The key facts

  • Abdulaziz Akkulov and Muhammad Abunayyan discussed simplifying the visa regime to grow mutual tourist flows.
  • Topics of the talks: direct and seasonal charter flights, tour packages for Saudi tourists, infrastructure investment, master plans for tourism zones, and PPP.
  • Earlier, Saudi Arabia introduced an annual multiple-entry Umrah visa allowing stays of up to 90 days per entry.

Talks on visas and tourism

Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia discussed the issue of simplifying visa procedures, the Uzbek agency Daryo.uz reported, citing the Tourism Committee. The meeting took place between the committee chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov and the co-chairman of the Uzbek-Saudi Business Council, chairman of the board of ACWA Power, Muhammad Abunayyan.

Topics of discussion

According to the Tourism Committee, the parties considered simplifying the visa regime in order to increase mutual tourist flow, as well as promoting Uzbekistan's tourism potential in the Saudi Arabian market and creating tour packages aimed at local travelers. Also discussed were increasing the number of direct regular and seasonal charter flights and strengthening cooperation between tour operators of the two countries.

Investments and infrastructure

The meeting raised issues of attracting Saudi investors to projects for developing Uzbekistan's tourism infrastructure, drafting master plans for tourism and recreation zones, and developing public-private partnership. According to the publication, participants also considered opportunities for cooperation in planning and developing tourism destinations and related infrastructure.

Context: the Umrah visa

The publication's sources recall that Saudi Arabia earlier introduced a multiple-entry visa for performing Umrah with a validity of one year. It allows entering the country several times, with each stay not exceeding 90 days.