiple exit/re-entry visa fee will be SR3,000 for six months, SR5,000 for one year and SR8,000 for two years. 

The transit visa fee will be SR300.

The departure visa fee will be SR50 for those leaving the Kingdom through seaports.

The exit/re-entry visa fees will be as follows: 

• SR200 for a single trip for two months as maximum and SR100 for each additional month, within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.

• SR500 for multiple trips for three months and SR200 for each additional month within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.

A royal decree has been prepared for this purpose and the attached decision’s draft stipulates that the application of the provisions of this decision shall be as of Muharram 1, 1438, corresponding to Oct. 2, 2016.

The Cabinet also decided to make the following amendments to the Traffic Regulation issued by Royal Decree No. (M/85) on 26/10/1428 AH:

Adding three new paragraphs to Article 68 as follows:

• A fine of not less than SR1,000 and not more than SR2,000, according to the schedule of offenses No. (5) attached to this regulation.

• A fine of not less than SR3,000 and not more than SR6,000, with the vehicle’s seizure until the violation is removed, according to the schedule of offenses No. (6) attached to this regulation.

• A fine not less than SR5,000 and not exceeding SR10,000 with the vehicle’s seizure until the violation is removed, according to the schedule of offenses No. (7) attached to this regulation.”

The amendment of Article 63 of the Regulation reads as follows:

“Subject to the provisions in Articles 61 and 62 of this regulation, any driver involved in a crash shall stop the vehicle at the scene and take the initiative to inform the competent department and provide possible assistance to the victims of the incident. 

If he fails do so, he shall be fined with not more than SR10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both.”

Amendment of the end of Article 64 of the regulation will be as follows: “Anyone violating this shall be punished with a fine of not less than SR10,000 and not more than SR50,000 for the first time, and if the offense is for the second time, the fine for the first time shall be doubled and if the offense is for the third time, the fine for the second time shall be doubled with the closing of the workshop permanently.”

At the outset of the session, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of the audiences held by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The audiences addressed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and each of Jordan and Qatar in addition to regional and international developments.

In a statement to SPA following the session, Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet was briefed on a number of reports on the developments in the region and the world. 

The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom’s welcome of the decision of the United Nations Secretary General to remove the name of “Coalition for Restoration of Legitimacy in Yemen” from the list of those responsible for violence against civilians.

The Cabinet commended the efforts exerted by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) on Yemen and its findings in response to claims on coalition forces’ violations while conducting the Decisive Storm and the Restoration Hope military operations that aim at restoring legitimacy to Yemen. 

The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom’s calls on the international community to provide protection and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. 

It also renewed the Kingdom’s calls on the international community to stop what the Syrian people are exposed to, that is blockade, massacres and air raids like what is being witnessed in Halab (Aleppo) and other Syrian cities.

Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, some of which were reviewed by the Shoura Council, and decided the following:

The Cabinet approved the final accounts of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage for the fiscal year 1435 — 1436 AH.

The Cabinet approved an amendment of the Saudi Development Fund system so that the authority would be linked to the Council of Economic Affairs and Development. 

The fund’s chairman of the board of directors, vice chairman, manager and members of the board will be appointed by the Prime Minister. The term of office of each will be three years, renewable for one time only.

The Cabinet also decided to amend Article 5 of the Tariff Civil Aviation Law issued by Royal Decree number (M/55) dated 10/20/1426 AH, (Nov. 21, 2005), which reads: “The board of directors shall have the right to determine what shall be collected as fees from everyone leaving the Kingdom through its airports and shall have the right to not collect such fees in cases appreciated by it.

A royal decree has been prepared for this purpose with its draft attached to this decision.