Saudi Arabia tourist visa: the short version
A Saudi Arabia tourist visa for a trip to Yanbu is, for most visitors, the tourist eVisa. This page sums up what the official eVisa portal says, followed by the rules of conduct that matter for a stay on the Red Sea coast. It is a summary and not a replacement for the portal, and conditions can change, so read the current text before you apply.
Yanbu has no separate entry rules. You enter Saudi Arabia, and the same visa, dress code and public conduct rules apply here as elsewhere in the country. For the practical side of the journey, see the getting there page.
Activities in Yanbu
Activities in Yanbu with live prices and dates.
Tourist eVisa
What the official portal says.
According to the official eVisa portal, the tourist eVisa is generally valid for one year, allows multiple entries and permits a stay of up to 90 days. It covers tourist activities and visits to relatives, and Hajj is excluded. The one year is the validity of the visa, not the time you may stay. Passports from Germany, Austria and Switzerland appear in the list of eligible countries. Eligibility depends on the nationality of the passport you use, not on where you live or where you fly from.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months when you enter. You can use the application service yourself from the age of 18, and for minors an eligible person applies on their behalf. Enter with the same passport you used in the application and carry a copy of the visa on your first entry.
A visa does not guarantee entry: the decision is taken at the border. According to the conditions, the eVisa cannot be extended and does not allow paid work. The fee is shown during the application and may change, and the conditions say that nothing is refunded after submission, even if the application is rejected. We do not quote a total price, so look at the amount in the application itself.
For British passport holders, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office explains that the 90 days count as a total within 365 days. If you hold another passport, check your own visa conditions. Plan your flights with the validity dates of your visa in front of you.
Dress code and public decorum
The official Public Decorum Charter asks for modest clothing and bans offensive images, symbols and texts on clothes. The UK office describes loose clothing that covers the elbows and the area below the knees. According to the same source, visitors who are women are not generally required to wear an abaya or cover their hair. Places of worship can have their own rules.
For swimwear, we cannot give one rule that applies to every public place in Yanbu. Ask about the rules of the specific site before you go, and if in doubt, dress modestly. The beaches page goes into this further.
Photos, alcohol and Ramadan
Do not take photos or videos of people without permission, and ask for consent first. Do not photograph government buildings, diplomatic missions, military sites or palaces. Alcohol may not be brought in, and drinking in public is prohibited. Keep gestures, displays of affection and volume restrained.
During Ramadan, do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in daytime, which includes your car. Check opening hours separately, since they change in that month.
Behaviour in public places
A few rules from the official list of violations.
Do not walk around barriers, do not leave litter, and light fires only in places meant for them. These points appear in the official list of public decency violations. They matter on a coastal walk or a trip to a park, where barriers and signs are common. For the coast, see also the old town page, where the same respect for the lanes and houses applies.
Travel advice in October 2026
Two offices, two different statements.
The German Federal Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for Saudi Arabia, valid since 29 October 2026 (status 31 October 2026). It describes attacks and considerable risks for air traffic, and it has mentioned the province of Medina since early September.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office named Yanbu in its advice of 27 October 2026, in connection with a higher threat to ports and energy infrastructure. It warns of further disruption and flight cancellations, and advises against all but essential travel to the rest of the country.
We cannot tell you that a trip is safe. Read both notices before you book and again before you leave, check the cancellation terms of flights and tours, and look at the best time to visit when you plan the dates.
Visa and rules: frequently asked questions
How long can I stay with the tourist eVisa?
The official portal names up to 90 days of stay and one year of validity with multiple entries. The year is not a permission to stay all year.
Do German, Austrian and Swiss passports qualify?
All three appear in the list of eligible countries. Eligibility depends on the passport you use, so check the portal for your own case.
Do women visitors have to cover their hair?
According to the UK office there is no general requirement to wear an abaya or cover the hair, but clothing should be loose and cover elbows and knees. Places of worship can differ.
Is this the official visa website?
No. This is an independent guide, not the official website of Visit Saudi, the Saudi Tourism Authority, the RCJY (the Jubail and Yanbu authority) or the Yanbu airport. Apply only through the official eVisa portal.