RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced the expansion of its visitor e-visa scheme to the nationals of eight countries on Sunday.

The countries include Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Tourism said.

Nationals of these countries can apply for a visitor visa electronically or upon arrival at one of the Kingdom’s ports.

They can use the visa to tour the Kingdom, perform Umrah, visit family and friends, and for business purposes.

“By expanding the e-visas to 8 new countries, Saudi Arabia takes another step forward in opening its doors to the world and offering an easier and simplified travel experience for all visitors to the Kingdom,” the Kingdom’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said.