Saudi Arabia has enacted new guidelines penalizing residents who journey to restricted locations, with fines reaching as much as SR30,000 and journey bans of as much as two years, following approval by Inside Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif.
The up to date measures, efficient as of March 31, 2026, are a part of the Ministry of Inside’s efforts to control journey to designated high-risk nations amid regional tensions. Authorities mentioned the checklist of restricted locations shall be decided by the ministry after mandatory procedures are adopted.
Below the brand new guidelines, repeat violations carry harsher penalties. Fines could also be doubled, and journey bans could be prolonged for as much as 5 years for individuals who repeatedly journey to prohibited nations.
The rules additionally tackle violations of journey documentation necessities. Offering false data when making use of for journey paperwork can lead to fines of as much as SR5,000 and doable journey bans.
Extra severe offenses, together with tampering with journey paperwork, misusing them, or enabling others to make use of them unlawfully, might result in fines of as much as SR100,000 and journey bans of as much as 5 years. Authorities mentioned such instances shall be referred to the Public Prosecution.
Officers indicated that restrictions could apply to particular nations recognized as excessive danger, together with areas affected by ongoing battle. Journey close to the Yemen border is topic to further warning; all journey is suggested towards inside 30 km, and non-essential journey is discouraged inside 30–80 km as a result of army exercise.
The rules additionally be aware that exceptions could apply in sure instances, together with for people aged 60 and older or these with first-degree household ties to residents of restricted nations, during which diminished penalties could also be thought-about.
Individually, authorities mentioned expatriates and guests with expired visas could use the Absher platform to increase their stays or exit the nation with out fines till April 18, 2026.
